E.M. Forester

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E.M. Forester E.M. Forester David Pierce David Pierce

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E.M. Forester. David Pierce. Thesis. E.M. Forester’s well-plotted novels draw attention because of his attachment to mysticism and his secular humanist beliefs. Early Years. Forester was born January 1, 1879 in London. He was an only child. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of E.M. Forester

Page 1: E.M. Forester

E.M. ForesterE.M. Forester

David PierceDavid Pierce

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ThesisThesisE.M. Forester’s well-plotted E.M. Forester’s well-plotted

novels draw attention novels draw attention because of his attachment because of his attachment to mysticism and his to mysticism and his secular humanist beliefs.secular humanist beliefs.

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Early YearsEarly Years

Forester was born January 1, 1879 in Forester was born January 1, 1879 in London. London.

He was an only child. He was an only child. His father was an architect and died His father was an architect and died

when Forester was only a year old.when Forester was only a year old.

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ContinuedContinued

Most of his boyhood was dominated by Most of his boyhood was dominated by women. women.

He later inherited £8,000 in trust as a He later inherited £8,000 in trust as a young boy from his great aunt in 1887. young boy from his great aunt in 1887.

This made it possible for him to live on and This made it possible for him to live on and become a writer. become a writer.

Forester’s childhood was the happiest time Forester’s childhood was the happiest time of his life. of his life.

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TravelTravel

After leaving the university he traveled After leaving the university he traveled with his mother. with his mother.

They traveled through Italy for a year then They traveled through Italy for a year then a cruise to Greece following. a cruise to Greece following.

Forester also visited Egypt, Germany, and Forester also visited Egypt, Germany, and India. India.

During these travels he gathered the During these travels he gathered the material that he needed for his early material that he needed for his early novels. novels.

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ContinuedContinued

He began to satirize the attitudes of He began to satirize the attitudes of English tourists. This is shown in English tourists. This is shown in A A Passage to IndiaPassage to India. .

When returning from travel he began to When returning from travel he began to write a new independent review that was write a new independent review that was launched in 1903 by a group of Cambridge launched in 1903 by a group of Cambridge friends. In 1904 he published his first friends. In 1904 he published his first short story, short story, The Story of a PanicThe Story of a Panic. .

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Published NovelsPublished Novels

These novels had great success and These novels had great success and made Forester a well known author. made Forester a well known author. Where Angels Fear to TreadWhere Angels Fear to Tread – 1905 – 1905 The Longest JourneyThe Longest Journey – 1907 – 1907 A Room with a ViewA Room with a View – 1908 – 1908 Howards EndHowards End – 1910 – 1910 A Passage to IndiaA Passage to India – 1924 – 1924

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A Passage to IndiaA Passage to India

Published in 1924Published in 1924

This was his last novel This was his last novel

and the most famous and the most famous

of his work. of his work.

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Cecilia H. C. LiuCecilia H. C. Liu

The title• Forster took the title from Walt Whitman's poem Forster took the title from Walt Whitman's poem

"Passage to India", 1870. The Suez Canal, creating a "Passage to India", 1870. The Suez Canal, creating a passage to India, was completed in 1869. "While passage to India, was completed in 1869. "While "Passage to India" is very much about the anticipatory "Passage to India" is very much about the anticipatory joy of a global union fulfilling the destiny first sought joy of a global union fulfilling the destiny first sought by Christopher Columbus, it is also about the voyage by Christopher Columbus, it is also about the voyage of the soul or spirit and the resultant discovery that of the soul or spirit and the resultant discovery that lies beyond India, the cradle of civilization, the lies beyond India, the cradle of civilization, the motherland of America. In fact it is India, as the motherland of America. In fact it is India, as the ultimate goal of Columbus's voyage, that represents ultimate goal of Columbus's voyage, that represents all great human undertaking and, at the same time, all great human undertaking and, at the same time, the distinct wonder of America, for when Columbus the distinct wonder of America, for when Columbus arrived in America, he thought he was in India," from arrived in America, he thought he was in India," from An Analysis of Asian Influences inAn Analysis of Asian Influences in "Passage to India" "Passage to India" by Matthew Whitman Lazenby. by Matthew Whitman Lazenby.

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Cecilia H. C. LiuCecilia H. C. Liu

Background of the Novel (I)Background of the Novel (I)

The colonial occupation of India is significant in The colonial occupation of India is significant in terms of the background of the novel. Britain terms of the background of the novel. Britain occupied an important place in political affairs in occupied an important place in political affairs in India since 1760, but did not secure control over India since 1760, but did not secure control over India for nearly a century. In August of 1858, India for nearly a century. In August of 1858, during a period of violent revolt against Britain during a period of violent revolt against Britain by the Indians, the British Parliament passed the by the Indians, the British Parliament passed the Government of India Act, transferring political Government of India Act, transferring political power from the East India Company to the power from the East India Company to the crown. crown.

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Cecilia H. C. LiuCecilia H. C. Liu

Background of the Novel (II)Background of the Novel (II)

This established the bureaucratic colonial system in This established the bureaucratic colonial system in India headed by a Council of India consisting initially India headed by a Council of India consisting initially of fifteen Britons. Although Parliament and Queen of fifteen Britons. Although Parliament and Queen Victoria maintained support for local princes, Victoria Victoria maintained support for local princes, Victoria added the title Empress of India to her regality. The added the title Empress of India to her regality. The typical attitude of Britons in India was that they were typical attitude of Britons in India was that they were undertaking the "white man's burden," as put by undertaking the "white man's burden," as put by Rudyard Kipling. This was a system of aloof, Rudyard Kipling. This was a system of aloof, condescending sovereignty in which the English condescending sovereignty in which the English bureaucracy did not associate with the persons they bureaucracy did not associate with the persons they ruled, and finds its expression in characters such as ruled, and finds its expression in characters such as Ronny Heaslop and Mr. McBryde in Ronny Heaslop and Mr. McBryde in A Passage to A Passage to IndiaIndia..

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Cecilia H. C. LiuCecilia H. C. Liu

Background of the Novel (III)Background of the Novel (III) Indian nationalism began to foment around Indian nationalism began to foment around

1885 with the first meeting of the Indian 1885 with the first meeting of the Indian National Congress, and nationalism found National Congress, and nationalism found expression in the Muslim community as expression in the Muslim community as well around the beginning of the twentieth well around the beginning of the twentieth century. Reforms in India's political system century. Reforms in India's political system occurred with the victory of the Liberal occurred with the victory of the Liberal Party in 1906, culminating in the Indian Party in 1906, culminating in the Indian Councils Act of 1909, but nationalism Councils Act of 1909, but nationalism continued to rise. continued to rise.

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Cecilia H. C. LiuCecilia H. C. Liu

Background of the Novel (V)Background of the Novel (V) More than twenty years later, after a long More than twenty years later, after a long

struggle, Parliament passed the Indian struggle, Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act in 1947, ordering the Independence Act in 1947, ordering the separation of India and Pakistan and separation of India and Pakistan and granting both nations their sovereignty. granting both nations their sovereignty.

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ConclusionConclusion

Many people know of E.M. Forester Many people know of E.M. Forester through his many film adaptations made through his many film adaptations made from his work.from his work.

Forester had concrete ideas, irrational Forester had concrete ideas, irrational thoughts, and believed in a philosophy that thoughts, and believed in a philosophy that upholds reason and ethics. upholds reason and ethics.

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Any Questions?Any Questions?