Unit 4 coursework tasks: The Miserific Vision

The Miserific Vision

All three texts you are studying - That Hideous Strength by C. S. Lewis, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell - present to greater or lesser degrees nightmarish visions of not just the world but the future of our society.

You will complete two shorter tasks for your coursework based on these texts:

1. Compare the treatment of scientific progress in C. S. Lewis' That Hideous Strength and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World (1250-1500 words).


2. Examine how all three novels deal with the relationship between the individual and society (1250-1500 words).

Assessment Objectives

For unit 4 Reflections in Literary Studies you will be expected to produce a coursework folder of between 2500 and 3000 words maximum that meets the four assessment objectives:

• Articulate creative, informed and relevant responses to literary texts, using appropriate terminology and concepts, and coherent, accurate written expression.
• Demonstrate detailed critical understanding in analysing the ways in which structure, form and language shape meaning in literary texts.
• Explore connections and comparisons between different literary texts, informed by interpretations of other readers.
• Demonstrate understanding of the significance and influence of the contexts in which literary texts are written and received.

The folder is marked out of 80 and is worth 40% of the A2 marks.

Don't forget that you are expected to read secondary sources, carry out some of your own research on the novels and provide a bibliography with each piece of coursework.

The word count must stick strictly to those given and each page of your coursework must have a word count at the bottom.

Image: from Dante's Inferno illustrated by Gustave Dore.

Elasticity and the NICE in "That Hideous Strength"

This week we will further our exploration of themes in That Hideous Strength and study chapter 5 called "Elasticity".

Presentations

In your group, present your theme to the class.

"Elasticity"

Working with chapter 5, explore the following questions:

1. What happens between Mark and Wither, the Deputy Director of the NICE in this chapter?
2. Why does this frustrate Mark?
3. How does the Fairy attempt to get Mark further interested in the NICE?
4. How is the question of propaganda presented in this chapter through the Fairy?
5. Why would the NICE wish to use propaganda to further their goals?
6. What is the significance of the two letters in this chapter?
7. Who does Jane have lunch with, where and why?
8. What further information is revealed about St Anne's in this chapter?
9. What is Jane's reaction to being invited to join St Anne's and why does she react this way?
10. What role does the weather and setting have in this chapter?

Essay: The Goals of the NICE

Summarise what seem to be the goals of the NICE. Refer especially to chapter 2.

Homework: Complete essay to at least 600 words. Hand in 29th September 2009.

Image: Elasticity.

Themes in "That Hideous Strength"

Timeline and Themes in Chapters 1-4

We will be concentrating on establishing a timeline for chapters 1-4 of Lewis' novel, then on themes that are revealed in this part of the narrative.

There are several key themes in the novel, including:

• Men, women and marriage
• Scientific Progress
• Tradition and Modernity
• The Arthurian Legends
• Authority and Freedom
• Magic and the Supernatural

In small groups, prepare a presentation about a theme that interests you. This should include an A4 handout.

Homework

Summarise how Lewis establishes your chosen theme in chapters 1-4 of the novel. You will find helpful commentary on chapters 1-4 here.

Unit 4: Belbury and St Anne's in "That Hideous Strength"

Belbury

Belbury is the home of the NICE in Lewis' novel. It is where much of the narrative is set and where Mark Studdock is inducted into the philosophy and aims of the NICE. Starting with Chapter 3, make notes on:

• What people Mark meets at Belbury
• What kinds of conversations he has
• What he learns or doesn't learn about the NICE
• Who the key people there are and what they seem to be like
• What the purpose of NICE seems to be
• How the weather is associated carefully with Belbury, for example in chapter 6 and why this is

St Anne's-on-the-hill

This old house is where Jane Studdock first meets Miss Hardcastle and Dr Ransom, the Pendragon. Starting with the end of chapter 2 and then chapter 3, make notes on

• Lewis' descriptions of St Anne's in chapters 2 and 3 and what we learn from them
• How the place seems to affect Jane
• Who she meets there and what they are like and how they offer to help her

Comparing Belbury and St Anne's

Both places and the people in them represent two conflicting worldviews for Lewis. Both places are presented carefully to encourage the reader to compare them.

Make a comparison chart showing similarities and differences between them. For example, both places have a 'Head' but in each case they are very different.

Homework

1. Complete the comparison chart
2. Choose one character from Belbury and one from St Anne's that you could compare. Make notes about them for the next lesson.
3. If you haven't, you shoud be reading Brave New World and Nineteen Eighty-Four

Image: Likeness of St Anne's