OCR a and AS Level English Literature, Alfred, Lord Tennyson - Maud Learner Resource 6

Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Maud

Learner Resource 6Murder and Madness

Key Concepts: Foreshadowing, proleptic irony, gothic.

Look at Part 2 Section I.

In this section we learn that the speaker has killed Maud’s brother in a duel. Maud’s wraith appears and the speaker calls on God to strike down the whole race of man as they are not worthy to live.

Look at lines 1-10.

How does the speaker describe his feelings here?
How do they create suspense in the reader?

Look at lines 11-23. Here the speaker describes the events leading up to the duel.

How does he describe the way the situation unfolds?
Do you notice anything interesting about how he apportions blame?

Look at lines 24-35. Compare and contrast the way the speaker describes Maud’s and Maud brother’s reactions here.

Look at lines 36-48. Explore the way the speaker presents his feelings of guilt here.

How far do you feel it marks a return to his earlier cynicism about the corruption of man?
How far do we sympathise with his attitude here?

Look at part 2 section V. In this section the speaker is in an insane asylum.

Look at lines 239-257. Explore the way Tennyson uses sound imagery, onomatopoeia, rhythm and rhyme to convey a mind in turmoil in these lines.

Look at lines 259-278. Explore the way that the speaker views the other inmates.

Look at lines 279-326. Explore the way the speaker’s thoughts of Maud, her father and her brother are presented here.

How far is it typical of the way he views Maud and her family throughout the poem?
Have his views changed or are they just more extreme? Point to details in the writing.

Version 11© OCR 2016

Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Maud

Look at lines 327-333. Explore the way that public and private wars are contrasted by the speaker.

Can you see proleptic irony here? (How does this view foreshadow the end of the poem?)
How far are you convinced by his argument here?

Look at lines 334-342. Explore the way the idea of burial is presented here.

In what ways is this image gothic?
What does it suggest about the mental state of the speaker?

Extension work: A level

Compare the way a death or a murder is presented in your drama text with the way the death of Maud’s brother is presented.

Extension work: A level

Compare the way madness or irrational behaviour is presented in your drama text with the way it is presented in part 2, section V of ‘Maud’.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Maud