"Far From The Madding Crowd" Blind Date Script.

"Far From The Madding Crowd" Blind Date Script. Graham: It's Blind Date! And here is your host, Miss Cilla Black! Cilla: Hello ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Blind Date. In a moment we'll be meeting the lucky lady who gets to pick from one of these gorgeous guys! So, let's meet the boys! So, hello number 1; what's your name and where do you come from? Bo: Good Evening, Cilla. My name is William Boldwood, and I am from Weatherbury. C: Nice to meet you, William. So tell everyone a bit about yourself. Bo: Well, Cilla, I am a 42 year old bachelor, I own a large farm, and.... I'm incredibly wealthy! C: And, I understand, correct me if I'm wrong love, that you have had a nasty experience involving a Valentine's card? Bo: That is correct, Cilla. I once received a Valentine's card through in the mail, and I had no idea who the sender was. I was a little afraid, you see, it could have been anything. So, I erm, placed it on my mantelpiece. Well, then I couldn't stop thinking of it, so I stared at it for quite some time. C: How long for, love? Bo: For a matter of days, Cilla. C: Oh dear. Well I for one am always scared when the postman comes, I mean, when them bills get posted through my door I know I'm too terrified to open them for a week! C: Alright love, well, best of luck tonight, and please don't be scared of the date cards if you're picked 'cause we've only

  • Word count: 1497
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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"Far From the Madding Crowd" Why Did Bathsheba Send the Valentine and What Were the Consequences?

"Far From the Madding Crowd" By Thomas Hardy. Why Did Bathsheba Send the Valentine and What Were the Consequences? Chapter XIII Sortes Sanctorum: the valentine. Bathsheba is a beautiful young female farmer who gets noticed by everyone (men that is) and loves being the centre of attention. This is what is happening at the corn-market in Casterbridge. Bathsheba is not interested in anyone but enjoys the interest that everyone gives her. However she is aware that one person isn't taking any notice of her, yet she feels a slight attraction. "A very good-looking man, upright about forty," is how she describes this mysterious man. He is Farmer Boldwood, but Bathsheba doesn't know this. When Boldwood comes to the door Bathsheba is already curious. She doesn't even know him, nor has she ever met him but she is already questioning who he is and thinking of the possibility of marriage to him. The following is a quotation taken from the book when Boldwood comes to Bathsheba's door and her maid answers it. "Who is Mr. Boldwood?" said Bathsheba. "A gentleman - farmer at Upper Weatherbury." "Married?" "No, Miss." "How old is he?" "Forty I should say - very handsome - rather stern looking." "What a bother this dusting is! I am always in some unfortunate plight or other," Bathsheba said complainingly... This shows that Bathsheba almost has an imaginary checklist in

  • Word count: 1312
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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"How does Hardy treat gender roles in chapter 10 of Far from the Madding Crowd."

"How does Hardy treat gender roles in chapter 10 of Far from the Madding Crowd." Hardy uses many subtle and individual techniques to display gender roles within this chapter. In the main these reciprocate normal behaviour by having a woman in a superior position dominating a lot of men. This idea is known as subversion of gender, and this is the main technique used in this chapter. One must remember that at the time of writing this was sensational, as women were not considered self-reliant. The first thing the reader sees is the chapter heading, and in Hardy's case, he uses chapter headings as a summary for the chapter; "Mistress and Men" implies a Mistress holding power over men. It is this subversion of gender roles, which lends the attraction for ladies of leisure in the 1900s, and also generates humour; as at the time the thought of a woman in control of men would have been laughable. It also serves to impress upon the ladies of leisure that would have read this format of writing, that women could be self-reliant. This could have been seen as a dangerous ideal, as it promotes independence, something not required of the middle and upper class ladies of the time. The main technique Hardy used is the subversion of gender, and this is shown when Bathsheba speaks to the men. There is a reciprocation of gender roles; she shows independence and speaks to the men with great

  • Word count: 981
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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"In her relations with both Alec and Angel, Tess is the victim of her own conscience rather than of male cruelty and censure". Comment on this view of Hardy's portrayal of Tess and her fate in Tess Of The D'Urbervilles.

