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Welcome to Dr. Gross's ENG 312 Topics in the Novel class group!
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Brocklebridge Churchyard is mentioned in the novel Jane Eyre by Currer Bell; Charlotte Brontë’s pen name. The significance of this location comes from the closeness to Lowood, where the character Jane went to an all-girls school; it is also where Jane’s best friend, Helen, is laid to rest in the novel. Brontë writes, “Sundays were dreary days in that wintry season. We had to walk two miles to Brocklebridge Church, where our patron officiated. We set out cold, we arrived at church colder… Her [Helen] grave is in Brocklebridge churchyard: for fifteen years after her death, it was only covered by a grassy mound; but now a grey marble tablet marks the spot, inscribed with her name, and the word ‘Resurgam.’” (Bell). It is researched that Brocklebridge Churchyard is now the modern-day St. John the Baptist Church, located northeast of the village of Tunstall, England. It is also recorded that the Brontë sisters attended...
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In the 19th century, Bath, England, was a place that many high-society people visited in hopes of finding rest and recovery in the natural hot springs (“Bath”). Jane Austen had a strong personal connection to Bath, as her father retied there, and she was forced to live an unstable life bouncing between different relative’s homes ("Jane Austen"). In her novel Sense and Sensibility, the character Eliza met Willoughby in Bath and ran away with him. After Marianne fell in love with Willoughby, she found out that he had a socially unacceptable relationship with Eliza in Bath. This caused a dilemma for Marianne, who could no longer aspire to marry Willoughby due to Eliza becoming pregnant. The unfortunate situation caused by Austen’s father may have been a driving factor in choosing Bath as the location of the eventual turmoil of Marianne and Willoughby’s relationship. Knowing Austen’s personal distress that was derived from Bath, enhances the severity of trauma for her...
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The significance of the bell tolling in A Christmas Carol, prompted further research of the prominence of bells and bell towers during the time that Charles Dickens wrote this novel. In Stave One, the bell tower is described as an “ancient tower of a church, whose gruff old bell was always peeping slily down at Scrooge out of a Gothic window in the wall.” This description of the tower can be symbolic of Scrooge as it matches his personality in the beginning of the novel. He can be described as gruff and thinking he was above others in society due to financial status. Additionally in Stave One, when Cratchit is leaving for the night, it is noted that he “went down a slide on Cornhill.” This is indicative of Cornhill being the location of the setting; therefore, Saint Michael’s Church tower in Cornhill, was the closest in proximity. The bell rang before Marley’s ghost appeared and signified the appearance of each of the three spirits. According to William Tullett, “...
moreThe British museum is the national museum of England. The museum serves as a place of many strides in science and the humanities, including archaeology and biology. The museum was first established by an act in Parliament in 1753 (The British Museum). The museum also served as a center of many cultures around the world, but was the first museum that drew the question of ethical consumption of art from countries without explicit permission.
The museum served as the resting place of the Elgin Marbles starting in 1812 and still being held there to this day. The marbles showed a piqued interest in the arts in England during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This issued the literary era of neoclassicism, along with new genres such as the novel. The architecture of the museum is inspired by the Greek Revival of England. The museum was open to many ideas of artists and authors, allowing various artists of many varying opinions to add their works...
moreBuilt in 1878, the Gordon Road Workhouse served as one of the largest poorhouses in England during the Victorian era. Able to house about 700 inmates, the workhouse put people to hard labor, including building the workhouse itself, wood chopping, stone breaking, and laundry (Londonist). Workhouses such as these were known to overwork their inmates, many times to their death, as a result of being unable to pay their debt. Men and women alike were housed in workhouses. In the Gordon Road Workhouse, records state that 734 inmates were sharing approximately 500 beds, were not fed consistent nor nutritious foods, and many died whilst working or were sent to the nearby sickhouse to die because of sickness developed. This abuse was not uncommon in all workhouses found throughout London, England (London Metropolitan Archives).
This prevalent concept during the Victorian era developed the fear and criticism found within novels of the time, such as...
morePortman Square, a garden square located in central London, is surrounded by townhouses; the Portman Estate owns this property and is known for having long leases. This location connects the western end of Wigmore Street with Cavendish Square that marks the eastern side of the city (“Portman Square”). To this day, the buildings and original format of Portman Square is the same; however, during World War II, there was some damage causing areas to be remodeled (Parks and Gardens).
In the novel, Sense and Sensibility, the Jennings family references their property in Portman Square. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Jennings resides in the home during the winter months. She writes to Mrs. Dashwood inviting the sisters, Elinor and Marianne, to visit her in London. Initially, Elinor refuses to visit, but after much discussion, the sisters visit Mrs. Jennings at her property. Marianne was excited to go to London because she hopes to see Willoughby; however, Elinor was...
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