Short Stories Essay Questions
• How do the writers portray the impact of education in two of the stories?
• Read the extract starting from “Always somewhat confused” (77) to “with Naraian and herself trapped in the middle of them” (79) from the Young Couple. How do the writers show the ways people change and their reasons for doing so, in this extract and one other story?
• How do the writers explore the idea of tradition and convention in two of the stories?
• Read the extract “The path along which” (101) to Light shadows darted rapidly over the marble surface.” (102) from the Winter Oak, explore the ways the writer establishes the pathos (mood) within this extract and in one other story.
• How do the writers of 'Games at Twilight' and 'The Young Couple' show us the conflict that certain cultures can cause between people?
• How do the writers explore family relationships in two of the stories?
• Read the last two pages of Leela’s Friend. How does the writer present injustice in this and one other story.
• How do the writers capture the impact of place on an individual in this (Young Couple) and in one other story?
• How do the writers portray the relationship between adults and children in two of the stories?
• How do the writers present the experience of learning in this (Leela’s friend) and one other story?
• How do the writers show the effects of poverty or wealth in two of the stories?
• How do the writers explore the feeling of isolation in two of the stories?
• Read the extract from Games at Twilight. How do the writers vividly portray childhood experiences in this extract and one other story?
Showing posts with label Essay Questions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Essay Questions. Show all posts
Saturday, 5 June 2010
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Non Fiction media Sample Text
The most dangerous drug isn't meow meow. It isn't even alcohol ...
Newspapers are the biggest threat to the nation's mental wellbeing
I'm a lightweight; always have been. I didn't get properly drunk until I was 25, on a night out which culminated in a spectacular public vomiting in a Chinese restaurant. Ever wondered what the clatter of 60 pairs of chopsticks being simultaneously dropped in disgust might sound like? Don't ask me. I can't remember. I was too busy bitterly coughing what remained of my guts all over the carpet.
Not a big drinker, then. Like virtually every other member of my generation, I smoked dope throughout my early 20s. It prevented me from getting bored, but also prevented me from achieving much. When you're content to blow an entire fortnight basking on your sofa like a woozy sea lion, playing Super Bomberman, eating Minstrels and sniggering at Alastair Stewart's bombastic voiceover on Police Camera Action! there's not much impetus to push yourself. Marijuana detaches you from the world, like a big pause button. That was the worst thing about being stoned: there came an inevitable point every evening where you'd find yourself shuffling around a massively overlit local convenience store feeling alien and jittery or watching episodes of friends that seem to last nine hours rather than the bearable twenty minutes . No thanks.
These days I'm sickeningly lily-livered, by choice rather than necessity. I don't smoke, I drink only occasionally, and I'd sooner saw my own feet off than touch anything harder than a double espresso. I don't want to get out of my head: that's where I live.
In summary: if I've learned anything, it's that I don't much care for mood-altering substances. But I'm not afraid of them either. With one exception.
It's perhaps the biggest threat to the nation's mental wellbeing, yet it's freely available on every street – for pennies. The dealers claim it expands the mind and bolsters the intellect: users experience an initial rush of emotion (often euphoria or rage), followed by what they believe is a state of enhanced awareness. Tragically this "awareness" is a delusion. As they grow increasingly detached from reality, heavy users often exhibit impaired decision-making abilities, becoming paranoid, agitated and quick to anger. In extreme cases they've even been known to form mobs and attack people. Technically it's called "a newspaper", although it's better known by one of its many "street names", such as "The Currant Bun" or "The Mail" or "The Guardian".
In its purest form, a newspaper consists of a collection of facts which, in controlled circumstances, can actively improve knowledge. Unfortunately, facts are expensive, so to save costs and drive up sales, unscrupulous dealers often "cut" the basic contents with cheaper material, such as wild opinion, empty hysteria, reheated press releases, advertorial padding and photographs of Lady Gaga with her bum hanging out. The hapless user has little or no concept of the toxicity of the end product: they digest the contents in good faith, only to pay the price later when they find themselves raging incoherently in pubs, or – increasingly – on internet messageboards.
