AS ENGLISH LITERATURE - A 2000 WORD PLAN IN PROGRESS

AS ENGLISH LITERATURE

2000 WORD COURSEWORK

PLAN – SOME IDEAS

Here are some basic notes sketched out for a plan on the essay title below. You must now be using your essay title to be working on a plan in a similar way.

Compare the presentation of the theme of rites of passage in Spies and Equus.

	EQUUS	QUOTATION	COMPARATIVE POINT	SPIES	QUOTATION
1	Ritualistic behaviour – the religion of Equus	‘[Equus] the Godslave, Faithful and True. Into my hands he commends himself – naked in his chinkle-chankle.’ P72 ‘He was there. Through the door. The door was shut but he was there’ p 104	Alan’s secret life is characterised by ritualistic behaviour. However his relationship with Gill directly challenges this behaviour their presence in the stable is a taboo. However in Spies the ritual surrounds the dagger – the secrecy of the boys project and is used to enforce the power relationship between Keith and Stephen. Another feature of ritual behaviour for Stephen and Keith is	Ritual – the dagger Set challenges to prove they are men	The oath p 55 ‘Out of the trunk he takes out his most secret and sacred possession – the bayonet with which his father killed the five Germans.’ ‘Each of the rare excursions we made into it was a frightening adventure, a series of ideals  to test our coming manhood.” P89
2	Alan as a child – innocence – ignorance about the adult world	‘There’s a skinflick over in Winchester! I’ve never seen one have you?	For Gill ignorance about the adult world is acceptable and normal. Her relaxed attitude helps Alan relax and be honest. Barbara uses Stephen’s ignorance as a weapon against him. She makes him feel uncomfortable and embarrassed.	Stephen as a child – innocence – ignorant about the adult world	‘You mean you don’t know what privet means?’
3	Alan isolated – sheltered upbringing – no friends – strong dominating parents	‘What else has he got….He can hardly read…No friends…’	Both Alan and Stephen are isolated characters. Alan isolated by dominating parents and a lack of social skills and educational ability or ambition. Stephen is isolated because of his friendship with Keith, his mysterious Jewish background and the shame he feels about his parents.	Stephen isolated – from his family; ashamed of them – isolated in relationship with Keith	‘But where he longed to be was Keith’s house.’ ‘Why do you like him when he’s so horrible’ p 99
4	Alan acts as an annoying, challenging, stroppy teenager	‘A: Do you have girls behind her back? D:No A: Then what? Do you fuck her? D: That’s enough now.’ P59	Alan is challenging and subversive. He’s aggressive and hostile. Ultimately defensive. Stephen is timid and weak. He feels he’s being confronted by challenges that are beyond his abilities.	Stephen wants to retreat into the safe world of childhood games.
5	Alan striving to be an adult – work takes Gill out for a date			Stephen forced to take the role of an adult – bullied by Keith
6	Alan – failed rite of passage – his inability to have sex with Gill. He strikes out with violence, uncontrollable shame			Stephen – acts as an adult but in a way that is unexpected. He is brave, shows compassion, is loyal moral and mature. Another way in which Stephen can be seen as entering the adult world is his tentative relationship with Barbara Berill and his awareness of Mrs Hayward.