A streetcar named desire - Williams introduces us to Blanche in scene 1 - How is she characterized, and how do the other characters relate to her.

Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire Williams introduces us to Blanche in scene 1. How is she characterized, and how do the other characters relate to her. The first description we are given of Blanche is in the stage notes near the start of scene 1. These are very important as they help to portray the atmosphere effectively, before the character speaks. We learn that she doesn't fit into the area where she is visiting her sister, " her appearance is incongruous to this setting." Therefore the impression is given that she is somewhat different from the other characters that have already been introduced in the play. Blanche is metaphorically compaired to a moth when she is described, "her delicate beauty must avoid a strong light...her uncertain manner...her white clothes...suggest a moth." This would give the audience the impression that she is a fragile, delicate person who seems to have issues from her past, which now affect the way she is. Blanche is obviously from an upper-class society and feels uncomfortable in Stella's home; "sits...very stiffly with her shoulders slightly hunched her hands tightly clutching her purse..." This also shows insecurity and she seems restless and unable to settle. Although not mentioned greatly there is a clear reference to a possible dependence on alcohol, " she pours a half tumble of whisky and tosses it down." This also

  • Word count: 944
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Discuss the notion of madness in King Lear.

Discuss the notion of madness in King Lear. In King Lear, there are two types of madness, real and feigned madness. King's Lear madness is real where as of Poor Tom's and the Fool it is feigned. At one point, during the play the two converge. Ultimately it is play dealing with madness. King Lear becomes mad as a result of his character, his rashness and vanity and due to circumstances. (His two daughters who try to deceive their father). Lear wants power without responsibilities and he hungers for assurances of devotion. King Lear is used to flattery and so is deceived by his daughters inflated speeches and his vanity does not make him realise that Cordelia is honest and her love is sincere and consequently he banishes her. Lear falls mad as a result of his misuse of power. The ingratitude of Goneril and Regan make Lear go mad. Goneril is sick and tired of her father as she accuses him that due to his character, the knights are behaving in an intolerable way, and suggests that disciplinary measures have to be taken. Lear is shocked as he answers her, 'Are you our daughter?'. Lear puts on an act, as a means of expressing his horror and astonishment and these are signs of madness. The phrases, 'Does any here know me? This is not Lear/ Does Lear walk this? Speak this Where are his eyes?' shows a King Lear who is getting weak in his senses. He curses Goneril and says that

  • Word count: 1921
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How does Arthur Miller gain and hold the audience's interest in The Crucible?

How does Arthur Miller gain and hold the audience's interest in The Crucible? I have been looking at the play 'The Crucible' by Arthur Miller. Whilst studying this play, I have read the book and seen two different films which were different interpretations of the play. One of them was the BBC version and the other one was the Daniel Day-Lewis version. As I have read and seen different versions of it, I have seen different ways of putting the information of witchcraft in Salem across. Although all of them were based on the same story, they all seemed to be able to hold my interest throughout. The play is based in a little town called Salem in the Massachusetts in 1692. Although the book was written in the 1950's, Arthur Miller knew how people reacted to witchcraft. People in those days were very religious and nearly everyone was against witchcraft. The whole play was divided into four acts. In act 1, straight away, it shows some form of witchcraft. This was performed by some relatively young girls. Parris, the reverend of the village had seen some girls 'dabbling in magic and dancing.' He saw Tituba (the servant) taking part in this magic, Abigail (his niece) Betty, Parris' daughter and many others. Parris was very worried that people around the village would hear of what happened that night. He certainly didn't want that to happen because if people found out that his

  • Word count: 5003
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Is King Lear "largely about rebellion"?

