Wednesday, 27 June 2012


How does Atwood use language devices including tenses to give us clues regarding as it is now and was before?

Atwood uses tenses in the handmaid’s tale to intrigue the readers into understanding the characters feelings and history. The use of the tenses; past and present in the opening chapters of the book suggest that the writer wants the readers to understand the history and feelings of the personae before they carry on reading the book, he really wants the speaker to feel and experience the history of the personae so that they will not just read the book but also enjoy the book whilst reading it.

Atwood uses fashion to portray the change in society, “I knew from pictures, later in miniskirts, then pants, then in one earring, spiky green streaked hair”. This quote suggests how society had changed over the years, the fashion had become more and more daring and women were also becoming more daring then at once everything changed and it stopped altogether. The quote ended mid-sentence leaving suspense for the reader and when reading on they will realise the suspense. This quote also portrays the pain and hurt of the personae, she remembers the past and how women used to be able to express themselves through clothes but now they’ve stopped even that. They’ve taken away the rights of women to wear what they desire which shows a sense of desperation.

Similar to this is the use of a country’s name: “old ones that still said us” this quote reminds us of how the US is known to be very powerful and it has a strong hold over many other countries but the use of old against US also shows that the US has also gone out of power and no one can change things anymore only the people that rule Gilead.

Lastly the speaker mentions the relationships between the men and women in the past which was fairly open then, men and women were allowed to date and it was seen as a normal thing, however as the novel proceeds we find out the case is different in the future.  Relationships between men and women in the future is seen as a taboo subject apart from the commanders and their wives, and the forced relationships between the handmaids and the commanders. In the following chapters of the book we read about the desperation of having a relationship.

All of the above statements lead to one conclusion which is that the use of all these statements is a form of foreshadowing, to get the reader to understand how much things have changed, the drastic changes and how this has affected the main character. The use of womens fashion, the relationships between men and women, the power of the US, all of these vanish in the following chapters of the book so it’s a foreshadowing technique of the writer( Atwood) to use tenses to portray society and how much its changed and the effects of the changes.

Zahra Choudhry

Monday, 16 April 2012

How does Wilde convey Jacks attitude towards Algernon?

Wilde uses many different techniques to convey Jacks attitude in the play.
One of these ways is through comedy, Jack and Algernon have a silly little argument over muffins and this shows there relationship that they are close friends and they are fighting like two little brothers would over cookies:Jack. [Rising.] Well, that is no reason why you should eat them all in that greedy way. [Takes muffins from Algernon.] this quotation shows us how close the relationship is between them two. when someone is eating food in your house you don't really tell them not to eat or to stop eating but Jack can

Monday, 26 March 2012

Scene 9 Analysis

Why does Blanche break the mirror?
Blanche breaks the mirror because she is not happy with her life she hates her life and now that the truth is out she wants to run away from everything. She knows and is reminded by everyone that she is not young anymore and that she has to come out of her imaginary world and face the real world now.

What are his motives in Raping her?
Stanley rapes Blanche for revenge, he takes out all his anger and he

Saturday, 10 March 2012

Dramatic effects in the end of scenes.

Scene 1

I think that in this scene we are shown many dramatic effects. At first we can see the difference in backgrounds and shock as Blanche arrives in Elysian Fields and is shocked to think that her sister lives here. As she discovers more she is disgusted by Stella's lifestyle and how much she has changed. This could tell us that before Stella and Blanche lived very grand lives in good conditions.
Another dramatic effect is the love and affection shown when the two sisters meet. they are overwhelmed to see each other and cannot stop hugging and kissing each other. Blanche uses various nicknames and praises Stella a lot and Stella is just so overwhelmed to see Blanche here.
We also see violence and man power as stanley in the beggining of the scene throws meat at Stella and orders her to cook it while he is going bowling. This shows opression in the scene and the status of both men and women.

Scene 2
In this scene there is drama between Blance and Stanley. Stanley has his poker night with friends and he keeps it at home. The main themes and dramatic effects are Suspicion/ Tension. Blanche wears expensive clothes and jewelllery and she also has a trunk full of these clothes and expensive things, this gets Stanley frustrated and he starts looking in her trunk and questioning Blanche where she gets the money for all this, he starts to think that something is wrong and suspects Blanche.

Scene 3
Scene 3 is about insecurity and love and violence. Stanley's poker night i carrying on. whilst this Blanche is very worried about her appearance ans keeps complaining showing insecurity, she meets mitch for the first time and they are both attracted to each other showing love and whilst the party blanche plays the radio and Stanley doesnt like this, he asks her to stop, she doesnt listen and he gets up and throws the radio out the window.

Scene 4
this scene represents sexuality and love. Stanley and Stella are fine and back to normal the next day after the fight, and Blanche is upset about this. Stella has slept with Stanley after his violence, also Blanche is worried for Stella and she tries to get her out of stanley's house by trying to make arrangements and calling up people.

Stella and Eunice Discussion

(Stella running upstairs to Eunice)

(Loud Sobbing)

Eunice: Oh stella Darling, Stella Stella What on earths upset you like this, Its not that Stanley is it? i'll go downstairs right now..

