Leonine- adjective to describe something with characteristics of a lion.
Fugue- a musical composition where the melody is first introduced by one part and then successively introduced by others.
Or a referral to someone losing their identity, often linked with removal from the persons usual environment. Also linked with hysteria and epilepsy.
Rococo- furniture or architecture made distinctive by elaborate ornamental baroque style of decoration, prevalent in 18th century Europe. Often involves asymmetrical pattern work with motifs and scroll work.
Minimalist- someone who practices minimalism. Minimalism is a movement which arose in the 1950's and is characterised by its use of simple, massive forms, with deliberate lack of decoration in its style and design.
Chamber Music- is a form of classical music with an intimate nature, composed to be played by a small group of people that would fit in a palace chamber.
Florid- can refer to someone having a red/flushed face. Or it can refer to the elaborateness or intricateness of something's design.
Task 2
Angela Carter
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- •Carter was born on 7h May 1940, and died 16th February 1992. She was born Eastbourne, she also lived in places such as Yorkshire, South London, Bristol, Japan, United States, and Europe.•She can be seen to be linked with Jane Eyre as Carter had the idea to write a novel based on the character Jane Eyre's stepdaughter Adele, where she would try to seduce her guardian Rochester and see her mother be gluttonized.•Carter is considered a unique writer, falling into a cross section of genres, such as magic, realism, fantasy, science fiction, Gothic, and surrealism.•She was ranked 10th in The Times list of the 50 greatest writers since 1945.•Her influences included Defoe, Blake, Swift, Poe, Carroll, Melville, Shelley, the French symbolists, the surrealist, Barthes, Borges and Calvino.
Task 3
Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm tales
- Charles Perrault was born on January 12th 1628, and died May 16th 1703.
- He is famous for inventing a balloting machine for electing new members to the French Academy of which he was a member.
- His most famous book was Cinderella.
- Cinderella was published in 1697 in Paris.
- His works were derived from pre-existing folk tales, and he published 8 fairy tales under one book title named, 'Tales of Mother Goose'
- The Grimm brothers published around 211 tales and they were published in Germany.
- They were said to have been greatly influenced by Perrault.
Baudelaire Research
- Charles Baudelaire was born on April 9th 1821 and he died on August 31st 1867.
- He lived in France and worked for a newspaper, though he had little interest in this.
- He was seen as different to his fellow romanticism poets as his style had 'created a brand of romanticism that hinged on sex, death, and the pleasures of the senses' which was unlike other romanticism work.
- He could also be seen to be similar to other romantic poets as he shares the macabre and supernatural approach shared by many poets of this genre.
- His most famous work was 'Les Fleurs du mal' (The Flowers of Evil), expresses the changing nature of beauty in modern, it was published in Paris.
- The strong themes of sex, death and the prominent use of the senses has been called both 'putrid' (by Habas) and 'unyielding,' by Flaubert.
- Baudelaire supposedly contracted syphilis whilst at a military boarding school, and he also spent a lot of his inheritance money on opium and marijuana.
Task 5
Marquis de Sade
- Marquis de Sade wrote many books, such as Juliette, Justine, The Crimes of Love, The Philosophy of the bedroom, and The 120 days of Sodom.
- He considered himself of 'Libertine Sexuality' meaning that he thought himself free of moral restraints, which are seen to be unnecessary and undesirable. People of libertine philosophy tended to place more value in the pleasuring of the senses.
The Bloody Chamber- AO4 Inter-textual refernces
Myth of Bluebeard/Perraults Tale - The original tale acted as a basis for Carters novel, and still shares many of the same features. In the original tale, Bluebeard is a villain who has married several times, yet each of his wives have mysteriously dissapeared. He remarries yet again and gives his new bride keys to all the rooms in his castle, however she is not to go into one room. While he is away, the brides curiosity overwhelms her, and she disobeys him by entering the forbidden room. Here she finds the bodies of all his dead former wives, thus uncovering the truth about her husband. Bluebeard returns and states she must die, and prepares her for death, but she is saved by her brothers.
