1. Place the play in its dramatic context
or
2. Connect it to 'Wuthering Heights', or another text you have read in your Wider Reading, focusing on aspects of the text such as theme, structure or characterisation.
This piece is worth 30 marks.
The Assessment Objectives to meet are:
AO1: Articulate creative, informed and relevant responses to literary texts, using appropriate terminology and concepts, and coherent, accurate written expression (worth up to 6/30).
AO2: Demonstrate detailed critical understanding in analysing the ways in which structure, form and language shape meanings in literary texts (worth up to 6/30)
AO3: Explore connections and comparisons between different literary texts, informed by interpretations of other readers (worth up to 15/30 - the major component of this task).
AO4: Demonstrate understanding of the significance and influence of the contexts in which literary texts are written and received (worth 3/30).
YOUR TITLE
The title for the dramas c/w can come in three parts with the main focus on the play. You must remember that AO3, which is not examined in the first coursework task, becomes the dominant AO for the drama task:
1. Explore connections and comparisons between different literary texts...
2. ... informed by interpretations of other readers.
Some coursework drama tasks which have generated successful outcomes in the past are:
- Compare and contrast Wilde's and Bronte's presentation of the relationships between different social classes in 'A Woman of No Importance' and 'Jane Eyre' in the light of the opinion that Wilde scorns only the nobility whereas Bronte scorns only the poor;
- Compare and contrast the presentation of female characters in Wilde's 'A Woman of No Importance' with Stoppard's 'Arcadia' in the light of the opinion that whereas Stoppard's females are cleverer than Wilde's, Wilde's females are ultimately more successful.
Richard Ellmann describes 'A Woman of No Importance' as "essentially a woman's play ... and the women's voices are sharply critical of male presuppositions."
Explore the ways in which Oscar Wilde presents women in AWONI. How does this compare with Emily Bronte’s presentation of women in WH. Which is the more effective portrayal?
Essays comparing the relationship between characters work well e.g Explore the relationship between Mrs Arbuthnot (and whoever!). Compare their relationship with that of Cathy and Heathcliff. Which relationship do you find the most convincing?
Essays can be character or theme based but need to have emphasis on the play (about 70%). You MUST explore alternative readings.
HOW TO STRUCTURE YOUR ESSAY
One way to structure your essay might be:
Introduction: Focus on your title and make an insightful comment about the CONTEXT of Victorian literature, such as: 'The Victorian era was one of great social upheaval; traditional methods and conventions were questioned, and changes were brought about in a move towards the twentieth century. The playwright Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) and the novelist Emily Bronte (1818-1848), both from very different backgrounds yet with similar feelings regarding the oppressive nature of Victorian life.... Add a sentence comparing/contrasting your two chosen texts, focusing on the theme of your question. You could present the view of a critic here, too.
Paragraph 1: Topic sentence on the techniques the writers use. For example, Wilde uses humour to mock the English upper classes. Give examples.
OR: Use a critic's quotation as a topic sentence, such as Ellmann's description of AWNI as 'a women's play' and discuss.
Paragraph 2: Compare this to Bronte.
Paragraph 2: Another way Wilde presents his ideas about Victorian society (or whatever your essay's focus is) - perhaps setting and staging. Compare briefly with your other text. Could point out genres reflected, such as melodrama and gothic.
Paragraph 3: Another way the writers present their attitudes and ideas - perhaps focusing on characters. Contrast different genders and different classes. Comment again on Wilde's use of humour to point out characters' failings. Great to add a comment from a critic such as Ellmann here.
Paragraph 4: Focus on language. Pick out individual words used by Wilde and explore their significance, perhaps three or four words and phrases used to describe individual characters. You could then compare with Bronte.
Paragraph 5: Conclusion. Point out that, although the texts are radically different, they both fundamentally criticise Victorian society and its artificial constructs, which restrain and imprison its characters. How do both writers succeed in their aims? Focus throughout on your title.
