Explore Dickens presentation of education in Hard Times and comment on how this reflects a Dickensian vision of Utilitarianism
Zahraa Gooljar Explore Dickens’ presentation of education in Hard Times and comment on how this reflects a Dickensian vision of Utilitarianism Dickens’ presents The Victorian education system in ‘Hard Times’ in a fundamentally negative way, Dickens’ expresses the idea that having an imaginative aspect to our education is essential. He does this through satirising the education system and mocking the characters. Throughout the novel, it is a purpose of Dickens being satirical towards the education system. Dickens opens the novel with a satirical description of Thomas Gradgrind and his utilitarian educational methods as he teaches the room full of students “Facts alone are wanted in life” (9) Dickens satirises Gradgrind’s commitment to an education comprised only of facts as Gradgrind exaggerates that facts are the only essential thing in life. “Fancy” (14) symbolises imagination and wonder compared to facts. Dickens emphasise “Fact” more than he does with “Fancy” he does this by repeating “fact” itself, sounds more forceful. Gradgrind's view on education is his children are to never imagine or wonder. Gradgrind rejects the concept of "fancy" or imagination; ‘fancy’ has nothing to contribute to understanding; only things that can be measured are important. Gradgrind’s disapproving rant on fancy “You don’t walk upon flowers in
How does Dickens use language in chapter 50 of Oliver Twist to show the death of Bill Sikes?
How does Dickens use language in chapter 50 of Oliver Twist to show the death of Bill Sikes? Background Oliver Twist is one of Dickens' early novels and one of his best loved. It has what you would expect from him: memorable characters, evocative descriptions, melodrama, a plot that relies on completely incredible coincidences. Dickens is the master of descriptive narrative and he conjures a grim and compelling view of Victorian London. His over view of London is created through his own experience of growing up and experiencing the 'badlands' and the derelict surroundings put in front of him as a child and through his youth, in this novel he doesn't hold back any knowledge about London or any details either, a true opinion which has made this novel so successful. Introduction How does dickens use language to show the death of Bill Sikes in Chapter 50 of Oliver Twist. What this title is asking me to do is to pick evidence out of the text to describe how Charles Dickens builds up tension and depicts and creates characters in Chapter 50. It is simple to just look at the death of Bill Sikes as an accident and a coincidence, but there is an enormous amount more that Charles Dickens has done in this chapter. Dickens ability to create an image in the readers head is outstanding, at the start of the chapter Dickens describes Jacobs Island, a small part of London where the
What Techniques Do Authors Use To Present the Female Characters? using extracts from Great Expectations
WHAT TECHNIQUES DO AUTHORS USE TO PRESENT THE FEMALE CHARACTERS? This essay will analyse the techniques used in an extract from Dickens 'Great Expectations' to describe the main female characters. In the extract 'Broken hearted vengeance' from 'Great Expectations', Dickens uses descriptive language to describe Miss Havisham, the main character in the extract from 'Great Expectations' words such as "cold and cruel" resembles Miss Havisham, because she is cold-hearted woman that hates all men and thinks they're all canaille. She is in this condition because her fiancé never arrived to the altar on their wedding day. Another metaphorical descriptive phrase that Dickens uses to describe Miss Havisham is "wax candles". This is because her life is at the end like a melting candle considering her fiancé left her. Another word from the extract that Dickens includes to explain Miss Havsham is "faded", this is saying that Miss Havisham is metaphorically dead I say this because she has lost the will to live. However, William Trevor uses a specific narrative structure as a technique to introduce his female characters. The specific narrative structure is by giving the female name, then by how they have been linked with the wedding. After linking them with the wedding William Trevor describes their physical appearance, then the colour that they are wearing which symbolises each female
Dickens' approach of contrasting circumstances in both France and England acts as the appropriate background to invigorate the factual violent revolutionary activity, both serving to create a tense and unrepressed setting.
