English Literature Coursework Essays

English Literature Coursework Essays English Literature Coursework Essay English Literature Coursework Essay To explore this question I am going to examine how Shakespeare creates and maintains dramatic tension in Act One Scene Five.This is a pivotal scene in which Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time and fall in love.I am going to discuss the servants busy preparations for the party, Romeos passionate soliloquy on first glimpsing Juliet, Tybalts recognition of Romeo and his subsequent anger and Romeo and Juliets horrified reactions at discovering that they are enemies.I am also going to study Shakespeares use of language and imagery, his use of Elizabethan sonnet form and the social and historical context of the play.To start with, I am going to mention that at the end of the preceding scene, Romeo has a premonition. He foresees his own death.Romeo:This would mean that the tension level is already quite high, as a consequence of this scene ending with such a sense of foreboding. This tension is relieved somewhat by the actions of the servants.The servants busy preparations for the banq uet create dramatic tension in that they are frantic and loud. The tension is initially created, and maintained, while the servants shout and call each other. They create an impression of disorder and a sense that everything is speeding up.Servant 1:The servants speeches are written in blank verse, which contrasts greatly with the lyrical words of Romeo and Juliet and also with that of Lord Capulet and Tybalt.The scene then moves on to Lord Capulet welcoming his guests to the party. He is in a good mood and greets his guests warmly. This causes the tension created by the servants to dissipate slightly and the audience can relax a little. Lord Capulets speeches are very flamboyant and full of life. A festive atmosphere is rapidly established.Lord Capulet:His speeches are full of noble language that contrasts greatly with the coarse language used by the servants previously.The next event in this scene is when Romeo first sees Juliet. Her beauty stuns him.Romeo:His language is very ric h and even nobler than that of Lord Capulet. At this point in the scene, we see the tension rising again as Romeo sees Juliet and instantly falls in love with her. However, as his speech goes on, the tension evens out, as the audience settle into Romeos sudden love for Juliet.He then goes on to speak ten lines about Juliets beauty and how incomparable she is to Rosaline. Her beauty stuns him.Romeo:It is through Romeos language that Shakespeare shows that Romeo is of a noble birth, and this distinguishes him from the servants. His language is also very intense, which makes the audience believe that he is sincere in his love of Juliet. Also Shakespeares subtle use of rhyme causes us to see how pure and real his love is, as Romeos soliloquy is written in rhyming couplets.The tension is raised now because of the audiences awareness of Romeo being a Montague, and Juliet being a Capulet. The audience gets to see them fall deeply in love with each other, with them totally unaware of their respective identities. The audience knows that when they do discover each others identities, they will be horrified and that the consequences cannot be good.Immediately Romeo finishes waxing lyrical about Juliet, we hear Tybalt in a furious rage because a Montague is at the Capulet party.Tybalt:His sudden rage and fury at seeing Romeo causes the dramatic tension to soar as the audience anticipate his actions. His violent, forceful language contrasts greatly with Romeos gentle, sweet words. However, Lord Capulet intervenes and Tybalt is halted before he can act on his anger. He argues with his uncle because he wont let him fight Romeo, because it would spoil the party. Their dispute is heated and the tension steadily rises.Tybalt:Lord Capulet:Their language is violent and aggressive which would cause the audience to sit up and take notice of the strong emotions involved.The tension drops when Tybalt obeys his uncle and agrees not to act on his anger that night. He does however leave a lingering tension with the threat.Tybalt:In other words, he shall seek revenge at another time, just to please his uncle. It is with these words that he exits the scene. This leaves the audience at a loss as to what is coming next. This would cause an increase in tension because of eager anticipation for the next installment of the blooming romance.The next section of the scene is where Romeo and Juliet meet and share their first (and second) kiss. Their language is the key point when explaining how Shakespeare creates an isolated bubble around the pair of lovers. They speak lovingly to each other, and lots of references to religion and faith are made. They talk about holy shrines, blushing pilgrims and holy palmers. However the majority of what they say is concerning