ENGLISH TEXT SUMMARY NOTES. The Age of Innocence. Text guide by: Justin Shaw. TSSM 2006 Page 1 of 20

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1 ENGLISH TEXT SUMMARY NOTES The Age of Innocence Text guide by: Justin Shaw TSSM 2006 Page 1 of 20

2 Copyright TSSM 2006 TSSM ACN ABN A: Level 14, 474 Flinders Street Melbourne VIC 3000 T: F: W: tssm.com.au E: TSSM 2006 Page 2 of 20

3 CONTENTS Areas of Study Chapter Topics Covered Chapter 1 Genre Chapter 2 Structure Chapter 3 Historical/Social Issues 3.1 New York society in the 1870s 3.2 Marriage and social status 3.3 Economic independence Chapter 4 Style Area of study 1 Reading and the study of texts Chapter 5 Background Notes Chapter 6 Scene Summaries Chapter 7 Character Profiles Chapter 8 Themes and Issues Chapter 9 Sample Examination Questions Chapter 10 Final Examination Tips 7.1 Newland Archer 7.2 Ellen Olenska 7.3 May Welland 7.4 Julius Beaufort 7.5 Mrs Mingot 8.1 Society 8.2 Romance 8.3 Entrapment 9.1 Sample Part 1 Questions 9.2 Sample Part 2 Questions TSSM 2006 Page 3 of 20

4 AREA 1: READING & THE STUDY OF TEXTS: THE AGE OF INNOCENCE Chapter 1 GENRE Martin s Scorsese s film, The Age of Innocence, is a period film that draws on elements of the romance and melodrama genres. The film is set in New York in the 1870s and focuses on the personal and romantic dilemmas faced by the character of Newland Archer (Daniel DayLewis). Through the course of the film, Archer finds himself legally bound to one woman May Welland (Winona Ryder) and romantically bound to another Countess Ellen Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer). The film is thus able to combine particular conventions of the romance and melodrama forms within a period setting. More specifically, the film is able to draw on the melodrama and romance genres whilst changing some of the rules which by which these genre traditionally operate. For instance, the traditional romance convention of love conquering all obstacles is not strictly adhered to by the film The Age of Innocence. Also, the film uses conventions of the melodrama genre by highlighting gaps in knowledge between characters to create an emotional effect. For instance, there is a moment in the film when Newland Archer sees Countess Olenska standing on a pier but she (seemingly) does not see him. Moments such as this create a melodramatic level of audience expectation for a later moment when the two characters will finally meet. At the end of the film, however, this melodramatic promise is not kept as Archer and Olenska fail to reunite. As a result, the film is able to play with our expectations by drawing on genre conventions whilst denying the audience the emotional payoff associated with such conventions. As a period film, The Age of Innocence is distinctive for its focus on historical details. In particular, the various ballroom and dining sequences in the film are all portrayed with a lavish attention to detail. The effect of this focus on the setting is to emphasise the importance of the time and place (1870s New York) in terms of how it impacts upon the lives of the main characters. As we can see by the ornate dinner arrangements and majestic ballrooms, this is a time in which appearance is everything. Though Newland Archer is secretly in love with the Countess Orlenska, he must make it appear that his marriage to May Welland is still a happy one in order to ensure his continued high standing in New York society of the time. The film is thus able to use its attention to detail to highlight problems with the social order of the period. TSSM 2006 Page 4 of 20

5 Chapter 2 STRUCTURE The narrative structure of The Age of Innocence is largely chronological and linear. We begin with Newland Archer being introduced to the Countess Orlenska at the theatre. We then discover that Archer has become engaged to May Welland, the cousin of the Countess. A narrative voiceover is used at key moments to inform the audience about the background of particular characters and their importance to the narrative. For example, the character of Julius Beaufort is introduced early on in the film as someone whose propensity for philandering will have consequences for the main characters of Newland Archer and Countess Orlenska. Though the narrative structure of Age largely adheres to the forwardpropelled, linear form, there are occasional moments when we go backwards in time. One such moment is at the end of the film when Archer looks up at the window to the apartment of Countess Orlenska. Suddenly, light reflects off the window and we see Archer remembering the moment when he watched the Countess from a distance on the pier and light reflected off the water. TSSM 2006 Page 5 of 20

ENGLISH TEXT SUMMARY NOTES. Lantana. Text guide by: Text guide by: Fran Bernardi. TSSM 2007 Page 1 of 18

ENGLISH TEXT SUMMARY NOTES. Lantana. Text guide by: Text guide by: Fran Bernardi. TSSM 2007 Page 1 of 18 ENGLISH TEXT SUMMARY NOTES Lantana Text guide by: Text guide by: Fran Bernardi TSSM 2007 Page 1 of 18 Copyright TSSM 2007 TSSM ACN 099 422 670 ABN 54 099 422 670 A: Level 14, 474 Flinders Street Melbourne