The language in look back in anger
Language The language in look back in anger is different compared to its contemporaries. The language is realistic; the characters are able to say what they would say in that situation in real life. In a way the writer John Orsborne had no limits because if something had to be real it needed everything to be realistic. Orsborne uses his characters as a mouth piece to examine the reality of life in the 1950s in Britain. Cliff has a Welch accent which is shown when he says like "boyo" and "dullin". At the start of the play there seem to be a lot of exposition from the characters to describe themselves or tell us about the situation. For example " James Porter, aged twenty five, was bound over last week after pleading guilty to interfering with a small cabbage and two tins of beans on his way home from the Builders Arms." This tells us Jimmy's age and that he likes going to the pub, and shows that Cliff seems to have a sense of humour. The exposition goes on through out the play. We see this when jimmy is talk about Alison family and what was happening to his dying father when he was 10. The colonel has his share in exposition when he's talking to his daughter Alison about the past. "It was March 1914, when left England, and, apart from leaves every ten years or so, "the information Osborne constantly provides us with about each characters past helps the audience understand
Write an essay exploring the injustice of white authority over the aboriginal people as explored in the novel The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith.
Write an essay exploring the injustice of white authority over the aboriginal people as explored in the novel The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith. In the chant of Jimmie Blacksmith by Thomas Keneally white man is an indictment of a racist society and has a distinct authority over the aboriginal race and comprehensively abuses this authority. This is expressed through the language spoken the tone used and the body language depicted within keneallys characters through his vivid descriptions. In this profound novel attitudes of predigest and discrimination towards the aboriginal race are conveyed in many ways. Aboriginal society is severely exploited by the unjust authority that the white society enforces. Thought out the first half of the novel, Jimmie comes under the influence of five main figures that abuse this assumed authority. Initially Mr Healy, an Irish farmer, who was "Constantly delivering Jimmie with ultermations and stepping up close" To him. Keneally cleverly employing the effects of juxtrapositioning by creating a contrast through imagery and language in close proximity to highlight the characters differences to depict a deception of authority. In this case superior body language. Confrontational body language portrayed by Mr Healy represented attitudes of superiority over Jimmie. Healy is also depicted as the have the "Air of a balask", A fabulous serpent
Taking as your starting point pg.76 "Maire enters" to pg.78 "It didn't last long, did it?" discuss the play's impact as a 'doomed love story.'
Claire Gittoes "Whilst 'Translations' may consistently impress in its presentation of complex historical and linguistic issues, it is as a 'doomed love' story that it most affects." Taking as your starting point pg.76 "Maire enters" to pg.78 "It didn't last long, did it?" discuss the play's impact as a 'doomed love story.' On close examination of the text, it is clear that it is the inevitable hopelessness of Yolland and Maire's relationship that has the biggest impact on the audience. The love between Yolland and Maire, seems to represent the possibility for peace between two nations or cultures by their willingness to learn about and love one another's values and customs. This is why the 'doomed love story' makes such an impact. The importance of their relationship and what it symbolises is demonstrated by Maire's reaction when Yolland has gone. This is one of many times in the play where this 'doomed love story' can be likened to 'Romeo and Juliet.' The distress caused by Yolland's disappearance is expressed physically as well as verbally. By doing this Friel is appealing to the audience, "she is bareheaded and wet from the rain; her hair is disarrayed. She attempts to appear normal but she is in acute distress, on the verge of being distraught." This is a deliberate attempt by Friel to show the tragically predestined result of this 'doomed love story.' Friel reminds
How does the presentation of the demise of Ireland differ in Friels plays Translations and Making History? You should pay particular attention to form, structure and language.
