The Courtship of Mr Lyons Questions-

1.Use your own words to describe Mr. Lyons' property. Look carefully at the way it is described, and particularly the adjectives used. Why is it described in this way? What is the overall impression of this? (no.7)

The property is very isolated at the end of a 'short, snowy, drive' highlighted by Carter's sibilance which extenuates the soft sounds that are associated with quietness and calm but also loneliness. Further portrayed through personification, as it 'seemed to hide', the house and grounds reflect a trait shared with Mr Lyon who tries to hide his otherness through avoidance of humans. Despite the surrounding the house itself is grand, described as 'perfect, Palladian' and old fashioned, it is linked with 'melancholic grace' suggesting old wealth and loneliness. The description of the house takes a deathly tone, suggesting a 'deserted', 'antique' and 'faded' feel to the house surrounded by the 'ghost of a tangle of thorn' all of which have connotations of abandonment and death. Although it appears well kept, the grand and rich 'mahogany door' is furnished with a 'solid gold' lion's head knocker while contrasting the growing dark which the man is stranded in the house is bright and full of life as the light from the 'great chandelier' falls on 'many flowers' which enrich the air with perfume.

2. Now, research a building in a traditional fairy story. This may be the castle of a prince, a gingerbread house, the home of the three bears. A) Compare the language used to describe the house and gardens of Mr Lyon with those used in the traditional fairy story. What do you observe about the language, used in each story? (Remember to give detail of the text you are using, including page references and quotations which will support the points you make) (no. 8)

In many fairy tales the language and tone of the description is very matter of fact. In Hansel and Gretel the house is 'made of pieces of bread and cake. The windows were clear sugar' as it is for children and only the interesting parts are highlighted. In the original telling of Beauty and the Beast the castle is said to be 'bathed in light' in 'the middle of the woods' however does not go into detail. Carter has used the 3rd person narrator to describe the house similar to that of the fairy tale and has highlighted key areas of it such as its grandeur, 'perfect, Palladian house' and isolation, 'withered ghost of tangled thorns'. The use of shadows and light, in contrast to the original story, helps to create an aura of danger and fear aided by the pathetic fallacy of the snow storm. Carter has dimmed the 'bright light' to one that 'flickered' and was 'so vague it could have been the reflection of a star' to show that the father is desperate and that the house hides secrets.


3. Look closely at the description of the Beast and analyse the linguistic techniques used. These should include the use of repetition, adjectives, nouns, verbs and imagery. What effect does the description have on the reader? How do you feel about the Beast and what has made you feel like this? (no. 9)

A semantic field surrounding animals, specifically lions, is used to describe the Beast. Similar to the Marquis from the first story he is also 'leonine' with a 'mane' however Beauty dispels this connection by explicitly saying 'a lion is a lion and a man is a man' showing that while the Marquis was always the man the Beast is an 'angry lion' pretending to be a man. There is a lot of repetition of the word 'lion' which contrasts with his clothes and status. His size is emphasised through Carter's description is him as a 'great bulk' and is perceived as 'vaster than the house itself' however this could show his power over the father due to his social position and wealth in comparison. The Beast's image is also one of wealth and status, he is wearing a 'smoking jacket of dull red brocade' as he tries to appear more human but is unable to cover his otherness. His voice is a 'dark, rumbling growl' which gives the character a more fearsome persona, growls are very animalistic and usually warning sounds of an attack however he later purrs showing that he too, like humans, can be gentle and warming. It is also described as a 'cave of echos', a technique Carter uses throughout the different stories in the book where she makes the men unspecific to any man and every man.


4. Look at the way the story is narrated? Is it 1st Person? 3rd Person? How does the narrative perspective affect the impact of the story on the reader?

Carter has used a shifting perspectives in the book as well as different voices to disorientate the reader and build up a world, in the Beast's home, of confusion, where normal rules do not apply. This is most apparent when the father sees the Beast's dog. The narrative changes from a third person to a new stream of consciousness, '(how amusing)' which seems incongruous to story and which is instantly discarded. It reinforces the image that in a rich man's house 'all the laws of the world... need not necessarily apply'. It also allows Carter to not just look at everything the heroine sees but to see her as part of the story.