The English Patient

INSTITUTO SUPERIOR DE PROFESORADO Nº 4 "ÁNGEL CÁRCANO" ENGLISH LITERATURE II THE ENGLISH PATIENT MICHAEL ONDAATJE "NATIONALITY AND IDENTITY" DEADLINE: 24/08/08 TEACHER: RAQUEL VARELA STUDENT: PAOLA MAREGA Nationhood - a constraint on people's identity and relationships The English Patient, written by Michael Ondaatje in 1992, is a historical-fiction novel, defined also as historiographic metafiction1. Its tone is "reflective and poetic" (Schonmuller, B., 2008:13) and one of its major themes is nationality and identity. The narrative is an account of the gradually revealed histories of four people living in an Italian villa at the end of World War II. The characters are the mysterious and critically burned English patient of the title, a Canadian army nurse called Hana, David Caravaggio, an Italian thief, and an Indian sapper, nicknamed Kip, belonging to the British Army. Each of them is far away from home, displaced by the war, and though they come from different and conflicting countries, they are able to live together in the villa and get on well in spite of their national and cultural differences. The English Patient focuses on the personal experiences of war of the four main characters, who have been deeply wounded by a conflict based on national divisions (Woodcock, J., 2006: 51). It also explores the effort of the characters, particularly that of the patient

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  • Subject: English
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Criticism on Hamlet

**HAMLET** [189] Act I. Scene i. (I. i. 63.) He smote the sleaded Polack on the ice. Polack was in that age, the term for an inhabitant of Poland: Polaque, French. As in a translation of Passeratius's epitaph on Henry III of France, published byCamden : Whether thy chance or choice thee hither brings, Stay, passenger, and wail the best of kings. This little stone a great king's heart doth hold, Who rul'd the fickle French and Polacks bold: So frail are even the highest earthly things. Go, passenger, and wail the hap of kings. Act I. Scene i. (I. i. 138.) If thou hast any sound. The speech of Horatio to the spectre is very elegant and noble, and congruous to the common traditions of the causes of apparitions. Act I. Scene i. (I. i. 153 foll.) Whether in sea or fire, &c. According to the pneumatology of that time, every element was inhabited by its peculiar order of spirits, who had dispositions different, according to their various places of abode. The meaning therefore is, that all spirits extravagant, wandering out of their element, whether aerial spirits visiting earth, or earthly spirits ranging the air, return to their station, to their proper limits in which they are confined. [190] Act I. Scene ix. (I. v. 154) Swear by my sword. Mr. Garrick produced me a passage, I think, in Brant ôme, from which it appeared, that it was common to swear upon the sword,

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  • Subject: English
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English society of Chaucer's time

Most people in the English society of Chaucer's time, about 600 years ago, viewed the world in a similar way and accepted the same beliefs. People then believed that behind the chaos and frustration of the day-to-day world there was a divine providence that gave a reason to everything, even though that reason wasn't always obvious. When you've got faith in an overall system like that, it's easier to accept and understand the world around you. People in Chaucer's society could feel, at least much of the time, a sense of security about the world, knowing that it was following a divine plan. They trusted the system they believed in; it was true, and they felt no need to question it. So behind all of Chaucer's satire and social put-downs in the Canterbury Tales is an unshaken belief in a divine order. It's easier to make fun of something when, underneath, you know you take it seriously. Also, as Chaucer knew, it's easier to write for a group of people who at least roughly share the same set of values, whether they be a cook, a parson, or an upper-class prioress. Those values were represented in the medieval world by two structures: the class system and the church. People believed both setups were established by God, and each went unchallenged. A peasant, like Chaucer's Plowman, wasn't "upwardly mobile" as in our society, and didn't aspire to become a knight. He may want to buy

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  • Subject: English
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How did Shakespeare create tension in act 1 scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet

