Literature Prose Analysis JC

Literature Prose Analysis Questions / ​ Parallels ​ / ​ Main Ideas Notes Assessment Criteria What are the 4 Assessment Criteria for Literature? Assessment Criteria 1. Literary Terminology 2. Sensitivity: Personal & Insightful 3. Imagination 4. Systematic Thinking Answering Technique State the Micro Elements of Poetry ● What relations should you be looking out for within these elements? ● What are the 3 steps of Literary Analysis? A Thematic Prose Introduction must Bring in the Text’s C______ How many Examples should a Point have? State Authorial Judgement on Topic Sentence and Link to Mind & Self Sample Questions: ● What is the process of/ experience of X like? How is X featured in the text? ● What is the effect of X in terms of identity/ how she sees herself/ state of mind? Before the Exam Macro: Plum in Tomato Salad Always Causes Purple Vomit ● Plot, Imagery, Themes, Structure/Setting, Atmosphere & Mood, Characterisation & Conflict, Parallel & Foil, Voice and Visual Spectacle (Drama) During the Exam Analysis Micro: Speech, Diction, Rhythm, Sentence Construction, Schemes of Omission, Schemes of Repetition ● What do the elements reveal in ​ Contrast and Synergy ​ ? ○ Note Contradictions and Relations within Poem ○ Good to use Multiple elements ● What? → How? → Why?

● Technique > Effect > Significance ○ Bring out Action of the Author ○ Drama: DRAMA IS MEANT FOR THE STAGE ■ Consider Visual/Auditory Spectacle ○ E.g. The author uses visual imagery in the simile “men die as cattle” to suggest that the men considered less than human in how they are systematically, indiscriminately and frequently sacrificed for war, so as to condemn the act of war as senseless ● Effect: Questions to Consider ○ What is this ​ associated ​ with? ○ How does this relate to the ​ context of the prose ​ and as a general statement ​ ? ○ Why did the author ​ choose ​ to add this when the ​ sentence would have been fine without it/other things could have been used ​ ? ○ What does the author want to ​ achieve (plot/theme/emotion) ​ ? Does this support/oppose it? ○ Are there other interpretations of this? How do the interpretations contrast/synergise? ○ How would the audience respond? ■ Emotion: Laughter, Horror, Suspense, Surprise, Excitement, Shock, Tears ■ Opinion of Characters: Pity, Admiration, Scorn ■ Plot Development: Curiosity, Anticipation, Tension, Relief, Catharsis ■ Moral Judgement: Condemn/Commend ■ Intellectual Stimulation ● M4M: Pressures of Societal Judgement, Damage of Patriarchal Society ○ Tone and Mood

Preparation ● Draw a Mindmap of Ideas for Keywords by Defining and Setting Boundaries for them and Link them together ○ E.g: Messages of Author about Aging → Factors in one’s Sense of Self ■ Aging: Growth of the Physical Body; Effect on self? Think of Moments when Aging causes problems for Mrs Curren, Separates her from Bheki and John, and causes her to doubt her significance in Society ● Decide on the Number of Paragraphs ○ For controversies: Argumentative ○ For clear issues: Discursive Essay with 3 points on one side Introduction: HDTO ● Begin with a hook ● Define the question: Address key terms, interpret quote if given ● Link to thesis statement: rhetorical questions relating to the topic ● State your thesis statement: Use relative qualifiers (e.g. often, primarily, frequently) as they are much easier to prove ● Give an overview of your points Unseen Prose Introduction ● Overview of Given Text: Subject Matter & Themes ● Argument of How Text highlights Theme ● Overview of Points Thematic Prose Introduction ● Hook ● Context of Theme: How is the Theme Featured in the Text? ● Define ● Thesis ● Overview of Points Body Paragraphs: PEEL / What → How → Why / Technique → Effect → Significance ● State your topic sentence: present point in first sentence ○ Use Connectors for Subsequent Paragraphs ● Use the P.E.E.L / What → How → Why / Technique → Effect → Significance ● Point: Ensure point is explicit and closely adhered to ○ E.g.: Aging has an Oppressive quality that sparks Questions pertaining to one’s Self-worth and Value to Society ● Examples: Have ≥ 2 ○ Interweave into your Writing: Do not use ‘this is seen in “she toiled up the duneside, her huge backside quaking”’ but ‘This

is seen from how the girl “toiled up the duneside, her huge backside quaking”’ ○ Give Context if necessary ● Link: State the Authorial Judgement on the Topic Sentence and Link to the Mind & Sense of Self ● Have around 3 Body Paragraphs Counter-Argument + Rebuttal ● Use a connector (On the other hand, however, in contrary) ● Make it clear that it is an opposing view (e.g On the other hand, opponents of this view claim that (opposite of thesis) as (strong opposing substantive point). Such people maintain that (PEEL of anti-thesis) ● Connector: However, in the defense of my argument…... ● Rebut through : flaws in opponent’s argument, new unconsidered fact, point which undermines opponent’s argument ● Reinstate your stand to show it is still strong Conclusion ● Summarise main arguments and reaffirm your stand ● Do not introduce new points ● Concluding thought/reflection/recommendation ○ Thematic Significance + Authorial Judgement on Significance ● May link to the first paragraph The first element of a Macro-Analysis is… ● Note when READING a Text before the Exam Plot Definition: The ​ Causal Sequence ​ of Events ● A → B → C ● ≠ Story: Series of Events that are only ​ Linked Chronologically Themes Definition: Abstract Underlying Message of Text ● Recurring Idea throughout Text

Setting Placement of the PLOT in ● Time ● Location ● Society ● History ● Culture Staging Stage Directions 1. Character’s Actions: Who + Action 2. Character’s Speech Mannerisms 3. Setting: Time/Place 4. Lighting: Mood/Focus 5. Wardrobe: Props and Costumes 6. Music ● Helps with Visualisation + Bring out Character’s feelings Structure Definition: How the Plot is Built Temporally ● Chronological ● Anachronistic: Time-Shift; Discrepancy in Chronological Order ○ Analepsis: Flashback; Story starts with Chronological End ○ Prolepsis: Future Even Interrupts Present ○ In medias res: Exciting Event Interrupts present Acts and Scenes ● Note depictions of Transitions ○ Setting ○ Characters ○ Mannerisms ○ Lack of Transition ● Note how Play is Divided: What is the relation to important stages in the action of the play/character development? Characters

Definition: People involved in the Plot ● Roles ○ Main Protagonist: Faces Conflict ○ Main Antagonist: Hinders Protagonist's Progress until Resolution ○ Hero ○ Tragic Hero: Hero who makes an error of judgement/has a fatal flaw that leads to his doom ■ E.g Romeo ○ Anti-hero: Hero which lacks conventionally heroic qualities such as idealism, courage and morality ○ Villain ○ Foil: Used to contrast with another character to bring out both character’s qualities in juxtaposition ● Types ○ Stock/Archetypes: Stereotypes ○ Flat: Has few “dimensions”; lacks nuance in personality and hardly changes ○ Round: Has multiple “dimensions; various sides to the character in traits and/or change over time Methods of Description ● Direct: Explicit Statements ○ From Narrator/Other Characters ○ Labels ● Indirect: Traits that have to be Inferred from ○ Behavior ○ Speech ○ Thoughts ○ Appearance ○ Interaction/Juxtaposition with Others ○ Actions: Private & Public ○ Speech: Class, Content, Accent, Tone ○ Background: Cultural, Social, Financial ● Caricature: Exaggeration of Distinctive Features ● Nomenclature: Purposeful Naming e.g. Mr Fox Effect ● Power D