Stella: No its not stanley its blanche.

Eunice: I knew that girl was trouble from day 1, now whats she done?

Stella: dont ask? ask what she hasnt done... Ohh Eunice.. ( Cries loudly )

Stella: She's shamed us , what will mama and papa think, they're probably looking down on us and thinking what happened to our daughters? One got married to a polack and gets beaten up every other day and the other just forgot all her values. Its my fault i always knew there was something wrong with her i should have stayed with her in belle reve maybe we wouldnt have lost it then. Maybe maybe maybe.

Eunice: good heavens girl, can you please tell me whats happening?

Stella: Hotel Flamingo

Eunice: Yess (cough) I've heard about that hotel.

Stella: Blanche stayed at that hotel for some time.

Eunice: Oh.

Eunice: Well you know people these days, always spreading rumours. you can...

Stella: (interupts eunice in a high pitch voice ) But is it a rumour?

Eunice: Ohh Stella darling you dont believe it now do you?

Stella: I dont know Eunice , i just dont know Blanche has always been a bit flighty and after a incident she did become more and more intrested in men, she couldnt think about anything but them.

Stanley: STELLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!? GET THAT SISTER OF YOURS OUT THE
TOILET BEFORE I KNOCK THE DOOR IN! IM SERIOUS.

Eunice: Go honey, you'd better go, quickly

Stella runs down

Sunday, 4 March 2012

Blanche's Diary Entry

Dear Diary,
Time: 8.00

Today, for the first time I spoke about it. It being the taboo subject I never talk about. It being the subject that has ruined my life, my looks, my peace. It being Allan.

I told Mitch, I told him everything. I couldnt lie to him anymore because I love him and I want to spend the rest of my life with him. Its a new beggining and new begginings have fresh starts. I didnt want to start my new life with lies and all that hate and disgust within me, but I told mitch and I now feel like a newborn baby. Ahh I am at peace now :) Now i have a future wedding to plan for ill be back later. toodles.

Time: 8.03

I've not told Mitch everything, I cant be a newborn baby he doesnt know about the flamingo and and ...and everything else. Shall I tell him? will he still love me? will he still marry me?
Dearest diary tell me, oh tell me what to do I dont understand. I'll decide after my bath, YES! thats what i'll do, long hot baths always help me think.

Wednesday, 29 February 2012

Writing task

Stanley: Oh Stella can we stop this huffy puffy business, you know i had a bit too much to drink last night.
Stella: Stanley you say the same every time.
Stanley: What do you mean?
Stella: are you going to carry on like this when the baby is born, huh? do you really want to bring the child up like that?
Stanley: enough of this emotional stuff, we'll see to that when the baby comes , for now lets talk about us
Stella: there is nothing to talk about Stanley?
Stanley: now stella, theres no need to take that tone with me, im trying to be patient here
Stanley : Ok im sorry for last night, i guess it was wrong.
Stella: its Ok stanley im used to it but it really scared Blanhce and you know how she is.
Stanley: ohh dont start with this again, i do know how she is and i have no regrets about last night, she deserved it. If she doesnt like it she can go , no ones asking her to stay are they?
Stella: see i knew you wouldnt understand
Stanley: this is useless im going to see mitch
Stella: bye

Scene 4 Questions

Scene 4

Why is Stella Sort of thrilled by Stanley’s Violence?

Stella is sort of thrilled by Stanley’s violence because she could have got used to it by now. The amount of time she has spent with Stanley could have led her to find it weird when he is not angry, this shows us that Stella has adapted to Stanley and his ways and this represents true love, she has sacrificed her normal life for Stanley’s anger filled life. We can see Stella is thrilled by Stanley’s violence because when she tells Blanche about her wedding day she also tells her that Stanley broke all the light bulbs with his hands and that she was sort of thrilled by this. This shows that she is not ashamed of telling Stanley’s bad points to others and also she could be taking Stanley’s anger in a positive way, she may just like it.

Statements which sum up Stanley and Stella’s relationship

Stella, it does gonna be all right after she [Blanche] goes and after you've had the baby. It's gonna be all right again between you and me the way it was. You remember that way that it was? Them nights we had together? God, honey, it's gonna be sweet when we can make noise in the night the way that we used to and get the colored lights going with nobody's sister behind the curtains to hear us!" (8.55)

This Quote to me sums up Stanley and Stella’s relationship easily. Stanley as we can see throughout the play , plays the role of the strong male character throughout the play, he sees himself as the head of the household and the most important , he thinks of stella as the homemaker, expecting her to stay at home and cooks his meals and just generally takes care of him. Despite anything he does he expects Stella to still respect him. This is typical of men , during the time the play was written , it links to the context. 

Coming back to the quote, we can see that the most important thing for Stanley and Stella’s relationship is sex; they both find it a very important part of their lives and relationship. From the statement we can also assume that Stanley finds Blanche to be a burden on them and they don’t like having her here because she is having an effect on their sex life.

What is Blanches plan for the future?

