Paper 2 Texts Similarities, differeneces etc

Question 1

What is Frankenstein about? And what is little red cap about?

Answer 1

“Frankenstein” is framed as a cautionary tale, narrated through multiple perspectives. It serves as a reflection on the consequences of unrestrained scientific pursuit.
“Little Red Cap” follows a more traditional fairy-tale structure, incorporating elements of danger and lessons learned within the narrative itself. The danger is part of the heroine’s coming-of-age journey.

Question 2

What is little red cap about?

Answer 2

The story is directed towards the idea of feminism and is about a girl who goes into the woods and is about how the girl discovers the different aspects to life exploring themes of sexuality and empowerment. The wolf plays as a symbol of male dominance. Red cap herself represents the transformation through her first romantic relationship and how that turns into adulthood.

The original classic tale of little red riding hood has been altered in such a way that the she became wiser and wasn’t as naïve as she was initially as she entered her adult hood, and she states “I took an axe to the wolf as he slept, one chop, scrotum to throat, and saw the glistening, virgin white of my grandmother’s bones.” Which means she got revenge in the end.

Question 3

They both pursuit the knowledge of danger

Answer 3

Where Frankenstein intentionally is chasing the idea of danger, he has intense passion to discover something for scientific discovery, however this becomes into a symbol of danger once the monster is awakened. little red cap shows multiple areas of chasing danger, starting off with walking into the woods, which itself is a big danger zone and then falls into the wolfs trap, which is unintentional and not a pursuit for danger, however, she falls in love causing her to keep pursuing that danger and explore other dangers which causes her to explore her adulthood.

Question 4

They both face consequences of their actions

Answer 4

In Frankenstein the monster ended up killing Victor’s little brother William, and also Justine, a woman who used to live in the household. In Little red cap, the consequences she faces is the struggle and challenges that she had to go through due to the getting in the woods in the first place.

Question 5

Their genre and tone is different

Answer 5

Frankenstein is more of a gothic novel with a darker tone, where little red cat is a modern poem based around the idea of a classical fairy tale, similarly, Mrs Midas being revolved around retelling a greek myth.
Both novels by Carol Ann Duffy having modern feminist ideas engraved within the story, with a tone that is both alluring and cautionary.

Question 6

Symbolism (Little red cap) (loss of innocence and foreshadowing)

Answer 6

“I crawled in his wake, my stockings ripped to shreds, scraps of red from my blazer”

The torn stockings and red scraps symbolize the loss of innocence and foreshadow the dangers that lie ahead for the protagonist.

Question 7

Imagery (Little red cap) (danger foreshadowing)

Answer 7

“The houses petered out into playing fields, the factory, allotments..”

The use of the phrase “petered out” creates a vivid image of the diminishing houses, emphasizing the transition from the familiar to the unknown.

Question 8

Juxtaposition (Little red cap) (of how the situation has changed)

Answer 8

“I took an axe to the wolf as he slept, one chop, scrotum to throat…”

The juxtaposition of violence with the earlier romanticized image of the wolf reading poetry creates a stark contrast, revealing the darker turn in the narrative.

Question 9

Anaphora (Little red cap) (foreshadowing)

Answer 9

“I took an axe to a willow to see how it wept. I took an axe to a salmon to see how it leapt. I took an axe to the wolf…”

The repetition of “I took an axe” creates a rhythmic pattern, emphasizing the protagonist’s inquisitive and destructive actions. The anaphora reinforces the motif of using the axe for exploration.

Question 10

Alliteration (Little red cap) (Sense of slowness)

Answer 10

“Then I slid from between his heavy matted paws…”

The repetition of the “s” and “h” sounds in “slid,” “his,” and “heavy” creates a sense of slowness and weight, emphasizing the escape from the wolf.

Question 11

Contrasting (Little red cap) (hiding the darkness)

Answer 11

“One bite, dead. How nice, breakfast in bed, he said, licking his chops.”
The casual and almost humorous tone contrasts with the darker reality of the wolf’s actions, creating a sense of irony.

Question 12

Foreshadowing (Frankenstein) (the danger of knowledge)

Answer 12

Quote: “Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge.”

Explanation: Victor’s warning foreshadows the tragic consequences of his relentless pursuit of knowledge, hinting at the dangers that will unfold later in the narrative.

Question 13

Imagery (Frankenstein) (To set the mood)

Answer 13

“It was on a dreary night of November…”

Shelley uses vivid imagery to set the tone, creating a sense of gloom and desolation with the word “dreary” and the mention of November, emphasizing the atmospheric conditions.

Question 14

Descriptive language and imagery (Frankenstein) (Creatures awakening)

Answer 14

“His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath…”

A simile is used to compare the creature’s yellow skin to a thin covering, intensifying the grotesque nature of its appearance.

PS. Yellow is connation of illness

Question 15

Symbolism (Frankenstein) (To show exhaustion)

Answer 15

“I threw myself on the bed in my clothes…”

The act of throwing himself on the bed in clothes symbolizes Victor’s mental exhaustion and the emotional burden he carries after witnessing the creature’s awakening.

