"George Eliot was committed to the idea of society as a slowly evolving organism with a shared culture and shared traditions"

Janahan T. A01D "George Eliot was committed to the idea of society as a slowly evolving organism with a shared culture and shared traditions". To what extent do you find this to be true of Silas Marner? A major aspect of George Eliot's Silas Marner is that of anthropological study. The majority of the novel is set in the village of Raveloe, described to be "in the rich central plain of what we are pleased to call Merry England", and throughout it George Eliot provides us with insights into Raveloe's life and culture. She contrasts this life and culture with that of Lantern Yard, a newly industrialised town where Silas Marner spends the early part of his life, and to which we are introduced in the first chapter. While she neither condemns Lantern Yard nor romanticizes Raveloe, she quite clearly places the later in a more positive light. She shows that it possesses a strong sense of history that has provided it with a rich and natural culture. This has led to community being strongly knitted and full of warmth. Thus the above statement is indeed very much true. The influence of the past is still present among the villagers of Raveloe. The village is first described to us as a place where many of the "old echoes lingered, undrowned by new voices." It partly thus that many of the villagers still possess pre-Christian beliefs, such as Dolly's somewhat superstitious belief that

  • Word count: 1202
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Longstone - creative writing

Longstone The wind howled and huge waves struck the break water at Seahouses harbour. The small fisherman's cottages that made up most of the coastal village shook with each onslaught from the vicious storm. Most of the men of the village had gone for the safety of their local pub, Ye Olde Ship, to wait out the storm. However, no one touched their drink now, as the patrons of Ye Olde Ship were staring out of the harbour side window and over the stormy sea. There loomed the Farne Island. Normally a place of ill-repute, avoided by local fishermen and regarded with fear, today it looked doubly threatening. Ten foot waves pounded the cliff face of the north side and lightening flashed above. The rocks clawed at the sky, hungry for the blood of sailors. Many lives had been lost around the Farne Island, there were countless submerged rocks and dangerous currents waiting to catch the unwary and carry them to a watery grave. But that was not what was commanding the attention of the men in the tavern. No it was Longstone lighthouse sitting upon the Farne Island that was so captivating. Tall and imposing it was a lifeline to those daring and foolhardy enough to try and navigate the dangerous waters surrounding the Island. The light was preserved by the three lighthouse keepers who lived on the island; they performed any necessary repairs and generally maintained the light. However

  • Word count: 1531
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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"Analyse the representation of Multicultural Britain in the films Bend It Like Beckham and East is East"

Media assignment 2 - Alex Taylor Form 10A "Analyse the representation of Multicultural Britain in the films Bend It Like Beckham and East is East" In this essay I will be studying the two highly successful films East is East and Bend It Like Beckham. As the title suggests I must "analyse the representation of a Multicultural Britain". The word "representation" within the film industry is used to describe what the film maker is trying to make the audience feel, think and see - basically what the director wanted to achieve from the outset. The two films I will be analysing both concentrate on the problems and situations which arise when two cultures, Asian and Anglo British, are thrown together. The messages and values throughout the films reach quite a deep level although Bend It Like Beckham is a lighter film overall, a coming of age feel good film whereas East is East does not offer simple answers. However humour constantly counteracts any depressing scenes; the best example being the comedy scenes following the husband's explosive temper and violent attack on his wife in East is East, a scene I will refer to again later. At such an important point in the film, the filmmaker purposely decided to keep the mood very solemn before the comic relief of the next scene. As is the case in sitcoms the narrative takes the form of a starting equilibrium before coming to disequilibrium

  • Word count: 4463
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How Does Silas Marner Change And Develop During The Course Of This Novel.

How Does Silas Marner Change And Develop During The Course Of This Novel During the course of this novel Silas Marner's life undergoes some dramatic changes. These changes affect his life in many different ways. He had to learn to cope when he was betrayed by the people he trusted the most. He was forced to move to a village where he becomes distant from the community. Silas had no real love for anything apart from money. When this was stolen, Silas found himself heart broken. A young girl brings joy into his life and he learns to love again. His love for her brings him into the community where his faiths and beliefs are brought back to him once more. The story begins with Silas living in a quiet village called Raveloe. He is a bitter, angry, indignant man who lives in self-imposed isolation, away from the other villagers. The reason for his way of living started fifteen years ago in an industrial village called Lantern Yard. He was a weaver and part of a religious sect. He is kind hearted and popular among the other villagers, he had good knowledge of herbal remedies but believed that faith in itself was good enough to cure anyone. His life revolved around religion. He was a very faithful man and put all his trust in God. Most of the money Silas made as a weaver was given away to 'piety and charity'. He suffered from cataleptic fits, which he could claim to be visions of

  • Word count: 1714
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Designing a Soap.

