To what extent can 'The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' be viewed as a 'gothic novel'

To what extent can 'The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' be viewed as a 'gothic novel'? Jekyll and Hyde is a gothic novel. It was written by Robert Louis Stevenson, he got the idea for the story after a dream he had. The word 'Goth' is originally from a German tribe and has come to mean 'barbarian' and later know as 'Gothic'. In Gothic Literature certain features are expected. These are supernatural events, have villains and hero characters, strange weather, horror, mystery and deaths. Older Gothic literature was in castles and deserted buildings. Modern Gothic novels were written is more populated areas. Another text that can be classed as 'Gothic' is the novel 'Frankenstein'. The reason for it being a 'Gothic' novel is the way it has a mutant character. Frankenstein is a mutant and is made by a crazy scientist 'I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life and stir with an uneasy, half-vital motion. Frightful must it be, for supremely frightful would be the effect of any human endeavor to mock the stupendous mechanism of the Creator of the world.' Here the crazed scientist is describing his creation coming to life. This quote describes the vision of the scientist looking at the monster he created. The images in this quote evokes some of the key gothic themes, such as the horrific

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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crime and punishment

Crime and Punishment In his book "Crime and Punishment", Dostoevsky explores the path of Raskolnikov who has many problems and obstacles throughout his life. He commits murder and is faced with the long and mentally extremely painful journey of seeking redemption. Raskolnikov believes that by a law of nature men have been "somewhat arbitrarily" divided into two groups of "ordinary" and "extraordinary". Raskolnikov believes that the duty of the ordinary group is to just exist, in order to form the world and the society. The second group, those who are "extraordinary", are a step above the normal. They have the ability to overstep normal bounds and violate the rights of those who are simply ordinary. They are the prime movers; they have a right to cross normal societal structures to accomplish those things that they have determined are valid in their conscience. Raskolnikov cites such "extraordinary men" as Newton, Mahomet, and Napoleon. He tells us that Newton had the right to kill hundreds of men in order to bring to the world knowledge of his findings. Napoleon and other leaders created a new word. They overturned laws and created new ones. They had the right to uphold their new ideals, even if it meant killing innocent men. Therefore Raskolnicov believes that some "extraordinary" humans like himself have the right to oppose ordinary social laws in order to create a new

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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How does the writer of the play 'A Kind of Alaska' show the struggle in Deborah's awakening?

How does the writer of the play 'A Kind of Alaska' show the struggle in Deborah's awakening? The awakening of Deborah in the play 'A Kind of Alaska' is a very slow progressing process, causing it to be one drawn out tense moment throughout the play. The struggle that is happening throughout the play conveys how difficult it is for Deborah to come to terms with herself and things that have happened without her influence. Confusion, reality and truth are the key points in causing the struggle for her, and decide on how she comes to terms with her life. Deborah succumbed to a 'sleeping' illness when she was fifteen. She has been in that illness for twenty-nine years and is not aware of anything that has taken place since the point she fell asleep. At the opening of the play, Deborah finds herself awakening in a plain room with two chairs, a table and the doctor. This causes Deborah confusion and distress, as she is struggling to come to terms with herself, her location and who the doctor is. Because this is the first time she has awoken in twenty-nine years, a fuss is made of her by the doctor. He is patient and waits for her to make the first move before he decides to question her about her 'sleep'. Deborah struggles with her words due to her not being provoked to make the first move. First she whispers, for this is all she can do due to her voice lying dormant for

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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When I was eight I always wanted to be twelve

