Bluebeard Observation Tasks
Here are the areas that I want you to look for as you read, and then think about in your writing for “Bluebeard”:
Noticing Bluebeard’s Character Traits or Motivations and Explanation
Based Charles Perrault’s story, what character traits do you see Bluebeard exhibiting? And/or, what motivations do you see driving him? Name at least three character traits or motivations (you may mix and match as you see fit, or they may be all traits or all motivations). In the explanation section, explain how the evidence you select supports the observation you’re making.
Noticing The Young Bride’s Traits or Motivations and Explanation
Based on this Bluebeard story, what character traits do you see the young bride exhibiting? And/or, what motivations do you see driving her ? You might also draw a distinction between character traits that you see as “negative” and those you see as “positive.” Name at least three character traits or motivations (you may mix and match as you see fit, or they may be all traits or all motivations). In the explanation section, explain how the evidence you select supports the observation you’re making.
Commenting on the Story: What Do You Think It Means Beyond the Moral? and Explanation
In the final section of your “Bluebeard” Observation, offer your first stab at commentary on the story, or in other words, your first stab at a critical interpretation beyond the moral of the story. (Spoiler alert: the moral of the story is probably something like, “curiosity [almost] killed the cat” or “listen to your husband”—something women in the class are bound to bristle at). What do you think the story says in terms of the traditional gender roles we’ve been studying so far, or in terms of relationship dynamics?
“The Bloody Chamber” Observation Tasks
Here are the areas that I want you to look for as you read, and then think about in your writing for “The Bloody Chamber”:
Noticing how the Character of Marquis (Bluebeard) is Developed Beyond the Original Tale and Explanation
In this section of your “Bloody Chamber” observation, make note of three descriptions or scenes related to the Marquis that seem important, revealing greater depth about his character or the Bluebeard story genre in general (example: you could discuss how the wife describes him, you could discuss scenes which he is in, you could describe scenes in his house that seem important—all of these related to his character). Per usual, in the explanation section, explain how the evidence you select supports the observation you’re making.
Noticing How the Character of the The Young Bride’s is Developed Beyond the Original Tale and Explanation
Similar to the Marquis/Bluebeard section above, make note of three descriptions or scenes related to the young bride that seem important, revealing greater depth about her character or the Bluebeard story genre in general (example: you could discuss the wife’s more complex motivations or character traits, you could discuss scenes which she is in, you could describe scenes in her memory or her thoughts that seem important, because the story is told from her point of view—all of these related to her character). In the explanation section, explain how the evidence you select supports the observation you’re making.
Commenting on “The Bloody Chamber”: What Does this Novella Say Beyond the Original Story? and Explanation
In the final section of your “Bloody Chamber” Observation, offer your first stab at commentary on the story, or in other words, your first stab at a critical interpretation. Your essay for Unit 2 will ask you to choose one of the Bluebeard retellings, and to explain how the author’s retelling works to change or nuance the meaning of the story in ways that you see as significant. To that end, in your commentary section for this observation, comment on what you see as one of the most important ways “The Bloody Chamber” adds to the Bluebeard folktale.
“Adds to” might not be quite right—you could think of Carter’s story in different ways in relation to the original: it might add to it, expand on certain things about it, bring certain latent or hidden themes to the surface, change it in meaningful ways, etc. For this section of your observation, choose one important area of the story, comment on how it changes interpretation of the original tale, and explain yourself.