How does Austen create character in Chapter 11?
- Through the merging of the narrator's voice with characters'. This is done most often with Elizabeth, who, as the main figure the story follows, is the centre of consciousness and thought in the novel; what the reader sees and thinks is often Elizabeth's interpretation. An example: "Elizabeth had never seen them so agreeable...their powers of conversation were considerable."
- By comparing and contrasting characters, for example of Elizabeth and Miss Bingley's opposing approaches to what to do about Darcy (" 'our surest way of disappointing him is to ask nothing about it' " vs "incapable of disappointing Mr Darcy in anything"
- Through actions, for example when Miss Bingley walked by Mr Darcy, he remained "inflexibly studious" showing that he has no interest in her, whereas when Elizabeth walked past, he "unconsciously closed his book" showing that he has a real attraction to her.
- Through the structure and sequencing of the events, for example, "Darcy took up a book; Miss Bennet did the same" which shows how Miss Bennet is mimicking Darcy in attempt to impress, instead of both characters just reading independently of one another.
- Through the presentation of dialogue, for example in Darcy's conversation with Elizabeth, no attributions are used, which shows the intimacy between the two.
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Maude Clare characterisation
Important aspects of characterisation in Maude Clare:
1. Women definitely have more of a focus in the poem than men do. This is expressed partly through speech; when the women talk, their speech is eloquent and articulate, whereas when the groom speaks he is said to "falter" and he only manages to stutter, "Lady, Maude Clare" - the name of a woman.
2. Although there are no direct accusations, the reader gets the sense that the man in the poem is the one at fault because of how he "hid his face" when confronted, possibly because of shame. This seems a cowardly act and, like how the words of women dominate the poem, makes women seem dominant and males weak in comparison.
3. The poem's title and last words are both "Maude Clare" which, in addition to creating the sense of great importance of the character, means that the poem begins and closes on the same idea. This is effective in encouraging the reader to reflect on the message of the poem because it links to the start, highlighting to the reader the difference in their position in terms of knowledge of the story and so presenting them with the perfect position to think about what has happened.
1. Women definitely have more of a focus in the poem than men do. This is expressed partly through speech; when the women talk, their speech is eloquent and articulate, whereas when the groom speaks he is said to "falter" and he only manages to stutter, "Lady, Maude Clare" - the name of a woman.
2. Although there are no direct accusations, the reader gets the sense that the man in the poem is the one at fault because of how he "hid his face" when confronted, possibly because of shame. This seems a cowardly act and, like how the words of women dominate the poem, makes women seem dominant and males weak in comparison.
3. The poem's title and last words are both "Maude Clare" which, in addition to creating the sense of great importance of the character, means that the poem begins and closes on the same idea. This is effective in encouraging the reader to reflect on the message of the poem because it links to the start, highlighting to the reader the difference in their position in terms of knowledge of the story and so presenting them with the perfect position to think about what has happened.
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