Mark of Cain - The Mark of Cain refers to a tale from the bible regarding the Sons of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel. Cain killed his brother Abel, and God then placed a 'mark' on Cain to signify to others that killing Cain would invoke the wrath of God, as God wanted Cain to live a long life, to remind people of the shame that killing another brings upon yourself. The mark acted as a warning to others not to commit the same offence. This can be related to the Bloody Chamber as it is arguably similar to the mark that is placed on the heroines forehead, after her husband presses the blood stained key against it. She goes on to say that the mark can never be removed, or covered and thus remains a symbol of her shame for marrying the Marquis.
Catherine de Medici - Catherine de Medici was an Italian born French Queen, who was regent and mother to three Kings of Spain. She was an influential figure in 16th century France, particularly during the wars of religion. She is mentioned in the Carters novel, when the heroine of the book is talking of the ring given to her by the Marquis. She says, 'but this opal had been his own mothers ring, and his grandmothers, and her mothers before that, given to an ancestor by Catherine de Medici.' This indicates at the great wealth shown by the Marquis, as his family has links to French royalty. There can also be a link seen between the two women themselves, which may be the reason Carter chose Medici to be mentioned in the first place. They were both married off at young ages, and both to dishonest and unagreeable men. And both were thrust into great responsibility with the death of their husbands. Medici was launched to a political stage, and made to regent her 3 sons to be rulers of the country, and the heroine in the Bloody Chamber inherits all the Marquis land and power, and decides to open and run a school.
Croesus - King Croesus was the leader of Lydia from 560 to 547 BC, before he was defeated by the Persians. The term 'Rich as Croesus' stems from legends of his wealth. This phrase is also used in the Bloody Chamber, our heroine states that the Marquis was in fact 'as rich as Croesus' indicating the wealth and power possessed by her husband.
Tristan und Isolde - Tristan und Isolde is an Opera by Richard Wagner, based largely on the romance created by Gottfried von Strasburg. It tells the story of a tragic and adulterous love between the Cornish Knight Tristan and the Irish Princess Isolde. The story predates and most likely influenced the idea of Romantic Love and literature, as it first appeared in the 12th Century. Carter uses this opera throughout her novel to act as a foil and basis for the development of the story. Also, one of the Marquis former wives had played the role of Isolde in the opera. Isolde dies, thus this piece of information hints at what happened to this former wife.
Felicien Rops - Rops was a Belgian artist, noted particularly for his work in printmaking, etching and aquatint. His work primarily showed images of a sexual nature, often a nude woman being examined by a suited man, this indicated weakness and vulnerability among women, while they remain the object of attention or action. His work is mentioned in Carters book, as the heroine describes the act of the Marquis undressing her as 'the living image of an etching by Rops from the collection he had shown me...' This act shows the degradation of the heroine, Rops imagery is used to draw attention to the inequality present between men and women and show how men seem to still operate women universally.
Rape of the Sabine Women - This is an episode which occurred in ancient Rome, which dates traditionally back to around 750BC. The term 'rape' in this case means abduction, rather than its more modern meaning of sexual violation. This episode involved a group of Romans trying to acquire wives for themselves to found families, and after trying (unsuccessfully) to negotiate with the neighbouring tribes of the Sabines, took the women for themselves, with the intention of marrying them and conceiving children. This relates to Carter novel, as one of the pictures noticed by the heroine within the Marquis pornography is an interpretation of this event. Indicating the Marquis perverted love of acts of sexual violence and his devotion to the pursuit of senuous pleasure.
St Cecilia - Saint Cecilia was a famous Roman martyr and also the Patroness of Musicians. She is relevant to the Bloody Chamber, as a portrait of her hangs in the music room, and it is given as a gift to the heroine. This hints at our heroines intended fate, as Cecilia was killed, officials tried to decapitate her 3 times, which is a similar death to the one the Marquis has in mind for his new bride. She also bears another similarity to the heroine of the bloody chamber, as while she was dying she requested that her home be made into a church, whereas after the death of her husband, the heroine transforms his castle into a school for the blind.