the body. They speak of two blushing pilgrims meaning lips and their hands touching as holy palmers kiss. These references to religion and faith are used to simulate images in the audiences minds, of purity and since rity.They seem to exist only for each other, and are isolated and set apart from the rest of the party. This separation is defined by their gentle, loving language, which contrasts with the violent, bustling activity of the party.At this point in the scene, their conversation is written in sonnet form. In Elizabethan times the sonnet was the most popular form of poetry. They were usually written as love poems, to the writers beloved. The audience of the time Romeo and Juliet was written would have understood this, and it would have been a clear message to them that Romeo and Juliet were talking about love. This form of poetry also ensures that Romeo and Juliet seem to be moving in a world of their own.Just after they are separated, Romeo discovers that Juliet is a Capulet, his enemy, and the dramatic tension reaches its peak.Romeo:Not long after Romeo discovers their enmity, Juliet finds out for herself. This only prolongs the high level of dramatic tension.Juliet:Their reactions ar e ones of despair and horror. They dont understand how they could each have fallen in love with their only enemies. Their despair is only short-lived because they each know that, despite the barrier created by their enmity, their love is pure and absolute.Juliet:This is Juliets way of saying that if Romeo is married; she would die because it would break her heart. This emphasises just how deeply they have fallen in love with each other.Then at the end of the scene, Juliet is called to her mother, and the build up of dramatic tension is dissolved.Shakespeare also uses his extensive control of the English language to control the dramatic tension. Using violent language during the heated argument between Lord Capulet and his nephew, and sacred, religious words during the first meeting of Romeo and Juliet. He uses rhyme to emphasise the emotions behind a moment. The servants speak in blank verse, which shows them as low class people using common, coarse language. Romeo speaks in rhyming couplets when he first sees Juliet, this would encourage the audience to take notice of what is happening, and creates an impression of Romeo as a nobleman.Such uses of language and rhyme would have had to be used because in Elizabethan times, there would have been no sophisticated props or such like. Shakespeare had to use different styles of language to differentiate between classes and characters.Throughout this crucial scene, the level of dramatic tension fluctuates. Shakespeare ensures this by using strong contrasts- the noise and frivolity of the party, and the gentle, quiet love between Romeo and Juliet.Shakespeare uses various techniques to ensure the dramatic tension is maintained throughout this scene. One of these techniques is to use contrasting language and imagery. Also to use different rhyme schemes to display different feelings.In my opinion William Shakespeare is a very talented writer and has used his mastery of the English language to manage the dramatic tension throughout Act One Scene Five. English Literature Coursework Essays English Literature Coursework Essay English Literature Coursework Essay Life is the farce that everyone has to perform (Arthur Rimbaud). Explore your different responses to this statement with reference to the structure, form and characters of Noises Off. How far do you agree that the disintegration of the farce Nothing On is mainly a means to comment on the human condition? One could interpret Rimbauds statement as analogous to that of the insinuated, deeper reference of Michael Frayns Noises Off, due to human life sharing similar elements as the convention of comedy that is farce. Life is like a drama, full of isinterpretation, unanticipated events and tragedy. This view aligns with Arthur Rimbauds statement; although, one could easily argue that Frayns meta-farce structure was in fact a device used in order to satirise the acting industry, an impeccable example of this satirisation is Lloyds excessive use of the word love , this repetition could conceivably be used to exaggerate and highlight actors and actresses insincerity. Michael Frayn has experienced the anarchy that develops behind closed doors on an acting set, and this disputably elevates the play from a farce to an intricate, multi-layered theatrical experience. Another interpretation could be that that Noises Off needs no deeper reading as a common definition of farce is a ludicrous, hollow show; a mockery. When examining whether Noises Off intends to relate to the human condition, the structure of Frayns work can not be neglected. The meta-farce structure used by Michael Frayn is arguably integral in reflecting human nature and life, conjointly, this is most evident in