AP Lit Concordances '09

1984 #16

2010-06-03T10:58:00.004-07:00

“The future belonged to the proles” (pg. 220). The proles represent hope. They are the only chance of change as far as Winston can tell. The proles are the lower class, people who are not part of the Party. Orwell uses these figures, even though none of them are main characters, as a sign of the future: there will most likely be no change for a long time.

1984 #15

2010-06-03T10:58:00.003-07:00

“Winston kept his back turned to the telescreen. It was safer; though, as he well knew, even a back can be revealing” (pg. 3). The telescreens are vital to the Party. They serve as advertisements and are constantly watching everyone. Orwell’s idea of telescreens watching over people is intriguing, not only because of the thought of people always being watched, but also because televisions were not yet advanced. The Party is capable of controlling everyone with two main things: militia and the telescreens. These two things are threats to everyone, and they then fear the Party. The Party relies on this fear to maintain control. Someone concerned only about himself is not apt to speak out when someone else is in danger. The Party builds all of this fear in order to prevent groups of people fighting together. Therefore, by using the telescreens, the Party guarantees its survival.

1984 #14

2010-06-03T10:58:00.001-07:00

“He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother” (pg. 298). Big Brother is the face of the Party. Orwell never makes it clear whether or not he actually exists, but this concealment is how the government operates. Big Brother stands as the symbol for the communist government that rules Oceania. Winston’s struggles against the government, and consequently against Big Brother, lead to his capture an torture. Through torture he ultimately loves Big Brother; he loves the government. Orwell’s novel shows people the intensity of communistic ideals and how even the most sane people could falter.

1984 #13

2010-06-03T10:57:00.001-07:00

“It was a common punishment in Imperial China” (pg. 286). O’Brien is about to let the rats eat Winston’s face. Orwell compares the punishments of old dictatorship countries to the government under Big Brother. The tortures that Winston goes through completely change his views. They continue to torture him until they are positive that he will love Big Brother. In Imperial China they used many different ways to torture people including: hot iron, rides on spiked saddles, punishments of the Rack, and many other instruments of torture. These punishments are seen throughout 1984, being feared of and very painful.

"Punishments in Traditional China." Web. 03 June 2010. .

1984 #12

2010-06-03T10:56:00.004-07:00

“For the first time he perceived that if you want to keep a secret you must also hide it from yourself” (pg. 281). In a world of communism, where the government sees everything that happens, one has very little individualism. Winston’s thoughts and actions against the government must be concealed from the government if he wants to remain alive. The only way for him to do this is to try and keep his own secrets from himself--as the government sees everything. Orwell’s government at an extreme level of communism, a warning to The United States and the world about communism.

1984 #11

2010-06-03T10:56:00.003-07:00

“There is a word in Newspeak, I don’t know whether you know it: duckspeak, to quack like a duck” (pg. 54). The government came up with its own language, with less words than English. The idea is to eliminate expressions and to control speech. Controlling speech would eventually allow the government to control thoughts and actions. With Newspeak there becomes even more control for the party and less and less individualism for the people. Orwell shows the intensity of a world enveloped in communism, and possible effects of government controlling language.

1984 #10

2010-06-03T10:56:00.001-07:00

“Children will be taken from their mothers at birth, as one takes eggs from a hen” (pg. 267). Comparing people to animals and treating them similarly are the ultimate goals of the Party. O’Brien describes the future of the world, a future where communism is as great as it can be. The idea of the government taking away one’s newborn child is frightening. Through his novel, Orwell warns the world of the dangers of communism; the leaders have whatever they need while everyone else suffers.

1984 #9

2010-06-03T10:54:00.000-07:00

“The earth is the center of the universe. The sun and stars go around it” (pg. 265). In the effort to convince people that nothing existed before humans and that the Party has been in control of everything, O’Brien and the Party stick with their theory of the universe. The theory that the sun and stars orbit around the earth was originated by Aristotle. In the Medieval Ages Aristotelian views were ‘baptized’ into the Catholic Church. Orwell’s government does not stand for people not accepting its views, similar to the Church in the Medieval Ages.

"The Universe of Aristotle and Ptolemy." The Universe of Aristotle and Ptolemy. Web. 3 June 2010. .

1984 #8

2010-06-03T10:53:00.001-07:00

“There were the German Nazis and the Russian Communists” (pg. 254). Orwell compares his created government with those of the German Nazis and Russian Communists in the early to middle nineteen hundreds. The Nazis were a dictatorship who believed in an ultimate race. They experimented on people in concentration camps, similar to the Inner Party of Big Brother’s government in the Ministry of Love. The Russian Communists, under Joseph Stalin, became a totalitarian government; every citizen and party member were dominated by the dictatorship. Orwell’s comparison to these two situations makes the novel more realistic and believable: these things have actually happened before.

"Communist Party, in Russia and the Soviet Union — Infoplease.com." Infoplease: Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas, Biographies, Dictionary, Thesaurus. Free Online Reference, Research & Homework Help. — Infoplease.com. Web. 03 June 2010. .

1984 #7

2010-06-03T10:52:00.000-07:00

“Being in a minority, even a minority of one, did not make you mad” (pg. 217). Orwell creates a world where communism is brought to the ultimate extreme. Communism is a form of government where individualistic ideas are eliminated. Everyone works for everyone. In a time where people were fearful of communism, Orwell created 1984 to ensure that people realize its affects. Winston understands that communism is wrong, and is the minority for these thoughts. This delves into the idea that the minority is not always wrong, no matter how small it is.

"Communism - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary." Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online. Web. 31 May 2010. .

1984 #6

2010-06-03T10:51:00.000-07:00

“The war is simply a continuous calamity which sweeps to and fro over their bodies like a tidal wave” (pg. 215). Orwell repeats the phrase ‘to and fro’ many times throughout his novel. The back-and-forth theme is seen not only in these words, but in the actions of the government as well. Oceania is always at war, whether the enemy is Eastasia or Eurasia. The enemy does not stay the same; one moment it may be one country, the next it could be the other. This insecurity and continuous change is important to the novel for without it, Winston would not question the authority as often.

1984 #5

2010-06-03T10:49:00.000-07:00

“A little Rumpelstiltskin figure, contorted with hatred, he gripped the neck of the microphone while the other, enormous at the end of a bony arm, clawed the air menacingly above his head” (pg. 180). Rumpelstiltskin is a little imp who causes trouble. The story of Rumpelstiltskin includes greed and the power of believing. Orwell calls someone involved with the government a ‘Rumpelstiltskin figure‘ insinuating the beliefs of the figure into Big Brother and the government. The government in the novel 1984 is essentially greedy, in that it wants total control, and believes in the power of believing. Whatever the government says happened, everyone else is to believe that this was the case. Orwell better describes this government by using this allusion.

"Amazon.com: Rumpelstiltskin: Amy Irving, Billy Barty, Clive Revill, John Moulder-Brown, Priscilla Pointer, Robert." Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & More. Web. 31 May 2010. .

1984 #4

2010-06-03T10:48:00.002-07:00

“One could not avoid it, but one could perhaps postpone it: and yet instead, every now and again, by a conscious, willful act, one chose to shorten the interval before it happened” (pg. 140). Orwell discusses death in his novel openly, something that is very hard for people to do. The absolute fact that everyone is going to die is difficult for people to interpret. Winston and Julia commit acts against Big Brother and realize that they are destined to go to the cellars of the Ministry of Love, before they die. They try to delay this occurrence for as long as possible, but realize that certain acts that they conscientiously do bring them closer to their downfall.

1984 #3

2010-06-03T10:48:00.001-07:00

“It struck him that in moments of crisis one is never fighting against an external enemy but always against one’s own body” (pg. 102). Internal struggle is a major theme in this novel. Winston fights against himself to hold back from Big Brother. He fights for what he knows is right, but eventually is tortured into the opposite. Orwell shows how the human body “freezes into inertia at exactly the moment when a special effort is needed.” No matter how much the body can struggle it eventually will cave in. The fight is to hold off as long as possible, making every effort against the desire to give up, which comes from within.