I don't know about you but when I was eight I always wanted to be twelve. I don't know why; maybe it was at that time loads of characters in movies were twelve or that I thought I could get more pocket money - to be honest it could have been anything. Now that I'm twelve looking back four years, although it wasn't as "adventurous" life was a lot easier. Anyway, when I was eight, I lived up north and just five minutes away from a park. At that time I was a lot "goofier", about the average size for an eight-year-old and a bit skinnier the I am now. The Local Park that I was near was a cross between a nature resort and loads of racing tracks and football pitches put together. When I was eight In our family (this was my dad, my mum and I) it was a tradition that each time, after dinner we would go for a gentle stroll in the park. We finished diner around seven and the walk lasted an hour and a half. One day, most likely to be Sunday I had a friend round named David and we took him down to the park. My parents would have their weekly walk while me and Dave would play Football and ride our bikes. The park had many entrances; to get into the park itself it took a five-minute walk. We rode our bikes into the park with him in the lead. Personally, I thought I was a competitive child when I was eight and still I'm now. Anyway, the ground was slippery just like any other nature park; I

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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How does Miler create a sense of tension and conflict between John and Elizabeth Proctor at the beginning of Act Two?

Essay Question: How does Miler create a sense of tension and conflict between John and Elizabeth Proctor at the beginning of Act Two? In Act Two, John and Elizabeth Proctor are conversing and there are signs to indicate that there are tensions occurring in their marriage. Although the main theme of the 'The Crucible' is Witchcraft, this Act concentrates mainly on the relationship of John and Elizabeth. Miller uses a variety of dramatic devices, like stage directions to promote this point. Prior to this act the girls have named the witches and John has returned from Salem. Considering that this is where Abigail (whom John had an affair with) resides, it does not improve his dying marriage and relations with his wife. Miller begins by setting the tone for the scene and describes the front room of Proctor's house. The room is described as 'low, dark and rather long'; this immediately gives the impression of a threatening and hostile place. Coupled with the empty room, this could signify loneliness and symbolize the emptiness and lack of affection within the marriage. The word 'halts' is used to depict an image of a shocked John as he hears his wife singing, upon his entrance to the house. Miller could have decided to include this piece of information in order to show the audience how Elizabeth is rarely in a good frame of mind - perhaps due to her failing marriage. John then

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Jane Austens real talent is revealed much through her wonderful capacity for characterization. Like Shakespeare, she presents her characters truthfully and realistically.

ntroduction: Jane Austen's real talent is revealed much through her wonderful capacity for characterization. Like Shakespeare, she presents her characters truthfully and realistically. She is sensitive to every small nuance of manner and behavior and any deviation from the standard. The range of her characters is narrow and she confines herself to the landed gentry in the country-side. Servants, laborers and yeomanry rarely appear and even aristocracy is hardly touched upon. When she deals with aristocracy, she satirizes them such as Lady Catherine in P&P. Her Characters are never repeated: despite such a narrow range. Not a single character has been repeated in any of her six books. The snobbishness of the Vicar, Mr. Collins in P&P is unlike that of Mr. Elton, the Vicar in Emma. Similarly, there is a great difference between the vulgarity of Mrs. Bennet and that of Mrs. Jennings. Macaulay declares that her characters are commonplace, 'Yet they are all as perfectly discriminated from each other as if they were the most eccentric of human beings.' State different psychological habits and emotions of Darcy, Elizabeth, Jane, Mrs. Bennet. Her characters - individualized yet universal: Jane Austen has so comprehensive and searching a view of human nature that she invests them with a universal character. Her characters are universal types. Thus, when Mr. Darcy says, 'I have been

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Is it accurate to describe the world of 'Waiting for Godot' as futile and meaningless

Is it accurate to describe the world of 'Waiting for Godot' as futile and meaningless? Beckett was interested in putting everyday banality onto the stage in an experimentation of what theatre is. He attempts to provide a truer interpretation of 'real life' than that often depicted in previous theatre, which may typically contain excitement, exaggeration and liveliness. He suggests that one of the major constituents of human experience is boredom, indeed the very concept of 'Waiting for Godot' echoes this, and Beckett implies that much of life is spent waiting for something. The play is therefore a means of undergoing the difficult task of dramatising boredom. Routine and repetitiveness are apparent throughout the play and are key to creating the world of Vladimir and Estragon. This is reflected by the characters often having very similar arguments or discussion, such as frequent talk about committing suicide; or the concept that the two Acts, which make up the play merely appear to be repetitions of one another. Indeed 'Waiting for Godot' has been described as a play where "Nothing happens, twice". Beckett's struggle to make sense of things is evident in the combination of his characters acceptance that life may be meaningless, and their continuous questioning and search for meaning. The major refrain of the play, "nothing to be done", first arises when Vladimir cannot find

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Having to Cope.

