Problematics

Extract 1:

Pb: How does the extract introduce the story?

A:           -Context: 1960’s = sixties

                -Characters: David and Harriet, self exclusion

                -They go very fast (Hubris): sleep both

Extract 2:

Pb:         -To what extent does the mansion play an important role in the story?

A:           -Omen of the future (Hubris) + Climax: feelings, attic, fertility →Hubris

                -Ivory Tower/ Kingdom + Gothic aspects/ haunted

Pb: Even if the mansion seems idyllic how can we see bad omens?

A: Spring: period of fertility, babies, fruit (D+H), lilac, buds, some shadow

Extract 3:

Pb: How does the happiness of the family turn bad?

A:           -Economical crisis, 70’s violence: Thatcher: Ivory tower

                -Hypocritical aspects of the family (money + parties)

                -Hubris: Harriet with Amy

                -Chiasmus: Happiness/ Unhappiness = irony

Extract 4:

Pb: How does this extract show the descent into hell for Harriet + David?

A:           -Abdication Harriet for Dorothy = important

                -Hubris: other child Harriet = Girls power + pride + immature + selfish + money

                -Fatality: room, don’t assume

                -Role of silence

                -Situation turns

Extract 5:

Pb: To what extent does Ben accelerate the descent into hell?

A:           -Notion of monstrosity: different POV = Harriet + Ben

                -Gothic aspects

                -Self exclusion: division of the family