1984 #2

2010-06-03T10:47:00.002-07:00

“What appealed to him about it was not so much its beauty as the air it seemed to possess of belonging to an age quite different from the present one” (pg. 95). Winston is continuously trying to relate to the world before the current government, when he was only a baby. He knows that the present life is not how it should be, and he will do anything to get information about the ‘past life.‘ Orwell includes small things such as coral to draw in his audience, who hope that these small things will uncover the truth within the novel.

1984 #1

2010-06-03T10:47:00.001-07:00

“How do we know that two and two makes four? Or that the force of gravity works? Or that the past is unchangeable? If both the past and the external world exist only in the mind, and if the mind itself is controllable--what then?” (pg. 80) Orwell explores the idea of life existing only in one’s mind. He challenges his readers to open up their views and think about life and its meaning. Orwell wants people to question why two plus two equals four; is it because we were told it does or because it logically makes sense? The concept of challenging how we view life continues throughout the novel as Winston is tested by Big Brother and the government.

P+P #16

2010-03-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

“Pride...is a very common failing I believe. By all that I have ever read, I am convinced that it is a very common failing indeed, that human nature is particularly prone to it...” (12) Austen makes Darcy seem like a vain man right from the beginning of her novel. She gives the reader a first impression of Darcy, and lets the story go from there--giving her audience mainly just Elizabeth’s perspective. It is interesting that Mary, the least known of the five Bennet daughters, sets the stage for Darcy’s impressions. Austen convinces her audience of Darcy’s mishaps through Mary, who is known to be a reader and therefore assumed to be wise--making the opinions reliable.

P+P #15

2010-03-21T10:52:00.000-07:00

“Jane and Elizabeth...urged him so earnestly...to receive her and her husband at Longbourn” (210). There are many words that Austen uses profoundly throughout her novel. Earnest, prudent, felicity, anxiety, perverse, pride, and prejudice are all unique words that I found are constantly used. These seven words summarize the main ideas and actions in Pride and Prejudice. The main characters are sincere and wise in overcoming prejudgment, concern, and stubbornness, to ultimately achieve happiness and honor. The author obtains the overall affect of the novel by continuously using all of these words.

P+P #14

2010-03-21T09:24:00.000-07:00

“Elizabeth will soon be the wife of Mr. Darcy” (258). Marriage is the fundamental ambition of the main characters in Pride and Prejudice. The entire novel revolves around the pursuit of matrimony; Elizabeth alone has three different suitors. It is fascinating that Austen never married herself, since marriage is such a common theme in her works. She refused offers of marriage, similar to Elizabeth, and was thought to have wanted to marry certain men. Her death at the age of 41 naturally ended any aspiration for Austen to become a married woman; she stayed unmarried, similar to her character Mary Bennet.

"Jane Austen." Books & Literature Classics. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. .

P+P #13

2010-03-21T08:58:00.000-07:00

“It was agreed that he should be in London once more when the wedding took place, and all money matters were then to receive the last finish” (217). The plot of Pride and Prejudice is based off of the many travels that take place. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship develops from these excursions. The first main trip that Elizabeth takes (to London) leads to the refusal of marriage and Darcy’s letter of explanation. The second voyage ends up at Pemberley, where Elizabeth begins her admiration of Darcy. Darcy’s journey to London to make certain of Lydia and Wickham’s marriage finalizes Elizabeth’s affection for him. Austen purposely includes these expeditions to give her novel depth, allowing more events to take place and complete the story.

P+P #12

2010-03-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

“Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom he had felt the smallest interest, and from none received either attention or pleasure” (10). Social class was a central part of life in Jane Austen’s time period, Regency England. This era is considered to be from around 1790 to 1830, when Pride and Prejudice was published. The characters of the novel spend most of their time doing leisurely things; they never seem to have a considerable amount of work to do. Austen does not go into much detail of the lives of the lower-class and servants, mainly because the Bennet’s are a middle-class family. However, the obligation to draw a line between social classes is obvious, similar to the actions of the people during Regency England.

"Regency Taste in Architecture and Style. The World of Jane Austen Gentlewomen." Fashion History Costume Trends and Eras, Trends Victorians - Haute Couture. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. .

Image: http://hibiscus-sinensis.com/regency/index.htm

P+P #11

2010-03-21T07:34:00.000-07:00

“To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ancles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! what could she mean by it?” (24). In Austen’s time period, women were not supposed to go against the norms of society. Walking by herself through fields and dirt, Elizabeth certainly displays her independence--she goes all this way just to see that her sister is alright. Upon arriving at Netherfield, Elizabeth receives an instant reputation by the women at the house--one that continues throughout the novel. The men’s viewpoint is the exact opposite, however. They regard her actions with admiration for the affection she has towards her sister, and think that Elizabeth’s eyes “were brightened by the exercise.” Austen considers many similar gender differences for the duration of her whole novel.

P+P #10

2010-03-20T14:01:00.000-07:00

“The younger son of an Earl can know very little of either” (125). An Earl was originally the head of a shire. During the late middle ages, Earls became the highest ranking behind princes, so by Austen’s time Earls were very powerful. Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy are spoken of, by Elizabeth, as sons of an Earl--indicating the importance of social stature in the novel. Marriage to such high class is first mentioned to Elizabeth; she is initially “coloured” by the idea. Austen continuously flirts with the conception of marrying into the upper class, especially with the members of the Bennet family.

"Knighthood, Chivalry & Tournament Glossary of Terms." Knighthood, Chivalry & Tournaments Resource Library. Web. 20 Mar. 2010. .

Image: http://humphrysfamilytree.com/deVere/17th.earl.oxford.html

P+P #9

2010-03-20T13:26:00.000-07:00

“The town where she had formerly passed some years of her life, and where they were now to spend a few days, was probably as great an object of her curiosity, as all the celebrated beauties of Matlock, Chatsworth, Dove Dale, or the Peak” (161). Austen creates a place that is more beautiful than the well recognized houses like Chatsworth. Chatsworth house has had many changes since its assembly in 1549, but drawings of the past masters are always kept in the house. Its grounds and mountains around it make it exclusive. Pemberley House in Pride and Prejudice is thought to have been inspired by such significant mansions like Chatsworth. Chatsworth house is even featured as Pemberley in the movie Pride and Prejudice. Austen augments Mr. Darcy’s status by insinuating that Pemberley is the finest in England.

"Chatsworth House Facts - Freebase." Freebase - A Wealth of Free Data. Web. 20 Mar. 2010. .

P+P #8

2010-03-20T12:06:00.000-07:00

“The garden in which stands my humble abode, is separated only by a lane from Rosings Park, her ladyship’s residence” (45). Austen frequently describes scenes in her novel through dialogue. Her style of often using dialogue instead of narrating gives her work a unique touch. In this scenario, through Mr. Collins character, the author describes later scenes--where certain truths become revealed and the story changes. It is intriguing how important the dialogue becomes in setting the scene for the entire novel.

P+P #7

2010-03-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

“It was, on the contrary, exactly calculated to make her understand her own wishes; and never had she so honestly felt that she could have loved him, as now, when all love must be vain” (185). In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen created a romantic love story between Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. While there are many other romances that occur, this relationship is the main focus. A common love story includes many complications. Darcy and Elizabeth’s relationship certainly goes through hardships, and the character’s perspectives change as the novel goes on. The underlying theme of this relationship, and of the novel, is the impact of first impressions. The first impressions that these two characters have of each other are destructive. Elizabeth sees Darcy as a proud and conceited man, while Darcy does not even consider a relationship. The entire novel is then based off of these first impressions, and the changing of character’s opinions of each other. The book ends as a true love story, the relationships are settled in a superb fashion.