Soon Shu Yi Trina 0107C39342 Eng OA-P3 Journal Entry 1 "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens Outline for Journal Entry 1 Main Focus: Setting Thesis: Dickens' approach of contrasting circumstances in both France and England acts as the appropriate background to invigorate the factual violent revolutionary activity, both serving to create a tense and unrepressed setting. Paragraph One * Comparisons of the contrast between England and France * In England it was the dawn of the industrial revolution, and for the growing middle class it was the best of times. For the poor, it was the worst of times because illiteracy and unemployment was high. * In Great Expectations: The setting in London, during the early 1800s (Victorian era), it was a time of change, when the Industrial Revolution was at its height. The situation has developed from the time of A Tale of Two Cities. * Great Expectations is a consequence of A Tale of Two Cities, and the condition is relative: the Industrial Revolution has reached a mature pinnacle. * In France, for the aristocrcracy it seemed like the best of times - many lived in a world insulated from what was really going on with the poor - hunger, poverty, and unemployment. * "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was
Trace the importance of duty and loyalty as demonstrated by at least three characters in the novel.
Trace the importance of duty and loyalty as demonstrated by at least three characters in the novel. Loyalty and duty is one of the main themes in "A Tale of Two Cities". Dickens examines this theme on many different levels, looking at both the loyalty and duty involved in the characters' personal relationships and their loyalty to certain causes or beliefs. Many of the characters in the book make great sacrifices due to loyalty on a national level or personal level. Lucie Manette shows great dedication and loyalty to her father, Dr. Manette. Though she once believed she was an orphan, when Lucie meets with her father she is unable to part with him. She looks after him and as the "golden thread" is able to bring him back to health and lovingly take care of him thereafter. Miss Pross, her nursemaid tells Mr. Lorry how Lucie had to persevere and showed tremendous devotion when she was nursing her father back to health "He gets up in the dead of night... She hurries to him and they go on together until her love and company have brought him to himself." (p94) She even says she is willing to avert her marriage plans despite her love for Darnay because she loves her father and does not want to leave him "If my marriage were so arranged as that it would part us... I should be more unhappy and self-reproachful now than I can tell you." (p180) Lucie sees it her duty as a daughter to
'A central issue in Victorian novels is the place of women in society'. Discuss the role and expectations of women in Middlemarch
'A central issue in Victorian novels is the place of women in society'. Discuss the role and expectations of women in Middlemarch In Middlemarch Eliot demonstrates what she believes is an incongruity in Victorian society. She uses a range of female characters as both good and bad examples as to their fulfilment of differing expectations, and the roles they play in their interaction with others. The role that a character plays is a manifestation of expectation, and it depends on whose expectation this is that defines their place in society. The characters that most adapt their role to fit with the opinions of a majority often hold more prestige within the provincial society. However Eliot's message is clear when we see that those who follow the expectations of a minority, and in particular those who follow their own path, end up happy by the close of the novel, even if the role which they assume is essentially an orthodox one. Victorian patriarchy gives the most inclination to expect to the male characters of the novel. Individuals such as Mr. Brooke hold very rigid, sincere views as to the proper conduct and position of women; he and the bulk of the male province believe in a 'lightness about the feminine mind', and that they are 'too flighty' to comprehend the same breadth of information as a male. He expects women to be an adornment, being able to 'play you or sing you a
Compare chapter one of Great Expectations(TM) in which Pip first meets the convict, with chapter thirty nine, when the convict returns.
