Connotations of the title
What are the connotations of the
colour black?
What could a woman wearing black symbolise?
What genre do we expect to read?
Why is it significant that it’s a woman and not a man?
‘The’ not ‘A’
Conventions of Gothic Literature
Setting Weather
The Past Other convention:Closed doorsLight and darkNoisesLadies (fair/dark)
For each of the conventions of Gothic Literature, write examples of specific events from the text
Chapter 1: Christmas Eve
A really important chapter…the most important one?We learn the following:
• The framed narrative• Forshadowing• Pathetic fallacy• Setting up reader’s awareness of Arthur Kipps’ characteristics
Locate evidence from chapter 1: Christmas Eve, to show all of these different aspects.
Chapter 2: A London Particular
A very short chapter…
• Mr Bentley• Tomes• A London Particular• Pathetic Fallacy
Select key information for this chapter to show information about the things above...Do any of these aspects foreshadow the text?
Intertextuality
• What is this term? What does it mean?• What are the aspects of intertextuality within the text? How do they link below?A Christmas Carol -‐
DickensThe Legend of King
ArthurHamlet -‐ Shakespeare Dante’s Inferno
Chapter 3: The Journey North
‘Aye, frets. Sea-‐frets, sea-‐mists. They roll up in a minute from the sea to land across the marshes.
It’s the nature of the place.’
‘we rumbled on in the nasty train, in silence save for the huffing engine, and the clanking of iron wheels upon iron rails, and the occasional whistle, and the bursts of rain, like sprays of light artillery fire.’
‘We tuck ourselves in with our backs to the wind, and carry on with our business.’
Names of the places in the textList the various names of the places mentioned in the text:
What are the connotations of each of the place names?
Chapter 4: Mrs Drablow’s FuneralRecap the events of chapter four:
Remember:The happiness and comfort of the Gifford Arms, the strange reactions of people, Mr. Jerome – the land agent, the funeral itself, the appearance of the woman in black, Mr. Jerome’s reaction, Mr. Daily’s purchasing of everything –except Eel Marsh House and the land surrounding it.
‘…it seemed poignant that a woman, who was perhaps only a short time from her own death, should drag herself to the funeral of another.’
This is the first time we meet the woman in black. As yet, the reader is unaware of the ferocity of her appearance. What hints and tips do we get from Susan Hill that she is bad news?
Chapter five: Across the CausewayChapter five describes the land and the surroundings. What is so significant about this in chapter five?
Chapter six: The Sound of a Pony and Trap
In this chapter, Susan Hill creates a rollercoaster of emotion through her building up of tension, then calmness, then back to tension over and over throughout.
Find the evidence to show the events which occur to show this rise and fall in tension.
Chapter Seven: Mr Jerome is AfraidThis is the culmination of the conspiracy of silence.
By this point in the text, the conspiracy of silence is firmly established. Theterm, ‘conspiracy of silence’ refers to an agreement (spoken or unspoken)between a group of people, to say nothing and give no information to othersoutside of the group. Very often they do not discuss the secret within thegroup either.
Character Chapter name Details about the conspiracy of silence
Samuel Daily The Journey North
Landlord The Funeral of Mrs D
Mr. Jerome The Funeral of Mrs D
The farmer The Funeral of Mrs D
Keckwick’s silence Across the Causeway
Keckwick’s behaviour The Sound of a Pony and Trap
Chapter Eight: Spider‘At my feet stood a sturdy little terrier with a rough brindle coat and brighteyes.’
• Kipps decides to spend two final nights at Eel Marsh House to complete his business
• He goes to dinner at Sam Daily’s house• Dailey fails to dissuade him from staying at Eel Marsh so gives him a dog to keep him company
Why does Hill use the dog as a focus in this chapter? Wefind out lots of other things from Sam Daily in thischapter but Hill chooses the dog!
• How does Samuel Daily treat Arthur Kipps?
• How is this different from the way the landlord treats him?