Is King Lear "largely about rebellion"? One of the major themes within King Lear is that of conflict and rebellion as is highlighted when King Lear asks his three daughters (Cordelia, Reegan, and Gonerill) "who doth love me most". Cordelia refuses to conform to her father's wishes and does not take part in the charade that her sisters play. This is a rebellion because she knows what she should say and what her father wants her to say. She is rebelling against the tradition that the children should obey their parent's wishes. An example of this rebellion is illustrated when Lear says to Cordelia "what can you say to draw a third more opulent than your sisters? Speak." Cordelia replies "Nothing, my Lord" Lear, startled, replies "Nothing?" Cordelia then says "nothing". This is an again a rebellion because Lear even gives her a third chance "How, how Cordelia? Mend your speech a little." But she still does not change her mind. This instance is also a rebellion of young to old but also the subject to the king because if Lear wasn't her father then she would never speak to him like that. So this is not just a moment of madness, this is a purposeful rebellion. Another way that Cordelia is rebelling against her father is when she says, "why have my sisters husbands if they say they love you all?" Here she is saying if they love you like nothing else in the world, why do they have

  • Word count: 1062
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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What is Preistley’s main aim in An Inspector Calls? How successfully does he achieve it?

What is Preistley's main aim in An Inspector Calls? How successfully does he achieve it? In this play a lot of immoral acts are committed by all four of the Birlings and by Gerald. I propose to look in detail at the moral issues the play raises, to discuss the effect of drama in the play, and the faint optimism displayed by the younger generation at the end of the performance. The moral meaning is summed up by a passage spoken by the Inspector's on page 56: 'We do not live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.' This talks about the community and how every member of society must help one another. This is in contrast to what Mr Birling says very early on in the play: 'a man has to make his own way', page 9. This is the opposite of what the Inspector later says about community and how it is not one man's job to get through life. Mr Birling was, perhaps, the least guilty of the Birlings, excluding Gerald. He discharged Eva for asking for a small raise, from twenty-two shillings and six pence to twenty-five shillings a week. He claims that this is entirely just, as it is 'my job to keep labour costs down', which it is; this is why I believe he is the least guilty. He denies that his act of greed contributed in any way to the death of Eva. He remains unchanged and self-centred throughout, as all he cares about is the fact that there might be a

  • Word count: 1495
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Devices of Rhetoric - Tony Blair - Annual Report Statement

Devices of Rhetoric Tony Blair - Annual Report Statement Tony Blair uses a large array of rhetoric devices, he uses these for great effect, for example to get one point into the minds of the listeners, he would use repetition. Tony Blair starts off his speech by using personification, "...will make Britain stronger and fairer." Using personification gave a human tendency to something non-human, Britain. Using this technique gives the listener a human trait to relate to and in turn see how that trait is used to describe Britain. He then moves onto quoting figures, although this is not a technique as such, quoting figures always gives an better edge on a argument or a speech, it seems more professional, and listeners are more interested in numbers rather than long sentences of information. "Inflation is at 2.2 %" 'Us and them' is another technique Tony Blair uses often, examples such as "we" and "we're" are used frequently. Using these makes the listeners feel the speaker, in this case Tony Blair, is speaking on their behalf. The next noticeable device that Blair uses is of Imperative sentences. "...now we must make the next choice: to invest in the..." using a command to tell the listeners to do something is an effective way of Delivering a speech. In this case however, the imperative sentence is almost rhetorical as the listeners have no choice but to do what Blair says,

  • Word count: 565
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Comparing a television version of "An Inspector Calls" with the book.

The production that I viewed of "An Inspector Calls" was a television version. I occasionally feel that television versions sometimes kill the intentions, to entertain and to stimulate the audience. When I read "An Inspector Calls" I had a version in my head to help me imagine the play in the way that I hope J.B. Priestley would have wanted it to be. But when I watched the television version I felt it didn't actually give the play justice. At the beginning of the play, J.B. Priestley gives a very detailed amount of stage settings, lighting and character descriptions. I felt that these were so detailed as Priestley wanted the mood of the first scene to linger throughout the whole play. For example "The general effect is substantial and heavily comfortable, but not cosy and home like." I felt that this was actually taken in to account, as the extremely large table was the central point of the beginning. The size of the table showed that although the characters were a family, they weren't close. At the very beginning of the production we were being led through some very grand doors, to show a 'perfect´ family enjoying a family celebration. I liked this technique it made me intrigued to find out what was going on within the family atmosphere. In the production I felt the wealth of the family was portrayed extremely well. The set was very traditional to the early 20th century.

