Silas Marner Essay

Nikita Patel 22nd April 2011 "In what ways does Eliot create dramatic turning point in the novel here" George Eliot creates a lot of drama in this text. There could be a few dramatic turning points which are for different people. She relates back to moments earlier in the novel to make her point get across and make a stronger mark on the reader. In the first paragraph Godfrey is encountered with his child and Silas's arms, "...an object as startling to him...", Eliot uses dramatic language here about Godfrey's feelings and his reaction to that moment. Also this is the second time in the novel where Silas is involved with the village, "...as if it had been an apparition from the dead." The first time was at the rainbow and the villagers where talking about ghosts and, "suddenly seen standing in the warm light, uttering no word,..." this is a comparison with Godfrey when everyone thought he was a ghost. Another dramatic point in the first paragraph is "It was his own child." This is very short and to the point and creates a punch tone, and it's could be the start of a turning point, It is a realisation to Godfrey that's his child. Throughout the novel we see Godfrey can't make up his mind and again "...hope was rising that he might possibly be mistaken, this shows the indecisive character and how he hope the fate will intervene and it's not his child. Also at this

  • Word count: 810
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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of mice an men

How does Steinbeck present the theme of loneliness in 'Of Mice and Men'? Of mice and men is a novel, which was written by John Steinbeck, and published in 1937. The tale is set in the 1930's in California. The two main characters of this novella are George an Lennie who are farm workers an dream of one day owning there own ranch. They work in a ranch near Soledad, as they had to move from their old ranch because of the incident containing George. On their journey at the ranch they encounter many people who all have a similar dream to there own "The American Dream." Loneliness is an emotional state in which a person experiences a powerful feeling of emptiness and isolation. Most of the characters in this novel are lonely and the only reason for why they go on is for that dream they long for "the American Dream." Of Mice and Men is a poignant tale with many themes and characters. This essay will describe the way loneliness is portrayed in "Of Mice and Men." George and Lennie are companions who travel from place to place trying to finally create their dream. Which is to one day own there own ranch. George the protagonist of the story is a quick witted and sharp man. He takes the fatherly role of Lennie. Lennie the other protagonist of the story is a mentally disabled man. Despite possessing a child's mental ability he is described as having features of a bear. " A huge man

  • Word count: 840
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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context-Pride and Prejudice

Context-Pride and prejudice Discuss what comment Jane Austen is making about her society's attitudes towards women and marriage through a variety of characters. Jane Austen Jane Austen was born on 16 December 1775 in Stevenson, Hampshire. The daughter of a clergyman, she was the seventh of eight children. Her formal education ended when she was just 11 years old, but her father, rather like Mr Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, had a good library and Jane used it well. Even as a teenager, her writing was lively and humorous. Although Pride and Prejudice was published in 1813, she'd written an earlier version many years before - it was refused by a London publisher in 1797.While Austen wrote a great deal about marriage, she never married or had children herself, although she used to love spending time with her many nieces and nephews. She died on 18 July 1817.Jane Austen writes many things in relation to the status of women and how important marriage was to them in regency England. This essay will discuss how Jane Austen relates the importance of marriage and the status of women through her novel: Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen uses both Lydia and Elizabeth to tell readers a lot about the importance of marriage, and the advancement it could have brought to the status of a woman in her time. 'Lord, how I should like to be married before any of you; and then I would chaperone

  • Word count: 571
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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The Way of 17th Century in the Way of the World

