Monday, 27 October 2014
Bettelheim Questions
1. Bettelheim's ideas help us to understand the purpose of fairy tales as they relate to us the fact that all characters and people have a certain 'dark side' within them capable of committing unagreeable acts, but this is seen as acceptable as they are generally good people. This can be seen in Cinderella when she disobeys her stepmother and sneaks out to go to the ball to meet her Prince Charming, however this behaviour is not scorned by the reader as Cinderella is the Heroine of the story, and thus the reader wishes to see her endeavours succeed.
2. Bettelheim's ideas help us to understand the purposes of gothic as it indicates to us that it enables children to acquire a firmer grip on problems in their purer form, as the tales and problems presented are often simple and therefore easily dissected by children. As explained by Bettelheim, in typical gothic literature, the villains and their acts are plain and obvious and all details unless they are significant are eliminated for easier understanding. The immense polarities between the characters and their characteristics displayed by gothic enables the child to male choices about who he would rather be, and they make personal identifications of their own.
3. Carter blatantly mixes fairy tale and gothic genres within the Bloody Chamber to display, as Bettelheim mentions, the obvious villains and heroines as they are easily seen throughout the plots of Carters stories. However the gothic elements added help to bring an element of more grown up themes such as oppressive male dominance, sex, seduction and the loss of innocence, the gaining of knowledge and secrets. These are arguably all elements seen subconsciously within fairy tales and so Carter has both genres so that we as readers can see more sinister elements to the tales we were told as children from a more sinister point of view, perhaps changing our opinion of them.,
Thursday, 9 October 2014
The Bloody Chamber - The Tigers Bride, Task 3
1. 'The Devils Picture Books' refers to the cards held by the payers during their game. They are made to be objects of evil, as they often lead to people gambling and losing their money, which is referred to in the bible as 'The root of all evil,'
2. When the heroine calls the Beast, 'Milord,' the language used is seemingly old fashioned and comes across to the reader as mocking and sarcastic. This signifies the pride and wit of this female protagonist, as it is uncommon for women to mock men of such high status
3. White roses are often associated with romance, and also purity and virginity due to the colour. It is first mentioned in the previous story, 'The Courtship of Mr Lyon,' as is here shown to be a gift for the Fathers 'girl child,' signifying his love for her. Within this story, the roses are used more than once. Firstly, they are given as a gift to the narrator form the Beast, seemingly as some sort of gift, to 'reconcile' any hurt emotions she may feel at being lost to the Beast by her Father. They are then used shortly afterwards as a symbol of a forgiveness from the narrator to her own father, to say that she has forgiven his misdeeds. However, when she hands over the rose which has been bloodied from her pricked finger, this symbolises the brokenness of the apology, and will act as a reminder to the father of his actions as the rose is now stained and tainted, never to be the same, much like the narrators feelings for her father.
4. The verb choice of 'fleeced' suggests that they were 'swindled' out of a great deal of money, as they were overcharged and taken advantage of by the people of their new town. However, 'fleeced' also suggests that they were covered with a material, perhaps made blind and were not allowed to see the truth.
5. 'Gobble you up' is a line from another common fairy tale 'Three Billy Goats gruff' where a troll is trying to eat 3 billy goats as they cross the bridge trying to escape with their lives, they trick the troll, and in the end the troll is killed. Within this story, it could be said to have connotations of rape or assault, and is used as a threat to the narrator, suggesting that something sinister awaits her.
6. We are told that the Beast 'bought solitude, not luxury,' which tells us that the Beast thinks little of material possessions and appearances, and we can also see that the inhabitants of his home seem happy enough without the luxury, as the horse 'trotted' into the great hall. This suggests that the Beast is searching for something more than wealth to bring him happiness, perhaps a woman like he has summoned.
7. The phrase 'where the fruit and blossom grew on the bough together' is significant as it suggests the Beasts strong belief of nature and humans coinciding peacefully. It also suggests he feels as though animals should be treated as equals, showing that he has clearly been mistreated due to his animalistic nature and wishes he would be treated similarly to other humans even though he is not one.
8. The description of the soubrette machine suggests to the reader that the Beast does not like to have many human servants around, similarly to Mr Lyon from the previous tale, as it reminds him of his inhuman self. The Soubrette seems also to be a perfect image of femininity, and also is described to look the same as the narrator, which could tell of the Beasts pleasure of the female which may be why he wishes to see the heroine naked.