P+P #6

2010-03-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

“Whether he might not spend the remainder of his days at Netherfield, and leave the next generation to purchase” (10). The custom of families naming their house and other properties started in Britain. Originally only the upper class named their estates, castles, and halls. Eventually the middle and lower class families began giving names to their properties. Austen constantly alludes to this custom, helping to set her novel in this Britain era. The story is set in the period when mainly the higher class people named their homes; Mr. Bingley is of higher class.

"House Naming Guide - How to Name Your Home." House Signs, House Names, House Numbers, Property Markers, Address Plates & Door Number Plaques - Direct from the UK House Sign Makers. Web. 20 Mar. 2010. http://www.yoursigns.com/housenames-rules.html>.

P+P #5

2010-03-17T18:57:00.000-07:00

“It was a large, handsome, stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills;--and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance.” (163) Elizabeth instantly thinks highly of Pemberley House. The attributes are similar to Mr. Darcy’s characteristics. Mr. Darcy is known to be tall, handsome, and “standing well on rising ground,” or wealthy. He is “naturally” prominent and often like a “stone;” he is generally hard to read. Elizabeth visits the house not long after receiving a letter from Darcy explaining his good intentions. The letter gradually makes her think better of Darcy and by the time she arrives at Pemberley House she thinks “that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something.” The house itself, along with the events that occur at Pemberley, represent the improving relationship between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth.

P+P #4

2010-03-17T18:12:00.000-07:00

“His commendation of every thing would have touched Mrs. Bennet’s heart, but for the mortifying supposition of his viewing it all as his own future property” (44). Fortunes were not large for the Austen family. Mr. Austen could not have offered ample amounts of money if his daughters were to have married--similar to Mr. Bennet and his five daughters in Pride and Prejudice. In 1805 Jane Austen’s father passed away, reducing the family income by a significant amount. Jane Austen again used circumstances from her life in her novel to bring a connection to the story; she was able to write with more emotion. The death of Mr. Bennet in Austen’s novel would have brought about similar circumstances; the mother and daughters would be left with very little.

"Jane Austen's Biography: Life (1775-1817) and Family." Jane Austen | The Republic of Pemberley. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. .

P+P #3

2010-03-17T17:57:00.000-07:00

“If what I have hitherto said can appear to you in the form of encouragement, I know not how to express my refusal in such a way as may convince you of its being one” (75). Elizabeth’s continued refusal of marriage to Mr. Collins is an example of doing what she pleases; she does not care what other people think of her. Although the author died many years before the Victorian age, she demonstrates a Victorian quality in her characterizations of Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s attitude can even be distinguished as feministic for this era. There were not many key women figures during this time, but Austen gives Elizabeth the features needed to stand out as a significant main character. It is intriguing that Jane Austen, an ordinary woman, was a possible pioneer to the Victorian writers.

P+P #2

2010-03-17T17:50:00.000-07:00

“‘It is wonderful,’--replied Wickham,--‘for almost all his actions may be traced to pride; --and pride has often been his best friend.” (55) Austen develops a dramatic effect to her novel. She gives her audience every reason to believe that Wickham is amiable and Mr. Darcy abominable. The reader discovers Wickham to be deceitful; everything he had pronounced Darcy to have been was false. Austen’s ability to make her audience like, or dislike, a character intensifies her novel--developing her character’s relationships in a way that is engaging to the readers.

P+P #1

2010-03-17T17:47:00.000-07:00

“Oh! she is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld!” (7). Jane Austen seems to have connected her personal life with the lives of many of the characters in the novel. The five sisters in the Bennet family all have at least one similar quality to Jane Austen. Jane Bennet is the eldest, “most beautiful” of the sisters--perhaps suggesting potential jealously that Jane Austen had toward her older sister Cassandra. Austen’s lack of romantic relationships coincides with Elizabeth Bennet in the beginning of the novel, however they both are devoted to their elder sister. Jane Austen and her character Mary Bennet both admire reading. Austen and four of the sister characters, especially Lydia, all enjoy partying and dances. Kitty and Lydia’s relationship throughout most of the book strongly relates to Jane and Cassandra Austen’s relationship. Mrs. Austen, the mother, supposedly said that “if Cassandra’s head had been going to be cut off, Jane would have hers cut off too.” Jane Austen most likely portrayed her personal qualities within the five sisters; she gave each one a distinctive characteristic similar to her own life.

"Jane Austen's Biography: Life (1775-1817) and Family." Jane Austen | The Republic of Pemberley. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. .

GE #15

2010-01-04T19:42:00.004-08:00

“What alone was wanting to the realisation of a vast fortune, he considered to be More Capital” (147). Capitalism is an economic system dependant upon the “private ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods” (Bing). Owning a small business, Mr. Pumblechook would want the best economic conditions for himself. A capital for a business is equivalent to its net worth. In an era of social status, Pumblechook is greedy for more fortune: more capital. Dickens ties many Victorian Era themes and ideas to his novel--having been written in this era. Social class and Capital are two areas in which the novel can be traced to having been created in this era, and help to fully develop this time period throughout the book.

“Define capitalism -." Bing. Web. 04 Jan. 2010. http://www.bing.com/Dictionary/search?q=define+capitalism&FORM=DTPDIA.

GE #14

2010-01-04T19:42:00.003-08:00

“I strolled round by Satis House” (449). Dickens portrays the Satis House as the upper class, and also as death. Pip always returns to this house, enchanted by what is held within. He is intrigued and consumed by the inhabitants of this house, and its demise is parallel to Pip’s own degrading of social stature. The apparent stop of time within this house, unmistakably aging, symbolizes how time waits for nothing--it always moves on. Dickens may be emphasizing the importance to keep memories close to the heart, but always remember to keep moving forward, for life is always moving on.

GE #13

2010-01-04T19:42:00.001-08:00

“It was evening when I arrived, much fatigued by the journey I had so often made so easily” (449). After finally realizing his mistake of leaving Joe and Biddy, Pip resolves to go back to them, to apologize and beg for their forgiveness. Although having made this journey dozens of times before, Pip finds this particular one especially tough. Through this passage Dickens hints at a common theme in life: the difficulties of admitting to be wrong. Without the necessary courage to do so it can potentially lead to lies and committing crimes. Dickens gives Pip the valor needed to overcome these situations, encouraging his readers to do so as well.

GE #12

2010-01-04T19:41:00.003-08:00

“I found the Blue Boar in possession of the intelligence, and I found that it made a great change in the Boar’s demeanour” (449). A commonly explored theme in the novel is social status. In the beginning high stature is everything to Pip; he believes that to win Estella’s compassion, he must be rich, educated, and a “gentleman.” Growing older and wiser, and also having lost all of his “expectations”, Pip discovers that social status has nothing to do with integrity. It does however affect the views others have on him, as mentioned in this passage. Dickens wants the reader to identify with Pip that friendship and dependability are favorable to social status.

GE #11

2010-01-04T19:41:00.001-08:00

“There’s subjects enough as betwixt two sech, without onnecessary ones” (444). Pip’s main parental figure in this novel is Joe. The two of them are friends in the beginning--lasting through to the end. Though Pip changes frequently (social class, views on topics, location, etc.), Joe is the one character linked to Pip that is constant throughout. He never deviates from his loving manner towards Pip. To emphasize Joe’s decency Dickens includes one key factor: dialect. The reader may not realize the importance of this in the beginning, but once Pip has become a “gentleman” Joe’s specific dialect emerges. The reader realizes how far Pip has come, eventually contrasting the new and the old Pip. Joe’s evident dialect towards the end ties the novel back to the beginning, just one instrument that Dickens uses to complete his story.