The Way of 17th Century Society in The Way of the World The Way of the World is a popular English play written by William Congreve in 17th century. Like most plays in the Restoration period, The Way of the World is regarded as a satire on the lives of the idle-classes in 1700s. Ironically, it has been reported that in his later life, Congreve, never been married, had good friendships with several actresses and noblewomen, especially, Henrietta Godolphin II, Duchess of Marlborough whom he had a daughter with.1 Apart from this considerable contrast, his work, the Way of the World reflects many aspects of aristocracy's society in 17th century, which worth discussing. Firstly, according to the conversation between Mirabell and Millamant, readers could obviously see how marriage customs and gender roles performed in the Restoration period. It should be underlined that Mirabell and Millamant's ideas and manners were quite different from their people, which means everything that was committed by the couple would be behaved in the opposite way by others. Therefore, when Millamant said she will "fly and be followed to the last moment," it represents that women in those age considered marriage a significant part of her life. For further understanding we should account for the situation of English women in that period, whom despite several social improvements continued having less

  • Word count: 742
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Hieroglyphics; by Anne Donovan

Hieroglyphics; by Anne Donovan. Hieroglyphics is an emotional short story relating to the traumatic school experiences of Mary Ryan, a young girl struggling to cope with her undiagnosed dyslexia. The story takes us through her primary and secondary experiences, and also the differences in the way teachers treat her, and also how Mary herself doesn't know what is wrong with her, since she's the only one in her classes who is struggling so much. No teachers think to test her to figure out what is wrong, and just class her as 'dumb'. We see how Mary learns to cope with her problem, and how she discovers hieroglyphics as a way to communicate. Through her choice of characters and captivating plot, Anne Donovan has managed to touch us all as readers, allowing us to empathise with Mary all throughout the story. In the story, we get a glimpse of what life and school are like for a dyslexic child, when there is no support available. Mary Ryan, the main character of the story, is the narrator, and tells us her thoughts and feelings throughout her classes. We learn how she feels left out, since the other children treat her differently since she is simply not the same as them, of course they do not understand why. The story is written in a Glasgow dialect, meaning we find it harder to understand, giving is a small impression of what it is like for a dyslexic person trying to

  • Word count: 1626
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How does Mary Shelly use setting to reflect plot and character in Frankenstein? How did Frankenstein influence the Gothic genre?

How does Mary Shelly use setting to reflect plot and character in Frankenstein? How did Frankenstein influence the Gothic genre? Insight to Setting and Genre The common settings found in horror genre are secluded and isolated areas where no social contact is made. These gothic type genres are set at night time and there are a lot of superstitious activities. They are usually located near woods and are obviously spooky-looking. They seem gloomy and dark. This links with Frankenstein as the story starts in the Arctic where Captain Walton sees two sledges. This is an isolated place and it emphasises the reader that this is from the horror genre. The 'setting' in the book is where the story has taken place e.g. lonely or some sort of abandoned place where no touch of contact has been sensed. We've looked at these settings in Frankenstein as they take place in the North Pole. This is a place if once your journey gets broken basically you will not survive. This again establishes the horror genre. Evaluation and some analysis of techniques North Pole is a really effective beginning to the book as it signifies the genre of horror. It expresses seclusion and sets the chill in your bones. This is a basic horror convention to start with. Another convention for this setting is that it determines to break the victims' journey. This classical convention clearly signifies the reader

  • Word count: 918
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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English media coursework (collateral)

In this essay I will be looking at the film "Collateral", directed by Michael Mann. I will be considering the representation of Tom cruise's character Vincent and looking at the genre of the film. The character of Vincent appears at L.A. Airport in the first scene, showing the audience that he is the important character and that everyone else in the crowd is not important. He seems odd; the clothes he wears are grey and this might suggest that he is trying to blend in with everyone but the audience, get the sense that he is more significant than others on screen. Overall his appearance tells that the audience that, he is trying to fit in with everyone but he has something about him that should make everyone suspicious. He is shot in close up at times, to make it clear to the audience that he is the main character. After the first killing Vincent tries to act if nothing happened but he is unable to hide it so he pulls a gun on the Jamie Foxx character, and that shows he is a violent character. The music that plays in the background suggests that Vincent is threatening and that there's something about him that's bad. Vincent's character is further defined when he shoots the two guys in the alleyway because they tried to steal his suitcase; one of them was still slightly alive and he shoots him in his head execution style, telling the audience that there is something cold about

  • Word count: 942
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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The most positively portrayed characters are those closest to the Earth, Discuss this statement when considering the characters of Gabriel Oak and Bathsheba Everdene.

