GCSE English Literature · key term

Physiognomy

Definition

The practice of judging a person’s character from their facial appearance; Lady Ingram uses it to give her class prejudice an appearance of authority.

Used by AQA, Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas

How each exam board covers it

AQA GCSE English Literature · 8702

Paper 1

The belief that a person’s character can be read from their facial features or appearance; it is not a reliable way to identify criminality.
Physiognomy means reading character from outward features. Related theories associated criminality with supposedly primitive physical traits. In Chapter 2, Utterson thinks he can read “Satan’s signature upon a face”.
Revise: Context
The belief that someone’s character can be judged from their facial features. Lady Ingram uses this claim to give authority to her class prejudice.
Revise: Social class

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AQA English Literature past papers

Edexcel GCSE English Literature · 1ET0

Paper 2

Lady Ingram then declares, “I am a judge of physiognomy, and in hers I see all the faults of her class” in Chapter 17. Physiognomy means judging character from facial appearance. Lady Ingram claims expertise, but her conclusion is already governed by prejudice: Jane’s face supposedly displays the faults of an entire occupational group.
Revise: Social class

Edexcel English Literature past papers

OCR GCSE English Literature · J352

Paper 1

The supposed practice of judging someone’s character from their facial features.
Her mother, Lady Ingram, announces, “I am a judge of physiognomy, and in hers I see all the faults of her class”. She claims to read Jane’s character from her face, but “all” reveals a sweeping judgement based on class. Instead of discovering what Jane is like, she assumes that Jane must possess the faults she associates with governesses.
Revise: Social class

OCR English Literature past papers

Eduqas GCSE English Literature · C720

Component 2

The practice of claiming to judge a person’s character from their facial features. Lady Ingram uses it to give apparent authority to her class prejudice.
Lady Ingram adds, “I am a judge of physiognomy, and in hers I see all the faults of her class.” Her claim to expertise gives prejudice the appearance of knowledge. She has not investigated Jane’s conduct: she assumes that her face reveals defects shared by an entire class.
Revise: Social class
The belief that a person’s character can be read from their facial features or physical appearance.
Revise: Context
The practice of judging someone’s character from their physical appearance, especially their face. Utterson’s interpretation of Hyde reflects this way of thinking.
Revise: Mr Hyde

Eduqas English Literature past papers