The Duchess and the Jeweller

Virginia Woolf [Br.] 1882-1941

OUTLINE

Plot Ideas

Characters Style Language

Theme

Author

1. About the Author

Adeline Virginia Woolf was an English novelist, essayist, diarist, epistler, publisher, feminist, and writer of short stories, regarded as one of the foremost modernist literary figures of the twentieth century.Mrs. Dalloway, Jacob's Room, To the Lighthouse. (25 Jan 1882 – 28 Mar

1941)

2. Plot Summary

Once a poor boy in the streets of London, he has become the richest jeweller in England. One day, Oliver enters into his

private shop room, and awaits the arrival of the Duchess. When she arrives, he has her wait. The Duchess comes to Oliver to sell

ten pearls, as she has lost substantial money to gambling.

The Duchess manipulates him into buying them for twenty thousand pounds. In the end, the pearls are found to be fakes.

3. Main ideas

No. Paras

2

Main ideas1 The jeweler's luxury

2-4 His recollection of his endeavor

The dealBefore the duchess’ appearance

3

4

5-14

15-6

17-50

To and in his shop

1

5After the deal 51-36

4. The Theme

Woolf, being an advocate of addressing the "stream of consciousness," shows the thoughts and actions of a greedy jeweller; Woolf makes a thematic point that corrupt people do corrupt actions for purely selfish motives (and often without regret).

5. Character Analysis

The JewellerOf humble origin, new-rich, luxurious, arrogant, greedy, showy, self-contemptuousThe DuchessOf noble birth, flirtatious, luxurious, arrogant, greedy, crafty, florid

6. Stylistic Analysis

A. Stream of consciousness: inner world

B. Limited, yet unlimited time and space

C. Modernism: individualism

7. Language Points

Furniture: chair, sofa, sideboard, mantelpiece, etc.Jewels: rubies, emeralds, pearls, diamonds, etc. Say: wail, sigh, moan, hiss, murmur, whisper, etc.Materials, colors, clothing, etc.

Groups of words

Complex sentences