9. The narrator compares herself to animals as she states that she 'wished she had rolled in ray' so that she could be alike to animals in the way that they do not have to endure humiliating rituals such as this one. She also later goes on to say that she 'larruped and harrumphed' on her way to the stables, likening herself to a horse, perhaps suggesting her desire to be free and wild instead of confined to the Beasts home.
10. The phrase 'The tiger will never lie down with the lamb; he acknowledges no pact that is not reciprocal’ suggests that even though this being is a Beast, he would not bring harm to her as it was never his or her wish.
Wednesday, 8 October 2014
The Bloody Chamber-The Tigers Bride, Task 1&2
Andrea Mantegna-( 1431 – September 13, 1506) was an Italian painter, a student of Roman archaeology, and son in law of Jacopo Bellini. Like other artists of the time, Mantegna experimented with perspective, e.g., by lowering the horizon in order to create a sense of greater monumentality. His flinty, metallic landscapes and somewhat stony figures give evidence of a fundamentally sculptural approach to painting. He also led a workshop that was the leading producer of prints in Venice before 1500.
Guilio Romana-
(1499 – 1 November 1546) was an Italian painter and architect. A pupil of Raphael, his stylistic deviations from high Renaissance classicism help define the 16th-century style known as Mannerism. Giulio's drawings have long been treasured by collectors; contemporary prints of them engraved by Marc Antonio Raimondi were a significant contribution to the spread of 16th-century Italian style throughout Europe.
Benvenuto Cellini-
3 November 1500 – 13 February 1571) was an Italian goldsmith, sculptor, draftsman, soldier and musician, who also wrote a famous autobiography. He was one of the most important artists of Mannerism.
His first works in Rome were a silver casket, silver candlesticks, and a vase for the bishop of Salamanca, which won him the approval of Pope Clement VII.
Glossary
assuage- make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense, or to satisfy an appetite or desire.
awry- away from the usual or expected course, or out of the normal and correct position; askew.
axium- a statement or proposition which is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true.
capisco- 'I understand'
ciliate- a single-celled animal of a large and diverse phylum distinguished by the possession of cilia or ciliary structures.
civet- a slender nocturnal carnivorous mammal with a barred and spotted coat and well-developed anal scent glands, native to Africa and Asia.
desnuda- naked.
excoriate- damage or remove part of the surface of (the skin), or to criticize someone severely.
expostulate- express strong disapproval or disagreement.
eyrie- a large nest of an eagle or other bird of prey, built high in a tree or on a cliff.
gavotte- originated as a French folk dance, taking its name from the Gavot people of the Pays de Gap region of Dauphiné, where the dance originated. It is notated in 4/4 or 2/2 time and is of moderate tempo.
gracile- attractively slender or thin.
megalomaniac- a psychopathological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of power, relevance, omnipotence, and by inflated self-esteem.
metaphysical- Referring to metaphysics, is a traditional branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world that encompasses it.
minuet- a slow, stately ballroom dance for two in triple time, popular especially in the 18th century.
molto agitato- agitated, or restless.
nascent- just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential.
obsequiousness - marked by or exhibiting a fawning attentiveness.
ostler- a man employed to look after the horses of people staying at an inn.
patina- a green or brown film on the surface of bronze or similar metals, produced by oxidation over a long period.
preternatural- beyond what is normal or natural.
profligate- recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources, or licentious; dissolute.
settecento- seven hundred.
shagreen-
soubrette- a minor female role in a comedy, typically that of a pert maidservant.
spar- a thick, strong pole such as is used for a mast or yard on a ship.
spurious- not being what it purports to be; false or fake, or (of a line of reasoning) apparently but not actually valid, (of offspring) illegitimate.
tantivy-
tintinnabulation- a ringing or tinkling sound.
Andrea Mantegna-( 1431 – September 13, 1506) was an Italian painter, a student of Roman archaeology, and son in law of Jacopo Bellini. Like other artists of the time, Mantegna experimented with perspective, e.g., by lowering the horizon in order to create a sense of greater monumentality. His flinty, metallic landscapes and somewhat stony figures give evidence of a fundamentally sculptural approach to painting. He also led a workshop that was the leading producer of prints in Venice before 1500.