Quotations you might use in your essay:
Richard Ellmann describes 'A Woman of No Importance' as "essentially a woman's play ... and the women's voices are sharply critical of male presuppositions." [Ellmann, Richard, 'Oscar Wilde', 1988, p357]
Initial mixed reception: Lytton Strachey wrote in a letter to Duncan Grant after seeing a revival of 'AWNI' in 1907: "It was ... a complete mass of epigrams, with occasional whiffs of grotesque melodrama and drivelling sentiment." [Ellmann, Richard, 'Oscar Wilde', 1988, p357]
"Through these women ... Wilde presents society scathingly, as it radiates into innocence and guilt, conventionality and unconventionality, steadfastness and whim." [Ellmann, Richard, 'Oscar Wilde', 1988, p358]
"Mrs Arbuthnot ... is the vehicle through which morality loses out, as it must in Wilde, to the 'Higher Ethics'. [Ellmann, Richard, 'Oscar Wilde', 1988, p358]
Wilde of Lord Illingworth: "He is certainly not natural. He is a figure of art. Indeed, if you can bear the truth, he is MYSELF." [Ellmann, Richard, 'Oscar Wilde', 1988, p359]
Wilde comparing the plot of 'AWNI' to 'The Picture of Dorian Gray': "People love a wicked aristocrat who seduces a virtuous maid, and they love a virtuous maiden for being seduced by a wicked aristocrat. I have given them what they like, so that they may learn to appreciate what I like to give them." [Ellmann, Richard, 'Oscar Wilde', 1988, p359]
One way to structure your essay might be:
Introduction: Focus on your title and make an insightful comment about the CONTEXT of Victorian literature, such as: 'The Victorian era was one of great social upheaval; traditional methods and conventions were questioned, and changes were brought about in a move towards the twentieth century. The playwright Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) and the novelist Emily Bronte (1818-1848), both from very different backgrounds yet with similar feelings regarding the oppressive nature of Victorian life.... Add a sentence comparing/contrasting your two chosen texts, focusing on the theme of your question. You could present the view of a critic here, too.
Paragraph 1: Topic sentence on the techniques the writers use. For example, Wilde uses humour to mock the English upper classes. Give examples.
OR: Use a critic's quotation as a topic sentence, such as Ellmann's description of AWNI as 'a women's play' and discuss.
Paragraph 2: Compare this to Bronte.
Paragraph 2: Another way Wilde presents his ideas about Victorian society (or whatever your essay's focus is) - perhaps setting and staging. Compare briefly with your other text. Could point out genres reflected, such as melodrama and gothic.
Paragraph 3: Another way the writers present their attitudes and ideas - perhaps focusing on characters. Contrast different genders and different classes. Comment again on Wilde's use of humour to point out characters' failings. Great to add a comment from a critic such as Ellmann here.
Paragraph 4: Focus on language. Pick out individual words used by Wilde and explore their significance, perhaps three or four words and phrases used to describe individual characters. You could then compare with Bronte.
Paragraph 5: Conclusion. Point out that, although the texts are radically different, they both fundamentally criticise Victorian society and its artificial constructs, which restrain and imprison its characters. How do both writers succeed in their aims? Focus throughout on your title.
Quotations you might use in your essay:
Richard Ellmann describes 'A Woman of No Importance' as "essentially a woman's play ... and the women's voices are sharply critical of male presuppositions." [Ellmann, Richard, 'Oscar Wilde', 1988, p357]
Initial mixed reception: Lytton Strachey wrote in a letter to Duncan Grant after seeing a revival of 'AWNI' in 1907: "It was ... a complete mass of epigrams, with occasional whiffs of grotesque melodrama and drivelling sentiment." [Ellmann, Richard, 'Oscar Wilde', 1988, p357]
"Through these women ... Wilde presents society scathingly, as it radiates into innocence and guilt, conventionality and unconventionality, steadfastness and whim." [Ellmann, Richard, 'Oscar Wilde', 1988, p358]
"Mrs Arbuthnot ... is the vehicle through which morality loses out, as it must in Wilde, to the 'Higher Ethics'. [Ellmann, Richard, 'Oscar Wilde', 1988, p358]
Wilde of Lord Illingworth: "He is certainly not natural. He is a figure of art. Indeed, if you can bear the truth, he is MYSELF." [Ellmann, Richard, 'Oscar Wilde', 1988, p359]
Wilde comparing the plot of 'AWNI' to 'The Picture of Dorian Gray': "People love a wicked aristocrat who seduces a virtuous maid, and they love a virtuous maiden for being seduced by a wicked aristocrat. I have given them what they like, so that they may learn to appreciate what I like to give them." [Ellmann, Richard, 'Oscar Wilde', 1988, p359]
