12A

                                   

Tom Brown’s Schooldays – The Introduction

The Introduction is essential in understanding the Attitudes and Values of the novel. 

1. What criticisms have been made of Tom Brown’s Schooldays?                
2. How did Hughes change attitudes to public schools?                             
3. How was Tom Brown characterised by Hughes?                                    
4. What is the importance of Dr Thomas Arnold in the novel?
5. What was important in 19th century education?                                  
6. How is the prefect system criticised?
7. Despite the apparent importance of games at school, why is Arnold not interested?
8. How do we know that Hughes’ picture of Arnold is different, in some respects, from reality?
9. What was Hughes’ purpose in writing the novel?
10. How important is the description of Tom Brown’s early childhood?
11. What is Hughes saying about the new industrialisation of England?

11th October 2007 – Questions on Chapters 1 and 2

1. What do we learn about the Brown family in terms of their social class?
2. How does Hughes suggest that the Brown family are the foundation of all that is noble and good in English society?
3.  How does he develop a sense of English history linked to the family?
4.  Why is there such a long description of the physical setting of the novel (which continues into Ch.2) ?
5.  How is a picture of Victorian values conveyed?
6.  Is there a pretence at a “balanced” narrative?  If not, why not?  What narrative voice emerges?
7.  How does Ch. 2 convey to the reader the social/class distinctions in society?

ESSAY QUESTION – Due no later than Wed 31st October

Read through the given extract carefully.  Discuss the extract, commenting on:

• the ideas in the extract and the ways in which they are presented
• how the writer’s language choices help to reveal attitudes and values
• what the language shows us about the changes in language and style over time
• how far you think the extract reveals attitudes and values found in the text as a whole.

You should write no less than 1000 words, remember you will be assessed for this piece of writing.

You must not only use the annotation we did of the extract in class, you must include your own examples and analysis.

MAKE SURE YOU KEEP READING TOM BROWN’S SCHOOLDAYS, YOU SHOULD HAVE READ THE NEXT 4 CHAPTERS AT LEAST BY THE FIRST LESSON BACK AFTER HALF TERM