• What do we learn about Daily’s character from the way he speaks here?
Chapter Nine: In the Nursery• Arthur returns to Eel Marsh House with Spider • He continues to read Alice Drablow’s papers• He finds out about the illegitimate son of a close relative• The sound of the pony and trap occurs again• The nursery door is locked with strange noises behind it
How does Susan Hill use anti-‐climax in this chapter?She builds up the tension so that the reader is hooked for them to then be (almost) disappointed or even relievedwith the outcome.
This is the chapter where we feel empathy for Spider. Arthur breaks down the door of the nursery with an axe he finds. The nursery is perfectly preserved – Arthur feels a sense of desolation and loss here after he has read all of the information in the letters.
Chapter Ten: Whistle and I’ll come to You• Arthur has a restless night – pathetic fallacy in this chapter• Spider nearly drowns and Arthur saves him• The woman in black appears at the window in the nursery• He hears the pony and trap again
More intertextuality here: ‘Oh Whistle and I’ll Come to You, My Lad’ is a ghost story from
1910 by M.R. James
Arthur loses his torch here – the gothic themes of light vs dark appear
Spider almost dies after hearing a whistle on the marshes. He sees the woman in black and then hears the sound of the trap – again!
This chapter focuses on Kipps’ ever-‐changing emotions. The first person narrative in this chapter is well written to engage the reader and allow us to feel empathy for Arthur’s situation – he fears for his life here.
Chapter Eleven: A Packet of Letters• Kipps collapses and is revived by Sam Daily who arrives in a pony and trap – despite having a motor car!
• Spider survives• Kipps visits the nursery which has been decimated – adding to his fear and suspicion• Kipps stays with Sam Daily and he pieces the evidence together to complete the Drablowstory
‘And wherever she has been seen…In some violent or dreadful circumstance, a child
has died.’
What’s the Keckwick connection?
Chapter Twelve: The Woman in Black
• Stella and Kipps return to London and get married, they have a child a year later • Mr Bentley removes Kipps from the Drablow case• The woman in black appears on a normal day in a park – Stella and the boy die• Kipps ends his story – ‘They have asked for my story, I have told it. Enough.’
Who are ‘they’?Why such an abrupt ending?
Writing your essayKeep your intro short and to the point. Start with a strong statement, for example: Kippshas two important roles within the text, the narrator and the main protagonist.DON’T spend time explaining what you are going to do, or show – you don’t need to. Instead, refer to the question or the key words within the question: In allowing Kipps to tell his own story in the first person, Susan Hill allows him to have a more immediate effect on the reader. This is effective because it arouses sympathy and it is easier for the reader to identify with his situation as the story unfolds. However, there are occasions when she interrupts the narrative in order to slow down the pace of events and to comment on the action within the story.
MAKE A PLAN! The success of your essay depends on your planning. Select your three main points and events from the text to which you will refer to in your essay. BE SPECIFIC and locate your short and snappy evidence to back up these points.
Use discourse markers (Firstly, primarily / Nevertheless / However / Moreover / Finally) To help to structure your responseDraw all of your points together in the conclusion. Don’t repeat your ideas, refer back to key words and phrases from the question and give a personal response. Choose an apt quote from the text to end with – this is always impressive. The final line from the text will fit in with any theme, really.
Select three major points from within the text which you can go into detail about. Remember your quotes need to be short and precise but your analysis needs to say a lot about a little!
THEME
Important things to consider Answers should: • be relevant – you don’t need to write everything you know about the text, only the things that relate to the question • be sufficiently detailed – it is better to give a lot of detail about a small part of the text than trying to cover lots of different points • be well structured – with a clear introduction which addresses the question and a clear conclusion that returns to the question • use effective vocabulary – including literary terms where relevant • use well-chosen evidence/quotations to support points.
To gain top marks, candidates should show an enthusiastic and critical personal response. The best candidates write about the author’s methods and achievements, and will concentrate on comment, not content.
