ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE English Studies => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE English & EAL => Topic started by: man0005 on January 29, 2011, 07:18:48 pm

Title: Year of Wonders
Post by: man0005 on January 29, 2011, 07:18:48 pm
Hey guys, just a quick question

Do the Wickford family serve any purpose for the text, like for the themes and stuff
Are there any types of prompts where mentioning them would be useful?
Title: Re: Year of Wonders Question
Post by: Souljette_93 on January 30, 2011, 11:07:25 am
1) I assume you mean "Merry Wickford", well yes  they do, they show how people can take advantage of one another in times of crisis, and the sort of discrimination they had towards her as she was not a puritan.  It also shows another side, the heroic side of Anna and Elinor-where they push their limits to help the orphan.

2)Heaps. Whenever you see a prompt about the "heroic nature.." "character development.." of Anna, you can easily place the Wickford in. ( that's what I always did-always used them)
Title: Re: Year of Wonders
Post by: man0005 on January 30, 2011, 04:44:47 pm
oh thanks! :)
yeah i was thinking about the "taking advantage part" but the way it was written indicated that maybe the miners may have done the something even if the Plague hadnt been around. But yeah I can see how it relates seeing as her whole family as died and they still take advantage of her.

One other idea I had was the theme of women > men. we see the heroic acts of anna and elinor then we are made aware of the way in which the miners (all men act). not sure if i'm reading into it too much though.

Anyway thanks for the help :)
Title: Re: Year of Wonders
Post by: lexitu on January 30, 2011, 04:59:08 pm
One other idea I had was the theme of women > men. we see the heroic acts of anna and elinor then we are made aware of the way in which the miners (all men act). not sure if i'm reading into it too much though.

This is definitely something worth exploring. It really is a tale about women transcending societal barriers imposed by even more respected figures such as Mompellion.

Now let me never speak of this book again, I hate it.