BFIwithMrsC

Summer Storm,  Capolona Is this Jackie Kay with her son Matthew in a push chair?  See: Because she was a lesbian,  Fred D’Aguiar (an Afro-Caribbean British writer)   asked  her one day if she wanted to be a mother. She said yes but she wanted it by “the normal way” as she said. Thus in 1988 she gave birth to her son Matthew, who studied at the University of Guadalajara in Mexico and he is now a film maker in London. Jackie doesn’t have any more children, although she wanted more but she didn’t want another man in the family or any donors. Also see this  resumé of Kay's life . A narrative and descriptive poem, that seemingly recounts a real life experience, Kay shows respect and understanding for the rural Italians that welcome her in during a storm. Indeed, this poem does what Kay wishes:  ‘ poetry gives voice to the voiceless ’. Let's work to create annotate the poem ...colour-code the literary techniques and images employed.

"Gap Year" by Jackie Kay. Here is the WONDERFUL site offered by BBC Bitesize , which talks you through the various stages of the poem. As the BBC site explains:  This poem describes Jackie Kay’s feelings for her son Matthew as he is travelling on his gap year. She remains at home wondering what he is doing, reminiscing about his childhood and reflecting on how quickly he has grown up. Here is an annotated version of the poem, Gap Year .  Gap Year (for Mateo ) I I remember your Moses basket before you were born. I’d stare at the fleecy white sheet for days, weeks, willing you to arrive, hardly able to believe I would ever have a real baby to put in the basket. I’d feel the mound of my tight tub of a stomach, and you moving there, foot against my heart, elbow in my ribcage, turning, burping, awake, asleep. One time I imagined I felt you laugh. I’d play you Handel’s Water Music or Emma Kirkby singing Pergolesi . I’d talk to you, my close stranger , call you Tumshie , ask wh...

 Keeping Orchids To complement our dicussion in class, see this  annotated version  of Keeping Orchids. Now see the  BBC Bitesize file  on the poem - it's very useful.

 Before we define what melodrama and realism are together let us understand their individual concepts. Gothic melodrama has its origins in literature. It is a hybrid of melodrama and drama. Stories usually revolve around a damsel in distress and strong man, and take place in a grand setting, often containing some element of supernatural. While on the other hand, gothic realism is a blend of realism and fantasy which means that the characters are developped as true to what they would be in the real world while they are placed in situations that are completely unreal. A key feature in gothic literature is it's use of overpowering drama, unstable emotions, a sense of uneasyness, and unpressedented emotions. It makes our inner ethical and rational thinking collide by creating a problem that is multi dimensional and can't be fixed using right or wrong. Gothic drama creates an internal chaos and confusion of our emotions which incites us to continue reding to find an answer to all th...

Key issue 7: Power and Menace in Gothic writing Last years group work: https://oibwithmrsc.blogspot.com/2021/11/key-issue-seven-power-and-menace-in.html Our work: Power ability to control people and events Man over man/nature over man Comes in different forms: violence, fear, psychological  It is said that usually villains hold the power→dominance→abuse of the power they hold Influence: application of power to accomplish a specific power Menace Something that is likely to cause harm Usually an omniscient presence  Threat/danger  Menace comes in different forms: characters (usually brought by the villains→psychological aspect can bring uncertainty=> a character’s psychological instability which can transform to a dangerous aspect for the surrounding),inner fears, setting (brings tension)  Power and menace can be considered essential in gothic literature. Power; which can be defined with the ability to control people and events, is in the heart of humanity as a who...

       Heroes And Villains In Gothic Literature How Are Heroes and Villains generally represented in Gothic literature: PERSPECTIVE  Heroes and Villains in Gothic writing are generally represented similarly without having too many differences compared to other literature genres. On the contrary of what people may think, Heroes and Villains in gothic literature aren’t all about depression, sadness and hatred between the Heroes & Villains, we can also see love install itself in some gothic works. Within gothic literature heroes often start as outcasts, people with flaws whose main goal is to try to comprehend and integrate society whilst having lived most of their lives isolated from society. This concept of heroes in gothic literature is very contrary to the classical heroes found in other writings/works who are usually shown as perfect characters with few imperfections who tend to want to defeat the “bad guys”. On the other hand, villains in gothic lite...