Having to Cope By Kayleigh Minihane 11x Bethany a twenty two-year-old woman, born into the twentieth century, was told time and time again that if she were struggling financially she was to always go to her Papa. In the past he had been heroic in digging her out of her what seemed to be bottomless hole. April the 5th, the day along with many others, will stick in Bethany's mind for eternity. She could not seek for her Papa's bank details when the terminal notification arrived on her second hand, worn-out doormat. Her Papa was occupied paying for his youngest Princess' wedding, of whom she would be committing to Mr.'just got a promotion to manager of Warner Bros.'. Even though the engaged couple did not truly need the father of the bride's support, she could not bring herself to ask her Papa. She is a responsible young woman who had to face up to reality and cope. She attempted to obtain an employment position but childcare fees are so high flying that the money would have been taken away before she has even earnt them. You see it on Eastenders, you know somebody who has a friend of a sister who is dating 'Clive'. Well that's how she attempted to solve her issues. Clive had come round on the 10th of April with a plan that took place secretly. He broke various belongings of Bethany's the second part of the scheme was for her to call up in floods of tear and make an

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Write a Detailed Examination of Austen's style in chapter 39.

Siobhan Groves Write a Detailed Examination of Austen's style in chapter 39. Austen has a very distinct style throughout the novel, which is especially apparent in chapter 39. Austen focuses the chapter on the ever-vulnerable Harriet Smith being attacked by gypsies and more importantly Frank Churchill aiding her rescue. It proves to be an occasion for Austen to incorporate examples of dramatic irony into the novel along with language typical of her style. The chapter begins with an account of Harriet Smith's ordeal with the gypsies. Austen tells the story in a 3rd person narrative, which is very effective as the action moves rapidly. The story is told concisely and the reader is encouraged to read fast to keep up with the pace of the tale. This style of presenting the events is engaging and exciting for Austen's readers as page 39 reveals... "More and more frightened she immediately promised them money, and taking out her purse gave them a shilling, and begged them not to want more or to use her ill." Austen also encourages the reader to feel sorry for Harriet, as has been the case in many previous chapters. She does this by presenting her as a naïve and innocent victim completely helpless and defenceless. This is demonstrated on page 239: "In this state Frank Churchill had found her, she trembling and conditioning, they loud and insolent." Austen not only

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Polar opposites in 'Sense and Sensibility

Not titled "Sense or Sensibility" Polar opposites. Night and day. Hot and cold. These are just some adjectives and nouns that are on opposite sides of the spectrum. The words are perfect ways of contrasting the characters of Marianne and Elinor in the novel Sense and Sensibility. Sense, defined as the ability to be aware of things around her describes Elinor. She is the calm, quiet and collective sister, who makes decisions based on practicality. Sensibility, or the trait of being affected by changes in surroundings fits Marianne. She's the foolish, whimsical and irrational sister, driven by passion and emotion. Both characters are put in similar situations throughout the book and, true to the title, act with sense and sensibility. Elinor's courtship with Edward against Marianne's affair with Willoughby contrasts the characters ideas of marriage and love. Elinor, though interested in Edward, would not admit anything more than having "great esteem" for him. Elinor looked at the situation practically, citing that Mrs. Ferras would be the ultimate factor in their courtship because Edward's future (and fortune) depended on what Mrs. Ferras thought of Edward's possible wife. Thus, Elinor waited for more proof before she got carried away. Marianne couldn't believe Elinor's reserved attitude, calling Elinor "cold-hearted" for not saying more positive things. As far as Marianne was

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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