IB English Literature 2015 Paper 2

Time Zone 2: 1. How do characters represent a class/ gender/ group of people in society? a. Salesman: i. Conflicting gender roles 1. Role of women a. The good woman (Linda) i. The ideal wife 1. Puts up with everything a. Willy’s suicide attempts b. Willy’s ways of educating the boys ii. Looks after Willy’s emotional needs before hers iii. She strives to always keep Willy happy and satisfied 1. Men are more important (his needs are more important than hers)  superior. It’s the wife’s job to please him and make him happy b. The bad woman (The Woman) i. Represents Willy’s guilt ii. Not afraid to talk down to Willy iii. Considers her feelings before Willy’s 1. This makes her a prostitute and the author portrays her in a negative way to show how women like her were not accepted by society  They were supposed to be submissive and inferior 2. Role of men (Willy) a. The American Dream i. Owning a house, car, land, family (material goods)  It’s the man’s duty to get these things, thus Willy feels like a failure because he wasn’t able to provide his family ii. Believes the American Dream is to be well-liked & educates Biff to think like this too iii. His delusions and determination to achieve the American dream drive prevent him from being happy and acknowledging his family’s love b. Biff i. Acknowledges his failure and manages to confront them ii. Looks at the enjoyment of the American Dream (travelling, enjoying

life) as opposed to Willy who is materialistic and wants money c. Bernard i. Lives a happy and successful life because he doesn’t live to please anyone ii. Bernard ends up being a lawyer even though he was not well liked by others  shows how appearances don’t matter b. Streetcar: i. Blanche Dubois 1. Representative of the falling upperclass a. Her downfall reflects the ruin and deterioration of the upperclass as well as the old values i. Blanche walks through the ‘common’ poker game in a very sophisticated, elegant way. She tells the men “Please don’t get up. I’m only passing through.” and leaves as they continue playing poker. ii. Blanche & Stella & Stanley 1. Represent female and male conflicting roles in society a. Blanche i. “I’ve always depended on the kindness of strangers” 1. She relies on men to be able to survive in society 2. There is no evidence that she actually loves Mitch. It’s more about what Mitch can do for her than who Mitch really is. ii. Shows how women’s purpose is to have good appearances and to please men 1. She always tries to get men’s approval and she’s always wishing for compliments about her appearance. a. She keeps trying to get the men’s attentions while they are playing poker by undressing behind the curtain and using the light to show her shadow b. Stella and Stanley i. Their love is mainly based off their physical relationship.

1. Shows women’s reliance on men. Even though Stella is aware of the possibility of Stanley having raped Blanche, Stella still stays with him because she needs his support for raising the baby 2. Significant arrivals and departures of characters 3. Conflict a. Salesman: i. Willy & Biff b. Streetcar: i. Blanche & Stanley

Time Zone 1: 1. Dramatic features and how they are used to portray relationship dynamics. 2. Tragic heroes a. Salesman: i. Willy Loman