So hopefully you are enjoying and getting considerably outraged by Hardy's tale of Tess.
Here is a link to an online text version of the novel: http://www.online-literature.com/hardy/tess_urbervilles/
If you are aiming for an A at A2 next year I would seriously consider using Tess or Persuasion for your coursework. These texts will give you the depth you need to gain the higher marks.
Useful stuff about Victorian literature and the novels:
http://www.victorianweb.org/vn/litov.html
particularly this article about 'fallen women': http://www.victorianweb.org/gender/fallen.html
Hypocrisy was rife in Victorian society and Hardy was a controversial writer as he was defending the 'fallen women' in the character of Tess. However you might have your own opinions about this.
This website is perhaps more user friendly...http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/guide19/part10.html
You essentially need to decide which side you are on - do you think Tess made far too many mistakes and therefore deserves the consequences, or do you feel that Tess is a victim of circumstances far bigger than a single person. I think you know what I think :).
Other fallen women in literature include:
Rossetti's poems 'Sister Maude' and 'Goblin Market', Ophelia in 'Hamlet', Mad Bertha in 'Jane Eyre', Charlotte Temple in 'Charlotte Temple'.
Here is a link to an online text version of the novel: http://www.online-literature.com/hardy/tess_urbervilles/
If you are aiming for an A at A2 next year I would seriously consider using Tess or Persuasion for your coursework. These texts will give you the depth you need to gain the higher marks.
Useful stuff about Victorian literature and the novels:
http://www.victorianweb.org/vn/litov.html
particularly this article about 'fallen women': http://www.victorianweb.org/gender/fallen.html
Hypocrisy was rife in Victorian society and Hardy was a controversial writer as he was defending the 'fallen women' in the character of Tess. However you might have your own opinions about this.
This website is perhaps more user friendly...http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/guide19/part10.html
You essentially need to decide which side you are on - do you think Tess made far too many mistakes and therefore deserves the consequences, or do you feel that Tess is a victim of circumstances far bigger than a single person. I think you know what I think :).
Other fallen women in literature include:
Rossetti's poems 'Sister Maude' and 'Goblin Market', Ophelia in 'Hamlet', Mad Bertha in 'Jane Eyre', Charlotte Temple in 'Charlotte Temple'.
