Urban Poor and Class Flashcards
What is a quote from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens that uses bathos to convey satire about the condition of the poor?
“On occasions of great rejoicing when he had two ounces [porridge] and a quarter of bread besides”
What is a quote from Oliver Twist that conveys that the poor were utilised?
“The bowls never wanted washing. The boys polished them with their spoons until they shone again”
Where does Dickens use exaggeration to convey the feelings of the poor and their sheer hunger?
He uses the simile “As if they could have devoured the very bricks of which it was composed [the copper]”
Where does Dickens use a contrast of views to demonstrate the naive attitudes of the upper class?
“boys have generally excellent appetites” - upper class (indirect discourse)
“suffered tortures of slow starvation” - narrator, omniscient objective fact
Where does Dickens contrast the upper class to the poor?
He describes the master as a ‘fat, healthy man” in direct contrast to the “slow starvation” of the boys
How does Dickens ridicule the master?
When Oliver asks for more he “clung for support to the copper” which conveys a weakness that should really belong to Oliver who has “temerity”. The master is “paralysed with wonder” which shows weakness
In Christmas Day in the Workhouse by George R. Simms, how does he use contrast to make irony of the situation?
“The cold, bare walls are bright” gives off an irony where the walls should give off a dismal atmosphere, the give off an atmosphere of what he upper class are trying to bring to the meal
Where does Simms show that the upper class are in the wrong?
“to smile and be condescending” seems to be their purpose.
How does Simms convey that the upper class attitudes towards the poor are that they are criminals?
“Struck by a bolt or something by the outraged one on high” shows this but also conveys ignorance of the upper class when nothing as ridiculous actually happens
Where does Simms use indirect discourse to convey that the poor or dehumanised in the eyes of the upper class?
“But only a haunted by beast, who, torn by the hounds and mangled, declines the vulture’s feast”
Where does Simms show that the poor seem more human than the upper class?
He sets a powerful tone in the line “For she raved of our home in Devon” - This is also a talk of people, characters and real life experience. The poor are individually identified whereas the upper class are not
How does Simms describe his view of the upper class through the speech of the defiant worker?
“In your smug parochial way”
How does Wilde convey that most of the upper class are stupid in A Woman of No Importance?
Lady Hunstanton is conveyed as stupid as she mixes up details “I believe she said her family was too large or was it her feet?”
Where does Wilde convey that the middle and upper classes are self obsessed and obsessed with fashion?
Lady Caroline says “One never met anyone who worked for their living, it was not considered the thing”
How does Wilde convey that the upper class are concerned with staying where they are and only themselves?
Lord Illingworth uses epigrams to brush off ideas about the poor “The less said about life’s sores the better”, “The unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable”
“To get into the best society, nowadays, one has to either feed people, amuse people or shock people- that is all”
Lady Hunstanton remarks “He wanted to marry beneath him. Or wouldn’t I believe. There was some scandal about it”