Guilio Romana-
(1499 – 1 November 1546) was an Italian painter and architect. A pupil of Raphael, his stylistic deviations from high Renaissance classicism help define the 16th-century style known as Mannerism. Giulio's drawings have long been treasured by collectors; contemporary prints of them engraved by Marc Antonio Raimondi were a significant contribution to the spread of 16th-century Italian style throughout Europe.
Benvenuto Cellini-
3 November 1500 – 13 February 1571) was an Italian goldsmith, sculptor, draftsman, soldier and musician, who also wrote a famous autobiography. He was one of the most important artists of Mannerism.
His first works in Rome were a silver casket, silver candlesticks, and a vase for the bishop of Salamanca, which won him the approval of Pope Clement VII.
Glossary
assuage- make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense, or to satisfy an appetite or desire.
awry- away from the usual or expected course, or out of the normal and correct position; askew.
axium- a statement or proposition which is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true.
capisco- 'I understand'
ciliate- a single-celled animal of a large and diverse phylum distinguished by the possession of cilia or ciliary structures.
civet- a slender nocturnal carnivorous mammal with a barred and spotted coat and well-developed anal scent glands, native to Africa and Asia.
desnuda- naked.
excoriate- damage or remove part of the surface of (the skin), or to criticize someone severely.
expostulate- express strong disapproval or disagreement.
eyrie- a large nest of an eagle or other bird of prey, built high in a tree or on a cliff.
gavotte- originated as a French folk dance, taking its name from the Gavot people of the Pays de Gap region of Dauphiné, where the dance originated. It is notated in 4/4 or 2/2 time and is of moderate tempo.
gracile- attractively slender or thin.
megalomaniac- a psychopathological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of power, relevance, omnipotence, and by inflated self-esteem.
metaphysical- Referring to metaphysics, is a traditional branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world that encompasses it.
minuet- a slow, stately ballroom dance for two in triple time, popular especially in the 18th century.
molto agitato- agitated, or restless.
nascent- just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential.
obsequiousness - marked by or exhibiting a fawning attentiveness.
ostler- a man employed to look after the horses of people staying at an inn.
patina- a green or brown film on the surface of bronze or similar metals, produced by oxidation over a long period.
preternatural- beyond what is normal or natural.
profligate- recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources, or licentious; dissolute.
settecento- seven hundred.
shagreen-
sharkskin used as a decorative material or, due to its natural rough surface of pointed scales, as an abrasive, or a kind of untanned leather with a rough granulated surface.
simian simulacra-
is a 1981 philosophical
treatise by Jean Baudrillard seeking to interrogate the relationships among
reality, symbols, and society.
soubrette- a minor female role in a comedy, typically that of a pert maidservant.
spar- a thick, strong pole such as is used for a mast or yard on a ship.
spurious- not being what it purports to be; false or fake, or (of a line of reasoning) apparently but not actually valid, (of offspring) illegitimate.
tantivy-
rapid gallop or ride, or a hunting cry.
Tuesday, 7 October 2014
The Bloody Chamber - The Courtship of Mr Lyon
1. The word 'Courtship' refers to a period in which is before their decided engagement or marriage. It is a more traditional word for dating, it refers to a time when sexual behaviour before marriage was deeply frowned upon, and there were certain rules that had to be followed within the partnership, in order to keep an element of innocence before marriage. Carter may have chosen the word 'Courtship' instead of 'dating' or something similar as this word implies that there may have been a gentleness about this time, and that a great deal of morality remained between this couple during this period. From the story, we can see that Mr Lyon does act as a male figure in an old fashioned courtship would do, by expressing his love by only 'kissing her hands,' he retains a gentlemanly aspect to his character. My Lyons behaviour is arguably more appropriate of the title Courtship than it would be of any other word, such as 'affair' or 'dating' as these words bring with them an implication of sexual behaviour, which is not true of the story.
2. In the opening paragraph, the girl is described as 'lovely' and her skin 'possesses light' and she could be 'made of snow'. The obvious link to the colour white could be seen to signify her purity and virginity, while the word 'snow' could have connotations of the girls delicate or fragile appearance.