Tragically, widespread newspaper abuse has become so endemic, it has crippled the country's ability to conduct a sensible debate about the "war on drugs". The current screaming festival over "meow meow" or "M-Cat" or whatever else the actual users aren't calling it, is a textbook example. I have no idea how dangerous it is, but there seems to be a glaring lack of correlation between the threat it reportedly poses and the huge number of schoolkids reportedly taking it. Something doesn't add up. But we're treated to an hysterical campaign for a substance that will presumably – thanks to this – soon only be available via illegal, unregulated, more dangerous, means. If I was 15 years old, I wouldn't be typing this right now. I'd be trying to buy "plant food" on the internet. And this time next year I'd be buying it in a pub toilet, cut with worming pills and costing four times as much.
Personally speaking, the worst substances I've ever encountered are nicotine and alcohol. Apart from the odd fond memory, the only good thing either really have going for them is their legality. If either had been outlawed I'd probably have drunk myself blind on cheap illegal moonshine or knifed you and your family in the eye to fund my cigarette habit.
But then I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to narcotics. Like I said, I'm a lightweight. I can absolutely guarantee my experience of drugs is far more limited than that of the average journalist: immeasurably so once you factor in alcohol. So presumably they know what they're talking about. It's hard to shake the notion half the users aren't trying to "escape the boredom of their lives": just praying for a brief holiday from society's unrelenting rubbish.
What are Charlie Brooker’s views on media hysteria and how does he persuade his audience to share them?
Newspapers are the biggest threat to the nation's mental wellbeing
I'm a lightweight; always have been. I didn't get properly drunk until I was 25, on a night out which culminated in a spectacular public vomiting in a Chinese restaurant. Ever wondered what the clatter of 60 pairs of chopsticks being simultaneously dropped in disgust might sound like? Don't ask me. I can't remember. I was too busy bitterly coughing what remained of my guts all over the carpet.
Not a big drinker, then. Like virtually every other member of my generation, I smoked dope throughout my early 20s. It prevented me from getting bored, but also prevented me from achieving much. When you're content to blow an entire fortnight basking on your sofa like a woozy sea lion, playing Super Bomberman, eating Minstrels and sniggering at Alastair Stewart's bombastic voiceover on Police Camera Action! there's not much impetus to push yourself. Marijuana detaches you from the world, like a big pause button. That was the worst thing about being stoned: there came an inevitable point every evening where you'd find yourself shuffling around a massively overlit local convenience store feeling alien and jittery or watching episodes of friends that seem to last nine hours rather than the bearable twenty minutes . No thanks.
These days I'm sickeningly lily-livered, by choice rather than necessity. I don't smoke, I drink only occasionally, and I'd sooner saw my own feet off than touch anything harder than a double espresso. I don't want to get out of my head: that's where I live.
In summary: if I've learned anything, it's that I don't much care for mood-altering substances. But I'm not afraid of them either. With one exception.
It's perhaps the biggest threat to the nation's mental wellbeing, yet it's freely available on every street – for pennies. The dealers claim it expands the mind and bolsters the intellect: users experience an initial rush of emotion (often euphoria or rage), followed by what they believe is a state of enhanced awareness. Tragically this "awareness" is a delusion. As they grow increasingly detached from reality, heavy users often exhibit impaired decision-making abilities, becoming paranoid, agitated and quick to anger. In extreme cases they've even been known to form mobs and attack people. Technically it's called "a newspaper", although it's better known by one of its many "street names", such as "The Currant Bun" or "The Mail" or "The Guardian".
In its purest form, a newspaper consists of a collection of facts which, in controlled circumstances, can actively improve knowledge. Unfortunately, facts are expensive, so to save costs and drive up sales, unscrupulous dealers often "cut" the basic contents with cheaper material, such as wild opinion, empty hysteria, reheated press releases, advertorial padding and photographs of Lady Gaga with her bum hanging out. The hapless user has little or no concept of the toxicity of the end product: they digest the contents in good faith, only to pay the price later when they find themselves raging incoherently in pubs, or – increasingly – on internet messageboards.
Tragically, widespread newspaper abuse has become so endemic, it has crippled the country's ability to conduct a sensible debate about the "war on drugs". The current screaming festival over "meow meow" or "M-Cat" or whatever else the actual users aren't calling it, is a textbook example. I have no idea how dangerous it is, but there seems to be a glaring lack of correlation between the threat it reportedly poses and the huge number of schoolkids reportedly taking it. Something doesn't add up. But we're treated to an hysterical campaign for a substance that will presumably – thanks to this – soon only be available via illegal, unregulated, more dangerous, means. If I was 15 years old, I wouldn't be typing this right now. I'd be trying to buy "plant food" on the internet. And this time next year I'd be buying it in a pub toilet, cut with worming pills and costing four times as much.
