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-William Wordsworth His life: William Wordsworth (1770-1850) was born in Cumberland and studied at Cambridge. He supported the French Revolution and fell in love with Annette Vallon, with whom he had a daughter. He returned to England in 1793 because of the war, overcoming a crisis thanks to contact with nature. In 1795 he moved with his sister Dorothy and met Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Together they published the Lyrical Ballads (1798), a manifesto of English Romanticism. Having settled in the Lake District, he completed The Prelude (1802), an autobiographical poem published posthumously. He finally abandoned his radical ideas to support the Tories. He died in 1850. -Main themes
- Man and nature: Nature and man are inseparable; nature is a source of pleasure, moral teaching and spirituality.
- Memory: Poetry is born from emotions remembered in tranquility, transforming past experience into poetic emotion.
- Senses: Visual and auditory sensations allow us to grasp natural beauty.
- The poet: He is a sensitive man who guides others through imagination and emotions. -Daffodils: Written in 1804 and inspired by a real experience described in the diaries of her sister Dorothy, the poem explores central themes of Romanticism through images and simple but evocative language. -Structure and style: The poem is composed of four stanzas of six lines each, with a metrical scheme ABABCC , which gives it fluidity and musicality. The use of the first person highlights the subjectivity of the experience , while the reflective tone takes the reader on an emotional journey that culminates in joy and serenity. -Themes: 1.Nature as a source of joy: The vision of dancing daffodils represents the harmony and vitality of nature, which elevates the human spirit. 2.Power of memory: The memory of the natural scene lives again in the poet's mind, generating a new emotion that gives comfort and serenity. 3.Personification of nature: Daffodils are described as living beings that dance, strengthening the emotional bond between man and nature. 4.Emotional transformation: The poem shows how a simple experience can transform into a moment of deep reflection, thanks to the power of sensitivity and imagination. -William Blake: was born in London in 1757. He remained poor all his life and he worked as an engraver until he died. Even if he studied at the Royal Academy of Arts, he didn’t follow the conventions of realistic representation , perspective and proportions. In fact he put attention on the power of imagination. He supported the radical ideas of the French Revolution during his life and reflected on the bad effects of the Industrial Revolution on man’s soul. This led him to a new conception: the artist should become the guardian of the spirit and the imagination. His texts were influenced by the Bible , which presented a complete vision of the world and its history. He had few intimate friends: his wife Chatherine Boucher (illiterate daughter of a market gardener), who supported his works and shared his interest in the spiritual; and his brother Robert , who died at twenty. This influenced the creation of the printing’s method that combined pictures and poetic text. He called it “illuminated printing”: painting was the counterpart of the illustration of poetry. Blake also published prophetic books in which he created a complex personal mythology and invented his own symbolic characters to reflect his social interests and denounce authority. The most famous was “The Marriage of Heaven and Hell” (1790), a prose mixed with aphorisms, anecdotes and proverbs. He died in London in 1827 and he’s half neoclassicist and half romanticist. - Songs of innocence and songs of experience: Blake emphasised the importance of imagination over reason and believed that the poet should create ideal forms from his inner visions. He wrote 2 collections of poems: -“Songs of Innocence” (1789) = the narrator is a shepherd who receives inspiration from a child in a cloud in order to play his songs that celebrate the divine in all creation. The imagery of the poems is full of lambs, flowers and children. Childhood is the symbol of innocence , a state of the soul connected with happiness, freedom and imagination. The language is simple and musical -“Songs of Experience” (1794) - intended to be read with “Songs of Innocence” because they comment on each other (sometimes with an ironic view) = produced before the outbreak of the French Revolution, it appeared during the Reign of Terror in France (when his support for radical ideas was high). The narrator is a bard who questions the same themes of the first collection but with a more pessimistic view of life. Experience is the symbol of adulthood and completes and coexists with innocence - Complementary opposites: Blake believed that Christianity and the Church especially are responsible for the dualism that characterised man’s life : he used a vision made up of “ complementary opposites ” (good and evil, male and female, reason and imagination) instead of a vision made up of “opposites”. The tension between opposites states (and not their resolution from one that gains supremacy over the other) leads to the **possibility of progress
- Imagination: Imagination** - also called “ the Divine Vision ” - for Blake was the instrument with which we know the world. It meant seeing things in a deeper way. God, the child and the poet share this power of vision, which is also the power of creating things. So the poet is a kind of prophet who can see more deeply into reality and also tries to warn men of the evils of society.
