copyright 1999, Sirpa Grierson

There are many teaching possibilities with this book. It is set during the reign of Queen Victoria and her influences are felt within the book. The novel deals with issues concerning women in this time period and their hardships. The book also explores ideas such as fatalism and determinism. If I were teaching this book I would go into detail about the author. I think a book is more interesting when you know about the person who wrote it. That's why I chose to include the articles I did. If I were teaching this unit I would like my students to learn more about the Victorian period and about Thomas Hardy, the author. About Tess "About Tess of the d'Urbervilles." 1999. http://www.classicnote.com/ClassicNotes/Titles/tess/about.html This article discusses how the subject matter within the novel is very advanced for its time. It discusses subjects that at the time were not to be discussed. Because of this the novel received harsh reviews and contributed to Hardy's transition from novel writing to poetry. Narrative Technique in Tess of the d'Urbervilles Fleisher, George. "Narrative Technique in Tess of the d'Urbervilles." 1999. http://www.classicnote.com/ClassicNote/Titles/tess/essays/essay1.html Fleisher discusses the different narrative techniques used within the novel. He points out that the different voices used within the book let the reader understand the characters and their motivations. Hardy's genius is clearly shown in this technique. Victorian Theories on Sex and Sexuality Lee, Elizabeth. "Victorian Theories on Sex and Sexuality." 1997. http://landow.stg.brown.edu/victorian/gender/sextheory.html Lee discusses the Victorian ideas of sexuality that influenced the character Tess and her treatment. She explains the prudish nature during Queen Victoria's reign and the ill-treatment of women who were "fallen." These ideas play a large part in the novel. New Assessment of English Novelist and Poet Thomas Hardy "New Assessment of English Novelist and Poet Thomas Hardy Shows Lasting Appeal" Feb 1995. http://pages.ripco.net/~mws/assesment.txt This article discusses Hardy's contemporary approach to the subject of women. During the Victorian age women were to be virgins before they married. However HArdy created a character that was "fallen" but presents her in an understanding way. Because of this, modern feminists have a great deal of interest in Thomas Hardy and his character. The Medievalist Impulse of Thomas Hardy Rogers, Shannon. "The Medievalist Impulse of Thomas Hardy." 1996. http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~xconnect/volume1/i3/word/ Rogers comments on the influences of the medieval in Thomas Hardy's works. She comments on the medieval nature of landscape and the idea of raping nature and changing what is rural. There are interesting views in the relation to the charaters and the landscape within Tess of the d'Urbervilles. Thomas Hardy's Lifeline Simons, Mark. "Thomas Hardy's Lifeline." 1995. http://pages.ripco.net/~mws/timeline.html This lists a chronology of Hardy's life within this article. It lists dates and accomplishments of Hardy. This article will help students understand Hardy's life and his influences. A Gloomy Victorian Tale Sings on the Musical Stage Adock, Joe. "A Gloomy Victorian Tale Sings on the Musical Stage." Seattle Post. 2001.11. This article reviews the parallels with all of Thomas Hardy's female characters. He presents his characters as the oppressed victorian women, who in the end are stronger than their oppressors. This article would be effective in teaching feminist criticism. Start with a Kiss Arnold, Gina. "Start with a Kiss." The Scottsman. 2000. 2. This article talks about the idea of the abandoned woman. While Hollywood creates stories where the woman is wooed and won over by a man who will take care of her emotionally and financially, Hardy creates a different picture. Tess represents a realistic view of the abandoned woman. Hanging preyed on Hardy for Life de Bruxelles, Simon. "Hanging preyed on Hardy for life." The Times. 2001. 11. Hardy created a tragic end for the character Tess. In this article, de Bruxelles points out an event in the life of Hardy that might have inspired the character Tess. When Hardy was sixteen he witnessed a woman's hanging. This effected him deeply. This article discusses this effects of this event and its influence on Hardy's writing. Audio Novel Sparks, Leah. "Bit Two-Hearted River/ the Flight of the Falcon/ the Professor/Tess of the d'Urbervilles." The Booklist. 97. (200). 258-259. This article is areview of the audio version of the novel. It lets the reader know where to find this novel.

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Reading Resources and Unit Guide for this Novel