Personally speaking, the worst substances I've ever encountered are nicotine and alcohol. Apart from the odd fond memory, the only good thing either really have going for them is their legality. If either had been outlawed I'd probably have drunk myself blind on cheap illegal moonshine or knifed you and your family in the eye to fund my cigarette habit.
But then I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to narcotics. Like I said, I'm a lightweight. I can absolutely guarantee my experience of drugs is far more limited than that of the average journalist: immeasurably so once you factor in alcohol. So presumably they know what they're talking about. It's hard to shake the notion half the users aren't trying to "escape the boredom of their lives": just praying for a brief holiday from society's unrelenting rubbish.
What are Charlie Brooker’s views on media hysteria and how does he persuade his audience to share them?
Saturday, 30 January 2010
Selection of Exam Questions
Poetry Exam Questions
1. In what way do the poets of 'Recruiting' and 'Joining The Colours' suggest that the soldiers being sent off to war were being deceived by the authorities? What imagery do they use to suggest this?
2. In what way do the poets of 'The Target' and 'Spring Offensive' convey the horror of being in battle? Discuss their use of imagery, rhyme and rhythm, structure and theme.
3. In what way does Wilfred Owen in 'The Send Off' and Sassoon in 'The Hero' suggest that the reality of war is very different from the way it is presented to the general public who do not fight in the war?
4. In what way does Gurney in 'The Bohemians' and Sassoon in 'Lamentations' inform us about the different emotions of the people who fought in the war?
5. Compare and contrast 'The Deserter' with 'The Hero' and explain how the poets try to make the reader feel angry about the lies that happened then.
6. How do the attitudes of Cole in 'Falling Leaves' and McCrae in 'In Flanders Fields' differ in their attitudes towards the countless deaths that happened during the war?
7. Compare and contrast the ways in which the poets of 'The Seed-Merchant's Son' and 'The Parable of the Old Man and the Young' use religious imagery to suggest the horror of war.
8. In what way do the poets of 'Perhaps' and 'Spring in War-Time' explore the theme of grief?
9. Compare 'Reported Missing' with 'The Send Off'. In what ways do the poets suggest that it is the living who have to endure the worst agonies?
Death of a Salesman Questions
1. Re-read the flashback scene from page 22 where Biff says, “Gee, how’d you know we wanted a punching bag?” to page 25 where Happy says, “Let’s box, Bernard!” How does Miller’s creation of this flashback scene contribute to the dramatic impact of the play?
2. Re-read the play’s opening from page 8 to the bottom of page 10. In what ways does Miller capture the audience’s interest and attention in this opening scene, and introduce some of the main issues in the play?
3. Re-read the scene in Stanley’s bar from the top of page 84 to the bottom of page 85. How does Miller create dramatic tension in this scene and bring to light some of the main issues of the play?
4. Re-read the scene in Howard’s office from the top of page 62 to the bottom of page 64. How does Miller’s creation of the conflict in this scene contribute to your understanding of the play?
5. Re-read the Requiem scene. How does Miller’s creation of Willy’s funeral contribute to the dramatic impact of the play and to your understanding of its concerns?
1. Does the way Miller presents Happy encourage you to feel sympathy for him? Remember to support your ideas with details from the play.
2. What does Miller’s portrayal of Uncle Ben add to the dramatic impact of the play? Remember to support your ideas with detail from the play.
3. How does Miller’s portrayal of Bernard add to your understanding of Willy in the play? Remember to support your ideas with detail from the play.
4. Biff says of Willy, “He’s got no character” (p. 44). Is this an accurate assessment of Willy Loman? Remember to support your ideas with detail from the play.
5. Biff says to Willy, “I’m a dime a dozen, and so are you!” Is this an adequate assessment of their lives? Remember to support your ideas with detail from the play.
Empire of the Sun
1. Apart from Jim, for which character do you feel most sympathy in Empire of the Sun? Remember to refer closely to the novel in your answer.
2. Re-read pp. 339-340, from “The pilot’s mouth opened …” to “… each of the impatient dead.” How does Ballard’s writing here reveal Jim’s reactions to death in Empire of the Sun?
3. Dr Ransome calls Jim ‘a free spirit’. Why do you think he does so? Remember to refer closely to details from the novel in your answer.
