English Advanced Module A - King Richard III/ Looking For Richard notes

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1 HSC English Year 2016 Mark Pages 15 Published Feb 6, 2017 English Advanced Module A - King Richard III/ Looking For Richard notes By Sophie (99.75 ATAR)

2 Powered by TCPDF ( Your notes author, Sophie. Sophie achieved an ATAR of in 2016 while attending Loreto Kirribilli Currently studying Bachelor of Engineering Honours and Bachelor of Project Management at The University of Sydney Achievements: English Advanced Band 6 Visual Arts Band 6 Studies of Religion II Band 6 Mathematics Extension 2 E4 Mathematics Extension 1 E4 HSC All Rounders List Loreto Kirribilli Dux Sophie says: I graduated from Loreto Kirribilli in 2016 and was the dux of my school. This year I am taking a Bachelor of Engineering Honours and Bachelor of Project Management course at the University of Sydney, combining my passions for both maths and science.

3 COMPARITIVE STUDY OF TEXTS AND CONTEXTS INTERTEXTUAL CONNECTIONS This module requires students to compare texts in order to explore them in relation to their contexts. It develops students understanding of the effects of context and questions of value. In this elective, students compare texts in order to develop their understanding of the effects of context, purpose and audience on the shaping of meaning. Through exploring the intertextual connections between a pair of texts, students examine the ways in which different social, cultural and historical contexts can influence the composer s choice of language forms and features and the ideas, values and attitudes conveyed in each text. In their responding and composing, students consider how the implicit and explicit relationship between the texts can deepen our understanding of the values, significance and context of each. RICHARD III CONTEXT!Written in 1592!Set in the 15 th century!the division between catholics and protestants and social classes in the Elizabethan era, allowed the audience to relate and comprehend the division between the Lancasters and Yorks that led to the War of the Roses.!Marriage was a social construct based on attaining power and wealth!prior to the reign of Mary Tudor, the English society was one, which evidently favoured men. Henry VIII s annulments, executions and divorces, which were used to change wives and try to legitimise his son, was evidence of the patriarchal society. Girls could not attend school and women were not supposed to own their own property. Marriage was a womans only way to claim status. However, despite this discrimination, Elizabeth I was renowned for her intelligence and skill. LOOKING FOR RICHARD! Released in 1996! Postmodernism refers to the values, attitudes and ways of thinking of our current western culture.! Intertextuality a theory that says that no text is original because all texts are unavoidably influenced by various texts that have proceeded it. SOCIAL! Our late 20 th century and 21 st century political and social systems work on the principle of equal opportunity for all. People are elected prime ministers and presidents through merit, not because of birth into certain families. Everyone has the right to high standards of education and opportunities are restricted only by the skill and interest of the individual. It is illegal to discriminate based on race, gender, age or disability. (less emphasis on Richards deformity)! As a result of the democratisation of Western societies, there has been a break down of divisions between high and low status. Ie in the Elizabethan era, only those who could afford to go to the theatre, could access Shakespeare. Through Looking for Richard, Al Pacino makes Shakespeare accessible to all social classes. Al reflects the barriers of the Elizabethan era with contemporary barriers; the division

4 !Elizabeth defied tradition and never married. She was known as the Virgin Queen. In this way, she set the example of a pure religious woman. By not marrying, Elizabeth ensured that no no man ever had the power to influence and control her.!queen Elizabeth I had been imprisoned in the tower of London by her sister, Mary Tudor, as she believed that she was plotting to gain the throne. Other royals, including her mother, were also imprisoned in the tower prior to their execution. For this reason, Elizabethans understood the injustice of placing rightful heirs in the tower under false pretence and therefore Richard s claims against his brother and nephews and their imprisonment in the tower was familiar and somewhat reprehensible to the audience. between academics and actors and between the British and American.! Extramarital affairs and divorce became more common! Increased status of women women became more prominent in business and politics! Development of antidiscrimination e.g. disabilities and homosexuality!in Shakespeare s context, the monarch was considered God s representative on Earth i.e. the belief in the divine rights of the king. For this reason, it was believed that any disruption to God s plan would cause world chaos. As with many English monarchs, there were plots against Queen Elizabeth. Audiences were therefore extremely sceptical of Richard and his utilisation of manipulation and deceit in order to put himself on the throne.!people of the Elizabethan era were largely superstitious. They believed in witches and curses, ghosts and the devil. Other superstitions included the belief that the weather reflected the events that were occuring. For this reason, the prophecies and dreams of ghosts in King Richard III were considered a viable occurrence by the Elizabethan audience. CULTURAL! 20 th century neurology and psychology has given us an understanding of the human psyche, completely unknown in Shakespeare s time. There has been an increasing disenchantment with religious beliefs, which has led to the prevailing view that people are masters of their own destinies and act from free will.! Gun culture! Fear of terrorism! Lack of protection of children! Increase in technology! Violence! Basketball! The post modern context is established through the discussion of Shakespeare as a great export (holograms on a credit card), reminding us that art is both a commercial and cultural commodity. POLITICAL

5 Powered by TCPDF ( PURPOSE!Elizabethan Era/ Golden Age The Elizabethan Era was a peaceful time of great prosperity for the English people. Most believed that Queen Elizabeth I was directly responsible for the increasing peace and wealth of the nation. For this reason, the rise of the Earl of Richmond is highlighted as heroic, as he was responsible and marked the beginning of the reign of the Tudors. In contrast, Richard III is depicted as a manipulative villain.!the play chronicles the end of the War of the Roses, which was a period to decide who would retain the English crown. The play begins after the house of York has won. Richmond defeated Richard III at Bosworth field in 1485!The was no separation of the church from state as we expect in contemporary politics religious faith was mandatory and morality was determined by biblical and religious teachings. The Elizabethans had a very literal view of life; heaven and hell, demons, saints, the devil and angels were all real.!king Richard was written and performed with a political purpose!it chronicles the rise of Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, who was the grandfather of the monarch in Shakespeare s time, Queen Elizabeth I.! Bill Clinton elected economic expansion. He was a charismatic and well-liked leader however was accused of a real estate fraud and an affair with Monica Lewinsky.! Political focus on money and power! Industrial growth! Women more prominent in politics! The docudrama is a recontextualisation of Richard III and attempts to make the drama more accessible to a contemporary American audience. Al Pacino attempts to communicate the continuing importance of Shakespeare in society.! The film merges scenes from Shakespeare s play with episodes in which the actors talked about their characters. Academics and people off the street were filmed about the play. Pacino brought Shakespeare to a modern American audience and raised questions about who had the authority to interpret Shakespeare American actors of British academics.