- Interest in social problems: He supported the egalitarian principles of the French Revolution and also the abolition of slavery. He thought that the violence of the Revolution was necessary in order to redempt men. Later, he focused his attention on the evil consequences of the Industrial Revolution : the injustices caused by a materialistic view and the exploitation of workers, especially children. - Symbols: His poems have a very simple structure and a highly individual use of symbols : he used a central group of symbols to form a context for all the minor symbols in the songs (the child, the father and Christ - personifications of innocence, experience and a higher innocence). -The lamb: The poem is divided in two parts: one dealing with the symbolic animal , the other with its creator. AA, BB the rhyming scheme. The language of the poem is simple because he was Romantic. Piccolo agnellino sai chi ti ha creato? Chi è che ti ha dato la vita e chi ti ha nutrito? Vicino al ruscello e vicino al prato ti ha dato un manto soffice bianco (bright) e ti ha dato anche una tenera voce facendo cosi rallegrare tutte le valli -In the first stanza there is happiness Piccolo agnello, te lo dirò, Piccolo agnello, te lo dirò! Egli viene chiamato col tuo nome, poiché chiama se stesso Agnello: è docile e mite; divenne un piccolo bambino: io un bambino e tu un agnello, siamo chiamati col suo nome. Piccolo agnello, Dio ti benedica! Piccolo agnello, Dio ti benedica! -In the second stanza we find a link between the creator and the lamb and the poet (considered as a child). It's almost a childlike language. It's very simple. There is also musicality. There are alliterations. On the fourth line "stream and mead" assonance. -17th and 18th line: 1 → referred to the poet WE → it is referred to the creator (GOD) and the lamb; the lamb represents God. The lamb is not merely a symbol of innocence , it is a symbol for God and childhood. Blake chose the image of the lamb to represent God in this poem, because lambs are gentle and docile. The innocence and joy of the lamb reflect the true nature of God. -Analysis This poem represents the perfect innocence of childhood. In the Bible Christ is also defined as the lamb. The pronoun "I" in the second stanza may refer either to an imaginary child or to the poet himself. The lamb partakes in the nature of God. It represents the sweetness and the meekness of Christ.
- Who is the poem addressed to?The poem is addressed to the Lamb (God)
- The creator has given the lamb some gifts, what are these gifts? These gifts are life food, clothing of delight and tender voice
- Focus on the expression related to the lamb, what idea do they convey? The idea of tenderness, joy, simplicity, innocence and mildness
- Focus on line 17 and 18, why does the poet say "we are called by his name"? -The poet is like a child because the child represents the free power of imagination. A child is innocent. Christ became a child and was innocent like a lamb. The state of innocence coincides with childhood , with the freedom of imagination, which represents God operating in the human soul.
- What do alliteration and assonance create in the poem? They create musicality. -The tiger: describes a tiger with burning eyes that evoke fear, but also the sublime. The author uses tools like the hammer , chain , furnace , and anvil , typical of a blacksmith, to reflect on the creation of this creature. He wonders if the same creator who made the lamb also created the tiger, affirming that it is so. This creation has produced terror , and the stars , frightened , weep. Blake uses a lot of imagination , envisioning that the creator used those tools to bring the tiger to life. -The repetition of "Tyger tyger" and the alliteration of "Burning bright" emphasize his message. The poem suggests that God is not only good but also powerful, showing a different side of the creator. Finally, the concept of "fearful symmetry" expresses the sublime, highlighting the contrast between darkness and light. -In this poem the symbolism becomes more complex. For example, the word "burning" with reference to the tyger, may evoke the image of the animals eyes burning with rage and violence, but the addition bright line one turns the tyger into something shiny, which may also symbolise the light of the spirit or of genius, overcoming the error and ignorance represented by the forest of the night (line two). The same happens with the phrase "fearful symmetry" (rima 4), where the second term modifies the first, arising admiration for the strength and beauty of the animal and for the daring of its creator. Creator and creature define each other through the individual nature: the tyger is so beautiful and powerful that only God could have created it, and God reveals himself through his terrible creature. If the lamb partakes in the nature of God, the tyger represents the quality of the divinity. And if the lamb represents the sweetness and mildness of Christ, the tyger represents the other Christ, who descended among men offering them a revolutionary and violent message of God
- How is the tone of the passage? Ironic. - Social mobility and marriage: The plots and the settings were based on the traditional values of property, decorum, money and marriage. Her novels took place only in England. In her novels the marriage market took place in London, Bath and some seaside resorts. The marriage market also produced some villains such as relatives and seducers. - The theme of love: Jane Austen was influenced by the common sense and moral principles of the previous generation and dealt with the matters of love, marriage and parenthood. In her novels passions aren't usually expressed openly, but there is a happy ending : the romantic marriage of the hero and the heroine. Romantic love is the focus where individual values could achieve high definition. - Pride and Prejudice - characters
● Elizabeth Bennet has a lively mind (that attracts Mr Darcy) and she has also a strong and independent temperament : she refuses the role that her family or socially superior people decides for her. She is the one who’s pride , and this prevents her from seeing Mr Darcy’s virtues
● Mr Darcy knows the principles of proper conduct but he’s selfish and unsociable. At the beginning, he accuses Elizabeth of prejudice , but he has prejudices too towards Lizzy. In fact he is disgusted by the behaviour of her mother and younger sisters.