How does the presentation of the demise of Ireland differ in Friel's plays Translations and Making History? You should pay particular attention to form, structure and language. ---- Friel's presentation of the demise of Ireland differs in responsibility and blame, but can be similar in reasons for the demise. However, even common themes have minor differences when examined in form, structure and language. Friel examples his views on why Ireland fell to the English in the respective time periods of both plays via the characters. For example, in Making History, Friel blasts O'Neill's ineptitude, with Jimmy Jack praised in Translations: "Harry: A letter from the Lord Deputy- / O'Neill: They really transform the room" O'Neill is more concerned with Spanish broom than matters with the English, symbolising how he is focused on nurturing Spain as opposed to his own people. This astounding care for appearance of the room also symbolises his preference to further his own status, exampled by his "dilemma". Contextually, the Spanish were enemies of the protestant English during the 16th Century, and thus Friel is communicating the ineptitude of O'Neill, who was more concerned about himself, as well as relations with Spain than his own people and struggle. This is emphasised by O'Neill cutting off Harry in mid-sentence, showing the sheer nonchalance of his ineptitude. In stark
What do you find of significance in Friel's presentation of the world of the play?
What do you find of significance in Friel's presentation of the world of the play? In Brian Friel's " Translations" many different places are mentioned such as the hedge-school, Baile Beag, Ireland, England, America and India. However, the play is mainly set in the hedge-school and there is only one scene outside of the hedge-school which is set in a ' vaguely outside area'. Therefore one may question why Friel has mentioned such various places if they have no direct relevance to where the play is set and if these places are of great importance to the play and its characters. The hedge-school is the main setting of the play. The hedge-school is held in a disused barn or hay-sed and is described to be, ' comfortless and dusty and functional' This description of the classroom, is very contrasting to an average classroom as it is not clean,organised and suited for working conditions. It is appropriate for the classroom to be in such poor condition as hedge-schools were forbidden due to penal laws and education for Irish Catholics had to be held in secrecy so classrooms had to be hidden away in unusual places. Hedge-schools were therefore a lot of hassle for the Irish but still many Irish people attended these schools. It was therefore appropriate for Friel to have chosen the hedge-school for the main setting of the play as it emphasises several different points. The first
How does Friiel use language and stagecraft to discuss identity
How does Friel use language and stagecraft to discuss identity Friels main concern, writing in the 1980s, seems to be the struggle for identity. One interpretation of the play is that Irish identity has been continually threatened since 1591. Friel writes his play in 1988 whilst living through Irish civil unrest during the troubles of northern island. By setting making history in 1951, friel is addressing time span and the struggle for identity that he may feel began with the English/Irish power struggle. The book centres on Hugh O'Neil, who is the Earl of Tyrone and at the start of the play is 41 years old. He is described as a ' private, sharp minded man', and he is a good main character because he is an interesting person who has a lot of conflict in his life. Hugh O'Neil changing his accent from English/Irish to Tyrone, is a good use of a languageas he always speaks in an upper-class English accent accept on the occasions specifically scripted. The Tyrone accent usually happens when he is angry about something. ' Just to show him I haven't reverted completely to type- would that be it', Friel choosing to use this type of lanuguage shows that O'Neil is rebellious and is proud of his irish identity. The arguement between Mary and mabel in the garden shows how Mabels identity and alliegience has changed from English by Irish. This is shown when the two are discussing
In Act 1 of 'Translations' Friel presents us with an 'intellectual Irish Arcadia'. How far do you agree?
In Act 1 of 'Translations' Friel presents us with an 'intellectual Irish Arcadia'. How far do you agree? 'Translations', by Brian Friel, presents us with an idyllic rural community turned on its head as the result of the recording and translation of place names into English; an action which is at first sight purely administrative. In Act 1 of the play, Friel brings together the inhabitants of this quaint Irish village in what can only be described as a gathering of minds - minds which study the classics, yet minds which study dead languages. In the same way, while this community is rich in culture and togetherness, it is also trapped in what is later described as a "contour which no longer matches the landscape of...fact". Thus, in expressing his ambivalence, Friel presents the reader with a question - is Baile Beag an intellectual Irish Arcadia? There is no denying that Baile Beag is an intellectual community. At the beginning of the play, Jimmy Jack Cassie, one of the central characters, is in the process of reading Joyce's 'Ulysses'. He is capable of reading the text fluently and understands it, despite it being in another language (although he later reveals that, while he is fluent in Latin and Greek, he knows only one word of English). He even relates his own life to that of characters in the book, posing the question, "if you had the picking between them [Athene,
What do you think is the significance of these three 'minor' characters in the play: Sarah, Jimmy and Doalty?
