Paper 1 English Lit

• "Thrust maids to the wall... my naked weapon" - Gregory + Samson


  - Sets the scene of a patriarchal society - we are meant to find this as a joke and laugh

  
  

  - However the deeper meaning of this reveals how they are talking about rape

  
  

  - Represents sexist values against women

  Sexual references link to the violent nature and undertones of this society
• "And too soon marred are those so early made" - Capulet to Paris


  - This is used as a reference to Shakespeare himself as people believe that during that time it was normal to get married at around 16 however this is not true as the typical age was 24.

  
  

  - Shakespeare got married at 18 to a 26 year old who he got pregnant.

  
  

  - Many believe that Shakespeare purposely got her pregnant so her parents would allow the marriage.

  Which could be why he made Romeo & Juliet and love poems
• "What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?" - Juliet ACT 3


  - Reflects her moral conflict and challenges Romeo's impulsive actions after Tybalt's death.

  
  

  - It embodies the themes of morality, consequence, character development, and foreshadowing in "Romeo and Juliet," illustrating the complexities of love amidst conflict and the challenges faced by the characters.
• "Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives" - Mercutio to Tybalt ACT 3


  - Making fun of tybalt saying that he is a character from Fable and kid stories

  
  

  - Mercutio wanted to just show of his anger and "scratch" him but her underestimated Tybalts anger

  
  

  - His anger came from the family feud

  Explains how there is rules to carrying a "sword" but tybalt broke them
• "But fettle your fine joints" - Capulet


  - Fricatives represents a horrible sexual imagery of his

  daughter.

  
  

  - Capulet is proposing the marriage with Paris to Juliet

  He is imagining her body as clay aswell as her being the potter, shaping her joints to be attractive to a man.

  Referst to sexist patriarchal views
• "From forth the fatal loins of these two foes" - Prologue


  - Establishes the play as a tragedy of fate

  
  

  - Explains how there fate is decided by the "Stars" but also more by there parents

  
  

  - Emphasises how it is the parents fault through fricative alitteration (forth, fatal foes)
• "For saints have hands that pilgrims hands to touch" - Romeo ACT 1


  Romeo is talking in sonnet form

  Represents true love

  Suggests the love is based on falsehood

  Juliet had introduced the idea of statues of saints - Links to the reformation
• "Young mens love them lies not truly in there heart but in theyre eyes" - Friar ACT 2


  - Friar explains how he blieve this is not true love

  
  

  - Explains how it is more probabable that it is lust and not love

  
  

  - The Friar is catholic. Shakespeare has turned a catholic (Who usually would be a villian) and turned him into a more acceptable person whos motive is to end the feud.
• "Oh I am fortune fool" - Act 3 Romeo


  - Shows his immaturity and Shakespeares criticism of him

  
  

  - The Fricatives emphasise this

  
  

  - Shows Shakespeares contempt for Romeos own words

  
  

  - This is tradgedy but not by the gods but by Humans own actions
• "Oh happy dagger, this is thy sheath" - Juliet ACT 3

  - Oxymoron

  
  

  - Shakespeare characterizes this death in a sexual way. The dagger is the penis with the sheath being the vagina.

  
  

  - She says this as this is the last sexual Union symbolically she can have with Romeo because shes dead.

  
  

  - Hints that she believes they will both be together in the after life.
• A Christmas Carol


  Charles Dickens
• "If they would rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surplus population."


  - Scrooge's viewpoint influenced by capitalism, believing individuals are responsible for their own fate.

  Sees the poor as economically inactive and inhuman.

  
  

  
  

  - Irony: Complains about overpopulation despite being a recluse, highlighting his focus on money over love and compassion.

  
  

  
  

  - Dickens portrays capitalists' ignorance of the poor's suffering until confronted with it firsthand, as seen with Scrooge's change of heart towards Tiny Tim.

  
  

  - Scrooge experiences the consequences of his own callousness, bitten by his own venom.
• "I wear the chain I forged in life."


  - The "chain" symbolizes the cumulative impact of a person's actions in the afterlife.

  
  

  - Represents either achievements or burdens of guilt, depending on one's deeds.

  
  

  - Marley's chain is ponderous due to his focus on personal wealth over helping others, burdening him with eternal guilt.

  
  

  - This realization serves as the turning point (volta) for Scrooge, as he sees the consequences of his actions and the solitude he will endure in the afterlife.
• "His wealth is of no use to him. He don't do any good with it."