Act One as Nothing On slowly begins to disintegrate through misinterpretations and disorder. The structure of the play creates depth, therefore when disarray does arise, such as the disappearance of Selsdon in Act l, Garry: Selsdon! We cant find him! , proceedings have to be adjourned which also causes Noises Off to be disrupted. This is very much comparable to life, because as one event occurs, this could lead to a detrimental effect on other affairs and it postpones future matters. On the other hand, it could comfortably be argued that Frayn does not intend to create a locus in which the reader should etch away the surface of the structure and read more thoroughly. This is apparent as ultimately Noises Off is a farce. Had Michael Frayn intended to convey the similarities between farce and the uman condition, then perhaps an essay format would have been more appropriate which means that we can only assume that his intentions were to evoke laughter from his audience. A device that could be argued as being utilised by Frayn to portray the human condition within Nothing On is the revolving stage. The stage allows the audience to get a full perspective of the farce without any interruptions, and it is this device that is likened to Carl Jungs persona mask theory. The characters within the play have to depict a certain role to the audience which masks them from their true being and it s not until the stage has revolved 180 degrees that we as the spectators are granted access to their real nature and the mask is unveiled. Typically, this is similar to human life as people have to put on a show to impress their peers and appear in control, but ultimately when they are alone or in their comfort zone, people allow their mask to slip. This can be depicted from Arthur Rimbauds view by his use of the term performed when describing life. Alternatively, it could be argued that Frayn used the revolving stage in order to convey the actors unprofessionalism and the omplete turmoil that occurs behind closed doors on an acting set in order to create shock and laughter. Perhaps the revolving stage has no deeper meaning that relates to human condition as the proposed masks are Just traits of our character that may be rendered as false by other beings. Characterisation is pivotal in an attempt to illustrate lifes formalities and surprises in Noises Off. In Act One, Selsdon says Sixty years now and the smell of the theatre still haunts me, this is in response to Poppy who nearly offends him by implying he smells. This is acutely comparable to the comedic convention of wordplay as Poppy oesnt actually say Selsdon possesses an undesirable odour, if you stand anywhere near Selsdon, you cant help noticing this very distinctive but is instead is interrupted by him before she can completely offend. This is incredibly funny as it creates awkwardness between Selsdon and Poppy. Obviously Selsdon is one of the more senior members of the cast and should theoretically be wiser from his experiences, although that is not the case. Arguably Frayn is implying that it does not matter how accomplished you may be in certain aspects of life, your lifetime will be ull of consternations and revelations that can not be prepared for. Again, this adds to the validity of Rimbauds assessment as farce incorporates highly improbable plots situations and exaggerated characters which is similar to what human beings can perceive as life. In contrast, it could be contended that Selsdons dialogue has no broader meaning and is in fact Just used to create an awkward situation. It could also be argued that the writer intended to stereotype Selsdon as an actor who is coming to the end of his career, is no longer concerned with his profession and is seemingly oblivious to his surroundings. The use of complications in Nothing On, such as the actors troubles with the opening and shutting of doors, could be considered a key component by Frayn as a means to comment on the human condition. We see throughout almost the entirety of Act One and Act Two, the predicament that the doors cause. whilst Brooke and Garry enter through the doors on the upper stage, Belinda and Fredrick exit through the lower stage doors in perfect time and sequence. This evokes laughter from the audience as it creates confusion throughout the cast who are oblivious to each others presence, and ultimately this excites the audience as it eludes to the rogression of a riotous event, in typical slapstick comedy style. Furthermore, within the noumenal of Noises Off it depicts the doors as a gateway backstage which allows the audience to see the true nature of the actors and additionally utilised by Frayn as a vehicle for satire. While one cant argue against the fact that Frayn intended the play to be a riotous event, the potential for deeper reading when examining the doors can not be ignored. It is possible that Frayn used the doors as a device