Marie Antoinette: Letter to Her Mother 1773
HIS 101—Fall 2012 Name: Rachel Wang
Worksheet for Document Analysis Analysis #: 1
Document Title: Marie Antoinette: Letter to Her Mother 1773
Author: Marie Antoinette
Date Written: September 10, 2012
Location: Paris
1. How would you describe what this document is? What was its purpose? What function did it serve?
Marie Antoinette, as a letter, wrote this piece of literature to her mother. It was written in 1773, and since Marie was born in 1755, this would make her the age of 18, or the prime of her youth. The letter shows the excitement of a young queen-to-be showing her appreciation…first, of the letters that she received from her mother and secondly, telling her mother of her travels and her trip to Paris in particular. She describes her joy and excitement of meeting the citizens, but pays specific attention to the peasants of Paris. The letter serves as written proof or documentation of the demeanor of the citizens, perhaps a glimpse of how neighboring territories may have felt towards Marie Antoinette. Since it was a letter written by her, it also gives us the reader, an idea of what Marie may have been like by noting the tone, attitude, and style of her writing. This gives us the reader, excellent insight of what her character may have been like.
2. Who is the author of this document? What is his/her social position (this could include age, gender, ethnicity, social class, political position, insider/outsider, or anything else that strongly influenced their sense of “place” in society)? Which line of text best indicates how the author views or wishes to present him/herself?
Marie Antoinette wrote this letter herself, and in this moment she would have been at a high political standing having just married Louis Auguste in 1770. She is, of course, a female and a young woman who is about to take the throne in the following year when Louis XV
Worksheet for Document Analysis Analysis #: 1
Document Title: Marie Antoinette: Letter to Her Mother 1773
Author: Marie Antoinette
Date Written: September 10, 2012
Location: Paris
1. How would you describe what this document is? What was its purpose? What function did it serve?
Marie Antoinette, as a letter, wrote this piece of literature to her mother. It was written in 1773, and since Marie was born in 1755, this would make her the age of 18, or the prime of her youth. The letter shows the excitement of a young queen-to-be showing her appreciation…first, of the letters that she received from her mother and secondly, telling her mother of her travels and her trip to Paris in particular. She describes her joy and excitement of meeting the citizens, but pays specific attention to the peasants of Paris. The letter serves as written proof or documentation of the demeanor of the citizens, perhaps a glimpse of how neighboring territories may have felt towards Marie Antoinette. Since it was a letter written by her, it also gives us the reader, an idea of what Marie may have been like by noting the tone, attitude, and style of her writing. This gives us the reader, excellent insight of what her character may have been like.
2. Who is the author of this document? What is his/her social position (this could include age, gender, ethnicity, social class, political position, insider/outsider, or anything else that strongly influenced their sense of “place” in society)? Which line of text best indicates how the author views or wishes to present him/herself?
Marie Antoinette wrote this letter herself, and in this moment she would have been at a high political standing having just married Louis Auguste in 1770. She is, of course, a female and a young woman who is about to take the throne in the following year when Louis XV