The reference to her 'inner light' implies to the reader that she had a good heart or morals, and suggests she is kind. This is developed later in the plot as she becomes rich and spoiled after leaving the beast, she is now described as 'petulant' as her earlier 'freshness was fading'. Her skin, described earlier as possessing 'light,' is now described as 'pearly', suggesting the tone of it now had an opacity to it, meaning she may be trying to cover or hide some things as her nature is no longer transparent to reveal her obvious goodness, indicating she is no longer as pure or kind as she was when she lived in poverty.
3. The description of the girls father shows his poverty and indicates how little money he has. This can be seen when we are told of his 'old sheepskin coat,' which is later described as 'squirearchal' which refers to the class of the landed gentry, in aristocratic times suggesting that once he was a fairly wealthy man. The way the father talks about his daughter shows patriarchy and possessiveness, for example, he calls her 'his girl-child, his pet.' Both terms could be seen as somewhat derogatory, but the repetition of the word 'his' shows that she is owned by her father, and is his property. Her father is also described as having 'no fear', when he first enters into the Beasts domain, this could be as he is brave and is showing strength by trying t find a way to contact his daughter, or it could be because he secretly knows that he will not be the one the Beast seeks thus he will not be in any direct danger.
4. The Beast within this story is described a number of times, each time some aspect of his appearance seems to have changed. The first description of him is given when he intercepts Beauty's father trying to steal a rose from his garden. He is described as a 'being', and later in the same description as a 'leonine apparition,' this immediately gives the reader a sense that the Beast is neither a man, yet not quite an animal either. This adds an unnerving element to his character as he does not fit into either category, meaning he is of the unknown. This first description also features a lot of the letter 'G', which adds emphasis and rhythm to the reading of the passage, 'the moonlight glittered on his great, mazy head of hair, on the eyes green as agate, on the golden hairs of the great paws that grasped his shoulders...,' The repetition of the word 'great' within this description also emphasises the majesty and the size of the Beast. However, this description is not entirely terrifying, while the Beast is shown to be a powerful and dangerous, the human features such as his 'mazy head of hair,' and his 'green as agate,' eyes help the reader to almost connect to the character more, as there are clearly still human like aspects to the Beast.
5. Mr Lyons property is described luxuriously, giving an obvious indication of excessive wealth and power. When it is first seen by Beauty's father, it is called a 'perfect, Palladian house,' and the language in the descriptive passage concerning the property seems to be quite feminine, with words such as 'skirts, 'flourish,' 'grace,' and 'sweet,' suggesting that perhaps the Beast made it this way as he yearns for partnership from a woman and wishes to make his home inviting for them. However, the description is also very Gothic, as it has key characteristics of Gothic architecture such as the 'wrought iron gates,' and its 'melancholy grace,' and also the 'light that flickered,' giving the reader a feel of tension and mystery, as it becomes obvious from the way that the house seems to 'hide itself,' foreshadows that the owner of the house may not be all he seems.
6.The Courtship of Mr Lyon is narrated mainly in the most common style of 3rd person, this is generally used by authors as it provides the most freedom and flexibility within their story telling. We can see the 3rd person narrative as the characters within are generally referred to as 'she' or 'he'. This signals that the narration is done by an unspecified entity who is perhaps uninvolved in the plot. However, there are some instances in the story where the narration style switches suddenly, where it can be seen to convey the thoughts of a character. For example, in the opening Beauty is in the kitchen and the narrative is still in 3rd person as it states that 'the telephone wires were down, he couldn't have called,' before making a sudden switch to 1st person narrative, with what the reader may interpret as Beauty's thoughts, 'I hope he'll be safe.' Though these seem to be a characters words or thoughts, the reader cannot be 100% sure, which leaves the story open to more questioning as mystery and tension is added.
1. The word 'Courtship' refers to a period in which is before their decided engagement or marriage. It is a more traditional word for dating, it refers to a time when sexual behaviour before marriage was deeply frowned upon, and there were certain rules that had to be followed within the partnership, in order to keep an element of innocence before marriage. Carter may have chosen the word 'Courtship' instead of 'dating' or something similar as this word implies that there may have been a gentleness about this time, and that a great deal of morality remained between this couple during this period. From the story, we can see that Mr Lyon does act as a male figure in an old fashioned courtship would do, by expressing his love by only 'kissing her hands,' he retains a gentlemanly aspect to his character. My Lyons behaviour is arguably more appropriate of the title Courtship than it would be of any other word, such as 'affair' or 'dating' as these words bring with them an implication of sexual behaviour, which is not true of the story.