- Pride and Prejudice - themes
● The conflict between the individual’s desires and the individual’s responsibility to society ● The journey towards self-awareness and self-knowledge ● Wealth, decorum and propriety ● Love, courtship and marriage ● economic, sociological and philosophical themes.
-Charles Dickens: was born in Portsmouth, in the south of England, in 1812. He had a difficult childhood: his father was imprisoned for debt, and at the age of 12, Charles was sent to work in a blacking factory. Later, he attended a school in London. At 15, he began working as an office boy in a law firm. In 1832, he became a well-known shorthand reporter of parliamentary debates in the House of Commons and started working as a journalist. He used the pen name “Boz” to publish Sketches by Boz, a collection of articles and tales about the lives and people of London. In 1836, he published The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club in installments, showcasing his humor and satire. This marked the start of his career as a novelist, writing more complex works such as Oliver Twist (1837-1839) and Nicholas Nickleby (1839). In 1842, Dickens visited Canada and the United States, advocating for copyright laws and the abolition of slavery. Based on this trip, he wrote American Notes. He later published A Christmas Carol (1843), David Copperfield (1850), and Great Expectations (1861), novels inspired by his life experiences that criticized the conditions faced by the poor and exploited children. He died in 1870.
-London in Dickens’ Works: London was the main setting for many of his novels. Dickens had a deep understanding of the city and described its social problems, such as poverty and crime. He condemned the corruption caused by industrialization, using vivid and ironic sketches of city life to highlight society’s flaws.
-Characters and Didactic Aim: Dickens created memorable characters and caricatures to engage readers, often exaggerating their behavior and language (e.g., shopkeepers and artisans). He sided with the poor and the working class, focusing particularly on children, who were portrayed as models of moral behavior. His aim was to make the upper classes aware of social issues without offending them.
-Style:
- Vivid and detailed descriptions of life and characters. - Use of adjectives, repetitions, hyperboles, and ironic remarks.
-Oliver Twist - Plot Summary: Oliver Twist is an orphan who lives in a workhouse under terrible conditions. He is sold as an apprentice to a cruel undertaker but escapes to London. There, he meets a gang of young pickpockets led by the Artful Dodger and trained by Fagin. Oliver becomes involved in their thefts but, during one robbery, the kind-hearted Mr. Brownlow is struck by Oliver’s innocence and takes him into his home. However, the gang kidnaps Oliver and forces him into a criminal job, where he is injured. In the end, Oliver is adopted by Mr. Brownlow, and it is revealed that he has noble origins, while the gang is arrested. The novel explores three social levels: 1.The workhouse world = lower-middle class. 2.The criminal world = created by poverty, full of fear and squalor. 3.The middle class = representing moral values and human dignity.
-Themes in Oliver Twist •Criticism of cruel institutions, such as workhouses, and individuals who mistreat poor children. •The effects of poverty on childhood. •Crime and corruption.
-Chapter 2: Analysis: Dickens describes the children’s hunger in the workhouse. A starving boy jokes about eating the child sleeping next to him, prompting the children to choose someone to ask for more food. Oliver, encouraged by the others, asks for more, shocking and outraging the workhouse authorities. As punishment, Oliver is put in isolation and offered as an apprentice for only five pounds. -Key Points:
- Grotesque descriptions: The children’s hunger is vividly and powerfully portrayed. •Contrast between Oliver and the authorities: Oliver represents innocence and courage, while the workhouse leaders are depicted as cruel and absurd.
- Irony and humor: Dickens uses irony to highlight the ridiculousness of the situation and the exaggerated reactions of the authorities. The scene contrasts two opposing worlds: the hungry, helpless children and the indifferent, caricatured figures of authority.
