Tess of the D'Urbervilles
Phase Questions
Phase the First: The Maiden 1. What are your initial impressions of Tess?
Tess d'Urberville was immediately imbued with a sense of pride and passion. Her richly detailed description of her personality and appearance made it clear that Hardy intended for her to be interpreted as a pure girl- unaware of her sexuality and odd aesthetic appeal. This was especially reflected in the quote 'You could sometimes see her 12th year in her cheeks, or her 9th sparkling from her eyes, and even her 5th would flit over the curves of her mouth now and again.' This conjures up an image of innocence and youthful naivety in Tess. The stunning detail and intimacy of Hardy's description left no room for doubt she was intended to empathized with. Even as I was reading, I could hear Hardy's presence in his writing, and his desire for us to feel for Tess and her plight. It made me painfully aware of her fate. I couldn't help but feel anger at her treatment; which is exactly what Hardy wanted.
2. Although the description of the three brothers is brief, what does the reader learn about them?
Immediately, it became clear that Angel differed from his brothers. They seemed dismissive of the smaller pleasures of life, like dancing, whilst Angel was eager to go and join the women. Angel's character was further developed by his physical description. Both his brother's are dressed for the part- one as regulation curate, the other an undergraduate. Angel, however, has a 'uncribbled, uncabined aspect to his eyes and attire' , indicating he is unlike his brothers not just in personality, but in appearance and attitude as well.
Phase the Second: Maiden No More
1. 'I suppose I am a bad fellow- a damn bad fellow'. Do you find Alec a satisfactory character?
I do. A satisfactory character, to me, is one that can make me feel something for or at them. Alec is an excellent antagonist in this regard- his repeated sexual advances and capricious nature paint him as a villain from
Phase the First: The Maiden 1. What are your initial impressions of Tess?
Tess d'Urberville was immediately imbued with a sense of pride and passion. Her richly detailed description of her personality and appearance made it clear that Hardy intended for her to be interpreted as a pure girl- unaware of her sexuality and odd aesthetic appeal. This was especially reflected in the quote 'You could sometimes see her 12th year in her cheeks, or her 9th sparkling from her eyes, and even her 5th would flit over the curves of her mouth now and again.' This conjures up an image of innocence and youthful naivety in Tess. The stunning detail and intimacy of Hardy's description left no room for doubt she was intended to empathized with. Even as I was reading, I could hear Hardy's presence in his writing, and his desire for us to feel for Tess and her plight. It made me painfully aware of her fate. I couldn't help but feel anger at her treatment; which is exactly what Hardy wanted.
2. Although the description of the three brothers is brief, what does the reader learn about them?
Immediately, it became clear that Angel differed from his brothers. They seemed dismissive of the smaller pleasures of life, like dancing, whilst Angel was eager to go and join the women. Angel's character was further developed by his physical description. Both his brother's are dressed for the part- one as regulation curate, the other an undergraduate. Angel, however, has a 'uncribbled, uncabined aspect to his eyes and attire' , indicating he is unlike his brothers not just in personality, but in appearance and attitude as well.
Phase the Second: Maiden No More
1. 'I suppose I am a bad fellow- a damn bad fellow'. Do you find Alec a satisfactory character?
I do. A satisfactory character, to me, is one that can make me feel something for or at them. Alec is an excellent antagonist in this regard- his repeated sexual advances and capricious nature paint him as a villain from