Mrs Dalloway Research Paper
EK Sparks
Engl 310
Clemson U
April 2005
Paper Topics for Mrs. Dalloway
Mostly Extrinsic Approaches • Autobiographical approach—look at Mrs. Dalloway from the perspective of how presentation of Septimus relates to Woolf’s own experiences with madness and Drs. (Biographical) • Septimus and shell-shock (Historical background) • Political context: liberal (labor) coming in Tories (conservatives) going out.
More Intrinsic (text-based)\Approaches • Look at characters etc using FRYE o MODE: Low mimetic? Moving into ironic? Is it comedic or tragic? o Archetypal approach … Campbell..scapegoat etc. Septimus as the dying god/ scapegoat • Relationship between Septimus and Clarissa (sources: Modern
Library intro o Dependence on each other o As reflecting opposing world views ▪ Gender different ▪ Social status different o As reflecting similar world views ▪ Inability to feel ▪ Linking images: Birds, water, sunlight • Other doubles for Clarissa o Clarissa and Rezia o Clarissa and Mrs. Kilman • Focus on Peter Walsh o Peter’s sex life.. romanticism, knife, stalking, little boys etc. o Thoughts on love o Relationship to Clarissa o Peter vs. Richard: Clarissa’s choice • Focus on Clarissa o Is she a hero or a protagonist? o Do we like or dislike her? o Is she presented as a goddess in parallel to Septimus as the dying god? o What are her choices as a woman in that culture? Polarized sex roles • Focus on Sally Seaton o How Clarissa relates to o In comp/contrast to Peter Walsh o Lesbian readings of the novel • PLOT/ NARRATIVE issues o One day issue o Dis-jointed structure—various pov’s o Woolf’s comment about tunneling process (digging out caves) o Stream of consciousness o Transitional devices, connectors, hinges • THEMATIC ISSUES o Time ▪ Novel as spiritual reunion ▪ Regret over the past ▪ Clock-time vs time of the mind o Existentialism/ Nihilism o Water-imagery o Virginity of the soul o War, empire, colonialism o Aloneness vs. Community o lyrical transcendentalism – connection with nature o does the self exist or is it a social construction, or a construction of language? o primeaval, primitive, archeological images o artists in the nove: which characters are artists; how does their creativity differ? o Bird imagery o Shakespearean references in MD
Paper-Clip List of Themes • Horror • Flowers • Roses • The Self • Trees • Time • War • Empire • Moments of being • Human kindness • Conecctions between sections/ pov’s • Myth/ archetypal elements • Hierarchy, patriarchy, • Gradens (in London)
Engl 310
Clemson U
April 2005
Paper Topics for Mrs. Dalloway
Mostly Extrinsic Approaches • Autobiographical approach—look at Mrs. Dalloway from the perspective of how presentation of Septimus relates to Woolf’s own experiences with madness and Drs. (Biographical) • Septimus and shell-shock (Historical background) • Political context: liberal (labor) coming in Tories (conservatives) going out.
More Intrinsic (text-based)\Approaches • Look at characters etc using FRYE o MODE: Low mimetic? Moving into ironic? Is it comedic or tragic? o Archetypal approach … Campbell..scapegoat etc. Septimus as the dying god/ scapegoat • Relationship between Septimus and Clarissa (sources: Modern
Library intro o Dependence on each other o As reflecting opposing world views ▪ Gender different ▪ Social status different o As reflecting similar world views ▪ Inability to feel ▪ Linking images: Birds, water, sunlight • Other doubles for Clarissa o Clarissa and Rezia o Clarissa and Mrs. Kilman • Focus on Peter Walsh o Peter’s sex life.. romanticism, knife, stalking, little boys etc. o Thoughts on love o Relationship to Clarissa o Peter vs. Richard: Clarissa’s choice • Focus on Clarissa o Is she a hero or a protagonist? o Do we like or dislike her? o Is she presented as a goddess in parallel to Septimus as the dying god? o What are her choices as a woman in that culture? Polarized sex roles • Focus on Sally Seaton o How Clarissa relates to o In comp/contrast to Peter Walsh o Lesbian readings of the novel • PLOT/ NARRATIVE issues o One day issue o Dis-jointed structure—various pov’s o Woolf’s comment about tunneling process (digging out caves) o Stream of consciousness o Transitional devices, connectors, hinges • THEMATIC ISSUES o Time ▪ Novel as spiritual reunion ▪ Regret over the past ▪ Clock-time vs time of the mind o Existentialism/ Nihilism o Water-imagery o Virginity of the soul o War, empire, colonialism o Aloneness vs. Community o lyrical transcendentalism – connection with nature o does the self exist or is it a social construction, or a construction of language? o primeaval, primitive, archeological images o artists in the nove: which characters are artists; how does their creativity differ? o Bird imagery o Shakespearean references in MD
Paper-Clip List of Themes • Horror • Flowers • Roses • The Self • Trees • Time • War • Empire • Moments of being • Human kindness • Conecctions between sections/ pov’s • Myth/ archetypal elements • Hierarchy, patriarchy, • Gradens (in London)