Essay Question - "The comedy in The History Boys by Alan Bennett centres around the opposition created between the two teachers Irwin and Hector." What use does Bennett make of this opposition?Please respond with your essay plans on this page. We will discuss the full essay this week in the lesson. Mr Draper.
What use does Bennett make of this opposition?
ReplyDeletePlan:
-Plays the stereotype of old vs new, spontaneous and experienced vs structured/strict and inexperienced.
-Their personalities and teaching styles clash showing a comparison of the two teaching levels and a difference in the era they originate from.
-Students are forced to 'pick sides' much like children are when their parents have a dispute.
-Opposition between the two characters is used to motivate the characters even more and fuel their success (applies especially to Dakin - That line he says stating he's never wanted to please anyone as much as he does Irwin).
-Bennett uses this opposition as a method of making the reader sympathise with Hector and admire Irwin more - a macrocosm for disliking the old and wanting the new (I think I used the word macrocosm out of context there since I haven't used it since last year, please correct me if I have).
Lads, Mr Draper, AS Lit Students and to the Millions of you reading this around the world, here is my plan.
ReplyDeleteThat was probably an over-exaggerated intro.
What use does Bennett make of this opposition?
There is great contrast between the two men as they idealise two completely different viewpoints. However, I am led to believe that on an emotional level, they are closer together.
There is a war of themes: serious vs silly, traditional vs unconventional and free rule vs dictator
Like a battle, the 8 boys are don't know what side their alleigence lies on. Should they be more focused on the books and a place at a pretigious university or should they be focused on the bigger picture and their lives?
Opposition between the two men makes see sides of themselves they have never seen. Hector finds out he has to retire and is confronted by Posner. His conversations with Posner emphasises a deeper level of life as he realises what people go through to make an impact but in the end it is forgotten.
Irwin, on the other hand, realises he is more than a robot as he gains feelings for Dakin. This makes him realise that he is not shallow and dull.
Finally, Bennett uses this opposition to make us, the audience, realise that Irwin's style of teaching is taking us into the next century. Hector's teaching is leaving us as teachers haven't got so much time anymore. We feel sympathy for Hector but admiration for Irwin. The old is being replaced by the new as it reaches the end of its life cycle.
“The comedy in The History Boys centres around the opposition created between the two teachers Hector and Irwin. What use does Bennett make of this opposition?
ReplyDelete- Bennett does not hesitate to show how intelligent Hector and Irwin are; despite how contrasting their characters are Despite their opposition, both characters can be admired for their intelligence. This is why the boys respect both of them and cannot side with ‘one’ throughout the play.
- Their opposition highlights how much the boys can learn from each of them via their diversity. Irwin’s different approach to essays from an ‘angle’ is useful, as is the different method of passionate teaching from Hector, which involves the students learning and appreciating quotes from literature and history. Bennett shows how valuable different approaches to teaching are.
- Their opposition brings out a deeper meaning of education. While Irwin is set on his mission to get the boys into the elite universities, Hector is not interested in it at all and questions the reasons why the boys want to go there. While Hector teaches the boys quotes and makes them love language for what it is, Irwin sees the quotes as ‘gobbets’ which will help the boys get into the elite universities.
gabriele oronsaye12 February 2013 00:37
ReplyDeleteHECTOR: ECCENTRIC AND UNORTHODOX TEACHING, OLD BUT STILL ACTS CHILDISH, UNPREDICTABLE STILL THINKING ABOUT MORE SIR.
IRWIN: REALISTIC BUT MALLIABLE AT TIMES, GIVES OFF A PERFECT FIGURE BUT UNSETTLED INSIDE, ALWAYS STRAIGHT TO THE POINT WHEN TEACHING.
COMMON: CONTRAST BETWEEN THEIR WAYS OF TEACHING, MUTUAL LOVER FOR TEACHING, PROUD OF THEIR TEACHING SKILLS AND THIS BRINGS OPPOSITION, MUTUAL INTREST IN THE SUCCESS OF THE BOYS FOR THEIR OXBRIDGE UNIVERSITY APPLICATION, COMMON THOUGHTS LIKE SEXUAL REMARKS TOWARDS THE BOYS, SO DIFFERENT IN SO WAYS BUT ALIKE IN COMPLICATED IN SOME ASPECTS LIKE THEIR SEXUAL AMBIGUITY.
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