-The aesthetic movement Aestheticism, the cult of beauty,had been developed by the Romantics (ex. the romantic poet John Keats). Also John Ruskin, in the middle of the 19th century, protested against the indifference of the materialistic Victorian society by saying that " a work of art is an expression of the spirit". The Aesthetic movement began in France with Theophile Gautier at the end of the 19th century. It was a reaction against materialism and the strict moral code of the bourgeoisie. Its main principle was "Art for art's sake" ,according to which art shouldn't have any moral or social purpose, but was an end in itself and aimed at the contemplation of beauty. So artists weren't interested in political and social issues, but isolated themselves in an ideal world of art and beauty. Walter Pater was the theorist of the Aesthetic Movement in England. The movement was influenced by the teachings of Ruskin and the works of Rossetti and the Pre-Raphaelites and was part of the wider Decadentist movement in Europe. Pater thought that life should be lived as "a work of art" and preached "the pursuit of pleasure" stating that "pleasure was to be found in beauty". The ideal of beauty was to be found in art, especially that of the Middle Ages. The task of the artist was to feel sensations. All this was in contrast to the strict moral code of the Victorian Middle-classes. Differently from the previous generation, the Aesthetes didn't criticize contemporary society, but simply avoided it. They didn't want to mix with the masses and despised ugliness of contemporary industrial society. They believed that " art shouldn't have any didactic or moral aim". The cult of beauty was developed by the Pre-Raphaelites in art and poetry. Their poetry was called "pure poetry"', where emphasis was given to the melody and the sound of the words rather than to the meaning behind them. The Pre-Raphaelites were also known as Preraphaellites Brotherhood, a group of artists who rejected academic art in favour of the "spontaneity and spirituality of Italian painters before Raphael. They were fascinated by nature and liked to use "the symbolism of flowers". Among them there were Dante Gabriel Rossetti and William Morris. In England the Aesthetic Movement reached its height in the 1890s. A great exponent is Oscar Wilde, very famous for his eccentric personality and wit. The Aesthetic Movement lost popularity and came to an end when Wilde was involved in the scandal that brought him to prison.
-Oscar Wilde Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin in 1854. He went to Oxford University and studied Classics. Known for his eccentric style, he followed the ideas of Walter Pater. After finishing his studies, he moved to London and became famous for his fashionable, unique way of dressing. He gave talks about the Pre-Raphaelites and the Aesthetes in the United States. Wilde also published a book of poems and several short stories. In 1884, he married Constance Lloyd, and they had two sons. Wilde was known for his sharp wit and talent for speaking, often appearing in London magazines. In 1891, he publishedThe Picture of Dorian Gray and became interested in writing plays, especially social comedies and tragedies. However, these works caused a scandal, and people began to think of them as immoral. Later in 1891, Wilde fell in love with Lord Alfred Douglas, which led to his imprisonment. While in prison, he wrote a long letter calledDe Profundis, reflecting on his life. He spent the rest of his life in France, and his final work wasThe Ballad of Reading Gaol. Wilde died in 1900.
- The plot The novel takes place in London at the end of the 19th century. The main character, Dorian Gray, is a young man whose beauty impresses a painter named Basil Hallward, who decides to paint his portrait. Dorian is then influenced by Lord Henry Wotton and begins living a life focused on pleasure. However, it’s the portrait that changes, not Dorian himself. As Dorian uses and hurts others, people suffer and die because of his lack of care. When Basil sees how the portrait has changed, Dorian kills him. In the end, Dorian tries to escape the corruption he has caused, but in doing so, he ends up killing himself. The portrait goes back to its original state, while Dorian’s face becomes old and withered. - Characters Dorian Gray, the main character of the novel, represents youth, beauty, and innocence. He is captured forever in a portrait painted by Basil Hallward, looking like a living statue of beauty. Unlike everyone else, Dorian stays young forever, while his painting shows the effects of time and his bad actions. His last name, "Gray," suggests that he is morally in between good and evil. He chooses to live a life of pleasure, but in the end, his vanity and selfishness destroy him. The portrait shows the decay of his soul. Lord Henry Wotton is a smart talker and a man who cares only about beauty and pleasure. He thinks youth is the most important thing and criticizes things that others believe are sacred. He has a negative but powerful influence on Dorian. Basil Hallward is the artist who admires Dorian's beauty and youth. He paints a portrait of Dorian, which he believes is his best work, but he doesn’t want to show it because it reveals his obsession with Dorian. Basil tries to guide Dorian to be a better person, but Dorian ends up killing him.