  • Word count: 1245
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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A View From The Bridge - the dramatic impact of act two pages 43-49 and the events that in act two.

sA View From The Bridge In this essay I will discuss the dramatic impact of act two pages 43-49 and the events that has happened in act two. The relationship between Eddie, Beatrice and Catherine has changed since the arrival of Marco and Rodolfo. In the opening scene we could tell there was a family relationship with Beatrice taking the role of the mother Eddie as the over-zealous father and Catherine as the dependant daughter. Eddie works hard as a Brooklyn longshoreman. He's faithful to his wife Beatrice and has done a great job raising her late sister's daughter, Catherine. Now Eddie has agreed to let two of Beatrice's cousins from Italy, Marco and Rodolfo to stay in their small apartment. All Marco wants is a chance to earn money to send home to support his wife and children. The young, single Rodolfo has come along to help. Eddie opens his home to them and carefully instructs Beatrice and Catherine to keep their mouths shut about their boarders in case immigration officials catch wind of them Arthur Miller uses stagecraft (light rises on Alfieri at his desk) to focus on the lawyer and to emphasise his role as the narrator. He also takes the role as the family lawyer Alfieri a man who describes his practice as "entirely unromantic", who gives us his view of the events on what has happened so far to the characters and what might happen and the feelings the characters

  • Word count: 1202
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Sving private ryan

Saving Private Ryan Coursework Directed by Steven Spielberg and acted by Tom Hanks, Saving Private Ryan, won the hearts of millions with its action packed storyline. Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) and his unit go on a mission to find Private James Ryan (Matt Damon), to tell him that his brothers have died at battle. The film also won three different types of awards. The Golden Globe, The Oscar and The Grammy. Steven Spielberg has directed the opening battle sequence to be shocking and realistic, by using desaturated colours. This is effective because it shows the difference in time from the graveyard, which is present, and Omaha beach, which is the past. Another good effect is the use of the handheld camera. The cameraman follows captain miller up the beach and then zooms in on his face. This makes it look like we're there. The final dramatic and realistic things are the special effects. The pyrotechnics, like the gunfire and explosions look real. The make-up looks like there really are wounds and blood. These play a big part in the whole of the film. Scene one is an effective opening scene. It opens on an American flag. This is patriotic. It makes the Americans feel proud about their country. As it cuts from the flag, a man and his family are walking down a path, the man is James Ryan, we find this out later on in the film. We then find out they are walking to Colleville Sur

  • Word count: 1069
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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What are the Key Themes of The Crucible and how does Miller introduce them into the Book?

GCSE English Coursework The Crucible What are the Key Themes of The Crucible and how does Miller introduce them into the Book? Introduction The Crucible is a play written by Arthur Miller in 1952. It was set in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 and tells us of the Puritan community. Puritans were extremely religious and felt it very important that their children learned to read the bible as soon as possible. To be judged a good person, you had to know your commandments and have a good knowledge of the bible and respect it. All the communities' laws and teachings were based around the bible. The atmosphere in Salem is described in the book as 'acrimonious and joyless and was threatened by imaginary devils and the Indians'. The inhabitants of Salem had to work very hard for their money and the community's laws did not permit them to have fun. Even reading a novel was described as having fun and so novels, along with many other things, were banned, they were also obsessed with sin and damnation. As Salem had a theocratic society peoples sins were a matter of public concern. So prying into other's lives to expose their sins was encouraged; this is why Abigail was praised for speaking out. The title, 'The Crucible' is interesting because a crucible is a container used to heat metals at a high temperature. The main reason for this is to remove impurities from substances. This is

  • Word count: 2867
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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