English A Language and Literature

Paper Two

Topics

1. To what extent are the books products of the times and places in which they were written?

2. To what extent do they reflect something of the personality and life experience (upbringing, education, politics, relationships, careers, influences) of their authors?

3. What would they have meant to readers at that time?

4. To what extent are they still relevant to us?5. What is that you particularly like or love about

either or both of them?

Paper Two

• Answer one essay question only. • You must base your answer on at

least two of the Part 3 works you have studied.

Instructions on exam paper

Answer one essay question only. You must base your answer on at least two of the Part 3 works you have studied. Answers which are not based on a discussion of at least two Part 3 works will not score high marks. Your answer should address the ways in which language, context and structure contribute to your reading of each work.

Part Three books

Example• George Orwell. 1984 (published 1949)• Naguib Mahfouz. The Thief and the

Dogs (published 1961 in Arabic, 1984 in English)

• HL only: Mohsin Hamid. The Reluctant Fundamentalist (published 2007)

List your books in the same style

Typical questions

1. Why might two of your Part 3 works be considered 'timeless'?

2. With regards to two literary texts, explain why authors may have chosen to depict events in a particular sequence or order.

3. How do two literary works both reflect and challenge the spirit of the times in which they were written?

…address the ways in which

language, context and

structure contribute to your understanding of each work.

Style

Language

Context

Structure

Language

1.Language

• What types of vocabulary are used? Why? How do those types help us to understand the idea in the text?

• How do various types of formal versus colloquial terms add to the context and understanding of the character or setting?

• What stylistic devices can we name that help us to understand text?

Devices in works of fiction

:

• Imagery• Diction > tone• Characterization• Irony• Symbolism• Allegory• Humour / Pathos

Language

Literary devices• Themes• Genre (Dystopia, thriller, memoir)• Satire• Allusion

http://prezi.com/6vziemclnb78/literary-elements-in-1984/

Context

The circumstances or conditions in which the book was written and is read.

Contexts

• The context of composition• The context of interpretation

Context of composition

• How did the time and place in which the work was written influence how the author felt and what she/he thought?

• How did the work affect the readers at that time? How was it received by different readers?

• What impact did the context have on their response to the work?

Context of interpretation

• The set of beliefs, values, knowledge which readers bring to understanding the work.

• Culture• Education• Expectations• Knowledge of literature• Knowledge about the author and the book• Reading skills

Structure

• Plot or narrative• The setting

Structure

Some basic concepts• Narrate: tell a story• Narrative: tool for putting events into some

kind of logical order, usually chronological• Narration: the act of telling a story• Narrative technique: direct or indirect,

point of view• Narrative voice: the «person» telling the

story

Structure

Plot or narrative structure• Linear or chronological• Circular• Fragmented or disjointed

Structure

Narrative• Narration• Exposition• Description• Characterization• Dialogue (direct and indirect)• Narrator’s comments (intrusive)

Structure

Narrative voice• 1st, 3rd, 2nd person point-of-view• From whose point of view?• Is the point of view omniscient,

selectively omniscient or objective

• Narrative voice: what is the tone of «voice» telling you the story?

Structure

Plot Structure:

• Is there a “back story”?• In what order are the events presented ?• How does the writer develop the story?• Are there flashbacks or flashforwards?• Is there foreshadowing?• Does the narrative cover a long or short period of

time?• Does the plot move quickly, slowly, changes of pace?• Are there frequent changes of place?• Are there unexpected twists in the plot?• Does the writer create suspense?• How does the author resolve the plot (ending?)?

Revision

Make notes on each of the books under these headings• Language• Context• Structure• Characters• Themes

Revision

• Write an essay on one of the topics from this presentation.

• Refer to at least two of the books.