D H Lawrence

Question 1

Style/ Narrative methods A02

Answer 1

• Richly descriptive, heavy reliance on senses
• characters established through interaction
• omnicient narrator, tells things directly
• Utilisation of metaphor and symbolism in correlation with character
• Natural imagery (sometimes pathetic fallacy) aids character development
• style = close analysis/ poetic prose
• generation of atmosphere complements/ enhances development of plot and character

Question 2

The White Stocking

Answer 2

• sensual description, highly characteristic of Lawrence
• sexual (sensuous) rivalry/ tension
• sexual violence in relationships/ passion/ eruption of intense feeling/ emotion
• life lived on highly charged emotional plane
• Atmosphere of exhaustion/ deliberation at end

Question 3

Odour of Chrysanthemums

Answer 3

• Domestic realism
• Tension in family relationships/ contrasts in mother, father
• Parent/ child relationships explored
• Last 10 paragraphs = emotionally numb/ enormous separation/ failure of connection ‘utterly inert, unresponsive, apart’
• Damage industry inflicts on families/ pain and exploitation

Question 4

Vin Ordinaire

Answer 4

• Claustrophobic confines of Bavaria inside even more constraining Prussian Army
• Alternative title ‘Thorn in the Flesh’, religious connotations, Bachmann in 20th century = Christ-like, crucified by society
• Vin Ordinaire = a cold rough drink forced to swallow, individuals swallowed up by nationalism
• Desertion = escape, love is finer reality, alternative to dehumanising experiences

Question 5

The Prussian Officer

Answer 5

• influenced by rise in interest of human subconscious (1914), becomes realm for repressed passions
• uncontrollable forces lead to severe conflict between protagonists
• class divisions and military rank allow development of conflict
• repressed homoerotic desire
• force of orderly’s subconscious manifests into the violent murder of his captained the ‘suicide’ of his own being’

Question 6

England, My England

Answer 6

• about decline of English vitality
• Symbolism of the self destructive yearning of fading English gentility, through protagonist Egbert
• Egbert enlists in the army to reassert his masculinity
• Beautifully lyrical, description of rural, pastoral England
• Narrative criticises material success in the fact of important matters
• Anti- heroism of soldier throwing himself, suicidally at enemy

Question 7

The Horse Dealer’s Daughter

Answer 7

• Builds on essential fairytale feature, damsel in distress, literally saved by hero
• explores corrosive influence of wealth
• life/death/rebirth of Mabel through setting
• life must be purposeful for a meaningful living
• Themes: power of primal desires, effect of heaving industry on rural town, lack of drive/ ingenuity

Question 8

The Blind Man

Answer 8

• key issues: communication, disability, human connection
• essential quote: “I suppose we’re all deficient somewhere”
• Final 3 pages = emotional transformation of male characters
• reminds us of joys/ responsibilities of human intimacy
• exploring difficulties/ possibilities of rebuilding damaged lives/ overcoming loss
• characterisation, missing element of lives to becoming whole, similar to Horse-dealer’s daughter, intertextuality

Question 9

Adolf

Answer 9

• simple linear narrative, delightful in innocence
• relationships between parents/ children, difficult in Lawrence
• Industrial vs natural = dualism
• promoting awareness of physical/ sensual
• presentation of domestic realism, Adolf energises/ thrills mundane domestic setting
• Lawrence’s descriptive powers = readers reach core/ quintessence of creature’s being
• indifference and vitality of tiny animal, tight ball of life and passion

Question 10

The Rocking Horse Winner

Answer 10

• Themes: result of pursuit of money/ material riches, effects of greed/ dissatisfaction
• personification/ symbolism/ irony most important methods
• merciless exposure to human greed
• sexual/ masturbation subtext? erotic quality of riding rocking horse
• omnicient 3rd person narration

Question 11

The Man Who Loved Islands

Answer 11

• extended metaphor of effects of emotional/ spiritual isolation/ lack of connection
• example of psychological fiction
• context: Lawrence an exile metaphorically/ physically throughout life
• Corrosion of dreams/ corruption of humanity taints man’s imaginary Eden
• the man inherits a nightmare, veers into snowy dystopia