Nathan

**Introduction**
The composition of a text is reflected upon the changing values and ideals of its time. An understanding of idealistic love and hope arises in Elizabeth Barrett-Browning's __"Sonnets From The Portuguese"__ ; a personal reflection on the values of love and hope. However F.Scott Fitzgerald's novel __"The Great Gatsby"__, written in a time period known as the "Jazz Age" depicts the protagonist - Jay Gatsby as an individual trying to reclaim his one true love - Daisy Fay, in a world too reliant and corrupted on the ideals of the American Dream. Hence,both texts demonstrate that despite being composed in varying contexts, instill similar themes of love, hope and relationships


 * Nice. You mention Fitzgerald's context. Should you make some similar reference to EBB's Victorian context? What troubles me a little here is I'm not sure this marks out where you are going. For example, you should be able to draft the topic sentences for each section of your response using the terms in this intro? Can you do that? That's the test of a good intro. Do that. If you can't, then keep reworking it until you can. In any case, move on into your first body paragraph. Get that drafted. Mr W**

Composed during the Victorian Era, Elizabeth Barrett-Browning’s “__Sonnets From the Portuguese”__ resonate the ideals of a pure and idealised form of love. Her idea of love is expressed as one of to accept and understand. Her sonnets however were intensely personal and this reflects her own personal context; wooed by a man six year her junior, Browning’s sonnets display an untainted and unrestrained form of idealised love. This is reflected in Sonnet 1 whereby portraying the transforming nature of love and the warmth that it brings with it. In the first Quatrain, Browning’s allusion to Theocritus “the sweet years, the dear and wished for years” indicates that these years have been lost. The enjambment and caesura at the beginning of the sestet in “had flung/ a shadow across me” indicates a melancholy future awaits her. However the sonnet ends in a positive tone, one where “the silver answer rang, Not Death But Love” indicates her positive attitude towards love.

Composed during the Victorian Era, Elizabeth Barrett-Browning’s “__Sonnets From the Portuguese”__ resonate the ideals of a pure and idealised form of love **focused on her developing love relationship with Robert Browning.**. Her idea of love is to accept and understand. Her sonnets however were intensely personal and this reflects her own personal context; wooed by a man six year her junior, Browning’s sonnets display an untainted and unrestrained form of idealised love. Sonnet 1 portrays the transforming nature of love and the warmth that it brings. In the first quatrain, Browning’s allusion to Theocritus “the sweet years, the dear and wished for years” indicates that these years have been lost. The enjambment and caesura at the beginning of the sestet in “had flung/ a shadow across me. //” indicates a melancholy future awaits her. However the sonnet ends in a positive tone, one where “the silver answer rang, Not Death But Love” indicates her positive attitude towards love. **You need to do more than this for context. Deal with it separately: her personal circumstances and the wider social Victorian context. Even one sentence each if you wish. I'd rethink the use of 'idealised' when discussing Browning. It sounds very close to what we'll say about Gatsby. Aren't we saying the main difference between Browning and Gatsby's love is that hers is centered on an ongoing, real relationship with a person whereas Gatsby's focuses on a woman he has not seen or spoken to for 5 years - Daisy is the idealised, projected object of his love.**


 * __Introduction + 2 Body Paragraphs ( EBB Sonnet 1 and TGG)__**

The composition of a text is reflected upon the changing values and ideals of its time. An understanding of authentic love and hope arises in Elizabeth Barrett-Browning's __"Sonnets From The Portuguese"__ ; personal reflection on the Victorian values of love and hope in her context. Similarly, F.Scott Fitzgerald's novel __"The Great Gatsby"__, written in a time period known as the "Jazz Age" depicts the protagonist - Jay Gatsby as an individual trying to reclaim his one true love - Daisy Buchanan, in a world too reliant and corrupted on the ideals of the American Dream. Hence,both texts demonstrate that despite being composed in varying contexts, instill similar themes of love, hope and relationships, yet in contrasting ways.

Composed during the Victorian Era, Elizabeth Barrett-Browning’s “__Sonnets From the Portuguese”__ resonate the ideals of a pure and authentic form of love through her relationship with Robert Browning. Her idea of a pure and authentic love is expressed as one of – acceptance and understanding. Her sonnets however were intensely personal and thus reflects her own personal context; wooed by a man six year her junior, Browning’s sonnets display an untainted and unrestrained form of authentic love. However, strong Methodist faith in classical education and a highly religious society meant that attitudes to marriage were seen as business deal, rather than a marriage for love. This is reflected in Sonnet 1 whereby portraying the transforming nature of authentic love. In the first quatrain Browning’s allusion to Theocritus “the sweet years, the dear and wished for years” indicates that these years have been lost as a result of being an invalid. The use of enjambment and caesura at the beginning of the sestet in “had flung/ a shadow across me” indicates a melancholy future awaits her. However the sonnet ends in a positive tone, one where “the silver answer rang, Not Death But Love” expresses her positive attitude towards love, giving her hope and incentive in life.

The composition of a text is reflected **in** the changing values and ideals of its time. An understanding of authentic love and hope arises in Elizabeth Barrett-Browning's __"Sonnets From The Portuguese"__ **(1850) which reflect both her personal circumstances and Victorian values.** Similarly, F.Scott Fitzgerald's novel __"The Great Gatsby"__,**(1925)** written in a time period known as the "Jazz Age" depicts the protagonist - Jay Gatsby as an individual trying to reclaim his one true love - Daisy Buchanan, in a world too reliant and corrupted **for**  the ideals of the American Dream. Hence,both texts demonstrate that despite being composed in varying contexts, **they explore**l similar themes of love, hope and relationships, yet in contrasting ways.
 * Mr W**

Composed during the Victorian Era, **EBB's sonnets** resonate the ideals of a pure and authentic form of love through her relationship with Robert Browning. Her idea of a pure and authentic love is expressed as one of – acceptance and understanding. Her sonnets however were intensely personal and thus reflects her own personal context; wooed by a man six year her junior, Browning’s sonnets display an untainted and unrestrained form of authentic love. However, strong Methodist faith **and** classical education and a highly religious society meant that attitudes to marriage were seen as **a** business deal, rather than a marriage for love. This is reflected in Sonnet 1 whereby portraying the transforming nature of authentic love. In the first quatrain Browning’s allusion to Theocritus “the sweet years, the dear and wished for years” indicates that these years have been lost as a result of being an invalid. The use of enjambment and caesura at the beginning of the sestet in “had flung/ a shadow across me. //” indicates a melancholy future awaits her. However the sonnet ends in a positive tone, one where “the silver answer rang, Not Death But Love” expresses her positive attitude towards love, giving her hope and incentive in life.

**Pretty good. See my comment on Malhar's treatment of sonnet I - the same applies in your case. Still, this is shaping up well. But keep going. Mr W**