GE #10

2010-01-04T19:38:00.002-08:00

“The steam traffic on the Thames was far below its present extent” (413). Dickens references the river Thames quite frequently. The river Thames is not one of the largest rivers in the world, but is definitely one of the most historic. It has provided so much for England--from transportation and trade between cities to supplying the early settlers with agricultural needs. Dickens centers the second half of his novel around the river, planning and preparing for Magwitch’s escape. The death of Magwitch is ultimately caused by the events on the Thames, suggesting at the theme that the marsh and other wet areas foreshadow unfavorable events.

"History and pictures of the River Thames." Travel website: Tour London England, Washington DC, San Francisco & Wine Tours, New York City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Diego, Yosemite NP, CA Central Coast. Web. 04 Jan. 2010. http://www.inetours.com/England/London/pages/River_Thames.html.

GE #9

2010-01-04T19:38:00.001-08:00

“My rapid mind pursued him to the town, made a picture of the street with him in it, and contrasted its lights and life with the lonely marsh and the white vapour creeping over it, into which I should have dissolved” (405). The “lonely marsh” that is visited many times acts as a motif of insecurity and exposure. It is here that Pip encounters the convicts on two different occasions early in his childhood. Pip later returns to the marshes, only to be captured by Orlick. The marshes present an image of uncertainty to the reader, Dickens therefore foreshadowing upcoming events that may hinder Pip’s journey.

GE #8

2010-01-04T19:37:00.000-08:00

“Why did you who read this, commit that not dissimilar inconsistency of your own, last year, last month, last week?” (361). Great Expectations is entirely narrated by the main character Pip--who often gives insight to (and becomes personal with) the reader. This creative style of writing has also been explored by Shelley in much of her novel Frankenstein, and by Bronte in Jane Eyre. These authors, including Dickens, are able to add new ideas to their novels, and give their readers more opportunities to connect the book to their own lives.

GE #7

2010-01-04T19:35:00.000-08:00

“As the hours of the tide changed, I took towards London Bridge” (360). London Bridge is the most famous bridge in the world. It has had many various “London Bridges” in its spot over its 2000 years of existence. The many references Dickens makes to this bridge support the importance of it. It is a common London landmark. The author uses this to create a more “lifelike” impression of his novel--to make readers feel that his story could have actually happened.

The London Bridge Museum & Educational Trust. Web. 03 Jan. 2010. http://www.oldlondonbridge.com/history.shtml.

GE #6

2010-01-04T19:34:00.003-08:00

“If she wounds you, love her. If she tears your heart to pieces--and as it gets older and stronger it will tear deeper--love her, love her!” (226). Dickens explores the theme of ambition. The major character who provides ambition for Pip is Miss Havisham--who is continuously telling Pip to love Estella, and asking him how beautiful Estella has grown. In this way Miss Havisham, whose only original motive was to get her revenge on men, provides a stepping stone for Pip--giving him desire for self-improvement. Dickens uses this ambition as a central theme throughout the novel, one that his audience can most likely relate to.

GE #5

2010-01-04T19:34:00.001-08:00

“The two convicts were handcuffed together, and had irons on their legs--iron of a pattern that I knew well” (214). A literary device commonly used throughout Dickens’ novel is foreshadowing. Dickens uses definite levels of foreshadowing to give the reader further knowledge, and the ability to guess upcoming events. The reappearance of convicts to the novel once more adds the dimension of crime. The fact that Pip recognizes the pattern of the irons makes the reader remember the convicts in the beginning, and potentially foreshadowing the many events ahead that they are involved with.

GE #4

2010-01-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

“Her face looked to me as if it were all disturbed by fiery air, like the faces I had seen rise out of the Witches’ cauldron” (201). Through Pip’s narrative, Dickens alludes to Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Shakespeare’s works are reference a handful of times in the novel--the reader notices Dickens’ respect for the Bard. This passage assumes the events in Macbeth to be common knowledge, and that any reader would recognize and relate to this narrative. The themes in Macbeth, mainly crime and guilt, are also heavily explored in Great Expectations. In Macbeth, Macbeth and the Queen both commit crimes and experience the guilt afterwards. In Dickens’ novel the convicts, along with Mr. Jaggers, distinguish this theme.

"Macbeth: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article." AbsoluteAstronomy.com. Web. 03 Jan. 2010. http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Macbeth.

GE #3

2010-01-04T19:31:00.002-08:00

“Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts” (151). Pip is often confronted with moments of solemnity, of which Dickens stresses the importance of letting your true emotions shine through. Prosperity is not often reached if having to continuously conceal your honest feelings. Dickens’ use of metaphor explains how tears are as natural as rain, and cannot be avoided.

GE #2

2010-01-04T19:31:00.001-08:00

“Those six days which were to have run out so slowly…and to-morrow looked me in the face more steadily than I could look at it” (150). This passage explores imagery as well as personification. Personification is often like a branch from imagery. It provides Pip’s feelings at this moment, giving the reader an image, thus being an example of imagery. The author gives a human trait to a nonliving figure, tomorrow, saying how it “looked” Pip in the face, thus being an example of personification. Dickens uses the two literary devices together to create a better sense of Pip’s moment.

GE #1

2010-01-04T19:26:00.000-08:00

“I rather think they were displayed as articles of property--much as Cleopatra or any other sovereign lady on the Rampage might exhibit her wealth in a pageant or procession” (93). Pip compares his sister’s nature to carry these extra articles to that of women with authority boasting their wealth. Dickens references Cleopatra, one of the most predominant woman figures in history, comparing her to Pip’s sister. The author deliberately creates an impression of Pip’s sister who brought Pip up “by hand.” He relates her power over Pip to the power of Cleopatra.

"Egypt: Rulers, Kings and Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt: Cleopatra VII & Ptolemy XIII." Egypt Travel, Tours, Vacations, Ancient Egypt from Tour Egypt. Web. 03 Jan. 2010. http://www.touregypt.net/cleopatr.htm.

JE #15

2009-12-01T20:15:00.003-08:00

“They’ve like nobody to tak’ care on ’em but me. I’m like to look sharpish” (436). Bronte uses dialect through Hannah’s character. Hannah is the only character to have a distinguished dialect throughout the entire novel, excluding the many people speaking French. Almost everyone that Jane comes across is well educated, until she meets Hannah. Bronte uses this dialect, not to debase the importance of Hannah’s character, but to easily reveal that she is in fact not well-educated. In this passage Bronte shows how valuable it is to have a decent education.

JE #14

2009-12-01T20:15:00.001-08:00

“I have no relative but the universal mother, Nature: I will seek her breast and ask repose” (414). In a time of solitude, with nowhere to go, Jane Eyre seeks for a motherly figure to comfort her. Throughout the novel, Bronte has given the orphan Jane many motherly figures including: Bessie, Miss Temple, Helen, and even the moon. When she is alone searching for something to cling onto, Jane resolves that her only relative is the “universal mother Nature,” and fastens herself to it.

JE #13

2009-12-01T20:14:00.004-08:00

“A Christmas frost had come at midsummer: a white December storm had whirled over June; ice glazed the ripe apples, drifts crushed the blowing roses; on hay-field and corn-field lay a frozen shroud” (383). Through this one passage Bronte creates a vivid image of frigidness and death in the reader’s mind. The reader is submerged into Jane’s concealed thoughts and exact feelings at this precise moment where she feels abandoned. She states that the cold of winter instantly shrouded the merriment and excitement of summer--her marriage to her beloved Mr. Rochester.

JE #12

2009-12-01T20:14:00.003-08:00

“He stood between me and every thought of religion, as an eclipse intervenes between man and the broad sun” (361). Bronte uses many literary devices throughout the novel, including many similes. A simile is a comparison often using the words “like” or “as.” It is a figure of speech that is common for expressing ideas and imagery. This passage also demonstrates the importance Mr. Rochester has on Jane. She says how he is like an “eclipse” between her and the sun--being the only thing that she can see in front of her.

