ONOMASTICS

ONOMASTICS

Student talk – structure and solution

Christine Stock

Name	Task	Reference	In what way does the character embody his namesake?
Lenina Crowne	1.) Whom does the picture show? In what way is the person shown? Does this characteri-sation fit the impression of Lenina we get in the novel	1.) Lenin (1870-1924): brought Russia to a communistic republic without a reign but with equality	·Lenina is represented as a conformist of the World State’s cast system under the power of the World controlers -> no equality (IRONY!!!) · Her name is more powerful than her role concerning the population control (just executing function) IRONY!!!
	2.) What does the wrong spelling of “crowne” mean? Find quotations in the novel to prove your guess!	2.) Crown: synonym for “queen”: higher position, influence on subordinated people	· Alpha -> more intelligent and a higher position than others in the caste system · One “e” too much -> imperfection (quotation I): promiscuity -> Lenina does not completely fit the society of the World State because of her constant love affair with Henry Foster
Bard Marx	1.) In what way does Bernard Marx embody Karl Marx?	Karl Marx (1818-1888): founder of comunism	· very small, unpopular, insignificant because of the supposed accident with the alcohol in his blood · because of the fact that he is an outsider he is a nonconformist of the World State with the aims of Marx
Helmholtz-Watson		Hermann von Helmholtz (1821-1894): german scientist	· in the novel he is also represented as a scientist, very intelligent
	1.) Read the extract of the novel and try to establish a relationship between Helmholtz-Watson and William Watson	William Watson (1858-1935): english author	· synthesis of art and science: (quotation II): Helmholtz is supposed to be a well-studied man who understands literature, but his reaction shows that he can just deal with propaganda

Quotations I

(p.63)

"Well, I hope he's right," said Lenina. "But, Fanny, do you really mean to say that for the next three months you're not supposed to ..."

"Oh no, dear. Only for a week or two, that's all. I shall spend the evening at the Club playing Musical Bridge. I suppose you're going out?"

Lenina nodded. "Who with?"

"Henry Foster."

"Again?" Fanny's kind, rather moon-like face took on an incongruous expression of pained and disapproving astonishment. "Do you mean to tell me you're still going out with Henry Foster?"

[...]

(p.65)

"But after all," Lenina was protesting, "it's only about four months now since I've been having Henry." "Only four months! I like that. And what's more," Fanny went on, pointing an accusing finger, "there's been nobody else except Henry all that time. Has there?"

quotations II

(p.223)

The Savage was reading Romeo and Juliet aloud–reading (for all the time he was seeing himself as Romeo and Lenina as Juliet) with an intense and quivering passion. Helmholtz had listened to the scene of the lovers' first meeting with a puzzled interest. The scene in the orchard had delighted him with its poetry; but the sentiments expressed had made him smile. Getting into such a state about having a girl–it seemed rather ridiculous. But, taken detail by verbal detail, what a superb piece of emotional engineering! "That old fellow," he said, "he makes our best propaganda technicians look absolutely silly."

The Savage smiled triumphantly and resumed his reading. All went tolerably well until, in the last scene of the third act, Capulet and Lady Capulet began to bully Juliet to marry Paris. Helmholtz had been restless throughout the entire scene; but when, pathetically mimed by the Savage, Juliet cried out:

"Is there no pity sitting in the clouds,

That sees into the bottom of my grief?

O sweet my mother, cast me not away:

Delay this marriage for a month, a week;

Or, if you do not, make the bridal bed

In that dim monument where Tybalt lies ..."

When Juliet said this, Helmholtz broke out in an explosion of uncontrollable guffawing. The mother and father (grotesque obscenity) forcing the daughter to have some one she didn't want! And the idiotic girl not saying that she was having some one else whom (for the moment, at any rate) she preferred! In its smutty absurdity the situation was irresistibly comical.

He had managed, with a heroic effort, to hold down the mounting pressure of his hilarity; but "sweet mother" (in the Savage's tremulous tone of anguish) and the reference to Tybalt lying dead, but evidently uncremated and wasting his phosphorus on a dim monument, were too much for him. He laughed and laughed till the tears streamed down his face–quenchlessly laughed while, pale with a sense of outrage, the Savage looked at him over the top of his book and then, as the laughter still continued, closed it indignantly, got up and, with the gesture of one who removes his pearl from before swine, locked it away in its drawer.