GCSE questions on The Woman in Black
How does Hill present the change in Arthur over the course of The Woman in Black?
Do you think that Chapter 1 Christmas Eve is an effective opening to the novel? How does Hill make you respond in the way you do as she writes?
How does Hill make us feel sympathy for Arthur Kipps throughout the novel?
Write about two episodes in the novel which you think are frightening. Write about: What happens / the techniques used by Hill to frighten the reader / why you think these events are important.
Arthur Kipps is both the narrator and a central character in the ghost story. How does he change from the young lawyer to the middle-‐aged step father who feels compelled to write his story.
What do you think about the women in the novel The Woman in Black?
How is Samuel Daily seen as a pivotal character within the text. Write about how his character plays an important role for Arthur and the reader.
A* Example essay
Read the example A* essay based on the following question:How does Arthur Kippschange from the young lawyer to the middle-‐aged step-‐father who feels compelled to write his story?
What makes an A* essay?Know the text inside out, from the writer’s perspective to the reader’s viewpoint
Dissect the questionand make a plan –what exactly are you writing about?
Know what the exam board is looking for, what are the assessment objectives?
Keep practising. Write A LOT about a little – i.e. go into as much detail as possible –remember the blue curtains! Focus on a short quote but write in-‐depth and in detail
The techniques which Susan Hill uses to allow the main protagonist to tellhis story are effective because it allows him to reveal his character throughhis words and actions. The framed narrative allows the reader to see that heis aware of his short-‐comings as a young man and reflects on his ownactions. By presenting Kipps in this way, the reader can identify with hisexperiences and share his fears and emotions as this terrible period in hislife is relived.
In the first chapter Kipps appears to have everything that a middle-‐agedman could want – a happy family, a beautiful house, a ‘dearwife’ and plentyof money. This is illustrated at Christmas in order to almost exaggerate hisdomestic situation. This is in contrast to a period sixteen years earlierwhenhe was ‘prone o nervous illnesses and conditions’ as a result of experienceshe ‘is going to relate’. Kipps calls himself ‘a dull dog’ who was prematurelyageing. This alliterative expression allows us to see Kipps as an old-‐fashioned, upper-‐class character,much like something that his employerMrBentley would say, not something that a young and ambitious layer wouldsay.
Kipps appears to be a typically educatedmiddle-‐class man of his time. He isclearly religious ‘in answer to my prayer…’ and he has had an effectiveeducation as he can recall passages from Shakespeare tomatch his situationand feelings. In particular the one which came to mind is the passage fromHamletwhich comforts him and helps him to decide towrite his story.
In his early twenties, Kipps worked in a London chambers for MrBentley. Hewas young, confident, energetic and impatient so when an opportunity toescape ‘the dull details of the conveyancing’ arose he welcomed it. He wasambitious in his career and anxious to marry Stella. At this point there hadbeen no sufferings in his life that he took for granted. ‘My parents wereboth alive, I had one brother, a good many friends and my fiancé Stella. Iwas still a young man.’ When he hears the background to Alice Drablow’saffairs he comments light heartedly that it is beginning to sound somethinglike a Victorian novel. This simile suggests amusement as Victorian novelsrelied heavily on melodrama and were considered old-‐fashioned andridiculous.
Susan Hill adds depths to the character by the way she integrates commentsby the older Kipps on his own younger-‐self’s behaviour. This is clear in ‘TheJourney North’: Kipps is excited by his task and embarks on his journey toCrythin Gifford with enthusiasm. He soon becomes tired and although he isreluctant to talk at first to Samuel Daily he wishes to appear important – hefolds his newspaper ‘with a certain ostentation’ as he tries to end theconversation and comments: ‘Having in my youthful and priggish waysummed up and all but dismissed him…’ Again, this phrase emphasises hisyouth, his arrogance and his inexperience as later, Samuel Daily becomes hissaviour.
