2. AIMS:
• To understand and explain
JR’s use of imagery in the
opening of the novel
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3. • A comparative study of an
aspect of two texts of the
candidate’s choice. This piece
should be 1500-2000 words.
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4. Themes and Possible focuses
in Wide Sargasso Sea
• Divided worlds • Identity
• Men and women • Abandonment
• Madness • Safety/insecurity
• Social hierarchy • Religion
• Money and wealth • Alien cultures
• Race • Control
• Marriage • Victims/dominators
• Parent/child • Moral blindness
relationship • Symbolic
• Entrapment/impriso meaning/significant
nment places
• Power/powerlessn
ess
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5. Look at...
Skilled work •• Use of adjectives use of imagery
Identify features JR’s
will with some explanation of layers of
• The detail of characterisation
meaning.
•• How some connectionconnectthemes
Have
the narrators to wider
in the novel
themselves with nature and
Excellent work • Have a detailed explanation, with
will
other people.
appropriate terminology, of how imagery
is used with a perceptive identification of
layers of meaning
• Show sophisticated links to possible
connections to between wider themes
and the critical interpretations
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6. Rhys demonstrates the political status of Antoinette through
imagery . In Wide Sargasso Sea Antoinette narrates in Part
One: “And if the razor grass cut my legs and arms I would
think “It’s better than people.” (p 12) Antoinette’s deliberate
social exclusion shows her physical pain. She would rather
be ‘cut’ than be around people. Her political status as a white
Creole and social outsider is emphasised with the language:
“Black ants or red ones, tall nests swarming with white
ants…– once I saw a snake. All better than people. Better.
Better, better than people.” Rhys’ use of repetition creates
the emotive effect of rejection and a sense of social
inferiority. The racial diversity of the Caribbean islands is
perhaps represented by the three colours of ants mentioned
in this passage, but the image of ants indicates that they are
perceived as having a negligible role in political life;
furthermore, they are all ‘swarming’ and suggests both the
chaotic lives they are living in the urgent need for political
change.
7. Rhys demonstrates the political status of Antoinette through imagery . In Wide
Sargasso Sea Antoinette narrates in Part One: “And if the razor grass cut my
legs and arms I would think “It’s better than people.” (p 12) Antoinette’s
deliberate social exclusion shows her physical pain; her isolation is both
physically harmful as well as emotional, but she still prefers the physical pain.
The razor grass cutting her also shows how she is unsafe in her isolation as if
nature is also harming her. Her lack of autonomy and status are as a white
Creole and social outsider is further emphasised with: “Black ants or red ones,
tall nests swarming with white ants…– once I saw a snake. All better than
people. Better. Better, better than people.” Rhys’ use of repetition creates the
emotive effect of Antoinette’s rejection and a sense of social inferiority. The
racial diversity of the Caribbean islands is perhaps represented by the image
and three colours of ants mentioned in this passage, but the choice of ants
indicates that, in spite of Emancipation and social change, they are perceived
as having a negligible role in political life; furthermore, they are all ‘swarming’
and suggests both the chaotic lives they are living in and the urgent need for
political change. Antoinette’s position as a scapegoat is shown through the
reference to a snake she sees; Rhys is making a reference to Genesis and
original sin so perhaps her suffering is because she is a woman The proximity
of the snake compounds the sense of toxicity and evil that pervades the natural
imagery in Antoinette’s sanctuary; far from being paradise this image heightens
danger that she is in .
8. Look at...
Skilled work •• Use of adjectives use of imagery
Identify features JR’s
will with some explanation of layers of
• The detail of characterisation
meaning.
•• How some connectionconnectthemes
Have
the narrators to wider
in the novel
themselves with nature and
Excellent work • Have a detailed explanation, with
will
other people.
appropriate terminology, of how imagery
is used with a perceptive identification of
layers of meaning
• Show sophisticated links to possible
connections to between wider themes
and the critical interpretations
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9. The author’s use of language / words / tone of voice is significant.
T Imagery is significant in this section.
The imagery of .... is especially significant in this section.
The author uses setting to convey ...
The characterisation of ... is developed in this section.
Structurally, this section is significant.
We can see this in the quotation ...
E We hear the character described as ...
The word ... demonstrates this.
Arguably, the most significant words are ... and ...
The image of the ... is crucial to our understanding.
The author seems to be suggesting ...
P The author is, perhaps, exploring the idea of ...
The author is explaining, illustrating, uncovering, hiding, illuminating, developing,
The words suggest / imply / convey ...
E This word / phrase / image / character makes me think of ... because...
This conveys feelings of ... because....
The word / image contains several ideas. For example...
The author seems to be exploring the them / idea of ...
E From one perspective we could say ... From another we might consider...
Developing the interpretation further, we could argue that...
This links with.....
This idea is repeated when......
10. Part one uses a rich array of
adjectives, goes into more
depth when describing
character and that the narrator
makes subtle and nuanced
connections with everything
around her.
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11. What you should be able to do
now...
• Think critically about JR’s use of
imagery
• Evaluate how language is used
to contribute to wider themes in
the novel
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