Summary A Level Essay Plan: Masculinity in Rossetti Poems and Ibsen A Doll’s House
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Course
Drama and poetry pre-1900 (H47201)
Institution
OCR
An essay plan formulated based on my study notes for the A-level Drama and Poetry section of the course, studying specifically Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House and Rossetti’s poems featuring analysis, context and critics surrounding the theme of masculinity which could potentially come up in a fu...
Masculinity is presented as fragile
1-Masculine fragility romantically
2-Masculine fragility victims to patriarchy
3-Masculine fragility in contrast to empowered women
Rossetti Ibsen
1- No Thank You John 2- Jhansi 3- Maude/Nell vs 1-Torvald | Rank and Nora (foils) 2-Torvald and
Thomas Krogstad 3-Mrs Linde and Nora
Context
Rossetti
Her first fiancé James collinson was described as a dull young man with no vices or virtues;
she ended two proposals due to religious and spiritual indifferences.
Rossettis widely hated siddal; but in an artists studio reveals an element of sympathy and
empathy of being an obkect
Elizabeth Barrett browning brother sent to school at 13, she a year older ended all her
education; as his began hers ended. Shows link between education and independence
Education of lower class children at home; middle class music, reading and writing for
conversational purposes
Marriage market very competitive for women, unlike men, who would have sex and render
many women ‘used’; they would face no consequences of their own like this.
The fallen woman- that who had been sexually used.
The dowry for the woman- financial incentive, to compete in the marriage market.
Rossetti being a woman apart of the brotherhood, but not truly apart of it; she published
poetry in the Germ under a pseydenemum; she declined the offer to become an honorary
member.
Dante Gabriel poem “jenny” (a lot like Jeanie) About a prostitute; able to show an element of
understanding to why women fall.
Masculinity is presented as fragile 1
, Medieval chivalry became defining quality of english gentlemen; medievalism; british
monarchy redefining itself with Albert and Victoria.
Maude- rossettis early novella complete when she was 19 semi autobiography about a young
sickly poetess; Maude is a name she affiliates with.
Dante and Elizabeth siddal relationship: abusive
DG revision to Christina’s manuscripts: trying to soften what he deemed as metric jolt
screech queer rhymes and groans
William didnt like no thank you john, based on someone she knew painter, he urged her to
keep her personal life out of her poetry.
Both Rossetti and Elizabeth siddal entombed together
Ibsen
Initial critics were ambivalent about torvald; unlike Nora who they deemed instantly as a
monster; many became anti-ibsenites
Bourgeois respectability and expectations as a result of the economic boom and revolution of
Norway
The new woman- free spirited, educated and independent; threats against the conventional
ideals of Victorian womanhood
Alternative ending 1800; Germanic production, nora doesnt leave the house, she is forced by
helmer into the doorway of her childrens bedroom
Men and prostitutes: indulged in prostitution until they found a secure career to support a
wife and a child;
Sexual diseases rife at the time eg syphilis, painful and lingering deaths
Contagious diseases act; allowed for forced medical examination of any woman suspected to
be a sex worker- response in a reform movement arguing for repeal of acts; argued male
clients equally as responsible
Ibsen declared eh wasnt a feminist he was more concerned about being a humanist
The angel of the house Virginia Woolf suggested that ‘killing the angel in the house was part
of the occupation of a woman writer’ in 1931
Blue stocking- woman who was smarter than a man; hence damaged eggs and unable to
reproduce
Masculinity is presented as fragile 2
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