Les Grands Seigneurs

1. Les Grands Seigneurs Dorothy Molloy

2. Learning Objectives • AO1 – respond to texts critically and imaginatively, select and evaluate textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations. • AO2 – explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers’ presentation of ideas, themes and settings.

3. Les Grands Seigneurs Men were my buttresses, my castellated towers, the bowers where I took my rest. The best and worst of times were men: the peacocks and the cockatoos, the nightingales, the strutting pink flamingos. Men were my dolphins, my performing seals; my sailing-ships, the ballast in my hold. They were the rocking-horses prancing down the promenade, the bandstand where the music played. My hurdy-gurdy monkey-men.

4. I was their queen. I sat enthroned before them, out of reach. We played at courtly love: the troubadour, the damsel and the peach. But after I was wedded, bedded, I became (yes, overnight) a toy, a plaything, little woman, wife, a bit of fluff. My husband clicked his fingers, called my bluff.

5. Courtly love

6. Les Grands Seigneurs • Men were my buttresses, my castellated towers, • the bowers where I took my rest. The best and worst • of times were men: the peacocks and the cockatoos, • the nightingales, the strutting pink flamingos. References to Medieval castles. What types of birds are mentioned?

7. Men were my dolphins, my performing seals; my sailing ships, • the ballast in my hold. They were the rocking-horses • prancing down the promenade, the bandstand • where the music played. My hurdy-gurdy monkey-men. What is a hurdy-gurdy? What does ‘ballast’ suggest about the men?

8. What is the effect of this passive word? • I was their queen. I sat enthroned before them, • out of reach. We played at courtly love: • the troubadour, the damsel and the peach. Often a symbol of marriage What is the effect of the word ‘played’? French travelling minstrels famed for their songs based on courtly love.

9. Passive – what does this say about their relationship? • But after I was wedded, bedded, I became • (yes, overnight) a toy, a plaything, little woman, • wife, a bit of fluff. My husband clicked • his fingers, called my bluff. Her status is diminished once she is his wife. He treats her as he would treat a servant.