4. Re-read pp. 348-350, from “The hospital and the camp…” to “they seemed older and far away.” In the light of previous events, what makes this a particularly effective piece of writing?
5. How does the novel show that war can bring out both the best and the worst in people? Refer closely to relevant parts of the novel in support of your answer.
6. What do you find interesting about the way in which Ballard creates the character of Mr Maxted? Remember to refer closely to the novel in support of your answer.
7. Re-read the passage on pp13 – 15 from “The commentator’s voice” to “It was not the anger of the Japanese that most disturbed Jim, but their patience”. How does this passage effectively set the scene for later events in the novel?
8. What do you find interesting about the way in which Ballard portrays the character of Basie. Remember to refer closely to the novel in your answer.
9. Re-read passage pp83-86 from “One afternoon …” to “…counted for nothing” How does Ballard’s writing in this passage show Jim’s relationship with the Japanese in Empire of the Sun?
10. Explore the ways in which Ballard vividly portrays the places Jim stays in. Remember to support your ideas with details from the writing
Short Stories
1. How do the writers portray the impact of education in two of the stories?
2. Read the extract starting from “Always somewhat confused” (77) to “with Naraian and herself trapped in the middle of them” (79) from the Young Couple. How do the writers show the ways people change and their reasons for doing so, in this extract and one other story?
3. How do the writers explore the idea of tradition and convention in two of the stories?
4. Read the extract “The path along which” (101) to Light shadows darted rapidly over the marble surface.” (102) from the Winter Oak , explore the ways the writer establishes the pathos (mood) within this extract and in one other story.
5. How do the writers of 'Games at Twilight' and 'The Young Couple' show us the conflict that certain cultures can cause between people?
6. Read the last two pages of Leela’s Friend. How does the writer present injustice in this and one other story.
7. How do the writers explore the feeling of isolation in two of the stories?
8. How do the writers capture the impact of place on an individual in this (Young Couple) and in one other story?
9. How do the writers show the effects of poverty in two of the stories?
1. In what way do the poets of 'Recruiting' and 'Joining The Colours' suggest that the soldiers being sent off to war were being deceived by the authorities? What imagery do they use to suggest this?
2. In what way do the poets of 'The Target' and 'Spring Offensive' convey the horror of being in battle? Discuss their use of imagery, rhyme and rhythm, structure and theme.
3. In what way does Wilfred Owen in 'The Send Off' and Sassoon in 'The Hero' suggest that the reality of war is very different from the way it is presented to the general public who do not fight in the war?
4. In what way does Gurney in 'The Bohemians' and Sassoon in 'Lamentations' inform us about the different emotions of the people who fought in the war?
5. Compare and contrast 'The Deserter' with 'The Hero' and explain how the poets try to make the reader feel angry about the lies that happened then.
6. How do the attitudes of Cole in 'Falling Leaves' and McCrae in 'In Flanders Fields' differ in their attitudes towards the countless deaths that happened during the war?
7. Compare and contrast the ways in which the poets of 'The Seed-Merchant's Son' and 'The Parable of the Old Man and the Young' use religious imagery to suggest the horror of war.
8. In what way do the poets of 'Perhaps' and 'Spring in War-Time' explore the theme of grief?
9. Compare 'Reported Missing' with 'The Send Off'. In what ways do the poets suggest that it is the living who have to endure the worst agonies?
Death of a Salesman Questions
1. Re-read the flashback scene from page 22 where Biff says, “Gee, how’d you know we wanted a punching bag?” to page 25 where Happy says, “Let’s box, Bernard!” How does Miller’s creation of this flashback scene contribute to the dramatic impact of the play?
2. Re-read the play’s opening from page 8 to the bottom of page 10. In what ways does Miller capture the audience’s interest and attention in this opening scene, and introduce some of the main issues in the play?
3. Re-read the scene in Stanley’s bar from the top of page 84 to the bottom of page 85. How does Miller create dramatic tension in this scene and bring to light some of the main issues of the play?
4. Re-read the scene in Howard’s office from the top of page 62 to the bottom of page 64. How does Miller’s creation of the conflict in this scene contribute to your understanding of the play?
5. Re-read the Requiem scene. How does Miller’s creation of Willy’s funeral contribute to the dramatic impact of the play and to your understanding of its concerns?
1. Does the way Miller presents Happy encourage you to feel sympathy for him? Remember to support your ideas with details from the play.
