Students were asked to consider very specific features of Eliot's 'Prufrock'. The class were pushed towards a consideration of how Eliot represents the experience of the city and how Eliot's use of metaphor shapes meaning. An attempt was made to show the class a wonderful BBC documentary within which comedian and Cambridge Literature graduate Robert Webb explains why Prufrock is one of his favourite poems. This documentary is not available via You Tube but this link will take you to Webb reading a poem that was created by his girlfriend and the poem represents Webb's influence upon her life. It really is quite beautiful.
Click on link to access the poem:
The second session examined Walton's letters at the beginning of Shelley's Frankenstein and attempted to answer questions such as: What kind of man is Walton? What is our first impression of the creature? What is our first impression of Victor? How does Shelley attempt to engage the reader in this section? How significant is Coleridge's 'TROTAM'? To what extent can this introduction be considered gothic?
Homework: Continue to read Eliot's Prufrock. Students must consider the significance of the representation of the city. Remember, there seems to be different elements of the city experience in this poem. How does the polite world of manners and 'tea' affect Prufrock? How significant is the theme of identity? How significant is the line: 'There will be time, there will be time To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet..' ? What is the link between the experience of the city and Prufrock's sense of identity?
Read the Anthology document. Be aware of the final essay that explores the notion of the canon.
Furthermore, continue to read Shelley's Frankenstein. On Friday we will revisit the significance of Walton's letters and discuss the opening chapters of this epic novel.
I made reference to the very thorough and engaging BBC documentary 'The Romantics'. There are three one hour episodes. Here is the link to the You Tube version of the whole series.Peter Ackroyd, the human walrus, really is a man worthy of you ear attention and your time. This series will provide students with a seriously useful historical overview of this literary moment. This will inform contextual understanding when studying Shelley's novel and explores the general power and influence of literature. IT IS MAGNIFICENT. Here is the link to the first complete episode:
The second episode is 'NATURE', the third is 'ETERNITY'.
Here is a link to BBC Radio 4's essential resource IN OUR TIME and provides an audio resource that explores the life of Mary Shelley's famous Mother:
You lot are an impressive bunch of engaged students and I urge you all to trawl through the IN OUR TIME archive. This is a digital treasure chest of a resource for any human being interested in the history of ideas. This is not just a resource for your A Levels, but should be useful when you attend University and beyond! Seriously, it is a wonderful archive. Try and listen to one a week for the rest of your life! Go on, I dare you. Below is a link to the archive.
Keep Reading. See you on Friday.
MLR
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