- Themes
- the purpose of art: (art has no purpose), the victorians believed that art could be used as a tool for social education and moral enlightenment (see dickens). The aestheticism movement taught that art should be free from this responsibility. in Dorian Gray, lord Wotton uses every word to shock the ethical certainties of the bourgeoisie( middle class) —> **the purpose of art is to be beautiful.
- The supremacy of youth and beauty:** in the novel beauty reigns. The cynical lord Wotton talks about beauty to dorian like a **mentor
- vanity as original sin:** dorian’s vanity is the consequences of this vices all his actions are motivated by vanity. Dorian falls from grace, guided by the **corrupted wotton.
- Influence and corruption** : Dorian is an innocent boy that,under the influence of Wotton, becomes corrupt. Anyway, the novel can be seen as a lesson **in taking responsibility for one's actions.
- homosexuality** : sodomy and homosexuality were punished in Victorian England(wilde was brought to trial). In the novel there are strong references go homosexuality in the relationship between Dorian, lord Wotton and Basil. Wilde removed all the references to’ homosexuality.
- the of double : the struggle between good and evil in Dorian the fit represented in his body’s youthfulness and the painting’s uglies. also it is referred to Dorian’s faustian bargain: that is “Dorian” would vive his soul” to stay yours and handsome forever. The picture stands for his darkside of Dorian’s personality, his double, which he tries to forget by locking it in a room. - The Style
● Unobtrusive third person narrator : he shows what happens but doesn’t interfere with the story (like a camera) ● Witty dialogue: Characters reveal themselves through what they say or what other people say of them ● Narrative Technique: the story is told by an unobtrusive third person narrator
- Analysis In the passage the artist Basil hallward has just finished a portrait of Dorian and invites him to look at it for the first time. Basil’s friend, Lord Henry Wotton, is also present. The painting is a true likeness of the setter (modello). Here, Wotton Looks like a manipulative aristocrat that takes interest in the young Dorian Gray. He is a charming talker and tries to convince Dorian about his own ideas of youth and beauty. He tells him that beauty is the wonder of wonders (line 10), that only shallow people do not judge by appearance, that beauty is a form of genius and needs no explanation. He says that Dorian is the new symbol of hedonism , that is the pursuit of pleasure as a goal in life. On lines 17-18, he continues telling Dorian ” time is jealous of you, and wars are against your life, lilies and your roges ” (here there is a personification of time: time has human feelings (jealousy), performs human actions (fights). On line 4-5, we read: “ beauty is a form of genius…” it cannot be questioned ”, that are forms of similes like on line 10 ( wonder of wonders ). Then he says that beauty fades with the passage of time just like youth (lines 15-19: “ on triumphs, only the memory of your past triumphs; bitterness; something dreadful; physical degradation; sallow, and hollow-checked, and dull-eyes = suffering). Wotton advocates a lifestyle making use of the imperatives (lines 19,22,23: “ don’t squander; live the wonderful life that is in you; be always searching for new sensation”= this means to live fully and intensely, with no scruples). We also find some paradoxes in the passage, when Wotton says: “ beauty is not superficial as thought (line 9-10)—> thought is profound; beauty is superficial. “Shallow people do not judge by appearances (line 10-11)—> (but in reality) judging by appearance is a sign of superficiality. “ the true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible” (line 11-12)—>(what is visible is clear and easy to understand, the invisible for example the abstract is difficult to grasp). Dorian is presented as something of an ideal : he is the archetype of youth and beauty. He is handsome and attractive. On line 37 we read: “… listened, open-eyed and wondering ” which conveys to the reader that he is excited about seeing his portrait. His reaction to the painting is connected to vanity (“ Dorian… passed listlessly in front of his picture… he drew back, and his cheeks flushed for a moment with pleasure… a look of joy came into his eyes” ( lines 38-40). then his feelings began to change (see lines 50-52). “..a sharp pang of pain strock through him like a knife… each delicate fire of his nature uiver… his eyes depended…. a mistake of tears, he felt as if an hand of ice has been laid upon his heart” These sentences contain in 2 similes. Dorian long to be youthful and lovely eternally as the masterpiece painted by basil. he is afraid of being old. ugly and waikled in the future (lines 51-51) He wishes they the pourtant can age instead of him. His vulnerability and insecurity make excellent clay for Wotton’s hands. see line 66- “if it were i who was to be always young, and the prietter that was the grow old” also line 68- “i would give my soul for that”(here it is clear dorian’s vanity that will bring him to a dissolute life).
