ENGLISH LITERATURE
TSE 4 deelname
Tania Almerany
Dhr. Versaevel
16-02-24
Klas 6G1
,Inhoudsopgave
29-08-23 Les 1....................................................................................................................................2
05-09-23 Les 2....................................................................................................................................2
10-10-23 les 3 Literature in war (Later ingehaald)..............................................................................3
13-09-2023 Les 4................................................................................................................................3
20-09-23 Les 5...................................................................................................................................4
27-09-23 les 6 (happy birthday 😊).....................................................................................................6
04-10-23 les 7.....................................................................................................................................9
11-10-23 Les 8..................................................................................................................................13
25-10-23 Les 9..................................................................................................................................15
01-11-23 Les 10................................................................................................................................18
29-11-23 Les 11................................................................................................................................21
05-12-23 Les 12................................................................................................................................22
13-12-23 Les 13................................................................................................................................24
10-01-24 Les 14................................................................................................................................26
18-01-24 Les 15................................................................................................................................28
24-01-24 les 16.................................................................................................................................30
31-01-24 les 17.................................................................................................................................32
07-02-24 les 18.................................................................................................................................34
14-02-24 les 19.................................................................................................................................35
Analyse 5 poems...................................................................................................................................37
1. War in Iraq....................................................................................................................................37
2. World war 2..................................................................................................................................38
War...................................................................................................................................................39
World war 1......................................................................................................................................40
War in Gaza......................................................................................................................................41
The movie Regeneration......................................................................................................................42
Disclaimer: Van de vele lessen die ik heb gemist heb ik aantekeningen van Maham Jatala en Tanja
Heinen gekregen, vandaar de mogelijke plagiaat.
1
, 29-08-23 Les 1
World War I began in 1914, marking a significant period overshadowed by the importance of poetry.
This era begins in 1901, the year of Queen Victoria I's death. Queen Victoria I, who reigned for 64
years from 1837, witnessed substantial societal transformations. At the start of her rule, 40% of the
population was illiterate, a figure that surpassed 90% by her reign's end. England, driven by
industrialization, emerged as a global leader during Victoria's reign. The Industrial Revolution,
starting in the second half of the 18th century, allowed England an early advantage, enabling easier
access to products. England's exploration efforts, spanning from the 17th century and beyond,
resulted in numerous colonies, including those in North America, Africa, India, Australia, and South
Africa. These colonies became important sources of wealth, contributing to England's status as a
dominant global power. The British Empire was so extensive that it was said "the sun would never
set" on it. The balance of power, maintained through a strong navy, ensured England's status.
However, after Victoria I's 64-year rule, this industrial strength began to show signs of strain. The
Germans, led by Emperor Wilhelm II, were catching up industrially, and internal challenges arose in
England's class system. The class system faced challenges as the middle class prospered due to
industrialization, narrowing the gap with the upper class. Land, once the primary source of wealth,
became less significant as other avenues for income opened up. Internal struggles in England
included labor unions advocating for workers' rights through strikes, and women, led by figures like
Emily Pankhurst, demanding expanded rights. The 20th century marked a shift in societal dynamics,
challenging the traditional class system and starting in a period of significant change in Britain.