How did Shakespeare create tension in act 1 scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet ? Romeo has just gate crashed on the Capulet party and no one knows that he is at the party and if he is found by the Capulet he will most likely be killed because of Romeo being a Montague this because earlier in the play the Montague's and Capulet have a fight. Romeo see Juliet and say "snowy dove trooping with crows" (act 1 scene 5) this tells us that romeo thinks that Juliet stands out from every other person. Tybalt hear Romeos voice and he know romeo is not meant to be at the Capulet party. Tybalt wants romeo gone but lord capulet stops him and tells him off "why, how now, kinsman, wherefore storm you so?..."(act 1 scene 5) he holed this against romeo and wants retribution and calls romeo a "villain" (act 1 scene 5) this time this was a very offensive word to be called. While tension increases romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love the share kisses and proclaim there feelings for each other and how ever they do not realise that they are sworn enemies. The Capulet despise the Montagues' who they have been at war since "ancient times" (prologue) so when the nurse tells Juliet that Romeo is the some of her fathers "great enemy" (act 1 scene 5).this adds to the tension in the play. Immediately after Romeo asks what is her mother and a nurse replies Juliet's mother is "the lady of the house." (act 1

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The Mayor of Casterbridge - Chapter Summaries

Chapter 1: Summary: The novel opens in the early part of the nineteenth century. One summer evening, a young family is walking towards the village of Weydon-Priors, in the region of England known as Wessex. From the beginning, it is obvious that something is strange about this family. Although the man, woman, and child are not poorly dressed, the dirt that has collected on them during their journey makes them look shabby. In addition, the man and woman do not regard each other at all, even though they are clearly traveling together. Eventually the family stops to rest. While they rest, a turnip-hoer speaks to them. From him, the family learns that there is no work and no housing available in Weydon-Priors; however, since it is Fair Day, there is some excitement in the village. The family goes to the fair-field, but ignores all the goings-on in favor of finding food. They decided to stop in a furmity tent, a place where they can buy some pudding. The man demands some liquor for his furmity, and drinks it lustily, ignoring his wife's pleas for lodging. Soon the man, who has been called Michael, complains loudly about his marriage and his poverty. Outside, Michael hears an auction of horses, and he wonders why men can't sell their wives at auction. Some people inside the tent actually respond favorably to this question, and Michael openly offers his wife for sale (with the

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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scarlet Letter.

scarlet Letter It has been said that Hawthorne condemns the Puritan society of Boston and at the same time presents it as a stable necessary environment for the New England settlers at that time. In the scarlet letter the core of the story line revolves around a movement known as the Puritan. The Puritan movement began when King Henry declared England's independence from the Church of Rome and he appointed himself head of the new Church of England. King Henry did this because he wanted to divorce his wife Catherine of Aragon in order to marry Anne Boleyn. By appointing himself head of the Church of England he was able to grant himself his own divorce that the pope would not give him. At first there was little difference between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic but later with the spread of Protestant reformers such as John Calvin the church began to change. Some people thought the church of England retained too many of the superstitious practises of the Roman Catholic Church. They wanted simpler truths and less structured forms of worship like the earlier Christians, because they wanted to purify the Church of England, they got the name of Puritans. John Geree describes the puritans as "one, that honoured God above all, and under God gave every one his due"! These Puritans followed a very strict code of practise; they were greatly influenced by the bible, their

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RICHARD II KEY LITERARY ELEMENTS SETTING Richard II is located in various parts of England and Wales.

RICHARD II KEY LITERARY ELEMENTS SETTING Richard II is located in various parts of England and Wales. The tournament scene (Act I, Scene 2) is at Coventry, in the Midlands. Bolingbroke, although coming from Brittany, in France, lands on the north coast of England and undertakes the tediously long march southwest through the Cotswolds to Berkeley and on to Bristol. Richard returns from Ireland and lands at Barkloughly. He moves in a northwesterly direction towards Flint Castle, where he encounters Bolingbroke. The climactic scene takes place in Parliament in London. Then Richard is sent to the prison of Pomfret Castle, which is in Yorkshire. CHARACTERS Major Characters King Richard - Richard, the play's protagonist, is a poetic and intensely charming man, but a fatally weak monarch. His unshakable faith in his own quasi-divinity constitutes his tragic flaw, as does his bad judgment. He enjoys the role of performer, and after he is deposed, he casts himself as a martyr. Henry Bolingbroke - Bolingbroke is the Duke of Hereford and the son of John of Gaunt. After the latter's death, he becomes the Duke of Lancaster. Bolingbroke is a practical and ambitious man who replaces Richard on the throne. At the beginning of the play, Bolingbroke believes in the divinity of kings and in the need to obey them, regardless of their cruelty. He

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Could I Have Lived My Life Differently? : The Diary of Bigger Thomas.

