P2 Mod B Ideas

Question 1

Intro Line 1

Answer 1

[Over-arching, general statement that answers the question and comments on embracing absurdity of the mundane]

Question 2

Intro Line 2

Answer 2

Dylan Thomas’ lyrical radio play Under Milk Wood (Milkwood) presents Thomas’ search for his place in Welsh communities, as a Welsh man who did not spend much time in his home country.

Question 3

Intro Line 3

Answer 3

Through his unconventional use of language and form, and elevation of commonly reduced characters, Thomas presents a vibrant kaleidoscope of a fictional Welsh town upon which he evokes the fervour and eccentricity of its inhabitants, creating a simulacrum of the quotidian that resonates as both surreal and profoundly authentic, reflecting a deep affection for humanity.

Question 4

BP1 TS

Answer 4

Through his use of unities of time and place, Thomas presents Llareggub as a hyperreal simulacra of a Welsh town, similar to one he was born in, a microcosm upon which he rejects a grand narrative and instead focuses on daily occurrences, imploring the audience to contemplate… [ ]

Question 5

BP1 ‘Ideas’

Answer 5

• Thomas projects his ideal simple Welsh town onto Llareggub, shaping Llareggub to be a singularity where nothing holds more importance over anything else. This is explored in his showcase of both the humans and animals’ lives in the congeries
• Thomas magnifies all these seemingly mundane details and grants each component of Llareggub with its own vitality, zooming in on the microcosm of the animals and human inhabitants
• Moreover, the sermon presents a self awareness to Llaregub’s small size and lack of notability, seamlessly incorporating self-reflexivity to encapsulate Thomas’ own search for community as he, through First Voice,

Question 6

BP2 TS

Answer 6

Amidst religious conservatism, Thomas challenges traditional notions by uplifting Polly Garter above the typical harlot as a symbol of maternal love, showcasing the multiplicity of humans and our capacity to reject those we deem different

Question 7

BP2 ‘Ideas’

Answer 7

• Polly is often the topic of the gossip of the town’s ladies as an adulterous woman, similarly echoing sentiments held by the general public in Thomas’ social context, 1950s Wales . However, despite her perceived impurity, Thomas empowers her through motherhood and reveals a capacity for deep love below her seemingly shallow exterior.
• Additionally, although very subtly, Thomas also illuminates the internalised misogyny of the towns-women, highlighting how easily one can turn on “one of their own” if their actions or morals do not align with the group’s, revealing a facet of womanhood still prevalent in modern day society.

Question 8

Conclusion

Answer 8

Hence through the purposeful writing of Milkwood, Thomas provides a text through which the audience can revel in the polyphony of a small busy town and uncover tendencies of humans bound by communal beliefs, settings, moral codes and ideologies. Thus …