JE #11

2009-12-01T20:14:00.001-08:00

“Let me look at your face: turn to the moonlight…I want to read your countenance” (340). Throughout the novel Bronte alludes to phrenology, the “belief that character traits manifest themselves in the shape of the head” (Plattsburgh). Jane does not accept Mr. Rochester’s proposal of marriage until she reads his face. She must determine that Mr. Rochester is truly sincere. Charlotte Bronte and her sister include the idea of phrenology throughout many of their works of literature, as it was most likely studied in their own lives.

"Bront." Plattsburgh State Faculty and Research Web Sites. Web. 02 Dec. 2009. http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/peter.friesen/default.asp?go=217.

JE #10

2009-12-01T20:13:00.004-08:00

“The inanimate objects were not changed: but the living things had altered past recognition” (311). Bronte delves into the relationship time has with animate and inanimate objects. After being away for approximately nine years, Jane finds the nonliving occupants at Gateshead to be quite similar as before--while the active members have drastically changed. Bronte’s entire piece of literature is based off of time. The novel is a self titled autobiography written by Jane Eyre: Bronte’s main character. She narrates her life--connecting remembrance and time to form the story of her life.

JE #9

2009-12-01T20:13:00.003-08:00

“The glamour of inexperience is over your eyes…and you see it through a charmed medium: you cannot discern that the gilding is slime and the silk draperies cobwebs; that the marble is sordid slate, and the polished woods mere refuse chips and scaly bark” (297). Bronte floods this passage with metaphors. The imagery she creates leads to a better understanding of the thoughts of Mr. Rochester. He depreciates the value of his home generating the general theme of social status. To Jane the house is a “splendid mansion” but to Mr. Rochester it seems not much more than “slime.” The differences between these two characters, and their separate social status, eventually kindles the love between them.

JE #8

2009-12-01T20:13:00.001-08:00

“Brought down in armfuls by the Abigails” (260). A servant or “handmaid” is sometimes referred to as an Abigail, its reason coming straight from the Bible. King David’s third wife’s name was Abigail. Abigail referenced herself as King David’s “handmaid.” In English literature it has been common to call someone’s servant or attendant “Abigail” for this meaning. Bronte, being of English heritage, often has this name associated with this meaning throughout Jane Eyre. Bronte hints at the role stature has in this past English society.

"Abigail - meaning of Abigail name." Baby Names Name Meanings Baby Boy Names, Baby Girl Names. Web. 01 Dec. 2009. http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/0/Abigail.

JE #7

2009-12-01T20:12:00.002-08:00

“Some natural tears she shed” (243). Bronte references Paradise Lost, which has been commonly alluded to throughout the novels we have read so far this year. Paradise Lost tells a lot about religion and its different ways, while Jane struggles to find her own path with religion. It is interesting that John Milton’s work of literature written in the late sixteenth century has had such an influence on many great authors after his time. It is intriguing that Bronte uses this quote, which hints that Adele may not always shed “natural” tears, possibly also foreshadowing upcoming events.

"Milton: Paradise Lost - Book 12." Dartmouth College. Web. 01 Dec. 2009. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~milton/reading_room/pl/book_12/index.shtml.

JE #6

2009-12-01T20:12:00.001-08:00

“Little things recall us to earth” (186). Bronte says how the littlest things in life are often the most important--allowing one to linger and think to oneself for moments, but bringing one back “to earth” in time. Something as simple as a clock striking can be enough to end previous thoughts and move one along with her life. Jane’s “eyes and spirit seemed drawn from the gloomy house,” wanting to remain away for as long as possible but eventually seduced by such a small thing.

JE #5

2009-12-01T20:11:00.002-08:00

“Like types of the Hebrew ark” (173). The Hebrew ark, also known as the Ark of the Covenant, is a holy warehouse where the Ten Commandments are held. It is often referred to in the Bible, which Bronte must have been quite familiar with. The theme of religion is absolute through Jane Eyre; Bronte (through many characters) expresses Christianity and religion openly and often, in many different styles. These differences lead her main character to be confused, struggling to find her own view of Christianity.

"PE HTML PUBLIC "-//IETF//DTD HTML//EN"Ark of the Covenant, Ark." Public Services - Social, Religious, Scientific, Products, Environment. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. http://mb-soft.com/believe/txn/ark.htm.

JE #4

2009-12-01T20:11:00.001-08:00

“‘A new servitude! There is something in that,’ I soliloquized (mentally, be it understood; I did not talk aloud)” (152). Bronte includes a literary device (as well as mentioning the device) that was commonly used by William Shakespeare in his works. Throughout her novel Bronte references many of Shakespeare’s works, including a quote from Macbeth: “After life’s fitful fever they sleep well” (174). Shakespeare’s predominance throughout the centuries is inevitable, as it appears in works of literature as Jane Eyre. It is apparent that Bronte had much respect for Shakespeare’s work and devices, as she includes such things heavily in her novel. The two pieces also share the theme of social status; Macbeth demonstrates the fall of a character and Jane Eyre is an example of the rise of a character.

JE #3

2009-12-01T20:09:00.002-08:00

“Eyes like Miss Scatcherd’s can only see those minute defects, and are blind to the full brightness of the orb” (131). According to dictionary.com, an orb can be any sphere or globe, but it says how it can specifically be “any of the heavenly bodies, as the sun or moon”. Bronte uses imagery in this passage. She heightens the reader’s awareness of the fact that Miss Scatcherd only sees the “defects” in her students. She gives an illustration of being unaware of certain abilities in people, being blind to the “full brightness” of the people (or heavenly body for imagery).

"Orb Definition Definition of Orb at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/orb.

JE #2

2009-12-01T20:09:00.001-08:00

“Humility is a Christian grace, and one peculiarly appropriate to the pupils of Lowood; I, therefore, direct that especial care shall be bestowed on its cultivation amongst them” (93). Bronte often foreshadows upcoming events. Here she uses foreshadowing to let the reader know that humility, like at Gateshead, is “peculiarly appropriate” and will be used. The reader is hopeful that her schooling at Lowood will be better than her life at Gateshead, but this creates possible contemplation for the reader.

JE #1

2009-12-01T20:08:00.000-08:00

“You will now stay here an hour longer, and it is only on condition of perfect submission and stillness that I shall liberate you then” (75). Charlotte Bronte uses the “red-room,” in which Jane is locked up, as a symbol throughout the novel. This room, and the humiliation that came with it, is often referred to as Jane ages, especially in other such times of mockery. Her first memory of the red-room is at Lowood, when being scoffed at by Mr. Brockleworst. For Jane this room symbolizes what she has already defeated, as well as what lays ahead of her, of which she must conquer.

Mrs. D #16

2009-09-30T20:00:00.001-07:00

“Now that one was old…now that one was mature…one could watch, one could understand, and one did not lose the power of feeling” (p193). Peter Walsh explains how, now that he has matured, he is able to know people. He says when he was young he “was too much excited” to fathom relationships. Peter and Sally both agree that they feel more passionately about things which before had an inferior effect on them. Woolf must have appreciated growing mature, enjoying the wisdom that comes with it.

Mrs. D #15

2009-09-30T19:59:00.004-07:00

“But this young man who had killed himself-had he plunged holding his treasure? ‘If it were now to die, ’twere now to be most happy’” (p184). The news of a young man’s suicide (Septimus’) is reported at Mrs. Dalloway’s party. She, although upset by this disturbance, finds herself regarding the situation. She was not appalled by this news, as many are, but interested; asking herself questions of suicide. Virginia Woolf committed suicide sixteen years after this book was published. In her final note to her husband she writes: “Everything has gone from me but the certainty of your goodness. I can't go on spoiling your life any longer. I don't think two people could have been happier than we have been.” The main character in Woolf’s novel says how if one must kill herself, she must be happy when approaching her death. The last line in Woolf’s letter explains that she was happy with her husband throughout her life with him.
“Virginia Woolf.” Wikipedia. 29 Sept. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_woolf

Mrs. D #14

2009-09-30T19:59:00.003-07:00

“For she never spoke of England, but this isle of men, this dear, dear land, was in her blood (without reading Shakespeare)” (p180). When regarding early England, one almost instantaneously thinks of Shakespeare. He is arguably the most renowned figure from England. Woolf writes how impressive this woman’s English background and appearance are, all without having read a single work of Shakespeare’s.

