Subtexts

Question 1

Main subtexts

Answer 1

Bible
Milton paradise lost
Bunyan’s pilgrims progress

Question 2

All three subtexts

Answer 2

All Christian

- all well known to his readership

Question 3

Use of pilgrims progress

Answer 3

Use of graphic symbolism
Allusion to the valley of humiliation down into the unhappy pilgrim must go
Tess is allowed to reach her ‘heavenly city’ but is defined in terms of erotic human love

Question 4

What is a Pilgrims progress

Answer 4

Two part allegory of the journeys of a Christian

Question 5

Bible usage

Answer 5

Endorse the moral teachings of Christ but without supernatural aspect

Question 6

Biblical Imagery

Answer 6

Angel sees Tess as the ‘Magdalene’

- ironic as whilst angel knows of Mary Magdalenes sin, he does not yet know this of Tess - the reader does

Question 7

Parallels between paradise lost and tess

Answer 7

• loss of happiness from pastoral innocence due to sexual temptations
• strong Eden imagery in Talbothays
• Tess and Angel see each other as a new Adam and Eve
• final note of paradise is given to Liza Lu and not Tess

Question 8

Hardys deconstruction of Eden imagery

Answer 8

Garden with apple trees but it’s foul smelling and overgrown
- Angel plays harp is cacophonic