Leah Waterfield 30th January 2008 Compare chapter one of 'Great Expectations' in which Pip first meets the convict, with chapter thirty nine, when the convict returns. Dickens wrote the novel 'Great Expectations' in 1861, but the story was set in 1807-1823. The novel is written retrospectively by Pip who, at the beginning of 'Great Expectations' is seven years old. In Dickensian England many novels were broken into serials. 'Great Expectations' was written in 39 parts, so cliff hangers were often used to entice the reader to buy the next instalment. Long and verbose sentences are used throughout the novel, as was the norm in Victorian England. The sentences often had very detailed descriptions which the contemporary reader is not used to, but in the time the novel was written that is what was expected. The descriptions and verbose sentences are used to set the scene and to keep the reader interested. We see this in chapter thirty nine when the convict is revealing that he is Pip's benefactor. Abel Magwitch speaks in long and prolix and dickens uses long paragraphs to emphasise all of Magwitch's emotions tumbling out and the affection Magwitch has for Pip. Although we see Magwitch has emotions in chapter thirty nine, he is the complete opposite in chapter one. Here he is shown as savage and terrifying. Magwitch even points out
the portrayal of children and family relationships in A Christmas Carol by Dickens
Prose coursework Explore how the portrayal of children and family relationships in A Christmas Carol by Dickens reflects the thoughts and feelings of the author. A Christmas carol was written by Charles Dickens in 1843 it is a novel about a man called Scrooge journeying through Christmas's past, present and future, he is ultimately transformed from an arrogant, obstinate and insensitive old man to a generous, warm hearted and caring human being. Dickens uses a wide range of techniques in A Christmas carol to portray his thoughts and feelings; he uses repetition, effective language, powerful verbs, unique imagery and a variety of sentence lengths and punctuation. The first family scene that I felt was important was a family scene at the Cratchits; Dickens describes children in a way that was not always deemed correct in Victorian times. "Every child was conducting itself like forty", this tells me that Dickens doesn't want children to experience what he had to in his childhood, Dickens was sent to work in a factory when he was young to support his family, as shown in this quote he wants them enjoy themselves to the full In the first Cratchit scene the younger Cratchits are dancing, "the young cratchets danced around the table", dickens condones the children's actions and is happy they are having fun. Dickens uses imagery to involve us in the Christmas meal and make us see
7In this passage, from the chapter 'Styrofoam Peanuts'how does Wolfe's style and use of language vividly bring to life this key point in Sherman McCoy's degradation?
7In this passage, from the chapter 'Styrofoam Peanuts' how does Wolfe's style and use of language vividly bring to life this key point in Sherman McCoy's degradation? 'Bonfire of the Vanities' is, as the Sunday Times describes it, the 'debut of a day-glo Dickens' and it is in this chapter that Wolfe's Dickensian style is clearest; not does the writing have a dynamic, graphic style but the underlying black comedy brings to life this satirical scene. One could consider 'Bonfire of the Vanities' as the natural evolution of 'Oliver Twist' where a frame of reference (McCoy) is provided to allow the true nature of the city to be amplified. Firstly, I feel it is important to understand that Sherman McCoy is neither a scapegoat nor a figure representative of his contemporaries: more precisely, his function is similar to that of Oliver Twist, in that as a victim, he is the focus of the satirical points of the novel which he brings together in a cohesive story line. Sherman feels 'paralyzed with fear and confusion' and his vulnerability is clear, and enhanced by Wolfe's style that brings out the atmosphere. Wolfe writes on a theme that has been explored by many writers: that of the inevitable collapse of the 1980s yuppie lifestyle but Wolfe's writing stands out from other novels such as 'American Psycho' by Brett Easton-Ellis: the language is so real that every detail is described.
Comparison between The Son's Vito and Kiss Miss Carol
Comparison between The Son's Vito and Kiss Miss Carol The differences in both stories are style and language, settings and culture against the social class. The similarities in both stories are feeling that you don't belong to a certain place or area, feeling isolated and trapped, and being unable to do anything because of someone who has more power and are controlling you. Other similarities are the love for their birthplace, education, making important decisions, possible sad endings and conflicts between the parent and child. In 'Kiss Miss Carol' we feel sorry for Jolil and possibly Mr.Miah, and in 'The Son's Veto' with Sophy and possibly Sam. In 'The Son's Veto' the problem between Sophy (the mother) and Randolph (the son) is a class issue because Sophy worked for Randolph's father who was an upper class than Sophy. When Mr.Twycott. Sophy's husband had sent Randolph to a creditable private school and then to Oxford University, Randolph had a beneficial and extensive education, unlike his mother's terms of class. Sophy desired to marry Sam whose background was similar to Sophy's; Randolph completely disapproved of this, even though Sophy kept asking for numerous years. Randolph responds very selfishly. The problem in 'Kiss Miss Carol' is the difference between Jolil and Mr.Miah. Jolil wants to play a part and join in the school play. Mr.Miah Jolil's father is entirely