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Superman and Paula Brown’s New Snowsuit

A story about a young girl's innocence and the loss of her childhood fantasy world, set against the backdrop of World War II. Themes of childhood vs adulthood, fantasy vs reality, and the impact of war on the narrator's perception.

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Superman and Paula Brown’s New Snowsuit

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  1. Superman and Paula Brown’s New Snowsuit Sylvia plath

  2. Sylvia Plath 1932 – 1963 (30 y.o) Born - Massachusetts Studied and died in England Married famous poet Ted Hughes in 1956 and had 2 children. Suffered from depression. Committed suicide after long struggle.

  3. Superman and Paula Brown’s New Snowsuit Pre-Reading task In pairs write down a list of words that you would associate with Superman: Firstly, as a young child. Secondly, as a young adult Is there a difference in these lists? Now read the short story.

  4. Wrongly Accused Do all the children know that the narrator did not push Paula? Are they perhaps unsure of what really happened? Try to find evidence for your answer. Why should all the children take the side of a child that “nobody...really liked”? How sure are we that the narrator is right in giving this measure of Paula’s unpopularity? How good, in your view, are adults at knowing which children are truthful and which ones are more dishonest?

  5. Discussion Points Have you ever been accused of something you haven’t done? How did you feel? Have you ever accused someone of something they haven’t done? Have you ever conformed to peer pressure at someone else’s expense? Who can you identify best with within the short story?

  6. Setting 1941 – The year America joined WWII America Why do you think the setting is relevant? What comparisons can be made between this story and the war?

  7. Reference to War War is often referred to throughout the short story. Task1: Skim through the short story and list all of the facts we learn from it.

  8. War Task 2: Why do you think Plath makes so many references to the war? Consider the following: At the start, the narrator hardly notices the threat of war because she is so caught up in her own private world of Superman. The war gradually affects the narrator more and more - her uncle might be drafted, she practices for an air raid - but she does not seem worried (despite the fact that the adults are). She is physically affected when she sees the horrific way the Japanese treated their prisoners of war. After that experience, she cannot dream of Superman again, so we know her childhood is beginning to fade. The group of children have their own mini 'war' when Paula blames the narrator for spoiling her snowsuit. The narrator is the innocent victim and everyone else becomes her enemy. She is scarred for ever by the experience. As World War Two rages on, the narrator gradually becomes more aware of its horrors - and has to fight her own 'war'. All references to the peaceful, innocent childhood portrayed at the start of the story disappear by the end of it - only the real, grown-up world remains.

  9. Themes What themes can you identify within the short story?

  10. Themes Childhood vs. adulthood Fantasy vs. reality Scapegoats Disillusionment Man vs. Superman Material possessions vs. Moral values Betrayal

  11. Contrasts Most of these themes contain contrasts. Task Explain and give examples of the following contrasts within the story:

  12. Task Group 1 Identify and discuss the importance of the title in introducing the themes already discussed. Be prepared to share your thoughts Group 2 Identify and discuss the themes of childhood/fantasy vs. adult reality. Group 3 Identify and discuss the theme of disillusionment. Can you find a key incident(s) where the narrator is becoming disillusioned? Hint – remember importance of setting. Group 4 Discuss the theme of scapegoats. Why has the narrator become a suitable scapegoat for both the children and adults? Who do you think the writer thinks is worse adults or children? Group 5 Discuss the theme of materialism. What is more important to the characters within this text material possession or moral values? Do you think society has changed since then? Is it worse or better?

  13. Fantasy vs. Reality Beginning of story – games/being saved/good vs.evil/good always wins. All of this is represented in the games played by the narrator and the references to Superman. Setting of war disturbs this. Would the good guys win? Cinema/ US propaganda film – Had thus far been protected from reality and such graphic images. (Key incident) Contrast between fantasy (her life so far) in Snow White and reality (Japanese POW) beginning to seep into her life. Fantasy disappears in last line.

  14. Man vs. Superman Beginning – Uncle Frank had been narrator’s Superman. Superman enforces justice and makes wrongs right. End – No-one to save her from her own injustice. Disillusioned of Superman and fantasy.

  15. Scapegoats An important theme and made more relevant due to the setting of the story. War – Jews made scapegoats by Nazis encouraging Germans to blame them for the countries problems.

  16. Symbolism Light and Dark Costumes Superman Paula Brown

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