to symbolise them as a portal to another world and point of view, implying that veryone incurs implications when attempting to follow new paths in life, Just as the actors have difficulties trying to open and shut the doors. The form in which Michael Frayn presents the disintegration of Nothing On through his use of common components of farce such as broader physical humour and the use of props suggests that his prime intention was to elicit amusement from his spectators. The use of slapstick comedy and misplacement of props in Nothing On is especially funny as it creates uncertainty within the cast which ultimately leads to further complications and adds to the riotous event that is to entail. A leading example of this would be Dottys (Mrs. Clackett) ineptitude to take or replace the sardines at the correct instances Mrs Clackett: What I did with the first lot of sardines I shall never know, also we see in Act I Fredricks pants fall down which arouses laughter from the audience as it generates awkwardness and this is a key component of farce. By Act 3 the destruction of Act I of Nothing On is almost complete, and the significance of this is arguably commensurate to the human condition. The disintegration of Nothing On could have stemmed from the actors inability to erform the intelligible task of replacing props, and this comments on human life in the sense that misunderstanding can lead to feelings of anger and Jealousy during which, things escalate out of control. In conclusion, it is apparent that Michael Frayn did indeed intend to evoke laughter from his audience through the use of typical farce components, such as the violence that occurs in Act 2 which almost leads Noises Off into taking a more tragic narration, although whether it was unintentional, the more Michael Frayn attempts to reflect aspects of life itself through Noises Off, the more it succeeds in the intention to create humour.

Infographic 5 Social Media Tips for Authors

Infographic 5 Social Media Tips for Authors Infographic: 5 Actionable Social Media Tips for Authors Social media is the key to every self-publisher’s dream when it comes to marketing. Though complex, it’s the foreground to any successful book marketing strategy†¦ and it’s free! Being a self-published author means creating great content, but does it also mean you need to be an expert marketer? Thanks to the social web, no–though it certainly pays to be informed.We know engaging thousands of people on social media can feel like working in a black hole, but we’ve curated a list of actionable social media tips authors can utilize to market their books and themselves on social media without wasting time, breaking the bank, or turning into an angry-aggressive marketer who’s forgotten what their real job and passion is: writing.Tip #4. Stay optimistic or stay quietBeing a self-published author means you’re a professional; even though you may be accustomed to sharing personal opinions and experiences on your social media pages and comme nts, disassemble your internet armour and ignore the anti-fan comments. If you want a good counter-example, you can check this author’s reaction to a (slightly satirical) review of his book.Critique and criticism is inevitable. You will be much more appreciated as an author if you take reader feedback with a grain of salt and move on. Harping on the review will only hinder your credibility in the future and take away from the time you could have spent improving and creating content. If the same person keeps attacking your social media accounts, it’s perfectly acceptable to block them.Tip #5. Hashtags are your #friendsHashtags help categorize the rush of content constantly being posted by working as searchable tags and keywords. They’re a great feature to assist you in developing your online presence and reaching out to your audience. If used correctly, hashtags can connect you with readers all over the internet. If used incorrectly, they just clutter all of your wonderful content.Deciding which hashtags to use is one thing, but use too many, and your posts will look like spam. Search for hashtags like #amwriting, #amediting and #fridayreads to engage in community-wide topical posts, and don’t forget generic hashtags like #author, #pubtip, #writelife, #SFF, #YA, etc.Successful social media marketing really does just take time and patience–along with dedication, consistency, and a commitment to making your interactions personal. There is a very fine line between marketing yourself and harassing your readers, so make sure you fall on the right side of the fence by being transparent, friendly and personable. Who knows? You might just find that making friends online is just as fun as meeting people face-to-face!If you liked the post, do us a favour, and tweet the infographic! Just click here for that.How do you use social media as an author? Do you have any other tips to share with us?