So. After a Motown-inspired opening, we conducted a detailed analysis of the fascinating passage in which Lamia transforms from a snake into a person, considering the impact of language and form. We did not look at a worksheet (generated by an un-named English teacher) which had an apostrophe-related mistake on; this did not happen. We did focus on the problematic question of tone- how are we supposed to receive this passage? Is it positive (Lamia is after all getting what she has requested), or negative (the experience is painful at times, and she is described as ugly towards the end, then beautiful again at the opening of the next passage)? I think that we concluded that Keats' message is deliberately ambiguous here, leaving the reader to consider the potential that love and passion carries for pleasure and for pain- this is an area which we'll consider in more detail in class, but it's certainly worth you thinking about in the meantime. Other aspects we considered were use of apparently contradictory imagery, control of pace and intensity, use of couplets / triplets, colours, sexual imagery, lists and links with other Keats poems- lots of withering and paleness for example.
At home, I'd like you to read and annotate the next 100 lines, up to line 300. You are reading for meaning, to understand the plot, and to note down what seem to you to be interesting images, techniques or moments in the poem. By all means keep reading if you'd like, but you don't need to annotate beyond this point.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone- we'll discuss coursework on Monday, and remember that your deadline is Friday.
Mr Boulter
2 comments:
Apostrophe errors once again...oh dear sir...
"I think that we concluded that Keats' is deliberately ambiguous here"
Laura, is that you??!! Well done for spotting this weeks deliberate mistake! Now keep your eye's peeled for next weeks'!
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