Aims of the lesson: To learn the requirements of Unit 3 in the A2 course To examine the language in The Snow Child

At a glance: Unit 3 – texts and genres Examination: 2hrs. Closed book. 60% of total A2 mark: 30% of total A Level mark Minimum of three texts for study including at least one 1300 – questions to be answered Elements of the Gothic For each topic there will be two sections. Candidates to answer one question from Section A and one question from Section B Section A will be a text specific question. One question per text. Section B will involve writing about an aspect of the chosen topic across at least three texts. Choice from three questions

We’re gonna get funky this year!

The books...you need to buy them and read them before September. The Bloody Chamber – VINTAGE edition Wuthering Heights – Penguin Edition Dr Faustus – Text A – a good deal on Amazon at the moment.

The Snow Child – what does the title suggest this story will be about?

Let’s read the story... The SettingThe Count His WifeThe Girl What do the critics say?

Let’s read the story... The Setting “Midwinter – INVINCIBLE, IMMACULATE.” There is a sense of the definite here. This setting is not and will not be changed by events. The Count “white as snow” The counts desire. “red as blood” The counts desire. “black as that birds feather” The counts desire. “thrust his virile member into the dead girl” the word “thrust” is reminiscent of mills and boons texts; an extremely passionate form of sex. Of course, there is also the adjective “dead” here, which brings into play the concept of necrophilia. “he was soon finished” The Countess “wrapped in the glittering pelts of black foxes” The countess is a predator, swathed in the pelts of dead animals. To link the countess with foxes makes her seem cunning and sly. “high, black, shining boots with scarlet heels and spurs” This arguably portrays the Countess as a dominating character (dominatrix) and appears to be a femme fatale “The countess dropped her glove in the snow” The countess’s scheming nature; she is trying to kill the girl out of jealousy. “The countess threw her diamond brooch through the ice of a frozen pond” The countess’s scheming nature; she is trying to kill the girl out of jealousy. “watched him narrowly” There is an odd sense of exhibitionism here in that the countess is watching her husband have sex with a dead girl and he is “weeping”. Furthermore, it can also be seen as predatory in that she is watching him through narrowed eyes and savouring the destruction of her prey. “with her long hand she stroked her furs” This may be the countess enjoying the affections of the Count transferring back onto her. “he on a grey mare she on a black one” The Girl “white skin, red lips, black hair and stark naked” This quote comes across as very factual in its description. Everything about the girl is extremely striking with bold colours/shades and her “stark” nakedness. “the child of his desire” Not only is this suggestive that women are created to satisfy men (N.B. reference the Bible?) but the word child brings in the darker nature of this story; the concept of paedophilia. “the furs sprang off the countess’s shoulders and twined round the naked girl” This could symbolise the transfer of the Count’s affection and the verb “sprang” may indicate the fickle nature of man in love, however the word “twined” may also suggest that it links in with the Countess’s predatory nature; the furs have consumed her. “so the girl picks the rose; pricks her finger on the thorn; bleeds; screams; falls” “the girl began to melt” Transformative; as the product of desire she is no longer required when his desire is spent.

The Snow Child – other thoughts… 1.The relationship between the Count and his wife. 2.The Count’s desires 3.Description of the girl 4.The reactions of the Count and his wife to the girl 5.The Countess’ actions towards the girl 6.The death of the girl 7.The Count’s actions once the girl has died and his moral values 8.A comparison of the condition of the female characters at the end of the story compared with the way they are first introduced in this tale. 9.An interpretation of the Count handing his wife the rose 10.How do you interpret the final sentence.

The Snow Child A version of Snow White An exploration of sexual jealousy and competition between women for the attention of men An allegory of the familial tension between parents and children Symbolism of the Count’s desire Patirarchy Graphic necrophilia The ending?

Home Learning Research Angela Carter, The Bloody Chamber and the Gothic. Due: Wednesday