Bath in Humphry Clinker: 'Greater civilisation'?

 _{Questions about Bath}

                             _in

                                                           _{T.Smollett’s Humphry Clinker, 1771.}

1) Bath, April 24. Jerry Melford to Sir Philip Watkins, of Jesus College, Oxford

http://www.18thc-cities.paris-sorbonne.fr/spip.php?article29#1

a)- “Food for ridicule and satire”...: give examples.

b)-Explain:

turnspit (dog) http://www.18thc-cities.paris-sorbonne.fr/spip.php?article251&lang=en#07

footman, cook-maid, town-waits

c)-Situate on a map :

Hot Well, South Parade, as opposed to Milsom Street

d)-Analyse the “noises” in Bath : find out 12 examples!

e)-Why were the Abbey-bells rung?

f)- The balls : Look at the film extracts illustrating Jane Austen’s world : Bath in Northanger Abbey ( 1803)

http://www.18thc-cities.paris-sorbonne.fr/spip.php?article261

g)-Drinking the waters : explain the roles of drinking the waters.

h)-What is the “Pump”?

2) Bath, April 23, Mathew Bramble, to D^r Lewis

http://www.18thc-cities.paris-sorbonne.fr/spip.php?article29#1

a)-Architecture: “the rage of building”... : explain Mathew Bramble’s satire of Bath architecture.

b)-Look at a map of Bath and situate :The Square, The baths, The Circus

c)-Who is the “artist” who planned the Circus?

d)-What are the “The different orders”?

e)-What is an architrave?

f)-Do you agree with Matthew Bramble that Bath will become a “monster” ? Explain his view of the developing architecture.

g)-“The fashionable company at Bath” :

h)-“the ostentation of wealth” : analyse the various classes in society and the “nouveaux –riches” mentioned by Smollett : explain how it corresponds to changes in the 18^th century society.

i)-Show how they are “infected with the same rage of displaying their importance”...: Why is Matthew Bramble so strongly satirical about them?

j)-Comment on "ostentation " ..."without taste".

k)-What is 'taste' or 'propriety' or 'decorum' according to M. Bramble?

3) Bath, April 26. Lydia Melford to Miss Willis, at Gloucester

http://www.18thc-cities.paris-sorbonne.fr/spip.php?article29#1

a)-An “earthly paradise”...: analyse all its components:

'...the splendour of dress'...'the merry bells ring round' 'music'...'concerts'...'cotillons' 'balls'... 'earthly paradise'...:

b)-Study the various aspects of music in Bath especially the Minuets in the Assembly Room:

http://www.18thc-cities.paris-sorbonne.fr/spip.php?article28

http://www.18thc-cities.paris-sorbonne.fr/spip.php?article20#1

Miss Faw’s Minuet

Miss Carmichael’s Minuet

e)-Look at the film extracts illustrating Jane Austen’s world : Bath in Northanger Abbey   (1803)

http://www.18thc-cities.paris-sorbonne.fr/spip.php?article261

f)-Explore the world of fashion and especially the use of the fan and the “language of the fan” :

http://www.18thc-cities.paris-sorbonne.fr/spip.php?article271

g)-Which view of Bath do you favour? Why? Which is the “most realistic” one? Why?

h)-Show how Smollett can give a kaleidoscopic account of the different realities of Bath through the looking glass of his characters.

i)-See Catherine Morland’ walks and rides

“Catherine Morland lived in Great Pulteney Street. As befits a novel in which the architectural background with its various styles is significant, this impressive neoclassical avenue forms the setting of her frequent walks towards the older part of Bath to meet her friends...”

j)-“Greater civilisation”...

“...tired of Bath” : Find out the original quotation by S. Johnson which is echoed and modified in this dialogue.

k) and compare with Persuasion (1816).

http://www.18thc-cities.paris-sorbonne.fr/spip.php?rubrique108