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To what extent do Dickens and Eliot present differing realist criticisms of Victorian institutions?
Project Introduction
- 5,000 word research-based essay
- Main aim: to explore how different the novels 'Hard Times' and 'Middlemarch' were (especially in regards to marriage)
Project Introduction
Conclusion would come from this
Hard Times- mainly about a broken family
The Question
To what extent did Dickens and Eliot present differing, realist criticisms of Victorian institutions?
Middlemarch- mainly about a failed marriage
Marriage
Literary genre
Topic development
Quantifying texts
Pre-existing interests
Specificity
To what extent did Dickens and Eliot present differing realist criticisms of Victorian institutions?
To what extent did Dickens and Eliot present realist criticisms?
Changes to literature in the 1800s
Topic Development
Victorian realism
Who more successfully presented realist criticism?
Specificity
Comparative
Factors discussed:
1. Context
2. Marriage
3. Utilitarianism (economic theory)
4. Techniques
a. Satire
b. Moralising
c. Symbolism
5. Politics (OLD)
Factors Discussed
Planning and Management
Planning was probably the most significant part of my EPQ, especially since I had such hefty reading demands. This section will reflect on some of the tools I used to plan well.
Planning and Management
Notion
What is Notion?
- Database
- Kept all my research notes here
- Could filter- very helpful!
What did I record?
Notion
- Date, notes, credibility
- Type of source
- Utility
Reflection
- So helpful- probably most used tool!
- Very, very time-consuming to set up (BUT glad I did so)
Other Tools
Gantt Chart
Journal
Wouldn't use this again- would
like
more detail rather than a visualiser
Very helpful when reflecting, but didn't use very much as a planning tool
Other
Essay Plan
First draft- detailed (very useful). Didn't have as much detail for later drafts (used earlier drafts to scaffold)- wish I re-planned word count detailed as before.
Resources and Research
Since the EPQ is a research-based project, this was another significant part. It was tedious and difficult at times- but equally, since the topic was something I chose, quite interesting. I made good use of my research, with ~70 citations!
Resources and Research
Resources I did and didn't use
Not very many available
Documentaries
Articles
Types of resources
Journals
Not very many available
Podcasts
Books
Images
Theses
Primary Research
Survey would be unhelpful, academics too time-consuming to reach
Strengths and limitations of my research
Wide variety of sources- type, age
Large number of sources- 50+ in total
Reputability- JSTOR, British Library
Strengths and limitations
Some resources beyond my understanding
Historical information- difficult to find
Paywalls- especially with literary journals
Writing and Development
Overall, the writing process was one of the parts of the EPQ I enjoyed the most! Analytical skills are crucial to most of my A-Levels, as is essay-writing. Redrafting and citing were, however, harder and very lengthy.
Writing and Development
Research based writing
The Literature Review
- Unfamiliar style of writing- never done before
- Academic convention
- How critical arguments changed
Critics
Research based writing
- Previously- at a very basic level
- Two layers of evidence
- Making points
Citations and Bibliography
- Time consuming
- Had done this in GCSE coursework
- My analysis versus critic's analysis
Drafting and redrafting
How did my understanding change?
Critical views on their BIG IDEAS contradicted this
Redraft- returned to this. Character analysis validated similarities
First read- found them very different
Drafting and redrafting
Initial research validated this
Final conclusion- they are very similar!
First draft- very different focus
Therefore, I initially found them quite different. However, I ended up concluding that, despite technical/contextual difference, their arguments were very similar!
Conclusion and Reflection
Limits
Overall, I am happy with how my EPQ turned out. This section will look at the limits of my report (such as what themes I discussed), as well as give an overall reflection of the skills I had/developed.
Conclusion and Reflection
What limitations did my project have?
Texts/Authors
Context
Adam Bede, Bleak House
So interesting (Dickens-Lewes-Eliot fued) but descriptive and didn't directly answer my question
01
02
My word count limited what I could evaluate....
04
03
Marriage/Family
Realism
Politics, Class, Utilitarianism, Education
Didn't particularly mind this!
Therefore, if I were to develop my report further, I would look at the texts beyond these limits- especially marriage!
Overall reflection
Analytical ability- both of the texts and in evaluating critics
Proactivity + Independence (e.g- ensuring I fully understood the texts without being taught them)
Research skills- useful in essay competitions (and hopefully, coursework)
Self-criticism and redrafting. Particularly struggled with word count- cut/reduced numerous sections
Long term project- patience (something I'm personally not very good at!)
Self Reflection
Organisation- planning, deadlines, notes. Extensive reading (including two lengthy and complex texts) for my topic, so this was vital.
Q&A
Thank you for listening!
Questions?