2. In the opening paragraph, the girl is described as 'lovely' and her skin 'possesses light' and she could be 'made of snow'. The obvious link to the colour white could be seen to signify her purity and virginity, while the word 'snow' could have connotations of the girls delicate or fragile appearance.
The reference to her 'inner light' implies to the reader that she had a good heart or morals, and suggests she is kind. This is developed later in the plot as she becomes rich and spoiled after leaving the beast, she is now described as 'petulant' as her earlier 'freshness was fading'. Her skin, described earlier as possessing 'light,' is now described as 'pearly', suggesting the tone of it now had an opacity to it, meaning she may be trying to cover or hide some things as her nature is no longer transparent to reveal her obvious goodness, indicating she is no longer as pure or kind as she was when she lived in poverty.
3. The description of the girls father shows his poverty and indicates how little money he has. This can be seen when we are told of his 'old sheepskin coat,' which is later described as 'squirearchal' which refers to the class of the landed gentry, in aristocratic times suggesting that once he was a fairly wealthy man. The way the father talks about his daughter shows patriarchy and possessiveness, for example, he calls her 'his girl-child, his pet.' Both terms could be seen as somewhat derogatory, but the repetition of the word 'his' shows that she is owned by her father, and is his property. Her father is also described as having 'no fear', when he first enters into the Beasts domain, this could be as he is brave and is showing strength by trying t find a way to contact his daughter, or it could be because he secretly knows that he will not be the one the Beast seeks thus he will not be in any direct danger.
4. The Beast within this story is described a number of times, each time some aspect of his appearance seems to have changed. The first description of him is given when he intercepts Beauty's father trying to steal a rose from his garden. He is described as a 'being', and later in the same description as a 'leonine apparition,' this immediately gives the reader a sense that the Beast is neither a man, yet not quite an animal either. This adds an unnerving element to his character as he does not fit into either category, meaning he is of the unknown. This first description also features a lot of the letter 'G', which adds emphasis and rhythm to the reading of the passage, 'the moonlight glittered on his great, mazy head of hair, on the eyes green as agate, on the golden hairs of the great paws that grasped his shoulders...,' The repetition of the word 'great' within this description also emphasises the majesty and the size of the Beast. However, this description is not entirely terrifying, while the Beast is shown to be a powerful and dangerous, the human features such as his 'mazy head of hair,' and his 'green as agate,' eyes help the reader to almost connect to the character more, as there are clearly still human like aspects to the Beast.
5. Mr Lyons property is described luxuriously, giving an obvious indication of excessive wealth and power. When it is first seen by Beauty's father, it is called a 'perfect, Palladian house,' and the language in the descriptive passage concerning the property seems to be quite feminine, with words such as 'skirts, 'flourish,' 'grace,' and 'sweet,' suggesting that perhaps the Beast made it this way as he yearns for partnership from a woman and wishes to make his home inviting for them. However, the description is also very Gothic, as it has key characteristics of Gothic architecture such as the 'wrought iron gates,' and its 'melancholy grace,' and also the 'light that flickered,' giving the reader a feel of tension and mystery, as it becomes obvious from the way that the house seems to 'hide itself,' foreshadows that the owner of the house may not be all he seems.
6.The Courtship of Mr Lyon is narrated mainly in the most common style of 3rd person, this is generally used by authors as it provides the most freedom and flexibility within their story telling. We can see the 3rd person narrative as the characters within are generally referred to as 'she' or 'he'. This signals that the narration is done by an unspecified entity who is perhaps uninvolved in the plot. However, there are some instances in the story where the narration style switches suddenly, where it can be seen to convey the thoughts of a character. For example, in the opening Beauty is in the kitchen and the narrative is still in 3rd person as it states that 'the telephone wires were down, he couldn't have called,' before making a sudden switch to 1st person narrative, with what the reader may interpret as Beauty's thoughts, 'I hope he'll be safe.' Though these seem to be a characters words or thoughts, the reader cannot be 100% sure, which leaves the story open to more questioning as mystery and tension is added.
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