05-09-23 Les 2
Situation England beginning until 1914, situation in Europe that led to ww2. England had been a
prosperous country, but over the last few years other countries had become their equals or even
surpassed them: us or Germany. Germany didn’t have the room to expand, because they didn’t have
colonies. In 1914 there was a problem, in the Balkans is was part of the ottoman empire, but that had
shrunk and they ottomans had left that region. So that region was chaotic, people were fighting for
independence, Austria-hungary empire for example. It was ruled by an ancient family, the power that
they once held became less over time. The sons of the ruling classes, especially the second in line,
they became officers in the army, because of their social rank, not their fighting skills. The first son of
a nobleman always inherited the land and business and then the second and third in line would serve
in the army. The quality of officers declined, they didn’t know how to lead. In 1914 the crown prince
visited Bosnia and there were some nationalist that wanted Bosnia to thrive again. They organized an
assassination party when France Ferdinand visited. France had planned to stay some more days, but
then he had to leave that day, he wanted to visit the people that got hurt in the bomb attack before
he left. The assassinators had thrown a bomb, but missed. It was a mere chance that, because old
cars were difficult to put in reverse, so then Gavrilo drew his gun and shot the archduke and his
pregnant wife. Austria was angry that their archduke was murdered, they sent an ultimatum to
Serbia, most of them could be met except for one. One demand asked for to much interference in
the Serbian government, so Serbia declined. Austria decided to attack Serbia, but the Austrian army
wasn’t that good anymore. A lot of the countries in Europe were connected by treaties, which meant
that attacking one country was asking for a war with the others. Serbia had a treaty with Russia,
because they were both Slavic and felt a sort of connection. Russia had started to mobilise to help
Serbia against Austria. Russia and France also had a treaty, because they saw Germany as a threat, so
they worked together. Austria asked Germany for help, the emperor wasn’t interested, but the
generals did want to participate, because wars are honourable. They decided to aid Austria. Nikolas
of Russia, Wilhelm of Germany and George of England were actually cousins, they were on friendly
terms. The Germans were clever, their armies are good in the first 2 years. It will take time for Russia
2
, to mobilise, because it is a big country. Their plan was to attack France first and then go after Russia.
Von Schlieven the general had come up with a good idea, France and Germany weren’t friends, so
the borders were heavily defended. The Germans first invaded Belgium and went to France via the
northern border of France, conquer Paris and you conquer France. The France hadn’t expected that,
because it meant that the army had to pass the Arden’s, that wasn’t possible, at least they thought
so. So they attacked France, but went to the east instead of directly to Paris. The French were able to
put up a defence before they came to Paris + the English army came to help France. The Austrians
hoped that they would defeat Serbia so that Russia wouldn’t help Serbia anymore. They
miscalculated, the Russians did end up attacking. The French could stop the attack of the Germans,
but the Germans couldn’t stop the French, so you had this wall of trenches. That was how it al began
from these 2 gunshots in Sarajevo, that would kill millions.
10-10-23 les 3 Literature in war (Later ingehaald)
The war began and that meant that for a lot of people their lives changed drastically, especially the
soldiers who were fighting in France, considering the living circumstances. They were living in the
trenches which meant constant danger from the enemy and health problems, they had to live
outdoors and they could not take shelter from rain, snow etc. This meant there was a lot of mud and
that made unhygienic living circumstances, among other things like lice, rats and more, because
there were a lot of dead bodies just rotting there, seeing as they were not buried properly. They had
to find a way out, one of them being writing, some started writing poetry. Poetry is short, a novel
would be too long and because poetry was popular back then. A lot of people in 1914 still read and
wrote poetry. At the outset of the war popular literature in England had been light writing, not too
deep or serious subject. It was supposed to be for amusement, leisure and entertainment. The
mainstream literature at the beginning of the war was far from serious. The literature coming from
the war tends to become more serious. At the beginning people were optimistic about the war, then
it shifts to disappointment considering the war is taking longer than expected and then as the war
drags on longer and more people die, you get criticism, a pessimistic point of view. The poets at the
beginning of the war are trying to encourage people to go to war or they actually support the war.
13-09-2023 Les 4
When they started fighting they started to sustain losses, so they had to bring new people. Britain
had a lot of young people relatively speaking. A lot of them were eager to fight for the country. There
was a lot of propaganda back then, blaming the Germans for all sort of things. There were wild
stories of Germans eating babies etc. on the other hand the optimism that the fight would be done
before Christmas, they started in august, both parties thought this. They were right except a few
years later. There was a fear of missing out if you were not fighting in the war, their chance of glory.
There was a problem, because when they were at the front with France they saw they were dealing
with a different kind of fish. They were confronted with something they had not expected, terrible
housing, living in a hole in ground or tents, this was also during autumn. This was definitely not the
time to be outside in the north of France. The enormous number of their people made the living
conditions worse. There were enormous losses, for the gain of 800 yards 22000 men died, only on
the English side. The memorial commemorates 72000 soldiers, who died in the battles of Somme and
were never found again. When they were digging for the trenches they would sometimes come
across an arm or a leg. The fighting almost exclusively took place in the north of France. For the rest
of the other people it was peaceful, they did not see much of the war. So the English people who
3