Pandoras Box - Pandoras box is an artefact from greek mythology. It comes from the tale of Pandora, the first woman ever created. She is given a beautiful jar on her wedding day but is told not to open it under any circumstances. Her curiosity (bestowed upon her by the Gods) implores her to open it, and by doing so she unleashes all evil into the world. However, Zeus, her creator, does not kill her as he states he knew what would happen. This bears similarity to the acts committed by the heroine of Carters novel, as she is told not to open the door to one room (the box) but she has been shown the key by her husband (curiosity bestowed upon her.)
Poiret - Paul Poiret, was a leading French fashion designer, during the first two decades of the 20th century. The wardrobe that the Heroine is given is full of clothes from Poiret, again indicating the wealth the Marquis must possess in order to be able to buy these kind of clothes.
ESSENTIAL VOCABULARY
Aesthete - a person who is appreciative of and sensitive to art and beauty.
Aigrette - a tufted crest or head-plumes of the egret, used for adorning a headdress.
Avarice -extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
Baroque - a period of artistic style that used exaggerated motion and easily interpreted data to produce tension and drama.
Bier - is a stand on which a corpse or coffin is placed to lie in state or to be carried to the grave.
Billets-Doux - a love letter.
Carillon - a musical instrument which is typically housed in a bell tower.
Carnal - relates to physical, primarily sexual needs,
Catafalque - is a raised bier.
Chthonic - deities or spirits of the underworld.
Dolorous - feeling or expressing great sorrow or distress.
Eldritch - describes something alien, unearthly or supernatural.
Enfer - hell.
Gourmand - a person who takes great pleasure in food.
Immolated - kill or offer as a sacrifice.
Importunate - persistence to the point of annoyance.
Interdiction - act of delaying, or disruption.
Jinn - supernatural creatures in Islamic mythology.
Lisle - type of cotton fabric.
Loge - a private box in a theatre.
Loquacity - talkativeness.
Lustratory - pertaining to lustration.
Missal - is a liturgical book containing instructions and necessary texts for the celebration of mass.
Nacreous - possessing the qualities of, or abounding in nacre; iridescent.
Parure - a set of various items of matching jewelry.
Rictus - a fixed grimace or a grin.
Sacerdotal - a doctrine which ascribes sacrificial functions and spiritual powers ordained by priests.
Sadomasochistic - giving or receiving of pleasure, sometimes sexual.
Sardonic - bitter or scornful derision, cynical mocking.
Trousseau - clothes, linen, and other belongings collected by a bride before her wedding.
Vellum - fine parchment made form calf skin,
Vicuna - a wild llama.
Viscera - internal organs in the main cavities of the body, i.e the intestines.
Voluptuary - a person devoted to luxury and sensual pleasure.
Basic Quesions
1. Carter presents the ruby choker as a means of control, the quote 'clasped aorund my throat,' personifies the necklace, and gives the effect of human hands around her neck, indicating how he feels he must control his bride. The description of its colour, as 'bright as arterial blood' links it with the prominent theme of death foreshadowed by this necklace, as the reader later learns that he intends to execute her, this is again reinforced by the notion that the necklace looks like a 'precious slit throat'. It is also described as 'cruel,' showing it is perhaps harsh in appearance, but also that it may be a taunt, of what is intended to happen to her.
2. The fact that the narrator describes herself as in 'exile' once married suggests that even though she has now gained a husband, she is still alone. She states that she knew she would 'always be lonely' for perhaps she feels that though she loves her husband, they are different and she does not truly connect with him. Also, that the new world she would enter in marriage would be completely the opposite of what she had experienced in the life she lived with her mother.
