CMLT 2220 Western World Literature II Name Annelise Mackinnon Writing Assignment 1 Please respond to the 4 questions with

at least an 8-sentence paragraph response to each. Each question is worth 25 points. Your response should be structured formally: Your 1st sentence should introduce your focus, the middle sentences provide your facts, & the last sentence conclude. Incorporate at least 2 quotes from for each question regarding The Tempest. 1.) Choose 1 character or 1 scene from the film The Princess of Montpensier, & discuss how director Bernard Tavernier represents the character or situation cinematically, in order to bring to light a certain issue, or depict a certain state of mind. For example, how does Tavernier evoke an atmosphere of alienation, melancholy, courage, spirituality or greed aesthetically, through symbolism associated with a specific character, setting, or event? Focus upon Taverniers use of cinematic elements such as light, sound, color, and camera angle, assessing how his visual & aural symbolism relates to the issue, event or character central to the scene. For instance, how does Tavernier use color, in the clothing or background setting of a specific scene? How is this scene lit? What kinds of sounds predominate, & why? Is the scene shot outdoors or within a building, & why? What kind of building, in terms of its symbolism? From what angles does he capture the action- are close-ups employed, or does action occur at a distance, & why? Etc. In the last scene of the film Bernard Tavernier creates a mournful and ambiguous ending in his use of cinematic elements. The scene takes place in an isolated building while the princess looks upon the tomb of her loving tutor; Tavernier uses indirect camera angles that illustrate the princesses separation from her life that was once full of love and excitement. He also creates a sense of solitude in dressing the princess in such dark dress in an already bleak, cold, stone setting. The building itself is set in the countryside during winter with a fresh snow on the ground. This frigid setting conveys an absence of life which is applicable to the recent tragedy in Marie's life. As she steps out of the dark tomb into the bright light of winter, we must wonder what is in store for Marie. The ending leaves the audience to wonder how the princess's life will turn from here; will she be overcome with grief until the end? Will she be alone forever, or will she find solace in solitude and learn to live the way she once did perhaps with a better understanding of life from her experiences? 2.) Utopianism derives from Thomas Mores Utopia, published by in 1516. A utopian society is basically a society which has overcome the need for aggression, war, hate, & crime while establishing "peaceful" and orderly communities. It ultimately seeks to produce ideal, perfected social & political conditions. Though the characters in The Tempest have different ideas of what a utopian society could be, Gonzalo and Prospero have an almost similar image of it. How do their views of what an ideal society might be compare, yet how does Prosperos living version of Utopia actually conflict with Gonzalos imagined version? Essentially, describe Gonzalos ideal state, then discuss how Prosperos island empire compares to it. How do Gonzalos companions respond to his description of his ideal society, & how do their responses tie in with Prosperos living utopian experiment?

In the exposition of act two scene one Gonzalo and his shipmates are introduced to the island. Gonzalo begins to describe an optimistic utopian society to the others; one where nature rules man and the absence of materials and titles will create peace. In this society nature should bring forth...all foison and will support a community. His fellow men begin to ridicule this idea immediately, questioning how a society can survive without a hierarchy of sorts to guide its people. Throughout the play Prospero's idea of how a population should reside is made evident. While he and his subjects (Miranda, Caliban, and Ariel) live within nature and live without material luxuries, power and liberty are central issues. Prospero uses his knowledge, education and magic to keep control over those on the island. For his empire to exist he must rely on the sparsity of the island, there are no distractions and no one to compete with. This contrasts Gonzalo's Garden of Eden society in the fact that Prospero is using a position of power. Gonzalo says his society would consist simply of just whores and knaves. Men and women would hold no titles and in fact not even marry. Prospero's society may be more realistic in the sense that there seems to be a need for some sort of governing body but Gonzalo envisions a true utopia relying on equality.

3.) Tavernier employs a cinematic technique called cross-cutting neat the films end, after Philippe, Maries husband, orders the Count of Chabannes to leave his service. In cross-cutting, shots cut back & forth from 1 scene to another, building tension & creating an intense trajectory, as audiences wait to learn how these scenes, & the characters caught within them, are ultimately connected. This instance of cross-cutting shows Marie returning to her husbands estate from Paris, while the Count of Chabannes finds an inn to lodge in. In time, the pace slows, then builds again, as we find the Count writing Marie a letter while the Catholics of Paris prepare to massacre the Protestants theyve invited to their city under the pretense of a truce. Please explore this alternating focus upon Marie & the Protestants. What parallels does Tavernier raise, in terms of comparing the Protestants plight with Maries? How does he relate her cautious, defensive manner, & the irrational desires & contention that her beauty inspires, to the struggle taking place throughout French society regarding religious beliefs & practices? In particular, focus upon the following lines from the Counts letter, discussing how his description of Marie relates symbolically to the roles Catholics & Protestants take in the defense of their faith. I fear for you, Madame. Having had the joy to observe you for so many hours, who knows you better than I? Who better than I knows your harsh innocence? [The scene suddenly cuts to swords being thrown down onto a table with a certain abandon, in an unknown chamber. The sounds the blades make as they slide off one another glide in beneath the Counts voice in an unnerving, forceful manner.] Never given, always in secret, waiting for others to draw a cry from you, and furious at them if they do. You pursue the journey of life alone, like a pilgrim in the shadows. [Spears are taken off wall, one by one, with a precision & drive that is highly unnerving. The Counts voice fades as a battle is waged in the streets.] Towards the end of the film, the director chooses to show a scene following the princess in juxtaposition to a scene exposing violent fighting between the Catholics and Protestants with the Compte de Chabannes. The princess is shown arriving to her home; the environment is bright, sunny and colorful while exposing the beauty of nature. This scene is spliced by the tension of fighting in the streets of Paris. The audience sees a demure and dark depiction of religious agitators fighting violently. While the Compte has sworn himself against the plight of war, he becomes involved when he sees a pregnant woman being threatened. His letter to the princess is an eerie last statement; he seems to understand what she needs and wants before she understands it herself. Throughout the story the Compte changes sides and his views on the war a few times. Marie is portrayed as an innocent and somewhat ignorant girl who does not understand the consequences of her irrationality. It could be said that these two characters do not know what they

want in life; by the time they take a stand for liberty and find what they believe in it is too late. The compte is killed by those he was fighting for and against and Marie is left to dwell on the despair of the death and loss of those she loved. 4. Compare Shakespeares depiction of Caliban to the image Aim Csaire presents of him, in his poem A Tempest, on pgs. 321-325. Please incorporate examples from Calibans interactions with Prospero as well as with Trinculo & Stephano.

In Shakespeares work The Tempest, Caliban is described as a beastly creature. Prospero is the main degrader of Caliban, referring to him as a poisonous slave and savage. He is made to seem less than human by Trinculo as well. The ignorant monster or moon calf who is initially Prospero's subject changes his allegiance to Trinculo which is surprising because he is not treated much better by this italian. However in Aime Cesaire's poem Caliban displays himself as somewhat of a hero for enduring Prospero's tyrannical rule. Prospero stomached it and demonstrates a greater sense of awareness than he had in the play. Cesaire's poem offers a unique perspective of Caliban's intelligence not mentioned or maybe overlooked in Shakepeare's play.