‘The Wasp Factory’

1. ‘The Wasp Factory’ Revision

2. Aims • To highlight key areas of the text • To look at sample questions in preparation for the prelim • To look at sample topic sentences • Practise writing our own paragraphs.

3. Key themes • Write down the key themes of the novel • Duality • Misuse of science • Isolation • Hidden truths/secrecy • The importance of omens and rituals - religion • Father and son relationships • Gender and identity

4. Potential question • Choose a novel or short story in which a central character’s failure to understand the reality of his or her situation is an important feature of the text. • Explain how the writer makes you aware of this failure and show how it important to your appreciation of the text as a whole. Frank has no understanding as to the reality of his own situation. By the end of the novel he is seen as a victim, despite the horrendous acts he has carried out. His failure to grasp his situation shows the cruelty of man (father’s abuse); this is Banks’ way of exploring the misuse of science as a key theme.

5. Points to make • First paragraph: At the beginning of the novel we are made aware of hidden truths as a result of symbolism. The cigar smoke between the two characters suggests that Frank, at the start of the novel at least, has no idea with regards to the truth. The amount that Angus has hidden from him (i.e. his correct gender) illustrates the levels of abuse he has unknowingly suffered and is Banks’ way of showing us the reality of the misuse of science. • Paragraph 2: Frank doesn’t understand his situation and is driven to commit heinous acts in a futile attempt to reclaim his masculinity. The levels of violence he carries out are Banks’ way of illustrating what the misuse of science can lead to and its inherent dangers if unchecked. Just as Shelley shows us the dangers of the misuse of science through her monstrous creation in Frankenstein, so Banks does likewise through Frank. Quotations: burning bunnies (11) loss of innocence/ Frank relishing potential violent acts as no moral compass (12).

6. Paragraph 3: Banks uses the study as a symbol of the hidden truths surrounding Frank’s life. Once Frank uncovers what lies in the study we can see the extent of his father’s abuse as he emotionally breaks down. Banks uses this emotionally climactic scene to aid our understanding of the text as is clearly shows the catastrophic and truly heart-breaking effects unchecked scientific exploration can have. • Quote: 30. Also could use 31 in analysis to show the blindness of Angus as to what he has done.

7. Topic sentences • Look at the sample topic sentence. • Note the analytical point, use of evaluation and context. • Continue the analysis, remembering to put in evaluation and personal engagement.

8. ‘The Wasp Factory’ Revision Part 2 Looking at Frank

9. Frank as a character • An important element of the novel is just how unsettling Frank is as a person. • While Frank scares us as a result of his crimes, we also become sympathetic towards him. • Frank is the personification of duality in the novel: biologically female but mentally male.

10. Task • 1. What parts of the novel show us the unsettling side of Frank’s character? • 2. What does each part tell us about the novel’s main concerns?

11. Ideas • Bunnies – assertion of masculinity. Alerts us to dangers of misuse of science. (11) • Murder of Blyth – Frank’s relishing of the approaching murder coupled with struggling innocence is Banks’ way of highlighting man’s sense of duality. (12) • Blyth continued… (16) Parliament metaphor demonstrating duality. • Frank’s obsession with the Wasp Factory is rather unsettling. This macabre machine gives lessons about life: the paths we choose may vary, but our destination is always the same; we do not have as much control as we might think. (41/2)

12. Plan • Choose a novel which contains a disturbing character. • Explain what it is that makes the character so disturbing and go on to demonstrate how this aids your appreciation of the novel as a whole.

13. Monday • There will be a practise timed essay on Monday. • You will be given a choice of two questions.