Notes on the characters, key themes, historical context, literary context, plot and narrative for both texts. Perfect revision for the Prose exam on the English Literature course considering all AOs.
Hi! I'm sorry you have given this document a poor rating, if you could, I would love an explanation so I can edit and improve said document. Kind regards (& happy studying!) Emily :)
Seller
Follow
knightemily2607
Reviews received
Content preview
Beloved & Dorian Gray Revision
Exam Info
3 exams -> Drama, Prose (20%) & Poetry
- 1 hour & 15 minutes
- Open book
- 40 marks
- 1 comparative essay from a choice of 2
Assessed on…
AO1 – Quality of written communication, structure of argument, sophistication of vocab and use of technical
terminology
AO2 – Analysis of language, form, and structure
AO3 – Understanding of historical, literary, and social context, and how the writer has been influenced
AO4 – Depth and skill of comparison between texts
Beloved
Characters Key Themes
Beloved – Symbolises Sethe’s inability to escape Supernatural
the past. A supernatural apparition emphasises Identity/ sense of self
that spiritual universe is linked with physical. Menace – sense of fear
Sethe – Former slave whose love for her child, plus Women/ men/ gender
hatred for slavery meant she killed her daughter. Malice/ revenge
Represents guilt and strength of a mother’s love Setting/ place/ location
‘No more powerful than the way I loved her’. Death/ violence
Denver – Stunted emotional development, isolated Power/ control/ manipulation
from others. Dependent on Sethe. Madness/ loss of self
Paul D – Worked at the plantation with Sethe. He is Corruption and sin/ evil – with a more religious tilt
protective of Sethe and represents her past, Appearance vs reality/ deception
bringing pack memories of ‘Sweet Home men’. Crime
Stamp Paid Guilt
Baby Suggs – Representation of the trauma that Love/ sexuality
slaves experienced ‘her past was like her present, Desire
intolerable’ showing the lasting impact of slavery. Relationships/ family
Amy Denver Society/ anxieties of the time
Sixo Past vs present/ memories
Lady Jones Youth/ innocence
Mr & Mrs Garner Narration
Halle Victims
Schoolteacher
Historical & Literary Context Plot/ Narrative
Set during & after slavery (17th century). Non- linear fragmented narrative structure with
- 6-7 million slaves imported during the 18th connotations to slave narratives like that of
century alone Fredrich Douglas
- A slave counted as 3/5 of a person for
economic purposes - Death of Hereboy/ actions of the baby
- 1793 ‘The Cotton Gin’ led to increased ghost
dependence on slaves - Howard & Buglar leave 124
- Slaves made up 1/3 of the population in the - Paul D arrives & starts a relationship with
South and denied ability to read/ write Sethe
Some slaves did revolt, but few were successful - The ghost shows its disapproval of Paul –
due to white supremacy. 1830s – 1860s movement red pool of light/ conflict
to abolish slavery in Northern states. - Family visit carnival
- Nat Turner revolted, resulting in 75 black - Beloved’s ‘birth’ -> comes out of the river
people murdering 60 white people in 2 days - Beloved asks Denver about her birth – Amy
- Frederick Douglas was a freed black man Denver story
- Abolishment literature like ‘The Liberator’ - Story of Sethe’s mother execution
newspaper - Paul D’s suspicions
- The Underground Railroad society - Sweet Home flashbacks
- 13th Amendment and emancipation - Baby Suggs flashbacks, story of her
, The Civil War & Aftermath in the 1860s (Abraham removal from community
Lincoln) - Visit the clearing
- Did not aim to abolish slavery completely - Story of Halle
- Slaves were recruited into the Union Side to - Paul D’s story with Chain Gang and rooster
help fight in the costliest American war - Paul D’s rape
The Civil Rights Movement 1960s - Flashback to the murder
Slave Narratives - Paul D forced to leave
- Autobiographical memoirs documenting the - Sethe’s increased isolation, fired from job,
horrors of slavery experienced by ex- shuts self in house, illness, family go ice
slaves skating
- First appeared in the US in 1703 but most - Stamp Paid visits 124 and hears odd
were not published until 1831 onwards sounds
- ‘I was born…’ followed by no birth date, but - Denver leaves and finds Lady Jones –
instead just place of birth seeking help
- Primary aim was sympathy - Community come to 124 to pray, Sethe
- Douglas ‘near’, ‘about’ and ‘no accurate tries to kill Mr Bodwin with an ice pick
knowledge of my age’ -> lack of certainty - Paul D returns to start a new life with Sethe
Margaret Garner
- Enslaved African- American, notorious for
killing her own daughter
- Fugitive Slave Act 1850
- Court case became famous as they
debated whether she should be tried as a
human or as an object
Roman 9:25
- Reference to Garner’s husband who took in
her children
- Highlights Morrison’s affiliation with history
- Shows the collectivism of slaves through
shared hardships
The 19th Century Supernatural
- ‘Spirit photographs’ were clever fakes that
photographers (Mumler) profited off
- Lincoln’s wife Mary interest in spiritualism
which gained popular interest
Roots by Alex Haley
- Fictional, part autobiographical slave
narrative from 1976
- Fictionalised history of Kunta Kinte
captured in Africa
- Story of his family tree including ‘Chicken
George’ and how his children became free
Lady Button Eyes by Eugene Field
- Embedded in the narrative
Sojourner Truth
- Closely aligned with Baby Suggs
- American abolitionist and women’s rights
activist
- Born into slavery in New York, escaped with
her infant daughter to freedom in 1826
- First black woman to win a case against a
white man
Morrison is writing in the 1980s during a time when
racism was still a big issue
- Her own personal experiences of her house
burning down and her dad experiencing two
black boys being lynched
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller knightemily2607. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $9.98. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