Could I Have Lived My Life Differently? : The Diary of Bigger Thomas Osarieme Erhunmwunsee Computational Literature 2/2 Dr. Hoffman 30 May 2003 Could I Have Lived My Life Different? : The Diary of Bigger Thomas Winter of 1930: Fear It was a harsh winter in the "Black Belt" of Chicago. Me, a twenty-year-old, black man who lives in the ghetto my momma, Vera and Buddy has to wake up to a huge rat trying to snip at us. So I take my momma's heavy iron skillet, and kill the rat right after if tries to bite me and rips my pants. Vera started to cry after I shoved the dead rat in her face, swinging the animal's body by its tail. All momma could do after Vera passed out was nag, nag, nag and tell me to throw it outside. When Bigger re-enters, Ma continues her tirade, reminding him that he has a job interview that evening and if he has any "manhood" in him, he will take heed of the welfare relief agency's threats to discontinue the family's aid and living arrangements. After she is revived, Vera is worried that she will be late for her sewing class at the YWCA, but her thoughts turn to her mother's depression and she seeks to console her. Ma is worried that her son appears unconcerned about her welfare and at breakfast, she "prophecies" that Bigger will go to "the gallows" unless he discontinues associating with his gang. Bigger quickly eats his breakfast and unsuccessfully

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Critical review Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 has itself been threatened and censored in various school systems, mostly due to the appearance of words like "hell" and "damn" in the novel, and has now taken its proud place on the list of books which have been censored or banned in America. Main Characters Montag, the protagonist of Fahrenheit 451, starts out as a typical "fireman": he takes a primitive joy in his job -- which is burning books -- and never stops to question why things are the way they are. But after a series of reversals makes him question his assumptions, Montag begins a painful metamorphosis, eventually becoming first becoming a full-fledged rebel against his repressive society. At the beginning of the book, Montag is living what Henry Thoreau might call an "unexamined life": He believes what he's taught, respects his Fire Captain boss, and thinks that he is happy. But, after he meets young Clarisse McClellan, Montag's "happiness" crumbles away, and he finds himself left with a profound void inside. For the first time he lets himself be aware both of the problems of the world and of his own unsatisfied desires for knowledge, philosophy, and intimacy with other people. Finding that everyone else in his consumeristic culture is also skating on the thin ice of denial, Montag seeks friends and mentors in the thinking outcasts of society -- people like Clarisse, Faber, and Granger's

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Investigation into Gender Differences in the Language of Personal Profiles on Dating Websites

Investigation into Gender Differences in the Language of Personal Profiles on Dating Websites Hypothesis: Are there differences in the language used in personal profiles on dating websites based on gender, and are the genders represented differently? Introduction For my language investigation I will be looking at gender differences in internet dating profiles. I will consider differences in lexical choices, in particular whether there is evidence of the gender differences in language use claimed by Robin Lakoff in her publication Language and a Woman's Place (1975). Also, whether there are greater or lesser differences in lexical choices between the genders depending on age. It was speculated at the time Lakoff's research was published that as women became more equal to men, gender differences would not be as noticeable in language, as they were the result of inequalities between the sexes in other areas. I will also consider what whether the content of the profiles in my sample show evidence of differences in what is desirable in men and women. Past studies into newspaper lonely hearts ads, which internet dating profiles could be considered a modern manifestation of in many ways, found men and women were more likely to request and advertise about themselves different things. I will investigate whether these same differences are evident today in internet dating profiles,

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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