Cross Connections
Which two texts show women restricted by societal expectations and control?
The Lady of Shalott and My Last Duchess
I show the world but am not the world,
I protect but also imprison.
When I break, truth appears-but at a cost.
What am I?
The mirror
What does the Duke’s reaction to the Duchess’s friendliness reveal about him?
He sees warmth as a challenge to his authority, requiring control.
Why do the goblins want Laura to eat the fruit?
To lure her into temptation and create dependence / control over her
Why does Jack create the identity “Ernest” specifically in the city?
To escape his responsibilities in the country while maintaining a respectable reputation.
Which two texts show characters experiencing consequences after giving in to desire?
Goblin Market and The Lady of Shalott
I am a choice that changes everything.
I bring freedom for a moment,
but seal a fate forever.
Who did I look at?
Lancelot
What do the Duke’s focus on the portrait and his monologue reveal about his character?
They suggest deep insecurity masked by tyranny and objectification.
What biblical story does Laura’s temptation most closely resemble?
Adam and Eve (the Fall in the Garden of Eden)
What detail about Jack’s past causes Lady Bracknell to reject him as a suitor?
He was found in a handbag and has no known family background.
Which two texts critique society for valuing appearance over reality?
The Importance of Being Earnest and Barbie
In Waterhouse’s painting, what do the untied boat and the three candles symbolize?
Release from confinement and the transition from life to death.
I smile forever, but never speak.
I am controlled even in death.
I reveal more about him than me.
What am I?
Answer:
The Duchess’s portrait
I begin as curiosity,
but become craving.
I make pleasure feel like need,
and need slowly turns the body weak.
What am I—and whose?
Desire / Laura’s desire
What is “Bunburying,” and what problem does it solve for Algernon?
It is inventing a fake person or excuse to avoid unwanted social obligations.
Across The Lady of Shalott, Goblin Market, and Barbie, how is female autonomy portrayed?
Women must challenge societal expectations to gain independence, often at a cost.
Why does the Lady choose to leave the tower after seeing Lancelot, even though she knows the danger?
Because she desires real experience and human connection, choosing autonomy over the safety of isolation.
I do not imprison the body,
but I control the gaze.
Only one hand decides
who is allowed to see.
What am I?
Answer:
The curtain
I walk into danger but do not yield, I face temptation yet remain untouched.
I suffer so another may be restored, and turn what harms into what heals. What am I and whose?
Lizzie's Sacrifice
What is ironic about Jack and Algernon using the name “Ernest”?
What is the existential crisis in The Importance of Being Earnest and Barbie?
(Answers may vary)
In Earnest, the crisis is identity vs performance characters question whether they are their true selves or the roles they perform to fit society.
In Barbie, the crisis is constructed identity vs authentic self Barbie questions her purpose, her perfection, and what it means to be “real.”
How does the Lady of Shalott reflect the expectations placed on women in Victorian society?
Answer:
She represents how women were expected to remain passive, isolated, and obedient, and how acting independently or seeking autonomy could lead to punishment.
I have not entered the room,
but the warning is already there.
One wife became a portrait—
I may become the next.
Who am I?
Answer:
The Count’s daughter / the next Duchess
How does the repetition of “come buy, come buy” contribute to the meaning of the poem?
It mimics the repetitive and persuasive nature of temptation, emphasizing addiction and obsession.
What does Wilde reveal about Victorian society through the characters’ obsession with names and status?
That society prioritizes superficial markers like names and status over genuine character, exposing its absurdity.