- Freud’s influence: Freud’s ideas about the unconscious and the irrational forces that influence human behavior had a major impact on modern literature. Modernist writers abandoned the traditional representation of characters based on social and historical context, focusing instead on the inner complexity of the individual. Freud introduced concepts such as the superego, sexual desire (libido), and the Oedipus complex, which influenced writers such as D.H. Lawrence, who explored family and psychoanalytic themes in Sons and Lovers. Techniques such as dream analysis and free association inspired writers such as Eliot, Joyce, and Woolf to experiment with new ways of representing the irrationality and unpredictability of the human mind. - The Irish question: The long history of Irish rebellion against British rule worsened in the 20th century as Irish Republicans began to organise themselves into a military force. The turning point began on Easter Monday, 1916 when a rebellion took place in Dublin, culminating in a siege at the General Post Office by an extremist group known as Sinn Féin. The rebellion was crushed by the British police force and fifteen Irish rebels were executed. In 1919 Irish militants, under the leadership of Michael Collins , organised themselves into a real army known as the Irish Republican Army (the IRA ). They wanted independence for Ireland at any cost. The problem was further complicated by the Protestant Irish community concentrated in the six counties of the north (Ulster). These were descendants of English immigrants and the British government felt that it could not 'abandon' them by making the whole of Ireland independent and so a compromise was finally arrived at in 1921. Independence was given to Catholic southern Ireland which became known as the Irish Free State or Eire. The mainly Protestant northern Ireland would remain under the jurisdiction of the British government in London.
-“Sunday bloody sunday” by U " Sunday Bloody Sunday " is one of the most powerful and enduring protest songs in the history of rock music. Written and performed by the Irish rock band U2, the song was released in 1983 during a period of violence and political confusion in North Ireland. All began in the late 1960s when there was a conflict (The Troubles) between the Protestant Unionist community (who wished to remain part of the UK) and the Catholic nationalistic community (who was for the reunification with the Republic of Ireland) and lasted until the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. -The song refers to the tragic events that occurred in 1916 and 1972 in Derry (Ireland). In 1916 there was a rebellion against the british rule that began on Easter Monday. The rebellion was carried out by Irish Republicanswho asked for independence from Britain. The rebels fought with British troops for 6 days. Then the rebels surrendered and there were many executions among the leaders. -The British government's repression •458 were killed and 2000 wounded
- The British used firebombs and heavy artillery against the rebels.
- In the following weeks, 3,000 men and women suspected of involvement were arrested.
- 1,400 of them were sent to prison and treated as terrorists.
- This rebellion is also known as the “Easter Rising”. -Historical context:
- Ireland has been the scene of massacres for many years.
- This is due to the division between:
- Unionists
- Independentists - Song analysis:
- It describes what happened through powerful images.
- The chorus is repeated obsessively so as not to forget the terrible event.
- a pacifist message,
- some references to the Bible.
- The last verse compares the events to the Resurrection of Christ, but is open to numerous interpretations.
- The song has a universal value against violence.
-There were many key events that happened during this long period: one of the most significant of these was the Bloody Sunday massacre in ( 1916 and 1972 ), when British soldiers shot and killed 14 unarmed civil rights protesters in Derry.
-The song of U2 highlights the urgent need for all people to come together and work towards a more peaceful future.
-The structure of the song is simple (4/4 time) and the song begins with a militaristic drum-beat which stresses the danger of violence.
-The opening lines of the song, "I can't believe the news today/ I can't close my eyes and make it go away", capture the sense of horror and disbelief felt by those affected by the Troubles (i disordini).
-The verse "How long must we sing this song?" signifies the anger towards the authorities approach to the situation and it is immediately followed by " "Cause tonight, we can be as one, Tonight", which means that the door is still open for a peace treaty.
-The repetition "Sunday Bloody Sunday" gives a violent but pacific denounce of the tragic event.
-In the song we find a Biblical verse - Matthew: "Mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart".
-Finally the song finishes by declaring to the Irish that they need to stop fighting each other and just claim the victory "Jesus won...on (a) Sunday Bloody Sunday."
-Analysing the lyrics it is evident how this song maintains an aggressive pacifistic political meaning. It also has no clear references and has multiple re-contextualizations because it is a reaction to different violent events in the world.