  - In a capitalist society, wealth is typically seen for personal benefit, but not everyone agrees.

  
  

  - Critics view Scrooge's wealth as pointless due to his solitary lifestyle and frugal habits.

  
  

  - Scrooge's tunnel vision prevents him from seeing the negative effects of his wealth.

  
  

  - Dickens portrays hope in Scrooge's transformation, as he is initially presented as unchanging and unlikable, increasing suspense surrounding his redemption in the novella.
• "This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want."


  - "Boy" symbolizes society's ignorance, particularly the wealthy's ignorance of the struggles of the lower class.

  
  

  - Society's systemic issues perpetuate cycles of poverty and suffering.

  
  

  - Majority of the wealthy turn a blind eye to the poor's struggles, blaming them for their own misfortune.

  
  

  - Ignorant society creates desires for basic needs like shelter, water, food, and clothing.

  
  

  - Charles Dickens portrays societal issues through children to evoke empathy and challenge audience beliefs, hitting them where it hurts most emotionally.
• "Hard and sharp as flint."


  - Scrooge's personality is likened to something hard and difficult to get through.

  
  

  - His persona is hidden behind three walls: money, individualism, and societal expectations.

  
  

  - Dickens portrays Scrooge's sharp personality as cutting off those who attempt to reach his heart, which is caged in capitalist ideology.

  
  

  - Only the three ghosts can break through these walls due to their ability to handle Scrooge's sharpness.

  
  

  - Dickens employs irony in describing Scrooge as a "flint," implying impenetrability despite being used to create weapons for penetration.
• "I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy, I am as giddy as a drunken man."


  - Repetition of "I am" reflects Scrooge's self-conviction of positive change.

  
  

  - Simile "as light as a feather" suggests shedding the burdens of his past life, symbolizing freedom and spiritual elevation.

  
  

  - Scrooge's actions of charity and kindness signify his transformation, paralleling and contrasting with his earlier behavior in Stave One.

  
  

  - Dickens utilizes a mirrored structure to emphasize the significant change in Scrooge's character.
• "Mrs Cratchit made the gravy hissing hot; Master Peter mashed the potatoes with incredible vigour; Miss Belinda sweetened up the apple-sauce."


  - The Cratchit family represents the beauty and resilience within society, despite their low income and challenges.

  
  

  - In contrast to wealthy individuals like Scrooge, the poor are content and grateful for what they have.

  
  

  - The quote showcases the opposite side of capitalism, highlighting the Cratchits' teamwork and unity in overcoming challenges.

  
  

  - Their unity and love emphasize the value of non-monetary wealth, contrasting with the unhappiness of wealthy individuals.

  
  

  - The rule of three reinforces the strength of their teamwork and unity.
• "A church, overrun by weeds, the growth of vegetation's death not life- a worthy place!"


  - Scrooge realizes his end will be harrowing, fearing a lonely and dark fate.

  
  

  - His neglected grave symbolizes the lack of concern for him due to his selfish actions.

  
  

  - Dickens warns capitalists and society that material pursuits won't matter in death's face.

  
  

  - Scrooge's transformation may have been driven by fear of his own fate rather than genuine concern for society.

  
  

  - Despite his transformation, traces of selfishness and greed may still linger within Scrooge.
• "Scrooge was conscious of a thousand odours floating in the air, each one connected with a thousand thoughts and hopes and joys long long forgotten."


  - The quote illustrates Scrooge's gradual transformation throughout the play.

  
  

  - As Scrooge lightens up, forgotten aspects of himself and society resurface.

  
  

  - It provides insight into Scrooge's previous mindset, as he becomes "conscious of a thousand odours," indicating his newfound awareness and engagement compared to his previous indifference.
• "The house-fronts looked looked black enough, and the windows blacker, contrasting with the smooth white sheet of snow upon the roofs, and with the dirtier snow upon the ground."


  - The "snow" metaphorically represents people, with "snow upon the roofs" symbolizing the relaxed upper class and "dirtier snow" representing the struggling lower class.

  
  

  - The untouched snow on the roofs symbolizes the pristine state of the wealthy, while the dirtier snow represents the hardships faced by the poor.

  
  

  - The quote depicts a battle between the upper and lower classes, highlighting the burden placed on the lower class to support the wealthy and clean up their messes.