Blanche dreams of having a happily married life with Mitch and she dreams of living with him as his wife. Also she does this to remove her memories and for once she wants to settle down with a normal life leaving the past behind her and making a new beginning.

Blanche and Stella streetcar discussion?

I think the use of the word desire plays a big role in the streetcar named desire, it relates very well to Blanches character she gives into desire very quickly and she desires a lot of things. The name of the play which contains desire could be foreshadowing.

Monday, 30 January 2012

I
imagine that while Stella is in hospital after having the baby, she writes an entry in her diary about how she feels about returning home to Stanley and Blanche. Write this diary entry in which Stella expresses her hopes and fears for the future. 

You should give careful consideration to your language choices and style. Write in dramatic form and dialogue suitable for the characters.


Dear diary,


It's a boy, My beautiful baby boy. What a beauty! I'm going to name him..john, billy.. No Ill let Stanley decide.
I miss him you know i really do, I wonder how he must have been without me. With Blanche. Alone. Stanley was very angry at her the other day. Although it wasn't Blanche's fault, she can get a tiny bit annoying sometimes. Always worrying about her looks and powdering herself. what if he does something to her
No i Mustn't think like that, Stanley loves me and he wouldn't do anything to hurt me, and anyway he doesn't pay any notice to Blanche anyway.
But what if… STOP IT 
My baby, he looks a bit like Stanley, junior stanley, You know he smiled at me twice today.
I will always keep him by me, never ever let him be away from me. i will be the best mum ever and Stanley will be the best father ever. 
and Blanche
well.. she'll be the best aunty ever.

Sunday, 29 January 2012

Scene between Mitch, Steve and Stanley.

Mitch: Hey Stanley, mate you could have told us you had guests we could have played somewhere else.
Stanley: I dont
Steve: We saw a bird all dressed up, caked with powder and smelling like a dozen roses upstairs, i think our mitch has fallen for her.
Mitch: Now stev..
Stanley: thats no guest , that is a scheming little liar othersiwise known as Stellas Sister.
Mitch: now Stanley thats not nice, why you calling the poor girl all those names whats she ever done to you?
Steve: see what I mean stanley , he's fallen for her.
Stanley: Mitch you listen up, you better think twice before even looking at her again, shes trouble I tell you.Since day one i smell something wrong with her. Shes up to something
Mitch: give the girl a break, honestly you polacks.

Thursday, 19 January 2012


A Streetcar Named Desire

Why does Blanche replace the bottle and wash the glass after having a drink?

Blanche seems to replace the bottle and wash the glass after having a drink to wash away her sins and to wash away her worries and fears. Also she replaces the bottle because she wishes she could replace her life and start again. Put it back in its place.


Pick out the pet names which Blanche has for Stella and explain why Blanche uses them?

Blanche uses nicknames for Stella such as: Stella for star, oh my baby, Precious lamb, honey,

Baby, these all suggest that Blanche is the older sister; also that she really loves Stella as she uses all these lovely nicknames for her. This could suggest Stella is a much loved child and that their relationship is very close as sisters. Blanche also mentions that her dad died; maybe this could mean that Blanche could have acted as a mother/father figure for Stella. However it could also mean that Blanche wants something from Stella her turning up mysteriously, sucking up to her could have a motive behind.



What evidence is there that Blanche is concerned about her looks? What does this tell you about her character?

Blanche keeps mentioning that she doesn’t look nice to Stella, she says that she looks dirty, needs to powder herself. She also keeps complimenting Stella, possible wanting her to compliment her back. The reason for this could be that she is insecure or that she is jealous of her sister Stella. She also loves clothes, she has many and they are all of good quality meaning that she cares about her appearance and the quality of her appearance.

What is Blanche’s attitude towards the place where Stella lives?

She doesn’t like it; she looks her nose down on it.  She is shocked to see that it only has 2 rooms.
This could suggest that she and Stella before were of very high class and that they were not used to living in these conditions, so now when Blanches sees the home that Stella lives in she is shocked.


Writing Task

Stella: Blanche what did I tell you about drinking that whiskey you know its Stans.

Blanche: Oh Honey really? Honestly you think I would drink this whiskey. It’s the cheapest whiskey around, only the lower class drink this. Honestly my taste buds would refuse to drink this thing. I was just checking out your cabinets Sweety. AHHH! Ok you got me. Well it was meant to be a surprise, I was going to dish up a scrumptious dinner for the 3 of us. After all this grub you must be craving my Cottage pie honey aren’t you? See how much I know you, how much I understand, How much I love you? Now where is that cheese?












Thursday, 5 January 2012

rst task:

Research into setting on context of the play.

Create a context post for the play based on your reading of the opening and your research into the play and its author.


  • Where and when is the play set? - find an image of the city/state/country
  • What is a streetcar? - find an image from the place and period
  • What is the music from the period? - find an example from youtube or wherever and embed
  • What is the social context of the characters - find images of the types of people your can image in the play (not the actors from the film please), look at the jobs they do and the background.
  • Find a map of the location - add this.
Finally, explain the choices you have made and how you are justifying them.

The play is set in new Orleans Louisiana in the 1940's.A streetcar is a tram which is a form of public transport.
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