1 wss section 1 imagery january

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Wide Sargasso SeaUse of Imagery

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AIMS:

• To understand and explain JR’s use of imagery in the opening of the novel



• A comparative study of an aspect of two texts of the candidate’s choice. This piece should be 1500-2000 words.



Themes and Possible focuses in Wide Sargasso Sea• Divided worlds • Men and women• Madness• Social hierarchy• Money and wealth• Race• Marriage• Parent/child

relationship• Entrapment/

imprisonment• Power/

powerlessness

• Identity• Abandonment• Safety/insecurity• Religion• Alien cultures• Control• Victims/dominators• Moral blindness• Symbolic

meaning/significant places



Look at...

• Use of adjectives

• The detail of characterisation

• How the narrators connect themselves with nature and other people.

Skilled work will

• Identify features JR’s use of imagery with some explanation of layers of meaning.

• Have some connection to wider themes in the novel

Excellent workwill

• Have a detailed explanation, with appropriate terminology, of how imagery is used with a perceptive identification of layers of meaning

• Show sophisticated links to possible connections to between wider themes and the critical interpretations


Rhys demonstrates the political status of Antoinette through imagery . In Wide Sargasso Sea Antoinette narrates in Part One: “And if the razor grass cut my legs and arms I would think “It’s better than people.” (p 12) Antoinette’s deliberate social exclusion shows her physical pain. She would rather be ‘cut’ than be around people. Her political status as a white Creole and social outsider is emphasised with the language: “Black ants or red ones, tall nests swarming with white ants…– once I saw a snake. All better than people. Better. Better, better than people.” Rhys’ use of repetition creates the emotive effect of rejection and a sense of social inferiority. The racial diversity of the Caribbean islands is perhaps represented by the three colours of ants mentioned in this passage, but the image of ants indicates that they are perceived as having a negligible role in political life; furthermore, they are all ‘swarming’ and suggests both the chaotic lives they are living in the urgent need for political change.

Rhys demonstrates the political status of Antoinette through imagery . In Wide Sargasso Sea Antoinette narrates in Part One: “And if the razor grass cut my legs and arms I would think “It’s better than people.” (p 12) Antoinette’s deliberate social exclusion shows her physical pain; her isolation is both physically harmful as well as emotional, but she still prefers the physical pain. The razor grass cutting her also shows how she is unsafe in her isolation as if nature is also harming her. Her lack of autonomy and status are as a white Creole and social outsider is further emphasised with: “Black ants or red ones, tall nests swarming with white ants…– once I saw a snake. All better than people. Better. Better, better than people.” Rhys’ use of repetition creates the emotive effect of Antoinette’s rejection and a sense of social inferiority. The racial diversity of the Caribbean islands is perhaps represented by the image and three colours of ants mentioned in this passage, but the choice of ants indicates that, in spite of Emancipation and social change, they are perceived as having a negligible role in political life; furthermore, they are all ‘swarming’ and suggests both the chaotic lives they are living in and the urgent need for political change. Antoinette’s position as a scapegoat is shown through the reference to a snake she sees; Rhys is making a reference to Genesis and original sin so perhaps her suffering is because she is a woman The proximity of the snake compounds the sense of toxicity and evil that pervades the natural imagery in Antoinette’s sanctuary; far from being paradise this image heightens danger that she is in .


Look at...

• Use of adjectives

• The detail of characterisation

• How the narrators connect themselves with nature and other people.

Skilled work will

• Identify features JR’s use of imagery with some explanation of layers of meaning.

• Have some connection to wider themes in the novel

Excellent workwill

• Have a detailed explanation, with appropriate terminology, of how imagery is used with a perceptive identification of layers of meaning

• Show sophisticated links to possible connections to between wider themes and the critical interpretations


TThe author’s use of language / words / tone of voice is significant.Imagery is significant in this section. The imagery of .... is especially significant in this section.The author uses setting to convey ...The characterisation of ... is developed in this section.Structurally, this section is significant.

EWe can see this in the quotation ...We hear the character described as ...The word ... demonstrates this.Arguably, the most significant words are ... and ...The image of the ... is crucial to our understanding.

PThe author seems to be suggesting ...The author is, perhaps, exploring the idea of ...The author is explaining, illustrating, uncovering, hiding, illuminating, developing,

EThe words suggest / imply / convey ...This word / phrase / image / character makes me think of ... because...This conveys feelings of ... because....The word / image contains several ideas. For example...

EThe author seems to be exploring the them / idea of ...From one perspective we could say ... From another we might consider...Developing the interpretation further, we could argue that...This links with.....This idea is repeated when......


Part one uses a rich array of adjectives, goes into more depth when describing character and that the narrator makes subtle and nuanced connections with everything around her.


What you should be able to do now...

• Think critically about JR’s use of imagery

• Evaluate how language is used to contribute to wider themes in the novel

Documents

1 wss section 1 imagery january