- New trends in the 1920s: Women began to participate more in public affairs and continued to strive for full equality with men. Fashion reflected this desire for more freedom and was also influenced by American films and songs. The work of Sigmund Freud , although initially causing scandal, marked the beginning of a more open society. Most households had a radio and in 1922 the British Broadcasting Corporation , or BBC , went on air for the first time and, along with the main daily newspapers : The Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Daily Mail became an important information source. - The Great Depression, triggered by the 1929 Wall Street Crash, severely affected both the U.S. and Britain, leading to massive unemployment and economic collapse. In Britain, the government introduced social reforms like unemployment subsidies and public assistance. In the U.S., President Roosevelt responded with the New Deal, which improved conditions but didn’t fully solve the crisis until WWII.
-The Decline of the British Empire became evident as Britain lost international prestige. The 1931 Statute of Westminster granted independence to several countries, which became part of the Commonwealth (e.g., Canada, Australia, New Zealand).
-The Second World War began when Germany invaded Poland in 1939, prompting Britain to declare war. Under Winston Churchill, Britain resisted after France’s fall in 1940. The war turned in the Allies’ favor after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941 (bringing the U.S. into the war) and Germany invaded Russia, leading to a two-front conflict. The war ended after D-Day in 1944 and Germany’s surrender in 1945, followed by the U.S. dropping atomic bombs on Japan. The Yalta Conference that same year shaped postwar Europe, marking the start of the nuclear age.
-20 century The 20th century brought great changes in literature, both in themes and style. Many writers rejected the ideas and style of the past, especially the Victorian era. In poetry, Imagism was born, while in novels, Modernism developed. However, these changes did not happen immediately: there was a transition period with authors such as Conrad and Lawrence, who prepared the ground for new trends.
- An age of transition Joseph Conrad and D. H. Lawrence were important writers in the time of change before Modernism. Conrad, in Heart of Darkness, used a new way of telling the story, changing the point of view and how time was shown. Lawrence did not change the writing style, but he wrote about new and bold topics. His books showed deep feelings and talked about sex and social class. His novel Lady Chatterley’s Lover was so shocking that it was banned in England until the 1960s. - Modernism Modernism is a general term that includes many artistic and literary movements, such as Naturalism, Symbolism, Imagism, Futurism, Cubism, Vorticism, Expressionism, and Surrealism. In the second decade of the 20th century, a new group of writers called “modernists” appeared. They moved away from traditional writing styles and, influenced by Freud’s ideas about the mind and inner self, tried to show a deeper and more complex view of people and life. According to Virginia Woolf, life is not something clear and outside us, but a mix of thoughts and feelings, like a soft light that surrounds us from the beginning to the end of our awareness. - The modernist novel Modernism is a general term that includes many artistic and literary movements, such as Naturalism, Symbolism, Imagism, Futurism, Cubism, Vorticism, Expressionism, and Surrealism. In the second decade of the 20th century, a new group of writers called “modernists” appeared. They moved away from traditional writing styles and, influenced by Freud’s ideas about the mind and inner self, tried to show a deeper and more complex view of people and life. According to Virginia Woolf, life is not something clear and outside us, but a mix of thoughts and feelings, like a soft light that surrounds us from the beginning to the end of our awareness.
-The stream of consciousness
- Mrs Dalloway - Clarissa and Septimus
Clarissa is a 51-year-old woman married to Richard Dalloway , a conservative politician. She feels frustrated by the conflict between her desire for freedom and her awareness of her social class. She spends her life trying to find peace and order, but often feels a sense of failure because of the choices she's made in the past. Septimus , a sensitive man who loves poetry, served in World War I. He witnessed the death of his best friend, Evans , and the trauma left him with panic attacks, hallucinations, and guilt. Clarissa and Septimus are connected in many ways. They both react strongly to their experiences, rely on their partners for support, and often think about death. However, Septimus is overwhelmed by his emotional pain and ends his life, while Clarissa, despite her struggles, remains aware of the world around her and continues to move forward.
- Mrs Dalloway - moments of being In her essay A Sketch of the Past, Virginia Woolf talks about two kinds of experiences: moments of being, which are felt deeply and clearly, and moments of non-being, which pass without much notice. In moments of being, a person feels connected to something greater than everyday life. - Mrs Dalloway - isolation or aggregation?
The narrative is organized peace by peace through associations. Woolf uses free indirect speech, third person narrator omniscient. A literary technique that describes the interior thoughts of characters, using third singular pronouns (he/she). It’s the omniscient narrator point of view. A voice comments everything about the characters. The passage consists of perceptions and thoughts. There is a continuous passage from outer reality to inner reality. There are many dashes, exclamation point, semicolons (ect.) and very short sentences.