Designing a Soap Title: The title of my soap will be The Hidden Truth, because there are lots of secrets within the community, which link all the characters together. Broadcast Times: 8:00pm till 8:30pm on Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays, because most children are in bed so there can be a more mature theme to the program also other soaps will have finished by then for example Coronation St and Emmerdale. Location: Hyden Street, Hixfordshire Characters: Parjinda Kaur (23) 37 years old Sandeep Lundi Kaur (23) 15 years old Mr George and Mrs Betty Davis (19) 72 and 69 years old Rosie Evans (9a) 24 years old Mr Kevin and Mrs Marie Johnson (5) 28 and 30 years old Anabel Louise Johnson (5) 4 years old Alex Jackson (9b) 18 years old Laura Jeane (6) 26 years old Mr Fred and Mrs Mavis Gardner (14) 65 and 62 years old Dean Boland (1) 45 years old Mr John and Mrs Maureen Klimzack (11) 45 and 47 years old Emma Klimzack (11) 16 years old Johnathon Kilmzack (11) 12 years old Susan Klimzack (11) 5 years old Mr Peter and Mrs Julie Evans (16) 37 and 16 years old Daniel Evans (16) 12 years old The Williams' at number 7. Mr Mark Williams 34. Mrs Margaret Williams 29, Ellie Williams 15 and Michael Williams 17 years old. Carrie Lawyer number 8. 27 years old. The Slates' at number 10. Dorothy Slate 59 years old, bill Slate 62 years old and Deborah Slate, 27 years old. The

  • Word count: 3039
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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"The great virtue of this novel is the portrayal of the community in Raveloe." Discuss the quotation. How is the social and historical setting of this novel conveyed to the modern audience?

"The great virtue of this novel is the portrayal of the community in Raveloe." Discuss the quotation. How is the social and historical setting of this novel conveyed to the modern audience? Silas Marner by George Eliot was first published in 1861 during the industrial revolution. The industrial revolution, as the transformation came to be called, caused a sustained rise in real income per person in England and, as its effects spread, the rest of the Western world. Historians agree that the industrial revolution was one of the most important events in history, marking the rapid transition to the modern age, but they disagree vehemently about various aspects of the event. The Industrial Revolution reshaped the urban environment, not least by concentrating workers in the new industrial towns and suburbs linked and supplied by railways. The industrial revolution meant the poor could find jobs especially in big cities such as London and Manchester. It also took trade from small companies or people. The picture of Gin Lane shows the distress of working in the industrialized towns and cities. The picture emphasizes the massive difference between town and country life and how many people where unhappy working and living in this environment. The village hierarchy was based upon distinct social roles and responsibilities. Dunsey was known throughout the village to be a good man who

  • Word count: 3682
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Discuss the instances of injustice and justice in

Discuss the instances of injustice and justice in "To Kill A Mocking Bird" and "Silas Marner". In this essay I am going to compare and contrast the instances of injustice and justice in "To Kill A Mockingbird" and "Silas Marner". "To Kill A Mockingbird" is set in Maycomb, in the southern state of Alabama during the years, 1933-35, the time of the Great Economic Depression. Racial prejudice was particularly strong in the Southern States due to the earlier abolishment of slavery, slavery played an important part in the regions' economy. Blacks were still considered as slaves to whites and these racist ideas, superstitions and the general state of injustice was at its peak during the years of "To Kill A Mockingbird". Instead of the abolishment of slavery causing harmony between whites and blacks it instead worsened the divisions between them. Maycomb is a prime example of a town containing much prejudice, discrimination and injustice. "Silas Marner" was set between 1795 and 1825 in Raveloe, England. Britain and France were at war from 1793 until 1802 which caused terrible poverty across the land. In "Silas Marner", there are no black people so racial prejudice does not come into the book. There is prejudice against people who are different as there is in "To Kill A Mockingbird". "Silas Marner" was written in 1861 by George Elliot, it tells the story of a miserly weaver,

  • Word count: 2924
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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George Elliot- How sympathy is created for Silas Marner the eponymous character.