Mrs. D # 13

2009-09-30T19:59:00.001-07:00

“She could not resist recalling what Charles Darwin had said about her little book on the orchids of Burma” (p179). At Clarissa’s party, Aunt Helena converses only about India and Burma: a country along India’s southeast border. She explains to Peter Walsh how Charles Darwin, famous for his theory of evolution, had praised her work “on the orchids of Burma,” an accomplishment of very few people. Virginia Woolf includes the mentioning of Burma and Darwin to add depth to her novel, making it recognizable to the reader.
“Burma.” Wikipedia. 29 Sept. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma

Mrs. D # 12

2009-09-30T19:58:00.000-07:00

“[They all felt] this majesty passing; this symbol of what they all stood for, English society” (p172). The Prime Minister enters the party and nobody wants to gawk in his direction. They all continue with their conversations, knowing that “majesty” has entered. They respect this man, the emblem of their society. Woolf’s inclusion of the nameless respected Prime Minister could very well be alluding to Stanley Baldwin, the Prime Minister of England during the period which this novel was written. She may have been a friend of his; authors often include (directly or indirectly) their companions in their works.
"Mrs Dalloway." Free Website Hosting – Angelfire free website templates to make your own free website. Web. 29 Sept. 2009. http://www.angelfire.com/ns2/phoenixbookreviews/GuestReviews.html/JVDKMrsDalloway.html.

Mrs. D #11

2009-09-30T19:57:00.000-07:00

“Read about Surrey and Yorkshire-he had held out that copper millions of times. Surrey was all out once more” (p162). Surrey and Yorkshire are two of the eighteen cricket teams in the Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Cricket is very similar to baseball, but less formal. A “bowler” bowls a ball to a batter, who tries to hit it as far as he can. A team gets one point every time a batter runs to a marked distance and back without getting out. Innings in cricket can take up to several hours and are intended to have refreshment breaks in between. In her novel Woolf references cricket: a sport commonly played in England. She uses examples of English traditions to emphasize the importance of her novel taking place in England.
“What is Cricket?" WiseGEEK: clear answers for common questions. Web. 29 Sept. 2009. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-cricket.htm.

Mrs. D #10

2009-09-30T19:56:00.000-07:00

“Sitting on the bus going up Shaftesbury Avenue, she felt herself everywhere; not ‘here, here, here’; and she tapped the back of the seat; but everywhere” (p152). Clarissa explains how she observes herself looking upon all of London, with a feeling of awe. In present day London there are nine such “Shaftesbury” Avenues. The most popular of them being Shaftesbury Avenue in Westminster. Woolf most likely was referencing this particular one, seeing as Westminster Abbey (in Westminster) is alluded to many times throughout the novel.
"LondonTown.com Shaftesbury Avenue Guide Shaftesbury Avenue London, W1D, England, UK London Streets by Street." LondonTown.com The Number One Internet Site for London England - London hotel and event review. Web. 29 Sept. 2009. http://www.londontown.com/LondonStreets/shaftesbury_avenue_26c.html#other.

Mrs. D #9

2009-09-30T19:55:00.000-07:00

“For Dr. Holmes seemed to stand for something horrible to him. ‘Human nature,’ he called him” (p140). It is known to the reader that Septimus abhors Dr. Holmes. Septimus feels as though he does not need a doctor; he believes he is not mad. Calling Holmes “human nature” gives the reader a sense that Septimus dislikes the human race. Woolf gives him one of the largest allusions in the novel, referencing everyone in the world. She creates a character who is appalled by the way his kind treats others.

Mrs. D #8

2009-09-30T19:54:00.002-07:00

“Reading Baron Marbot for she could not sleep, it proves she has a heart” (p135). Clarissa wonders about her daughter, Elizabeth. She questions Elizabeth’s friendship with Miss Kilman, whom Clarissa despises. Clarissa convinces herself that at least Elizabeth “has a heart,” shown by reading Baron Marbot. Marbot was a French soldier who served under Napoleon. The Memoirs of his Life and Campaigns, written about Marbot, demonstrates the Napoleonic age of warfare. Virginia Woolf includes this in her novel for it is fascinating and romantic; it shows Elizabeth has a heart.
"Jean Baptiste Antoine Marcelin, baron de Marbot - LoveToKnow 1911." 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica - Free Online. Web. 30 Sept. 2009. http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Jean_Baptiste_Antoine_Marcelin%2C_baron_de_Marbot.

Mrs. D #7

2009-09-30T19:54:00.001-07:00

“People gazed round and shuffled past the tomb of the Unknown Warrior” (p133). The tomb of the British Unknown Warrior is located in Westminster Abbey in London. This Unknown Soldier was buried in 1920 to honor the unknown dead from World War 1. It was kept a secret as to which battlefield the soldier came from so that he would truly represent all of the unknown dead. Many people have visited this tomb, worshipping everyone who had perished for their country. Woolf includes the Unknown Warrior when Elizabeth and Miss Kilman go to Westminster. Woolf honors these unknown fallen soldiers in her novel.
"The Unknown Warrior -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 30 Sept. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_the_Unknown_Warrior.

Mrs. D #6

2009-09-30T19:53:00.002-07:00

“Big Ben struck the half-hour” (p127). Big Ben is the name given to the bell in the famous clock tower at the Palace of Westminster in London. It is a great icon and landmark in London; it has been around since 1859. Woolf constantly alludes to Big Ben throughout her novel. Mrs. Dalloway takes place in just one day, so knowing the time of the day is important for the reader to follow along. It gives rhythm to the story, as it is mentioned every half-hour or hour. Woolf uses Big Ben to connect the many different scenes in her novel.
"Big Ben -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 30 Sept. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ben.

Mrs. D #5

2009-09-30T19:53:00.001-07:00

“Miss Kilman stood there (and stand she did, with the power and taciturnity of some prehistoric monster armored for primeval warfare)” (p126). Virginia Woolf describes Miss Kilman as a “prehistoric monster” ready for war. A perfect example of imagery in Woolf’s novel, this could make the reader view Miss Kilman differently. Clarissa Dalloway detests this woman. Feeling as though she is “taking her daughter from her,” she pictures Kilman’s demise and laughs. The idea of Miss Kilman fading away rapidly enlightens Clarissa, allowing her daughter to continue to the stores.

Mrs. D #4

2009-09-30T19:52:00.000-07:00

“One letter to the Times, she used to say to Miss Brush, cost her more than to organize an expedition to South Africa” (p109). The Times is a national newspaper in the United Kingdom. It was originated in 1785. It is a highly prestigious newspaper and its writers are respected and honored. The Times created the printing font Times Roman, which has been widely used throughout the world. Woolf recognizes the paper’s prominence and later calls it an “art” to be capable of writing letter to the Times.
"The Times -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 30 Sept. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Times.

Mrs. D #3

2009-09-30T19:49:00.000-07:00

“We are a doomed race, chained to a sinking ship (her favorite reading as a girl was Huxley and Tyndall, and they were fond of these nautical metaphors)” (p77). Huxley and Tyndall were both scientists, educators, and supporters of Darwin’s theory of evolution. The references to these three men throughout the novel lead the reader to believe that Virginia Woolf must have admired them as scientists. They lead the major breakthrough in science in the 1800’s, setting the pace for the 1900’s. Peter Walsh, explaining Clarissa’s characteristics, includes these famous educators to relate them to Clarissa Dalloway.
"John Tyndall." Lexicorps. Web. 30 Sept. 2009. http://www.lexicorps.com/Tyndall.htm.