Translations What do you think is the significance of these three 'minor' characters in the play: Sarah, Jimmy and Doalty? Doalty, Sarah and Jimmy Jack Cassie have three main roles in Translations. Firstly, they represent those Irish people who will be left behind during the development of the country by the English. Secondly, they all contribute to the concluding scene and its outcome. And thirdly, they all in some way represent Ireland as a whole. Unlike Maire and Owen, none of these three characters has any desire to leave Baile Beag. When Jimmy Jack sets out on a spring morning in 1798 with Hugh to join the rebellion he, like Hugh, soon feels homesick and returns eagerly to where he feels he belongs "And it was there in Phelan's pub" reminisces Hugh "that we got homesick for Athens, just like Ulysses. "The desiderium nostrorum - the need for our own". Jimmy Jack, the peasant scholar, is a personification of a past, idealised Ireland - when Ireland kept alive the light of learning during Europe's Dark Ages. His "filthy" clothes, and shabby exterior are compensated for by the inner richness of his cultivated mind. Again he is like Ireland, materially poor but possessed of cultural wealth. Yolland appreciates both Jimmy Jack's knowledge and the "different order" of experience presented by Irish culture. For Jimmy Jack, the classics and everyday life are interwoven. For
Explore the range of linguistic and stylistic effects used to bring out the central themes and issues of Brian Friel's play "Translations"
Remind yourself of Act II Scene I beginning with the first speech by Owen, "Now where have we got to?" to the end of Hugh's speech, "Gentlemen." [he leaves]. Explore the range of linguistic and stylistic effects used here by Friel to bring out the central themes and issues of the play. In the play 'Translations Brian Friel explores many issues, one of which is the process of naming. The play is based on the introduction of the first Ordnance Survey, bringing with it the inevitability of anglicizing place names. In the extract naming is emphasised by constant references to various places in Ireland, and their English equivalents; for example "Bun na hAbhann...Burnfoot!". The link between a place and historical events is also emphasised; "And you place names-what was the one we came across this morning?-Termon, from Terminus, the god of boundaries." The theme of naming is very closely linked to the loss which occurs as a result. As place names are anglicized, something is lost. Communities such as Baile Beag lose their cultural and political identities, and the original meaning is distorted. Friel used the theme of naming to highlight this loss of identity within the Irish community. The importance of names is also stressed in the repetition of place names: "Owen: Bun na hAbhann Yolland: Again Owen: Bun na hAbhann Yolland: Bun na hAbhann" Friel uses mapping, both
How does Friel use language to explore theme and characterisation in the 1st act of the play?
How does Friel use language to explore theme and characterisation in the 1st act of the play? 'Translations' by Brian Friel is a play set in a simple town in Ireland. The English are doing an ordnance survey of the area and the local Gaelic place names are being recorded and rendered into English. The play examines the effect of this on a small group of people in the town. On the surface the story is simple, but the play is more in depth and explores the theme of central theme of new beginnings, language, communication and the shaping of reality. The themes and characters are immediately identifiable in the first act of the play. This essay will state how through the use of language Friel manages to explore the themes in act one. As the play opens the stage direction communicate to the reader the setting of the play and the social status of the characters within. They are revealed to be a poverty stricken rural Irish community. The first few lines of the lay already identify and explore the theme. 'Were doing very well. And we're going to try it once more-just once more.' The character of Sarah is unable to speak properly and instead uses gesture and grunts to communicate. The character of Manus at the beginning of the play is trying to convince Sarah to translate her silence into speech, thus identifying the theme of communication and translation. The character of
