Rhys demonstrates Antoinette's political status and isolation in colonial Jamaica through her use of imagery. In the passage, Antoinette prefers the physical pain of razor grass cutting her or the company of insects and snakes to being around people. This conveys her emotional rejection and sense of social inferiority as a white Creole woman. The swarming ants also suggest the chaotic lives of those without political power and the need for change. The reference to the snake alludes to Genesis and suggests Antoinette is a scapegoat, furthering her isolation through the toxic natural imagery.
This presentation includes only historical fiction and realistic fiction. Find the full presentation here:
http://www.slideshare.net/elkissn/fiction-genres
Brief History of the Interior MonologueJames Clegg
An imaginary, inaugural sketch of what a brief history of the 'interior monologue' might look like. Here 'interior monologue' is explored as both a mode of representing a character's thoughts and more problematically as a practice 'we' might actually participate in.
Fundamentals of Literature
Compiled by: Belachew Weldegebriel (bellachew@gmail.com)
Jimma University
CSSH
Department of English Language and Literature
1.1 Definition of Literature
This introduction to fiction genres helps young readers to understand the characteristics of historical fiction, realistic fiction, fantasy, science fiction, mystery and folktales. Through pictures, examples, and review, students will learn how to identify and use genres.
This presentation includes only historical fiction and realistic fiction. Find the full presentation here:
http://www.slideshare.net/elkissn/fiction-genres
Brief History of the Interior MonologueJames Clegg
An imaginary, inaugural sketch of what a brief history of the 'interior monologue' might look like. Here 'interior monologue' is explored as both a mode of representing a character's thoughts and more problematically as a practice 'we' might actually participate in.
Fundamentals of Literature
Compiled by: Belachew Weldegebriel (bellachew@gmail.com)
Jimma University
CSSH
Department of English Language and Literature
1.1 Definition of Literature
This introduction to fiction genres helps young readers to understand the characteristics of historical fiction, realistic fiction, fantasy, science fiction, mystery and folktales. Through pictures, examples, and review, students will learn how to identify and use genres.
This home work is for the story by Flannery OConnor, A Good Man I.docxjwilliam16
This home work is for the story by Flannery O"Connor, A Good Man Is Hard To Find. As we study and discuss the story in class we learn about the power of a narrator, the carefully created traits of supporting characters, the power of setting and how the author uses these tools to describe the chosen theme. This two page paper asks you to focus on making a connection between
a
(one) literary term and the primary text. This paper is short, hence ONE very specific aspect of the text must be chosen to discuss. The term you choose must be explained in detail. The necessity, presence, and relevance of this aspect throughout the story must be shown clearly. These are the terms
Plot
– The structure of the action; the meaningful manipulation of the action; one aspect of the total design of the story.
Action
– NOT a single event (boring!), but rather a series of events having
unity and significance
.
Narration
– To narrate is to tell a story, to tell what happened. Always be mindful of who the narrator is, where we are getting the story from. Is our narrator reliable? Trustworthy? Damaged?
Be mindful when reading texts chosen for this course to pay attention to
when narration shifts
.
Theme
– Not to be thought of as merely the topic of the story. It is what is made of the topic. It is the idea, the significance, the interpretation of persons and events in the total narrative. It is what we (as the reader) are to make of the human experience rendered in the story – always involving, (directly or indirectly) some comment on values in human nature and conduct.
Symbol
– An object, character, or incident that stands for something else, or suggests something else. The crown, the cross, or the flag are conventional symbols, but the symbols we are concerned with in these texts are not conventional. In fiction an author must make use of symbols at some level, not everything can be spelled out for us!
Foreshadowing
– (my favorite ‘f’ word) – The process of giving the reader a hint or clue of some event which is to follow late in the action. We (the reader) cannot make a blind leap, there must be some reasonable connection between the events – it may not be revealed as soon as we’d like, but it must be a logical connection.
Characters
– Characters are not real people! Be careful not to get too caught up with asking yourself whether or not you like this person, whether you’d hang out with them, or shouting at them to make better decisions. Pay attention to character traits and what they reveal about them; how they interact with other characters (and what that reveals), and what action or symbols are expressed through either characters alone of their involvement with others.
Setting
– The setting of a text is very relevant to all of the above; the traits of characters and how they interact with others; what kind of action can take place and when; they type of symbols that are present, and the theme, what message the author .
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
Powerpoint Templates Page 5
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
Powerpoint Templates Page 8
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
Powerpoint Templates Page 11