Mrs. D #2

2009-09-30T19:48:00.000-07:00

“Such things happen to every one. Every one has friends who were killed in the War. Every one gives up something when they marry” (p66). The “War” alluded to here is World War I. Mrs. Dalloway takes place in the 1920’s, not long after this war had ended. The effect the War had on the world is incredible. Rezia is annoyed that her husband, Septimus, acts as if his friend was the only person lost in the war. She reassures herself that everyone has lost something, and also that her husband is going mad. She has given this up through their marriage. It is doubtful that Woolf did not lose a friend in the war. She could be alluding to moments from her life, including sacrifices she had made by marrying.

Mrs. D #1

2009-09-30T19:47:00.000-07:00

“Pausing at the edge of the pavement; and all the exalted statues, Nelson, Gordon, Havelock, the black, the spectacular images of great soldiers stood looking ahead of them, as if they too had made the same renunciation” (p51). Nelson was an admiral who commanded the British fleet in the last 1700’s. His statue is in the middle of Trafalgar Square in London, facing the Palace of Westminster. When this novel was published Trafalgar Square was a significant social and political location; statues of these famous men surrounding it. By including this allusion in her novel, Virginia Woolf sets the scene of the entire day, based in London in the 1920’s. These statues are well known landmarks in London and give a sense of location to the reader.
"NELSON'S COLUMN AT TRAFALGAR SQUARE LONDON ENGLAND MONUMENT TO LORD HORATIO NELSON 1758 TO 1805 ADMIRAL OF THE BRITISH FLEET BATTLE OF CAPE TRAFALGAR." SOLAR NAVIGATOR HOMEPAGE INFORMATION PORTAL MARINE WORLD ELECTRIC NAVIGATION CHALLENGE. Web. 30 Sept. 2009. http://www.solarnavigator.net/history/nelsons_column_trafalgar_square_london_england.htm.

F #25

2009-09-01T15:59:00.002-07:00

“I imagined that I also might obtain a niche in the temple where the names of Homer and Shakespeare are consecrated” (p.2). Homer was one of the greatest writers of ancient Greece. His most famous works, the Iliad and the Odyssey, have been read by scholars since their creation. Shelley also references Shakespeare; arguably the most known writer of all time. His works have inspired people, cultures, events, literature, and many more such things. He will forever be known; one cannot go through high school without reading a few of his novels or plays. Robert Walton longs to be as famous as these two heroes of the literature world. He is audacious and eager to make new discoveries. The author uses this character to tell Frankenstein's story through. Walton's comparisons to the younger Victor unavoidable, and this may be Shelley's method of beginning and ending her novel in an exquisite way.
“Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey.” Think Quest. 30 Aug. 2009. http://library.thinkquest.org/19300/data/homer.htm

F #24

2009-09-01T15:59:00.001-07:00

“Those were the last moments of my life during which I enjoyed the feeling of happiness” (p.142). The novel, Frankenstein, is supposed to strike fear into the hearts of its readers. Prior to this phrase the reader is unsure whether or not anything detrimental occurs to Victor in the rest of the book. The reader only knows that the creature had vowed “to be with [Victor] on his wedding night.” After this sentence the reader now knows for sure that this story will not have a happy ending. The reader is most-likely now afraid of the outcome, knowing that it will not be pleasant. This is an exceptional skill that Mary Shelley has portrayed in her piece.

F #23

2009-09-01T15:58:00.000-07:00

“With a devouring maladie du pays” (p.134). Maladie du pays is French for “home sickness.” This is one of very few (or the only?) examples where Victor uses his native language. Victor is recovering from three months in prison and a devastating loss of his friend. With the new accompaniment of his father, he misses his homeland and the rest of his family dearly. This may be the reason that Shelley has him speak in his native language. She could be reminding her audience that Frankenstein is in fact French.
“Maladie du pays.” English Upenn. 30 Aug. 2009. http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/V3notes/maladie.html

F #22

2009-09-01T15:57:00.000-07:00

“We visited the tomb of the illustrious Hampden, and the field on which the patriot fell” (p.117). John Hampden served in Parliament and resisted King Charles’s taxes and plans. He had an active role against the King in the Civil War in the early 1640s. Mary and Percy Shelley visited Hampden’s tomb in 1817, about a century and a half after Hampden’s death. In the novel, Frankenstein, Victor and Henry Clerval go on a long journey to different parts of Europe. They went to Hampden’s tomb “a century and a half” after these events had occurred. It seems as though many things that Shelley’s characters in her book do and see had been done or seen by the Shelleys.
“John Hampden.” English Upenn. 30 Aug. 2009. http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/People/hampden.html

F #21

2009-09-01T15:56:00.002-07:00

“He was being formed in the ‘very poetry of nature’” (p.113). ‘Very poetry of nature’ is taken from The Story of Rimini by Leigh Hunt. Hunt was a dear friend of Mary and Percy Shelley and helped them promote their works. Throughout Frankenstein, Mary Shelley continuously uses phrases from her loved ones’ writings. She must have had a great deal of respect towards these people, with her feelings towards Hunt no different. Hunt dedicated The Story of Rimini to Lord Byron, another one of the Shelley’s close friends.
“Leigh Hunt's ‘Rimini’.” English Upenn. 30 Aug. 2009. http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/V3notes/rimini.html

F #20

2009-09-01T15:56:00.001-07:00

“But it was all a dream; no Eve soothed my sorrows nor shared my thoughts; I was alone” (p.93). The creature desperately wanted someone similar to him, someone that appeared as he did. He would prefer this being to be a female, but he really just wanted somebody who cared for him. He feels entirely lost, as he does not understand why he is the way he is. He curses his Creator, Frankenstein, and wishes to be like Adam. At this point in the novel, Shelley may want the reader to pity the creature and wish for him to find a friend.

F #19

2009-09-01T15:55:00.003-07:00

“Many times I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition” (p.92). Frankenstein’s monster explains to Frankenstein how he had been so intrigued by Paradise Lost. He could only find one similarity between him and Adam; having no link to anyone else. The creature could, however, find more similarities with the evil Satan. He found himself, like Satan, often full of envy, an emotion that commonly leads to evil-doings. Mary Shelley has her character, the monster, relate himself to an evil character a few times. She could be foreshadowing the future events in her novel.

F #18

2009-09-01T15:55:00.001-07:00

“Fortunately the books were written in the language…they consisted of Paradise Lost, a volume of Plutarch’s Lives, and the Sorrows of Werter” (p.91). A little earlier in Shelley's novel, the monster alludes to the book Paradise Lost. He now explains that he had come across this book, which he was pleased to see that it was in his language. He also finds a copy of Plutarch’s Lives, which is comprised of forty-six biographies of Greek and Roman people who emphasized morality. The last book he uncovers is the Sorrows of Werter, by Johann von Goethe. Von Goethe was one of the most influential writers in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Referencing these books demonstrates the author's intelligence which, for such a young age, is quite impressive.
“Plutarch.” English Upenn. 30 Aug. 2009. http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/Plutarch/plutarch.html

F #17

2009-09-01T15:54:00.000-07:00

“The book from which Felix instructed Safie was Volney’s Ruins of Empires” (p.84). Ruins of Empires was written during the early part of the French Revolution. Volney questions the ideas of the world during this time period. Frankenstein’s monster learned a lot of his language by listening to Felix and Safie read this book. Some of his ideas that human culture is flawed may have come from being “brought up” by this book. Mary Shelley may have chosen to allude to this book in her own because of the great effect it had on her husband’s ideas.
“Ruins of Empire.” English Upenn. 30 Aug. 2009. http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/V2notes/ruins.html