Tess Of The D'Urbervilles - Question 10. " In her relations with both Alec and Angel, Tess is the victim of her own conscience rather than of male cruelty and censure". Comment on this view of Hardy's portrayal of Tess and her fate in Tess Of The D'Urbervilles. This essay is written in response to the quote above. Since the statement is from the author, Thomas Hardy, I believe that it is necessary to look at his past and outlook on life in general first. By doing this I hope to understand where Hardy's controversy has originated, and then move on to form my own argument, based on my personal belief, and proceed to deliver evidence from the book. Thomas Hardy was born in 1840, and died in 1928. Hardy was encouraged to write by two female figures in his life, his mother, and then later his wife. Despite his talent in the portrayal of characters in perhaps a realistic sense, his works were found to be 'pessimistic'. The book ''Tess of the D'Urbervilles'' was first released as a serialised edition in 1891, a time when 'realism became the dominant form of the 19th century'. I think that as this was the realist era, we must ask ourselves if Hardy was indeed being pessimistic, or if he was falling victim to the fashion of realism, and speaking the truth. I would like to look at the word realist, according to the 'York Notes advanced': "a realist author represents the world as it

  • Word count: 2176
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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"Discuss how the passage of time is presented in the first chapters of The Mayor of Casterbridge. What effect does it have on the characters?"

THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE. "Discuss how the passage of time is presented in the first chapters of The Mayor of Casterbridge. What effect does it have on the characters?" This essay will answer the preceding question by discussing how the key characters and places develop and are affected by the passage of time in the first few chapters of the book. The author of the book is Thomas Hardy, a very descriptive writer, although this is one of his faster paced books. It was written in the 1880's and is set in the 1830's. The book begins with Michael Henchard walking along a dusty road with his wife Susan. She is carrying a baby called Elizabeth -Jane. After getting to the fair taking place in the village Henchard becomes drunk and sells his wife. The next day he regrets what he has done and consequently swears an oath that he will not touch a drop of liquor for 21 years. At this point in the book (chapters 2-3) there is an 18 year gap in the book. The book is set in the summer of around 1830 we know this because "before the 19th century had reached one-third of its span." As it was set in the 1830's the landscape would have been very different from today. This is demonstrated from the start of the book. Michael and Susan Henchard are "plainly but not ill clad" This tells us that they are not badly off. On the other hand they are covered in a "thick hoar of dust" telling us that

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Contrast the Character of Gabriel Oak with that of Frank Troy

Contrast the Character of Gabriel Oak with that of Frank Troy The characters of Gabriel Oak and Frank Troy make up two of the three bachelors who all pursue Bathsheba Everdene in Hardy's Far From The Madding Crowd. Both have different attitudes towards women and love and greatly contrasting personalities. As soon as he is introduced, Gabriel Oak is described as a "young man of sound judgment...and general good character". The name is a biblical reference to the Angel Gabriel and adds to the portrayal of Oak as a caring, respectable human being. He is not a complex character, but simple and uncomplicated. When he proposes to Bathsheba he straight away lays down his intentions, telling her Auntie, "I was going to ask her if she'd like to be married." When asking Bathsheba herself, he describes himself as "only an every-day sort of man" His kindness is reiterated in chapter seven when he meets Fanny. He shows concern for a lady whom he has never before met; "you ought to have a cloak on such a cold night". Gabriel agrees to keep the meeting secret, and insists she accepts his gift of a shilling. After this introduction, Hardy shows that despite his decency, Gabriel is not a puritan as he enjoys a drink and chat with the villagers in Warren's Malthouse. This chapter is also used to reveal details of other characters, and uses the villagers and minor characters as a chorus.

  • Word count: 787
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Comparing Hardy extract and The Times article.

Comparing Hardy extract and The Times article In 'Far from the Madding Crowd', the author put great emphasis into using nature to describe the effects of the storm. The cleaving of the tree shows the storm's power and ferocity. The author also uses the actions of the neighbouring wild life to show their reaction towards the storm. They are fearful of the storm, "galloping about in the wildest maddest confusion". Their chaos is shown as they "fling their heels and tails high into the air, their heads to earth". In 'The Times' extract, most of the focus is on the uses of the visual and auditory senses to heighten the experience of the rollercoaster ride. It is easy to imagine the writer's experience though the ways that she portrays every detail of the rollercoaster, from "trundling away" off the rollercoaster, to the "hurtling through space", to the "drawing back towards the platform". She describes the "Tchika, tchika, thicka..." of the carriages clinking against each other as she approaches the zenith. You can relate to the way she feels as she trundles off, "like an egg in a carton". When she reaches the pinnacle, she describes the merry-go-rounds "no bigger than musical boxes," its coaster tracks "like Meccano toys". The 'Times' article also puts emphasis into the uses of the narrator and of the man behind her. The story is in first person narrative format. The narrator