The landlord of the Gifford Arms receives the same treatment – Kippsconfesses, ‘I had the Londoner’s sense of superiority in those days.’Considering others as ‘unsophistica ted’, ‘gullible’, ‘slow-‐witted’ andsuperstitious. Although the reader could identify with Kipps’ youthfulexuberance with fondness, his character is balanced as he doesn’t seem sopleasant here.
It is when the woman in black appears that Kipps g radually begins tochange. At f irst he resists. He does not believe in ghosts and Susan Hillrefers to this a number of times. On his first sighting of the woman inblack, Kipps is merely curious and quite pleased that Alice Drablow hassomeone to mourn after her. He is genuinely kind-‐hearted andsentimental. Her second apparition has a deeper effect; ‘it unnerved‘ himas he began to consider that she might, after all , be a ghost. The use ofthe repetition in the past tense suggests that this changed – ‘I did notbelieve in ghosts.’ That night he had a very disturbed sleep and from thispoint in the story he begins to sink into a state of nervous breakdown. ‘Ifelt heavy and sick in the head, stale and tired and jangled too,my nervesand imagination are on edge.’
After several sightings of the woman in black, the discover in the nurseryand the distressing sounds of the child and the pony and trap s inking inthe marshes; the final terror of Spider being lured into the marshes by aghostly whis tle eventually break Kipps ’ resolve to complete his task. Whenthe whole background of the woman in black is revealed to him and hecollapses with physical and nervous exhaustion, the reader is in completesympathy for him and is relieved when Stella arrives to bring him home.
The end happens suddenly and Kipps completes his narrative in a matter-‐of-‐fact style which in a strange way makes his experience all the moreterrifying. Two years later, the woman in black appears again and robs himof his wife and family.
The reader now has insight into the character that Kipps describes himselfin the firs t chapter; the widowed man who, nurtured by Mr Bentley,stayed in the same job all his life , collected watercolours, ‘the sombre,pale-‐complexioned man with a strained expression. It is not until thirteenyears after the tragedy that Kipps is sufficiently recovered to marry thewidow Esme and settle for the tranquil life at Monk’s Piece intending toretire into the countryside at the first opportunity.
It is in this way that the reader traces the changes in Kipps’ character –from the youthful, exuberant and ambitious, carefree young man whopersevered through his ‘…vivid recollections and dreams’ into a semi-‐peaceful existence until he was ready to write his story and face hisdemons.
Example A* response: WIB
The techniques which Susan Hill uses to allow the main protagonist to tell his story are effective because it allows him to reveal his character through his words and actions. The framed narrative allows the reader to see that he is aware of his short-‐comings as a young man and reflects on his own actions. By presenting Kipps in this way, the reader can identify with his experiences and share his fears and emotions as this terrible period in his life is relived.
In the first chapter Kipps appears to have everything that a middle-‐aged man could want – a happy family, a beautiful house, a ‘dear wife’ and plenty of money. This is illustrated at Christmas in order to almost exaggerate his domestic situation. This is in contrast to a period sixteen years earlier when he was ‘prone o nervous illnesses and conditions’ as a result of experiences he ‘is going to relate’. Kipps calls himself ‘a dull dog’ who was prematurely ageing. This alliterative expression allows us to see Kipps as an old-‐fashioned, upper-‐class character, much like something that his employer Mr Bentley would say, not something that a young and ambitious layer would say.
Kipps appears to be a typically educated middle-‐class man of his time. He is clearly religious ‘in answer to my prayer…’ and he has had an effective education as he can recall passages from Shakespeare to match his situation and feelings. In particular the one which came to mind is the passage from Hamlet which comforts him and helps him to decide to write his story.
In his early twenties, Kippsworked in a London chambers for Mr Bentley. He was young, confident, energetic and impatient so when an opportunity to escape ‘the dull details of the conveyancing’ arose he welcomed it. He was ambitious in his career and anxious to marry Stella. At this point there had been no sufferings in his life that he took for granted. ‘My parents were both alive, I had one brother, a good many friends and my fiancé Stella. I was still a young man.’ When he hears the background to Alice Drablow’s affairs he comments light heartedly that it is beginning to sound something like a Victorian novel. This simile suggests amusement as Victorian novels relied heavily on melodrama and were considered old-‐fashioned and ridiculous.
