Writing an Intro...

Your introduction should...

• be 2 complex sentances. 3 at most.
• focus on the question,
• the ways language shows *question*,
• contextualise the poem, (main poem if comparison essay)

For example,

Discuss how Rossetti portrays men in "Maude Clare" and other poems.

1st sentance =      
Maude Clare is a poem in which a women confronts and embarrasses her ex-lover on his wedding day, taking away his power.
             
 -Then illustrate the ways in which the poet does this. (which is what the essay will focus on)...

2nd (and possibily 3rd) sentance =
Rossetti presents the male character as weak and unconvincingly powerful by giving him minimal or broken dialogue. The lack of direct adresss ,when he is spoken to by other characters and by the narrator, also reinforces the suggestion that he is feeble and unworthy.

REMEMBER: The first time you introduce a new poem for comparison, contextualise it like you did with the 1st.

Ext. Write a sentance contextualising each poem within the anthology.

Maude Clare

Attitudes and Characters shown in Maude Clare:-

Narrator: The Narrator seems to prefer Maude Clare, and may have a bias view because of this.
                  -"Maude Clare was like a queen"

Maude Clare: Maude Clare's language is abrupt and shows that she is resentful towards Nell and Thomas.
-"Lo" Lo is used to draw attention to something and Maude Clare says this before scornful dialogue, which shows she is interrupting with digust, emphasising her bitterness.

Thomas: Thomas is ashamed and seems to be embarrassed by Maude Clare's outburst as he speaks in faltering tones.
-"and hid his face." This is also reinforced in the caesure in his speech. It gives a sense of confusion and apprehenson by:

•  By not knowing how to address Maude Clare, he demonstrates his anxiety about their relationship.
• In hiding his face, he makes a feeble attempt to avoid responding to her insults.
• By remaining silent, he gives Maude the freedom to address Nell with her seemingly prepared speech.

Nell: Nell is proud, which may come from the fact she is marrying Thomas and not Maude Clare. She isn't naive and understands that Maude Clare is "more wise and more fair, but is determined to make their marriage work and demonstates this as her courage increases.
"I'll love him till he loves me best, Me best of alll Maude Clare".
In this final verse she also

Thomas' mother: Thomas' mother expresses her sympathy and concern for the couple by attempting to hide her tears with smiles and blessings.

Maude Clare & Round Tower at Jhansi

-Both poems are narrative; they tell a story.

Comparison:

• Themes of conflict, love, power.                                        

                        NB: Love is an abstract noun- use a statement instead.

• Protagonist.
• Structure- both are moments of a narrative, a climatic narrative.
• Both involve 'attacks'. In Maude Clare, the attack is emotional, where as the attack in Round Tower is literal.

Dialogue in Round Tower at Jhansi:
"Is the time come?" We can presume, it is the wife who said this because her husband, "Skene", is named which shows he has more power and he is also the one who is in possesion of the "pistol".
It is interrogative and shows her anxiousness and trust in her husband.
"The time is come!" As his wife questioned him, we can presume that Skene replies. It is a declarative statment with an exlcamatory tone to show his fear, concern and worry.

1st person narrative elements of the poems:

Maude Clare: The repition of "My lord" is in first person. The "lord" they are reffering to is Sir Thomas. This may mean that the narrator is a servent of his, or perhaps just someone with a lower status in society.

Round Tower at Jhansi: "Young, strong and so full of life" suggests it is a first person narrative as it has personal elemants and suggestions that makes the reader feel sympathy for the two characters.
"God forgive them this!" gives a first person suggestion also. It is an exclamatory tone to it and reflects Rossetti's strong Christian beliefs, as it was seen as a sin to commit suicide or kill someone, when not in war.