Year of Wonders Prompt! Help appreciated!

[martin1123]

I've got a sac on Year of Wonders in two days and it's on the prompt, "Year of Wonders demonstrates that “atonement might be made for even the gravest of sins”. Discuss." I would really appreciate help, ideas on arguments or even tips.

[greenbeans]

ZOMG best question ever! btw.. how come they tell you what the question is in advance?

ANYWAY!
Firstly you should identify the quote, recall in the back of your mind who is saying this, because somewhere in your essay you have to acknowledge this quote. Also keep in mind the question type you're looking at. It is a 'discuss' question as opposed to a 'do you agree?' question, so treat the question in that manner.

You should also probably nut out the term 'atonement' because you will need to define it in your contention. This will help you to form your topic sentences. By all means you can look at characters and see how they all 'atone' for their sins in different ways, but be cautious of organising your paragraphs into characters, this is a very big no-no and will look too 'proper' and lacking depth in your responses.

Personally, to get a really sophisticated response out of this question, I would still brainstorm many of the characters and what sins they've 'committed'. What nature are they? Do some seem more extreme on the continuum than others? Then to get a bit more depth to your essay, see what the consequences are for when these characters - I'm thinking highlight Michael, Anna & Elinor especially - admit defeat and 'wrong doings'. What is Brooks trying to say about right and wrong? Keep in mind the era of this novel, and have that at the back of your mind so that you don't make any absolute statements or compare our world to theirs. It's important to delve into the book and try to empathise with the characters even if their experiences are so far removed from our world.

Once you've done this brainstorming part, come up with 4-5 topic sentences. Have a bank of about 10-20 quotes (depending on how good your memory is) but not extremely long ones - some that you can incorporate and alter using correct methodology into your essay seamlessly. Have all this down on your plan, then begin to write. BUTTTT do not underestimate the value of brainstorming at home! This counts as STUDYING i.e. however many hours that these education specialistics are expecting you to do in year 12 for private revision and all that jazz. You can't start writing an essay from scratch, so set aside some time (daily, weekly, depending on how close your English assessments are) to brainstorm. Your opinions can always be "correct" so long as you justify your responses , so don't be scared to sit and reflect.

[oliverk94]

I'm also having trouble with this prompt. Because I just don't see how sins are atoned for in the novel, for example.. Elinor, Micheal although he is the rector who is supposed to be forgiving, never forgives Elinor because he refuses to sleep with her until they go to heaven. How is that atonement? Micheal has commits adultery with Anna but I don't see where he is atoned for it, think about Josiah Bont he isn't forgiven for his sin, the Miner's take him to the mine and pretty much leave him out to die like an animal, The flagellants also try to inforce pain on themselves as a way to earn God's forgiveness, but how does that end up? Not very well because a lot of them die anyway without being forgiven by God meaning God doesn't save them from the plague. Also consider the Bradfords they are never forgiven for their sins of fleeing during the plague, the Rector tells Elizabeth to 'go to hell' when she consults him to help her mother who is on the verge of death, that's not atonement.All I take from the novel is a lot of sin and little atonement. Can you please show us examples where people have their sins forgiven.. or maybe I'm confused by the whole notion of atonement, because I take that atonement is being forgiven for your sins/wrong doings.

[martin1123]

thanks greenbeans, that really helped.
but like oliver stated, that's the matter of the problem i am facing with this prompt. I just don't see where atonement is evident. could someone please suggest examples??

[greenbeans]

I'll try to answer these in light of the question.

1. When Elinor is 'cured' after she endures the plague, Michael's opinion is that because Elinor is saved from death, all her sins (i.e. stabbing herself in her girlhood to prevent pregnancy) are now excused. Elinor is seen to 'atone' for her sins by ongoing suffering this ordeal and now has been rewarded by remaining alive. Michael now sees everything in new light and has a rush of new hope and appreciation for the world.