  • Word count: 731
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Who deserves our sympathy:Rhoda or Gertrude

Who deserves our sympathy: Rhoda or Gertrude? Throughout the "Withered Arm" the main characters: Rhoda Brook and Gertrude Lodge experience lots of tragedy, and due to this, the book makes the audience empathise with the two of them. The following paragraphs will examine the lengths and extremes of these tragic events, and therefore conclude who deserves our sympathy. Rhoda Brook is a poor milkmaid and an abandoned single mother and Gertrude Lodge, is the rich and beautiful wife of Farmer Lodge. The pain and suffering endured by both characters is evident at different circumstances in the book, hence the book depicts sympathy for both characters. In the opening chapter of the "Withered Arm", Thomas Hardy shows sympathy for Rhoda. He uses the chapter title to demonstrate this- "The lorn milkmaid". The word "lorn" has connotations of sadness or loneliness; therefore, even before we begin to read the book, the title gives us the impression that the milkmaid is miserable and alone. As the chapter progresses, we learn that Rhoda works on a farm, owned by Farmer Lodge. We soon realise that Rhoda is isolated from the rest of workers on the farm. She does not seem to join in with the general chatter of the other milk maids and is by herself most of the time. She is described as "A thin, fading women of thirty that milked somewhat apart from the rest." The use of the work "fading"

  • Word count: 1690
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Far from the madding crowd - Close study of a passage from chapter 46: The Gurgoyle.

Close study of a passage from chapter 46: The Gurgoyle Chapter 47 of "Far From the Madding Crowd" is written in a dramatic and sensationalist style, similar to the popular gothic novels of the time. The language and literary techniques used are closely related to this central theme of the passage. Hardy's novel was serialised there is a build up to the final climatic chapter of each series. This explains the increase in tension shown by the horrific description of the gargoyle and the increasing velocity of the "liquid parabola" it spouts into Fanny's grave. Increasing the readers' apprehension before the final scene of series 10 in which Troy's "Adventures by the shore" nearly result in his death. Gothic tradition is highlighted in this scene by detailed description of the church's architecture, for example the "exceptionally prominent" gargoyles. Included in the church's decoration, as they had become fashionable during the gothic revival. Also via figurative language such as "like ingredients in a cauldron" which adds to the gothic theme running through the passage by crating create an air of the supernatural. Gargoyles' uses were two-fold; firstly they acted as a drainage system, however more importantly their design was "grotesque" as this was believed to frighten malevolent spirits, thus acting as guardians. Therefore in this instance the gargoyle which destroys all

  • Word count: 1439
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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'Far from the madding crowd' is set in the late 1860s to the early 1870s in Wessex, a fictional county based heavily on Dorset.

Thomas hardy was born in 1840 in Dorset which is located near Dorchester. Hardy's first important novel was Far from the Madding Crowd in which he successfully adapted to a traditional form to his own purposes, slightly changing it in the process. His novel states the importance of man's connection to, and understanding of, the natural world. The story is set in an agricultural rural community. He viewed the industrial revolution as a major threat to the communities he loved. The main character in this novel is a shepherd who is called Gabriel, this gives off a very pastoral mood in the novel. The plot develops complications when Bathsheba has love for three different men. Gabriel Oak who is the shepphard embodies Hardy's ideal of a life in harmony with the forces of the natural world. Throughout the entire novel there are unusual twists and turns and in the end Bathsheba ultimately marries Gabriel, whom she had turned away so long ago. In the story of all Thomas Hardy's novels, both love and fate play major roles. In the first chapter we are introduced to Gabriel oak. He is a young sheppard. The main incident starts when Gabriel is walking in the countryside and he sees a wagon travelling down the road, and sees this young attractive woman is sitting on top if it. The Waggoner comes to a halt when they reached the gatekeeper and they had to pay a fee of three pence but the

  • Word count: 2991
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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