NORTH AND SOUTH
1. Consider the extent to which Gaskell criticises Victorian society in North and South.
2. In what ways does North and South encourage the reader to engage with oppression in the society in which it is set?
3. How does Gaskell show that strict social codes are damaging?
4. Discuss the proposition that North and South is primarily concerned with social upheaval.
5. In North and South, what truths does Gaskell convey?
6. What view of power does North and South convey?
7. North and South opens up new ways of thinking about traditional social positions. To what extent do you agree?
In North and South, Gaskell constructs the protagonist as a woman who both adheres to and challenges expectations of Victorian women. Discuss.
8. Discuss the proposition that Gaskell's novel defends the actions and attitudes of the middle-class.
9. Reflect on the idea that the relationships in North and South are secondary to its central purpose of condemning the appalling treatment of workers.
10. In North and South, Gaskell challenges gender norms, both through the transgression of spheres and the portrayal of passive men and active women. Discuss.
11. Consider the extent to which Margaret's marriage to Thornton undermines the more radical potential of North and South.
12. North and South rejects the polarity of such dualities as public and private, parent and child, masters and men, north and south. Do you agree?
13. To what extent is North and South a novel about learning to act with feeling?
14. In what ways does North and South undermine the conventional romance plot of many Victorian novels?
15. Consider the proposition that Gaskell critiques the prevailing idea that women cannot make independent decisions.
16. In what ways does Gaskell endorse and challenge the notions of patriarchy in the society of North and South?
17 How does Gaskell’s North and South depart from the conventions of Victorian fiction?
18. In North and South, Gaskell explores the role of religion through multiple perspectives. Discuss
19. Reflect on the idea that the characters in North and South are struggling to understand the way the world is evolving in North and South
20. How do the narrative perspectives of North and South reveal that experience of life allows people to mould their attitudes and values?
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’
- 'More than anything else, ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ is concerned with mendacity.' What view does the play offer about the effects of mendacity on the lives of its characters?
- ‘'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ confronts the issue that for all the characters, there is a conflict between truth and illusion.'
- To what extent does the ambiguous ending of ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ reveal Williams’ views of patriarchal attitudes in the American South in the 1950s?
- Reflect on how ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ by Tennessee Williams, could be considered a radical play that pushes for social reform.
- Consider the proposition that Tennessee Williams critiques how the patriarchal structure of society influences female behaviour in ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’.
- Consider the extent to which the characters in ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ are compelled to conform to societal expectations.
- How does the narrative perspective of the play suggest that truth is an elusive notion?
- Although Brick is the “mystery” of the play, the play’s action belongs to Maggie. Discuss.
- Consider the proposition that Williams exposes and explores the inequalities of American society in the 1950’s in ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’.
- How does Tennessee Williams challenge the myth of the American Dream in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof?
- Reflect on the idea that the flaws exhibited by Williams’ characters are the consequences of their isolation.
- Consider the proposition that Williams suggests that the constructs of masculinity are just as restrictive as those of femininity.
- To what extent does Williams challenge prevailing ideas about wives and mothers in ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’?
- ‘Williams question the social, economic and political exploitation of women.’ How do the female characters use of power subvert patriarchal models?
- ‘Williams explores gender and human sexuality in ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’. How do the relationships in this play, question stereotypes of heterosexuality?
PYGMALION
1. The relationships in Pygmalion are merely window dressing. Its central purpose is to condemn the appalling treatment of the under classes.
2. Reflect on how Pygmalion could be considered a radical novel that pushes social reform.
3. In Pygmalion, Shaw suggests that a woman must be the agent of her own independence. Discuss.
4. In Pygmalion, Shaw explores the expectations placed on the social classes. Discuss.
5. In Pygmalion, Shaw challenges the ways in which people view their everyday world. Discuss.
6. Consider the proposition that, in Pygmalion, Shaw suggests that the values of a civilised society are not always civilised.
7. In what ways does Shaw depict unequal access to power in Pygmalion?
8. Shaw uses relationships to demonstrate an oppressive society. Discuss.
9. Consider the extent to which the characters in Pygmalion are oppressed by society's rules and expectations.
10. Consider the proposition that Shaw exposes the small-mindedness of a materialistic society in Pygmalion.
11. The characters in Pygmalion are preoccupied with appearances. To what extent do you agree?
12. Reflect on the idea that, in Pygmalion, Shaw shows the struggle of the lower class is a result of an unequal society.
13. Characters in Pygmalion are products of the class system. Discuss.
14. How does Shaw show that strict social codes are damaging?
15. Discuss the proposition that Pygmalion is primarily concerned with social upheaval.
16. In Pygmalion, what truths does Shaw convey?
17. What view of power does Pygmalion convey?
18. Pygmalion opens up new ways of thinking about traditional social positions. To what extent do you agree?
19. In what ways does Shaw endorse and challenge the notions of patriarchy in the society of Pygmalion?
20. Reflect on the idea that the characters in Pygmalion are struggling to understand the way the world is evolving.
21. In this text, Shaw suggests that truth is defined by those in power.
22. Pygmalion invites contemporary readers to consider the proposition that all people are subjugated by social expectations.
23. In what ways does Pygmalion invite us to condemn hypocrisy and social inequality?
1. The relationships in Pygmalion are merely window dressing. Its central purpose is to condemn the appalling treatment of the under classes.
2. Reflect on how Pygmalion could be considered a radical novel that pushes social reform.
3. In Pygmalion, Shaw suggests that a woman must be the agent of her own independence. Discuss.
4. In Pygmalion, Shaw explores the expectations placed on the social classes. Discuss.
5. In Pygmalion, Shaw challenges the ways in which people view their everyday world. Discuss.
6. Consider the proposition that, in Pygmalion, Shaw suggests that the values of a civilised society are not always civilised.
7. In what ways does Shaw depict unequal access to power in Pygmalion?
8. Shaw uses relationships to demonstrate an oppressive society. Discuss.
9. Consider the extent to which the characters in Pygmalion are oppressed by society's rules and expectations.
10. Consider the proposition that Shaw exposes the small-mindedness of a materialistic society in Pygmalion.
11. The characters in Pygmalion are preoccupied with appearances. To what extent do you agree?
12. Reflect on the idea that, in Pygmalion, Shaw shows the struggle of the lower class is a result of an unequal society.
13. Characters in Pygmalion are products of the class system. Discuss.
14. How does Shaw show that strict social codes are damaging?
15. Discuss the proposition that Pygmalion is primarily concerned with social upheaval.
16. In Pygmalion, what truths does Shaw convey?
17. What view of power does Pygmalion convey?
18. Pygmalion opens up new ways of thinking about traditional social positions. To what extent do you agree?
19. In what ways does Shaw endorse and challenge the notions of patriarchy in the society of Pygmalion?
20. Reflect on the idea that the characters in Pygmalion are struggling to understand the way the world is evolving.
21. In this text, Shaw suggests that truth is defined by those in power.
22. Pygmalion invites contemporary readers to consider the proposition that all people are subjugated by social expectations.
23. In what ways does Pygmalion invite us to condemn hypocrisy and social inequality?