Susan Hill adds depths to the character by the way she integrates comments by the older Kipps on his own younger-‐self’s behaviour. This is clear in ‘The Journey North’: Kipps is excited by his task and embarks on his journey to Crythin Gifford with enthusiasm. He soon becomes tired and although he is reluctant to talk at first to Samuel Daily he wishes to appear important –he folds his newspaper ‘with a certain ostentation’ as he tries to end the conversation and comments: ‘Having in my youthful and priggish way summed up and all but dismissed him…’ Again, this phrase emphasises his youth, his arrogance and his inexperience as later, Samuel Daily becomes his saviour.
The landlord of the Gifford Arms receives the same treatment – Kippsconfesses, ‘I had the Londoner’s sense of superiority in those days.’ Considering others as ‘unsophisticated’, ‘gullible’, ‘slow-‐witted’ and superstitious. Although the reader could identify with Kipps’ youthful exuberance with fondness, his character is balanced as he doesn’t seem so pleasant here.
It is when the woman in black appears that Kipps gradually begins to change. At first he resists. He does not believe in ghosts and Susan Hill refers to this a number of times. On his first sighting of the woman in black, Kipps is merely curious and quite pleased that Alice Drablow has someone to mourn after her. He is genuinely kind-‐hearted and sentimental. Her second apparition has a deeper effect; ‘it unnerved‘ him as he began to consider that she might, after all , be a ghost. The use of the repetition in the past tense suggests that this changed – ‘I did not believe in ghosts.’ That night he had a very disturbed sleep and from this point in the story he begins to sink into a state of nervous breakdown. ‘I felt heavy and sick in the head, stale and tired and jangled too, my nerves and imagination are on edge.’
After several sightings of the woman in black, the discover in the nursery and the distressing sounds of the child and the pony and trap sinking in the marshes; the final terror of Spider being lured into the marshes by a ghostly whistle eventually break Kipps’ resolve to complete his task. When the whole background of the woman in black is revealed to him and he collapses with physical and nervous exhaustion, the reader is in complete sympathy for him and is relieved when Stella arrives to bring him home.
The end happens suddenly and Kipps completes his narrative in a matter-‐of-‐fact style which in a strange way makes his experience all the more terrifying. Two years later, the woman in black appears again and robs him of his wife and family.
The reader now has insight into the character that Kipps describes himself in the first chapter; the widowed man who, nurtured by Mr Bentley, stayed in the same job all his life, collected watercolours, ‘the sombre, pale-‐complexioned man with a strained expression. It is not until thirteen years after the tragedy that Kipps is sufficiently recovered to marry the widow Esme and settle for the tranquil life at Monk’s Piece intending to retire into the countryside at the first opportunity.
It is in this way that the reader traces the changes in Kipps’ character – from the youthful, exuberant and ambitious, carefree young man who persevered through his ‘…vivid recollections and dreams’ into a semi-‐peaceful existence until he was ready to write his story and face his demons.
How does Arthur Kippschange from the young
lawyer to the middle-‐aged step-‐father who feels
compelled to write his story?
How is fear shown in the novel?
Unit 1: External Exam (90 minutes)
40% (68 marks)
Section A: The Woman in Black 20% (34 marks)
Section B: Of Mice and Men 20% (34 marks)
Unit 2: External Exam(75 minutes)
35% (54 marks)
Section A: AnthologyPoetry: Conflict 23% (36 marks)
Section B: Unseen Poetry 12% (18 marks)
Unit 3: Controlled Assessment 25% (40 marks)Shakespeare / Browning comparison 40 marks
English Literature: Unit 1 – Monday 23rd May 2016