Question 16

Repetition (Little red cap)

Answer 16

“What big ears he had! What big eyes he had! What teeth!”

The repetition of the questions creates a sense of urgency and emphasizes the frightening qualities of the wolf. It echoes the traditional structure of fairy tales, reinforcing the narrative’s connection to that genre.

Question 16

Irony (Frankenstein) (To show extent of horror)

Answer 16

“He held up the curtain of the bed; and his eyes, if eyes they may be called, were fixed on me.”

Explanation: The irony lies in the creature’s attempt to engage with Victor, expecting some form of recognition or acknowledgment, while Victor reacts with horror and rejection.

Question 16

Context of Frankenstein and why it was sparked to be made? (1)

Answer 16

Galvanism and Vitalism: The early 19th century saw a surge in interest in galvanism, the application of electricity to stimulate muscle contractions. Scientists like Luigi Galvani and Giovanni Aldini conducted experiments on the effects of electricity on dead tissues. Mary Shelley’s exposure to these ideas likely influenced the concept of reanimating life in her novel. Scientists like Luigi Galvani (1737–1798) and Giovanni Aldini (1762–1834)

Question 17

Context of Frankenstein and why it was sparked to be made? (2)

Answer 17

Weather Anomalies (“Year Without a Summer”):

Time Period: 1816.
Context: The summer of 1816 experienced abnormal weather conditions due to the eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia. Mary Shelley, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, and others were staying near Lake Geneva during this “Year Without a Summer,” which influenced the dark and gothic atmosphere of the novel.

Question 18

Context of Frankenstein and why it was sparked to be made? (3)

Answer 18

Literary Influences (Milton’s “Paradise Lost”):

Time Period: 17th century (Milton’s “Paradise Lost”).
Context: John Milton’s “Paradise Lost,” an epic poem that explores themes of creation, rebellion, and the fall of humanity, influenced Mary Shelley’s portrayal of the relationship between Victor Frankenstein and his creation.

Question 19

Context of Frankenstein and why it was sparked to be made? (4)

Answer 19

Personal Experiences:

Time Period: Early 19th century.
Context: Mary Shelley’s personal experiences, including the death of her first child and exposure to intellectual discussions within her literary circle, contributed to the novel’s themes. The novel was written during the summer of 1816.

Question 20

Shift in tone (Frankenstein)

Answer 20

“But my enthusiasm was checked by my anxiety…”

The shift in tone from earlier enthusiasm to anxiety indicates a turning point, foreshadowing the darker consequences of Victor’s experiments.

Question 21

Context of little red cap (1)

Answer 21

Duffy addresses issues related to gender roles, power dynamics, and the historical silencing of women’s voices. The late 20th century, when this collection was published, was a time of increased awareness and activism around feminist issues, and Duffy’s poetry engages with and contributes to these conversations.

Question 22

Irony (Mrs Midas)

Answer 22

Irony: The author uses irony to highlight the contrast between expectations and reality. The man’s wish for gold, which initially seems like a blessing, turns out to be a curse.

Question 23

What is Mrs Midas about?

Answer 23

The poem is a modern take on the Greek myth of King Midas, who was granted a wish to have everything he touched turn to gold. However, “Mrs Midas” tells this well-known story from the perspective of Midas’s wife.

The poem explores themes such as the foolish nature of greed, the historical erasure of women’s experiences, and the consequences of selfishness within a relationship. It uses humor and wit to depict these themes.

In the poem, Mrs. Midas witnesses her husband’s transformation and the aftermath of his granted wish. She is shocked and horrified by his ability to turn everything he touches into gold. This “gift” disrupts their life, leading to isolation and the breakdown of their personal connection. Eventually, she sends him to live alone in the woods.

Question 24

Rhetorical question (Mrs Midas) to show shock and possible questions that might happen forward

Answer 24

“What in the name of god is going on?”

Shows the amount of shock that Mrs Midas go through and potentially foreshadows the consequences that might unravel throughout the novel.

Question 25

Short sentence (Mrs Midas) Contrast to later

Answer 25

“He started to laugh”

This is a contrast to later, the feelings that he is feeling will differ exponentially when he realises that this isn’t a topic to joke about.

Question 26

Humor (Mrs Midas)

Answer 26

“I moved the cat and the cellar. The toilet, I didn’t mind”

Humor used to show somewhat of a coping mechanism

Question 27

Consequences leading to seperation (Mrs Midas) Structure pacing

Answer 27

Constantly seperating herself from him.

“I made him sit
on the other side of the room and keep his hands to himself.”

Starts off with having a distance in the room to leaving him in the woods.

“So he had to move out.”

Question 28

Consequences shown through imagery (Mrs Midas)

Answer 28

“He sank to his knees”

Shows the severity of regret that Mr Midas felt at that moment, and also emphasizes the turning point in the story for him.

Question 29

Similie to show overwhelming power (Mrs Midas)

Answer 29

“He sat in that chair like a king on a burnished throne.”

Depicts the instant boost in ego.

Question 30

Symbolism (Mrs Midas)

Answer 30

“I made him keep his hands to himself”

Symbolism of how he’s now treated somewhat as a child, and a contrast to the “king” that he was feeling himself earlier.