- Mrs Dalloway - main themes
→The fear of death →Trauma and shell-shock →Mental illness →Memory and the passage of time →Age →Privacy, loneliness and communication → Time →Happiness and loneliness
- Mrs Dalloway - style
→ In this passage there are many dashes, semicolons, question marks, exclamations, and very short sentences. → The omniscuent’s narrator point of view. → a voice comments everything about the characters →woolf uses “free indirect speech”, a literary technique that describes the interior thoughts of characters, using third singular pronouns (he/she)
- Mrs Dalloway - characteristics In Mrs. Dalloway Dalloway is present the isolation of the individual consciousness: every individual is seen to be the prisoner of his unique stream of consciousness. In the book Mrs Dalloway, Clarissa is planning a party. But the question is: will people truly understand each other, or will they still feel lonely even when together? As she walks through London, Clarissa thinks about her past. Her day is told alongside the day of Septimus and his wife, and we see how everyone’s past affects what they experience in the present. Mrs. Delloway never meets them but has a symbolic relationship with them. The connection between Clarissa and Septimus is shown when Septimus’s doctor comes to the party and talks about his suicide: Clarissa feels sorry for him and feels a bit like him. Septimus goes mad after the war because he can’t talk to people anymore and shuts himself off completely.
- Mrs Dalloway - parts 1-
-First paragraph: Mrs. Dalloway goes out to buy flowers for the party. A loud noise on the street introduces Septimus and his wife. Meanwhile, Clarissa thinks about her daughter’s teacher, who she doesn’t like.
-Second paragraph: In the second paragraph, the point of view changes several times: first it focuses on Mrs. Dalloway, then shifts to the woman entering the shop and Mrs. Pym’s hands. Finally, the point of view moves to Mrs. Pym, who describes Mrs. Dalloway as a kind person but older than before. The metaphor of water at the end symbolizes the continuous changes in life.
-Third paragraph: The paragraph talks about busy London with cars, noise, and people. Some people are curious about the explosion, and a man speaks English wrong. Then, Septimus Warren Smith is introduced. He also heard the explosion and is shown as mentally weak and not healthy.
-Last paragraph: The last paragraph is introduced by Septimus’ wife's words: she suggests to go on, while her husband treats her angrily. She is a young Italian girl called Lucrezia, who is very worried about Septimus’ behaviour. He told her he would kill himself and she really hopes not to be alone when he will try to suicide.
-modernism
- there was a cultural crisis
- a new interest in the interior world of the individuals
- new theories about time and unconscious
- s.freud and psychoanalysis (his concept of “free association” influenced the modern writers
- a new concept of time (historical time and psychological time)
-INTERIOR MONOLOGUE AND STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Modern writers used interior monologue to show a character’s inner thoughts before they become spoken words. It helps the reader understand what the character really thinks and feels. These thoughts don’t follow a clear order and often don’t make full sense. Phrases like “he thought” are not used.
-Two types of Interior Monologue:
- Indirect Interior Monologue: ○ A narrator is present and helps organize the thoughts. ○ The character doesn’t act, just thinks, often remembering the past. ○ The narrator may explain or describe what’s happening.
- Direct Interior Monologue: ○ The narrator disappears; we read the thoughts as they happen. ○ There is little grammar or order, like listening directly to the mind.
-Interior Monologue vs Stream of Consciousness: ● Interior Monologue: ○ Thoughts are clear, organized, and grammatically correct. ○ Sentences are full and logical. ● Stream of Consciousness: ○ Tries to copy the real flow of thoughts, which are messy and fast. ○ Sentences can be broken, full of images and feelings, jumping from one idea to another. Example: In Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, the reader follows Clarissa’s thoughts as she moves from watching taxis to remembering her past, all in a natural, flowing way. It’s not about what she thinks but how she thinks.
-THE DYSTOPIAN NOVEL
In the 1800s, many believed in utopia—a perfect society thanks to science and democracy. But soon, writers also imagined the opposite: dystopia, a dark and scary future. ● Dystopias show total control by governments, using technology, fear, and ideology. ● People are not free, watched all the time, and divided into classes. ● The media lies to people, and philosophy is used to control them. The main character in these novels usually tries to fight the system, but often fails. Through this struggle, the reader sees what is wrong with the society. In the 1900s, people started fearing that modern society could destroy itself. Both America and the Soviet Union were examples of hope and fear.