F #16

2009-09-01T15:53:00.002-07:00

“It was as the ass and the lap-dog” (p. 81). Frankenstein’s monster recalls how he had felt looking in at the family in the cottage, and how much he longed to be their friend. He compares himself to the ass in the fable The Ass and the Lapdog. In this fable an ass is jealous of a man’s lapdog and wants affection from the man as well. The ass had noticed the lapdog’s actions and he tried to do the same; jumping on the man and licking him. Ultimately, the ass was beaten for this behavior even though his intentions were compassionate. Mary Shelley accurately compares her character to another from a well known fable. The monster is already educated enough to communicate in a language, let alone recall a fable.
“The Ass and the Lapdog.” Ancient History. 30 Aug. 2009. http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_aesop_ass_lapdog.htm

F #15

2009-09-01T15:53:00.001-07:00

“It presented to me then as exquisite and divine a retreat as Pandaemonium appeared to the daemons of hell after their sufferings in the lake of fire” (p.73). Frankenstein’s monster tells him his entire story since his creation. Here he references the poem Paradise Lost by John Milton, an English poet. The author uses comparisons of the monster's life to others works, which makes the reader (and most like Frankenstein as well) wonder where and how the monster received all of this information so quickly.
“Pandæmonium.” English Upenn. 30 Aug. 2009. http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/V2notes/aspan.html

F #14

2009-09-01T15:52:00.004-07:00

“For the first time, also, I felt what the duties of a creator towards his creature were, and that I ought to render him happy before I complained of his wickedness” (p.70). Frankenstein finally agrees to listen to his creature’s story. He feels (as he should) compelled to try and help the thing that he created. Victor realizes that he cannot sensibly make complaints about his monster until he has tried to help him. He resolves to at least listen to his creature’s story, and determine what he will do next upon conclusion of the story. Shelley creates a unique relationship between Frankenstein and his monster. She uses both of them to reflect the other's characteristics and make the plot more distinguished to the reader.

F #13

2009-09-01T15:52:00.003-07:00

“Mont Blanc, the supreme and magnificent Mont Blanc, raised itself from the surrounding aiguilles, and its tremendous dome overlooked the valley” (p.65). Mont Blanc is the largest mountain in Western Europe and is located in France and Italy. According to the footnote in the Dover edition of Frankenstein, aiguilles are sharp-pointed pinnacles of rock. Throughout the novel, Shelley has alluded to this “supreme and magnificent” mountain many times. It must have been of great importance to her for her to have written about it as much as she did. Her husband had also written a romantic poem titled Mont Blanc that was intended to capture its power.
“Mont Blanc.” Wikipedia. 30 Aug. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Blanc

F #12

2009-09-01T15:52:00.001-07:00

“I contemplated the lake: the waters were placid; all around was calm, and the snowy mountains, ‘the palaces of nature,’ were not changed” (p.48-49). “The palaces of nature” was taken from the poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, written by Lord Byron. Lord Byron was a friend of Shelley’s and her husband’s. The fact that she quoted a line from one of his works shows the respect that she had for him. He is also mentioned in the author’s introduction and he was a big reason that Mary Shelley even wrote Frankenstein.

F #11

2009-09-01T15:51:00.001-07:00

“How different from the manly and heroical poetry of Greece and Rome!” (p.44). Frankenstein studied some of the Oriental works with Clerval. He discovered how soothing and uplifting their stories are, unlike the poetry of Greece and Rome that he was used to. Frankenstein was so accustomed to poems and stories of war, heroes, and voyages, that when he takes time to regard other culture’s literature he is surprised at the difference. Shelley uses obvious knowledge into these different styles of literature to enhance her novel.

F #10

2009-09-01T15:49:00.000-07:00

“The same reason that Ariosto gives concerning the beauty of Angelica” (p.41). Lodovico Ariosto was an Italian poet, best known for writing Orlando Furioso. The heroine of this romantic poem is Angelica. In Elizabeth’s letter to Victor she recollects when Victor used to look at Justine, he would instantly be in a better mood. Shelley explains that this is the reason that Ariosto made Angelica so beautiful in his story.
“Lodovico Ariosto.” English Upenn. 30 Aug. 2009. http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/People/ariosto.html

F #9

2009-09-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

“His constant answer to my unwearied intreaties was the same as that to the Dutch schoolmaster in The Vicar of Wakefield: ‘I have ten thousand florins a year without Greek, I eat heartily without Greek’ ” (p.37). The man from The Vicar of Wakefield basically says how he gets along very well without Greek, and he sees no good as to learning it. In Mary Shelley’s novel, Henry Clerval is explaining to Victor how difficult it was to convince his father to let him go. Clerval says how his father did not see any use in it, so Clerval compares his father to the Dutch schoolmaster. This is yet another example of Shelley relating to other works to give the reader a more realistic sense of the book.

F #8

2009-09-01T15:47:00.000-07:00

“I was like the Arabian who had been buried with the dead” (p.31). In the novel The Arabian Nights, an Arabian is given a wife, but soon after she dies. In this country one is supposed to be buried with their spouse, so this Arabian was buried with her, although he eventually escapes after discovering some light above him. Mary Shelley addresses Frankenstein and how he is like this man; having had discovered a “passage to life,” but was troubled as to actually getting to it.
“Links.” My Hideous Progeny: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. 30 Aug. 2009. http://home-1.worldonline.nl/~hamberg/frankenstein/literaryworks.html

F #7

2009-09-01T15:42:00.002-07:00

“I entered with the greatest diligence into the search of the philosopher’s stone and the elixir of life” (p.21). The philosopher’s stone and the elixir of life are both legendary substances and (as Shelley knows), by the nineteenth century, both started to become recognized as unrealistic. The stone would supposedly be capable of turning any metal to pure gold, making anyone instantly rich. The elixir of life, thought to be a liquid that you drink, supposedly would give the drinker eternal life or youth. Both of these substances have been sought-after by many alchemists, but it is very unlikely that anyone has ever owned one of them. The author includes these objects in the area that first interests Frankenstein. From the very beginning the reader is accustomed to Victor's innovative mind.
“The Philosopher’s Stone.” Crystalinks. 30 Aug. 2009. http://www.crystalinks.com/philosopherstone.html

F #6

2009-09-01T15:42:00.001-07:00

“Sir Isaac Newton is said to have avowed that he felt like a child picking up shells beside the great and unexplored ocean of truth” (p.21). Victor Frankenstein quotes Isaac Newton, who is considered to be one of the most influential men in history. His contributions to mathematics and science are incredible; his many theories are now widely known and accepted. Shelley leads Frankenstein to becoming a very advanced scholar. At a considerably young age, Frankenstein had read many volumes written by some of the most famous alchemists and scientists the world had known, leading him towards his own discoveries.
“Isaac Newton.” Wikipedia. 30 Aug. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Newton

F #5

2009-09-01T15:39:00.000-07:00

“…and afterwards of Paracelsus and Albertus Magnus” (p.21). Paracelsus was a famous alchemist who lived during the middle ages. He made many great discoveries for science, and especially for medicine. He is said to have introduced mercury and opium to the medicine world. Albertus Magnus was a bishop who introduced the idea of science and religion acting together. He is considered one of the greatest German philosophers of the Middle Ages. Frankenstein begins to read works of these two authors after finishing the volume of Agrippa. Shelley references many famous scientists. She wants Frankenstein to be studious and recognized as a very bright scholar.
“Paracelsus.” Alchemy Lab. 30 Aug. 2009. http://www.alchemylab.com/paracelsus.htm
“Albertus Magnus.” Wikipedia. 30 Aug. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albertus_Magnus

F #4

2009-09-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

“In this house I chanced to find a volume of the works of Cornelius Agrippa” (p.20). Agrippa was famous for his study of magic, but he also was an alchemist, theologian, and a writer. The author uses one of Agrippa's works as the piece that first sparked the interest of natural philosophy in Victor Frankenstein. Frankenstein says how he thinks that the finding of Cornelius Agrippa’s works led to his discoveries, and eventually his ruin.
“Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa.” Wikipedia. 29 Aug. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornelius_Agrippa