GCSE English Literature June 2009 Pre 1914 Novel: Thomas Hardy Far From the Madding Crowd (1874) 'The most positively portrayed characters are those closest to the Earth,' Discuss this statement when considering the characters of Gabriel Oak and Bathsheba Everdene. Thomas Hardy's novel, 'Far From the Madding Crowd' links to nature and the earth through its characters throughout the plot. Hardy's story is set in the fictional county of 'Wessex', a rural community set away from the mist of the industrial revolution. It is very true that both Bathsheba Everdene and Gabriel Oak are both positively portrayed characters when they are closest to the Earth. In the first chapter, we are introduced to the protagonists of the novel. Firstly, Gabriel Oak, a man whose smile is 'like the rays in a rudimentary sketch of the rising sun.' In his 'smile,' Hardy makes use of a comparison to the 'sun'; this links Oak to nature and portrays him in a positive light. Throughout the 'working days' of the week, Oak is described as a 'general good character', who is hard working, this description of Oak certainly portrays Oak in a positive light when he is working with nature. Later on in the chapter, Bathsheba Everdene is shown as a total antithesis of that of Oak's demeanor. When

  • Word count: 908
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Read chapter 8 of great expectations. How does Dickens` narrative style and use of language create the character of Miss Havisham?

Great Expectation Coursework Read chapter 8 of great expectations. How does Dickens` narrative style and use of language create the character of Miss Havisham? "Great Expectation" is a novel written by Charles Dickens, he was born 7th February 1812. Dickens wrote Great Expectations during the Victorian Era and the Industrial Revolution. Factories were replacing farms as a means of occupation. In the factories the workers lived in horrible conditions. Children were often used in the factories because they required less pay and could navigate around the machinery better. Charles Dickens grew up in a large household and his parents spent money they didn't have. This led to Dickens being pulled out of school and having to work in a bottle factory to support his family at a young age and to his father being placed in debtor's prison, leaving Charles alone in London. Dickens wrote Great Expectations because he grew up in poor conditions and was familiar with the situations that occur in "Great Expectation" to Pip. Pip is very "uncomfortable" and "half afraid" about entering her house and meeting Miss Havisham. The Satis house is an intimidating reflection if Miss Havisham, "The great front entrance had two chains across it", this gives the reader the impression that Pip is entering a place where something is locked away and Miss Havisham does not want the outside to know. The

  • Word count: 939
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Medea Excerpt Commentary

SECOND WOMAN: A little love is a joy in the house, A little fire is a jewel against frost and darkness. FIRST WOMAN: A great love is a fire That burns the beams of the roof. The doorposts are flaming and the house falls. A great love is a lion in the cattle-pen, The herd goes mad, the heifers run bawling And the claws are in their flanks. Too much love is an armed robber in the treasury. He has killed the guards and he walks in blood. --Act I, pg. 37-38 In Medea by Euripides, Medea expresses her extreme anger and bitterness towards Jason after Jason visits her. Subsequently, the Women explain the complexities of love, making a distinction between a normal, controlled love and a powerful, consuming love. Using metaphor and vivid imagery, the women juxtapose "little" love and "great" love, conveying the theme of the destructive power of passionate love. First, the Second Woman introduces the seemingly innocent idea of love. The description of a small love as "a joy in the house" makes it appear harmless, pleasant, and almost trivial, as the "joy" occurs "in the house" rather than directly to somebody. The imagery of the "jewel" depicts love as beautiful and valuable; it contrasts with the cold, unfeeling "frost and darkness" which it must withstand. The metaphor of the jewel suggests strength and endurance, but not a consuming power. The parallel structure of the

  • Word count: 578
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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