Seminar paper from the year 2004 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 2,3, University of Münster (Englisches Seminar), course: Literaturwissenschaftliches Proseminar, language: English, abstract: When Louisa May Alcott wrote part one and two of her famous novel “Little Women” in 1868/69 the main reason for this was money. Being already 35 and having a lot of experience with writing in different genres, she tried to produce a girl`s story and followed her editor`s request. She never expected it to be such a success. Until today the story about Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy has never been out of print and has been translated into twenty-seven languages. In 19th century New England it was regarded modern and unique in children`s literature and despite time has changed, it is still popular with young readers today. But what is it that distinguishes Alcott`s work from that of other children authors of that period and makes her so unique? One central aspect in “Little Women” is the education of the four March-sisters and their growing-up into womanhood. They are accompanied by their loving mother who introduce them into society by giving helpful advice. In how far does this process and the novel at all reflect real life and cultural values of Victorian age? What picture of family life, society and the position of women within it did Alcott develop? To solve this question special attention shall be paid to educational values and sexual definitions of the 19th century described in the book, the importance of work on the one hand and domesticity on the other, the different characters with their individual features, especially of Alcott`s alter ego Jo March. Education plays a very important role in solving the question because it sets the foundation of every individual life and might define the development of a whole society. It will be interesting to analyse the children`s novel and perhaps find both modern and contemporary components in it. With the help of secondary literature – biographies, critical essays, statements of the author herself – it will be possible to answer the question what role society and feminist ideas play in “Little Women”. Since Alcott obviously used her own autobiographical background as an inspiration for writing the novel, it is sometimes necessary to look at the author`s life, acquaintances and surroundings as well as to consider the customs, mores and the situation of women and society at all in the 19th century.
Seminar paper from the year 2008 in the subject Didactics for the subject English - Literature, Works, grade: 2,3, University of Münster (Englisches Seminar), course: Hauptseminar, language: English, abstract: “Shakespeare ́s tragischem Liebespaar Romeo und Juliet gelingt es [...] in einer durch Instabilität und Gewalt geprägten Gesellschaft, sich eine von hingebungsvoller Leidenschaft erfüllte private Welt zu schaffen” (Baumann 1998: 94). Uwe Baumann here distinguishes between two worlds in Shakespeare ́s tragedy "Romeo and Juliet": on the one hand the lovers ́ world, characterised by passion and intimacy; on the other hand the real world, full of violence, chaos and hatred. However, these two opposing worlds cannot be regarded separately. The preposition “in” already implies that Romeo and Juliet are dependent from their surrounding society and during the short period of their love affair it is inevitable for them to act within its rules and regulations. This academic assignment deals with the question how the lovers create their own world and how this private world relates to the real world of Verona. Scholars have often pointed out that Romeo and Juliet differ from their environment concerning their special use of language. It can be described as “magical, passionate, transformative language” (Greenblatt e.a. 1997: 868) enriched with similes, symbols and metaphors. One dominating image, frequently used by the lovers to describe each other and the phenomenon of their passionate love, is light. The first chapter therefore mainly deals with the linguistic presentation of light images in Romeo and Juliet. In addition, the special function of night and darkness for the lovers shall be examined. The light theme is heavily connected to the aspect of time. Thus, chapter two will examine how the lovers deal with the problem of (limited) time during their secret meetings. An interesting key scene for the examination of both, light/darkness and time, provides the final farewell of the lovers (3.5), which therefore will be discussed in detail. Finally, the lovers ́ world shall be examined in terms of its connections to the real world of Verona. The problem of Romeo ́s and Juliet ́s increasing isolation and loss of their counsellors will be of special interest here.
Seminar paper from the year 2004 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 2,3, University of Münster (Englisches Seminar), course: Literaturwissenschaftliches Proseminar, language: English, abstract: When Louisa May Alcott wrote part one and two of her famous novel “Little Women” in 1868/69 the main reason for this was money. Being already 35 and having a lot of experience with writing in different genres, she tried to produce a girl`s story and followed her editor`s request. She never expected it to be such a success. Until today the story about Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy has never been out of print and has been translated into twenty-seven languages. In 19th century New England it was regarded modern and unique in children`s literature and despite time has changed, it is still popular with young readers today. But what is it that distinguishes Alcott`s work from that of other children authors of that period and makes her so unique? One central aspect in “Little Women” is the education of the four March-sisters and their growing-up into womanhood. They are accompanied by their loving mother who introduce them into society by giving helpful advice. In how far does this process and the novel at all reflect real life and cultural values of Victorian age? What picture of family life, society and the position of women within it did Alcott develop? To solve this question special attention shall be paid to educational values and sexual definitions of the 19th century described in the book, the importance of work on the one hand and domesticity on the other, the different characters with their individual features, especially of Alcott`s alter ego Jo March. Education plays a very important role in solving the question because it sets the foundation of every individual life and might define the development of a whole society. It will be interesting to analyse the children`s novel and perhaps find both modern and contemporary components in it. With the help of secondary literature – biographies, critical essays, statements of the author herself – it will be possible to answer the question what role society and feminist ideas play in “Little Women”. Since Alcott obviously used her own autobiographical background as an inspiration for writing the novel, it is sometimes necessary to look at the author`s life, acquaintances and surroundings as well as to consider the customs, mores and the situation of women and society at all in the 19th century.
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