2. Michael sleeps with Anna because everything that he has believed in no longer makes sense nor rings true to him. He's lost his way, thought 'stuff this God shit, this stupid ruler of the world has made me go through hell thinking my wife was dead, then alive, then this perfect creature gets ripped out of the world for no good reason because of some crazy freakin' lady, nothing is fair anymore so I'm going to do as I please'.... and coz he's a guy...well he's got 'needs'... enter Anna!

3. Josiah has done horrible things, so no he isn't forgiven. But keep in mind that this idea of being rewarded and punished by God is followed religiously by everyone in Eyam - EXCEPT Josiah! He doesn't care about church, doesn't respect the rector, etc. So basically everyone thought he didn't deserve a second chance especially when people's possessions were being taken from them because of his greediness.

4. Not too sure about the Flagellation.. but my view is that they follow these teachings that aren't apart of their scriptures that they SHOULD be following. They are veering away from the standardised teachings that they SHOULD be following.

5. The Bradfords lose the respect of the town, which is what they pride themselves on. They also get a whopping of karma when they need help with this new baby that's popped up and Michael completely shuts them down when Elizabeth comes to town and wails to get the rectory's help. Anna just gives in me supposes.

In response to your confusion..
You could always attempt to break down this essay and argue that "atonement is being forgiven for your sins/wrong doings" and that there is only a "little atonement" in the novel. Use the examples you've already listed as how atonement is defined in Brooks' novel and what she is trying to say about this era and how sins were dealt with.

[dilks]

It also may be the case (assuming your perception of an absence of any bonafide successful atonement is correct) that the prompt is asking you to realise that the novel subverts and deconstructs this notion and to explain why and how it does this. You don't always have to absolutely agree with the prompt as it is given to you; there is some room for flexibility.

Although in this instance you probably just aren't thinking hard enough about how the notion of atonement relates to the novel :p.

[oliverk94]

Thanks guys. I understand a little bit more now. Would you think that Elinor is atoning for her past sins by continually making sacrifices during the plague such as helping out the sick and diseased, helping out in the mine, etc. as a means of trying to gain forgiveness from God and as a way of compensating for her past mistakes? Because it feels like that the event of her aborting her baby is such a dramatic event for her that her whole life revolves around it, and it make sense that by doing continually doing good she is trying to gain forgiveness and atonement for her sins.

I believe that there is little atonement in the village and I don't think that the people would have thought so either since despite all their cries to God, the plague still continued and it only got worse and worse.

BTW, greenbeans how many times did you read the Novel during Year 12, because I wanna read it again but I don't seem to have the time to do it. I'm aiming to read it around 5-6 times before the final exams.

[greenbeans]

She definitely had this kindness in her heart that could've stemmed from trying to make right her wrongs. However, she did have quite a role to fulfill in Eyam as being the rector's wife. There were expectations for her to help out around the place and her good nature made this come more naturally.

Yes, you could argue that by her making sacrifices she is atoning for her sins in her 'past life'; English, to an extent, is a subject where as long as you provide enough evidence and your case isn't outrageous, you can argue your point til the cows come home. Your interpretation is well justified, I just hadn't thought so deeply about that.

Also a point to note -  Elinor is probably aware of this 'pact' that she is making with Michael to not 'sin' and have sex. She is ....I don't know if it's the right word but... 'agreeing' to this. Although it is never mentioned in the dialogue, it was pretty much the topic of debate for an entire lesson.

@ oliverk94: LOLL I read the novel once, mainly because I ceebs.. ('had ceebsed?') and because I am a slow reader. BUTTT I got a copy of the CD reader from the library, chucked it onto my iPod and listened to that on the bus home. Greatest idea ever because I am more of an audio type of learner, and I get bus sick if I read. But honestly, re-reading the main sections, study guides, video from texts in the city, all that is fine because you will know the book to death when you talk about it constantly in class. Feel free to read it as many times as you feel the need, but I happily did only that and got 9.5 in the exam and full marks in my SAC.