3. The narrator gains confidence again once more after she uses her newly found power over the housekeeper, when she instructs them to cancel the decadent feast she had ordered. She is empowered by her new status, and has the confidence to say that she knew she had displeased them, but she 'did not care,' showing she now feels a degree of importance about herself, and now ranks herself above where she would've done before her marriage to the Marquis.
4. The usual 'hero' structure is altered at the end of this book as instead of a strong male character coming to the rescue of the narrator, it is her mother instead. The mother shows courage, and also a hint of masculinity when she rides, with her 'black skirts' and the way she is described as a 'crazy, magnificent horsewoman,' She has replaced the traditional role of the male rescuer, thus empowering the female characters within the story.
5. The Dukes view of women is derogatory, as he clearly sees them as nothing but objects of lust and desire. This can be seen by the language he uses, such as 'whore' when referring to his bride. And also the way he talks to his wife in a condescending manner, calling her 'baby' and 'little nun' when she finds his pornography, this shows that he looks down upon women, and feels them unintelligent.
Developed Questions
1. The description of the couples first sexual encounter, when he strips her as if 'he was stripping the leaves of an artichoke' suggests that he was brutal in the way he touched her, with little gentleness about him. She describes herself as 'scarlet,' and 'palpitating' during the encounter, which indicates that she was red and flushed from the embarrassment of the act, but also was feeling urges of desire. Thus the encounter can be seen to be pornographic, and uncomfortable yet erotic.
2. The language used to describe the discovered painting of Moreau's 'Sacrificial Virgin' suggests that it was very detailed, as the word 'great' indicates time and effort went into the creation. The use of the phrase 'lacelike chains' clasping the lady's skin present the image of a beautiful prisoner, and the 'blush' that robed the lady acts as an indication to the embarrassment she felt at taking off her clothes for the first time, similarly to the narrator, which is what this painting symbolises.
3. The colours used by Carter all have an intended effect, for example the use of the words 'brown and olive' indicate the ages of the volumes surrounding her, suggesting wealth and power. The colour of the rugs, a 'deep pulsing blue' and 'red of the hearts dearest blood' are seemingly rich and powerful colours, perhaps indicating the expensive and tasteful decor of the room, again indicating wealth. And lastly, the 'dark' panels that 'gleamed' indicate that there is evil within, but the fact that they gleam shows this room is well looked after and obviously regularly visited by the Marquis.
4. The phrase 'All the better to see you' is used by the husband when he is discussing his want to have sex in the bright light of day,this phrase is from the tale of little red riding hood, and is a quote from the wolf when he is pretending to be the child's grandmother. This quote helps to make the Marquis seem even more sinister, as the wolf was a villain who tried to kill the little girl in the tale.
5. Carters intertextual references allow the reader to see lots of symbolism throughout, for example, the use of the opera Tristan und Isolde suggests to the reader from the start that the marriage is doomed, and will presumably end in death. Carters elaborate style of language is very effective as it allows the reader to gain immense detail from any descriptions, creating dramatic imagery and intensifying the read.
Importance of Appearance
In The Bloody Chamber, both looks and clothing play an important part. How someone is described to look represents their characteristics and personality. For example, the Marquis is described as Leonine, suggesting he is beast-like, with no respect or concious perhaps, explaining why he is able to commit such acts as he does without feeling remorse. The narrator, more than once describes herself as a child, 'frail,' and 'young' which hints at the apparent naivety she has about her, and could also indicate how unprepared she is for her married life to begin. The heroine of the story often describes the clothes she wears also, her wardrobe full of 'Poiret' clothing acts as a status symbol, showing her now (thanks to the marriage) elevated social position. And also some of the clothes she wears which attract the attention and looks of lust from the Marquis, such as the tight white muslin dress which is drawn in tight around her chest. While the white colour signifies her purity and virginity before their marriage, its tight fit emphasises her 'potential for corruption' indicating and foreshadowing the loss of her virginity.
Magic Realism