2. What does Miller’s portrayal of Uncle Ben add to the dramatic impact of the play? Remember to support your ideas with detail from the play.
3. How does Miller’s portrayal of Bernard add to your understanding of Willy in the play? Remember to support your ideas with detail from the play.
4. Biff says of Willy, “He’s got no character” (p. 44). Is this an accurate assessment of Willy Loman? Remember to support your ideas with detail from the play.
5. Biff says to Willy, “I’m a dime a dozen, and so are you!” Is this an adequate assessment of their lives? Remember to support your ideas with detail from the play.
Empire of the Sun
1. Apart from Jim, for which character do you feel most sympathy in Empire of the Sun? Remember to refer closely to the novel in your answer.
2. Re-read pp. 339-340, from “The pilot’s mouth opened …” to “… each of the impatient dead.” How does Ballard’s writing here reveal Jim’s reactions to death in Empire of the Sun?
3. Dr Ransome calls Jim ‘a free spirit’. Why do you think he does so? Remember to refer closely to details from the novel in your answer.
4. Re-read pp. 348-350, from “The hospital and the camp…” to “they seemed older and far away.” In the light of previous events, what makes this a particularly effective piece of writing?
5. How does the novel show that war can bring out both the best and the worst in people? Refer closely to relevant parts of the novel in support of your answer.
6. What do you find interesting about the way in which Ballard creates the character of Mr Maxted? Remember to refer closely to the novel in support of your answer.
7. Re-read the passage on pp13 – 15 from “The commentator’s voice” to “It was not the anger of the Japanese that most disturbed Jim, but their patience”. How does this passage effectively set the scene for later events in the novel?
8. What do you find interesting about the way in which Ballard portrays the character of Basie. Remember to refer closely to the novel in your answer.
9. Re-read passage pp83-86 from “One afternoon …” to “…counted for nothing” How does Ballard’s writing in this passage show Jim’s relationship with the Japanese in Empire of the Sun?
10. Explore the ways in which Ballard vividly portrays the places Jim stays in. Remember to support your ideas with details from the writing
Short Stories
1. How do the writers portray the impact of education in two of the stories?
2. Read the extract starting from “Always somewhat confused” (77) to “with Naraian and herself trapped in the middle of them” (79) from the Young Couple. How do the writers show the ways people change and their reasons for doing so, in this extract and one other story?
3. How do the writers explore the idea of tradition and convention in two of the stories?
4. Read the extract “The path along which” (101) to Light shadows darted rapidly over the marble surface.” (102) from the Winter Oak , explore the ways the writer establishes the pathos (mood) within this extract and in one other story.
5. How do the writers of 'Games at Twilight' and 'The Young Couple' show us the conflict that certain cultures can cause between people?
6. Read the last two pages of Leela’s Friend. How does the writer present injustice in this and one other story.
7. How do the writers explore the feeling of isolation in two of the stories?
8. How do the writers capture the impact of place on an individual in this (Young Couple) and in one other story?
9. How do the writers show the effects of poverty in two of the stories?
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Death of a Salesman - Essay Questions
You have a choice of three questions in the exam and here are the pros and cons of each.
1. The extract question
Pros: You only really need to analyse that extract, you can look closer at language, you don’t have to find quotes because they are already there.
Cons: You can only focus on the extract, you may not know that bit well, you have to examine language and word choice more closely.
2. The character question.
Pros: You can use a lot of points for that character; you can link it to the play as a whole; you can go into detail on one character.
Cons: If you don’t know the character it’s difficult, limits you to one character focus.
3. In-role writing
Pros: Creative writing, it seems easier to do, don’t have to analyse language too in depth.
Cons: Have to know the plot REALLY well, have to write in character voice, incorporate quotations directly into your writing without copying the play.
1. The extract question
Pros: You only really need to analyse that extract, you can look closer at language, you don’t have to find quotes because they are already there.
Cons: You can only focus on the extract, you may not know that bit well, you have to examine language and word choice more closely.
2. The character question.
Pros: You can use a lot of points for that character; you can link it to the play as a whole; you can go into detail on one character.
Cons: If you don’t know the character it’s difficult, limits you to one character focus.
3. In-role writing
Pros: Creative writing, it seems easier to do, don’t have to analyse language too in depth.
Cons: Have to know the plot REALLY well, have to write in character voice, incorporate quotations directly into your writing without copying the play.
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