Aireville School Sidrah Sarfraz Mrs Rosser 48263 How does George Elliot create sympathy for George Elliot in the novel of the same name? Mary Anne Evans was born in 1819 near Aubrey, the youngest child of the local priest Robert Evans, she was highly educated and first developed her career writing pieces for Blackwoods magazine and went on to write her first book in that was a translation of Strauss's life of Christ in 1846. Being a determined woman writer in a society ruled by men, where women writers weren't accepted; Mary developed a false name, George Elliot, to enable her to have her wonderful books published. She went on to write many more novels, two of these great novels Felix halt the Radical (1866) and Daniel Deronda (1874-7). Although her shortest it was and still is one of her most loved novels, Silas Marner which was published in 1861 during the Victorian period, a time of strict values and traditional religious beliefs. Unlike most the other writers of her time, who wrote about the upper classes, Elliot wrote about a lonely linen weaver that lived exiled in the rural village of Raveloe. Elliot had humanistic views and felt empathetic towards the lower classes. Another great writer who shared her views, which Elliot quotes at the start of her book, was Wordswiorth. Silas Marner the eponymous character leaves his first home in lantern Yard when he is found

  • Word count: 2642
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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George Eliot prefaced 'Silas Marner' with an extract from 'Michael' by William Wordsworth. How far does the novel echo the traditions of the Romantic Movement as shown in Wordsworth's poem?

George Eliot prefaced 'Silas Marner' with an extract from 'Michael' by William Wordsworth. How far does the novel echo the traditions of the Romantic Movement as shown in Wordsworth's poem? George Eliot (1819-1880) was greatly influenced by William Wordsworth (1770-1850). William Wordsworth's idea about literature is that the words should be used in the language of everyday life. In 1798, he and Samuel Coleridge published a volume of poetry called the 'Lyrical Ballads'. They think that individual in society and the value of ordinary men are very important. In the preface of 'Lyrical Ballads' he wrote 'to choose incident and situations from common life, and to relate them... in a selection of language used by men. The 'Lyrical Ballads' is very different to the other poems at that time. It is 'over literary and dead' and he wanted to move away from the 'the gaudiness and inane phraseology of eighteenth century literature. He also wrote in the preface that 'emotions recollected in tranquillity'. Wordsworth's ideas are reflected in one of his poems 'Michael'. Although George Eliot and William Wordworth lived in completely different generations and never met before. On her twentieth birthday, she had written of his poetry: 'I never before met with so many of my own feelings, expressed just as I could like them'. In the book Silas Marner, written by George Eliot, he use a quotation

  • Word count: 2123
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Compare the ways in which George Elliot in 'Silas Marner' and Susan Hill in 'I'm the king of the castle' present the importance of children in the English class system.

Compare the ways in which George Elliot in 'Silas Marner' and Susan Hill in 'I'm the king of the castle' present the importance of children in the English class system. 'I'm the king of the castle' by Susan hill and 'Silas Marner' by George Elliot both have central characters that are children. I think that social class is involved in both these books in a number of ways. 'I'm the king of the castle' is about a boy who's got a single mother. There were very few jobs for single mothers when this book is set. So when Mrs Kingshaw got offered a job as a governess in a big house (Warings), she took it to support herself and her son, Charles Kingshaw. When they arrive things go badly from the start for Charles. The boy Mrs Kingshaw is governing is Edmund Hooper, (son of Joseph Hooper) is destined to inherit the Warings estate. Edmund considers himself better than Charles because of this he also thinks that he has power over Charles. This is shown in the way Edmund bullies Charles and also in the way he acts round him. The superiority that Edmund thinks he has over Charles is based on ownership. "This house is mine" attitude, even though the house is not yet Edmunds shows this. Also Edmund is going to inherit a big country estate whereas Charles has only inherited a photograph of his father Throughout most of the book Charles would love to have his and Edmunds roles switched

  • Word count: 610
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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