exam paper 1: section a: reading non-fiction Flashcards
alterity
the state if being other, or different; otherness
nuanced
characterised by subtely or shades of meaning
polemic
a strong verbal or written cirticism which seeks to undermine the opposite position in a controversial debate
polyphony
an array of sounds (or voices) that are each as strong as eachother
hegemony
a group of people in a position of power or dominance.
western canon
the body of art, literature and music valued in the west.
metanarrative
a narrative account that experiments with or exlpores the idea of storytelling, often by drawing attention to itself
synthetic personalisation
addressing audiences as though they were individuals
epiphany
a sudden moment of realisation or revelation
lambast
criticize something harshly
how does morris use structure in the title of ‘Explorers or boys messing about? Either way,
taxpayer gets rescue bill’
it encapsulates the tone of the piece: unlike other
more objective accounts of the incident published elsewhere, there is a scathing
sarcasm in the rhetorical question which infantilises [makes them out to be children]
the two men.
it also quotes brook’s wife, and the minister of defence
what type of structure does article, ‘Explorers or boys messing about? Either way,
taxpayer gets rescue bill’ have
non-linear
passive case def
putting the object first in the sentence
example of the passive case in ‘Explorers or boys messing about? Either way,
taxpayer gets rescue bill’,
‘there was also some confusion about what exactly the men were trying to achieve
example of ironic distance in explorers or boys
’ ‘trusty helicopter’ ‘ - line 18
pejorative def
used as an insult
give three things of brooks’ wife
she gives the title of the text, she is referred to in the last line and they spent their honeymoon flying from alaska to chile
describe the title in the danger of a single story
‘danger’ foreshadows main argument in a cautionary tone, the danger of one narrative can lead to a cultural misunderstanding
danger of a single story: personal pronouns to plural
trying to create a sense of unity, inspiring, inclusive.
synthetic personalisation
danger of a single story: rhetorical devices
ethos, pathos, logos, persuasive and informative
how does adichie use ethos
to establish credibility and be modest or honest
antithesis def
a person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else.
purpose of listing in danger of a single story
monotony, uninspiring
how does adichie use juxtaposition
to highlight the difference between her and the characters
how does adichie use pathos
humour “finish your food! dont you know? people like fide’s family have nothing.”
logos
shared experience
pathos
invoking pity
ethos
atmosphere, philosophy, ideaology
why does adichie include her own anecdotes and analogies
to show everyone can follow the narrative, and make those mistakes. she is trying to acoid being accusational/vindicative/patronizing and include herself
anaphora def
rhetorical device that consists of repeating a sequence of words at the beginnings of neighboring clauses
where does adichie use parallel structures
“no possibility of Africans being similar to her in any way, no possibiliy of feelings more complex than pity, no possibility of a connection as human equals.”
“stories can break the diginity of a people, but they can also repair that broken dignity”
juxtaposition
antithesis
stories can be empowering
theme
juxtaposition of great possibilites (line 75-77)
contrast - “paradise”
optimistic tone
collective pronouns
use of colon (line 27) to emphasise the importance that African stories saved adichie.
sterotyping is dangerous theme
cautionary tone ‘the danger’
juxtaposition and antithesis of stories and realities
repition of “over and over”
parallel structure “a single story of catastophe”
all guilty of sterotyping theme
collective pronoun ‘we’
language choice, “unintended”, and “well-meaning”, empathetic tone
personal anecdotes
ethos - self critique establishes credibility
how does alagiah remind us and keep us intriegued
by hinting and reminding us of the face, three times.
what are the purpose of line 3-32
establishing context
why does alagiah use written indtructions to describe the remoteness
emphasises the lack of map, uniqueness of this report and story as comapred to others
apologia def
formal written defence of one’s opinions or conduct.
apathetic def
showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
how does alagiah use tricolons
“simple, frictionless, motionless”
for emphasis of the death being commonplace
deontic mood def
what ought to be
example of parallesim in passage to africa
“it was rotting; she was rotting”
effect of the one sentence reminder of the face
it keeps the reader interested, why doesnt he go into more depth like he did with the others.
describe how alagiah feels in the feeding centre
pity and revulsion, the conflict of emotions. we would probably react the same way, so this gives him credibility
describe the effect of the disjointed sentece strucutre when alagiah describes the face
it shows his altered mindset, and complex degree of embarrassment. (internal conflict of journalist)
rhetorical quesiton in passage to africa
“how should i feel to be standing there so strong and confident” invokes guilt and encourages the reader to reflect
internal rhyme in passage to africa
“fleeting meeting”, shows the swift connection
effect of parallelisms used in passage to africa
shows his attempt to remain detattched as he feels that is the professional thing to do
“and then it clicked”
shows clarity and lepihany
what ‘fact of life’/journalist ideology/relationshop with subject does alagiah rethink?
“the journalist observes, the subject is observed. the journalist is active, the subject is passive.”
what does alagiah resolve to do
be more active and interact with the subjects
why does alagiah consider the man his friend
because he taught him something
explain “so my nameless friend, if you are still alive, i owe you one”
nameless friend: oxymoron
if you are still alive: emphasises desperation of war/ weakness and failure of the report, and is a reminder that death is commonplace whilst life is precious and rare
i owe you one: reverses usual basis of relationship as journalists belive they are providing a service
how does alagiah describe journalists
“ghoulish manner”
like you enjoy dark/sinister things, newsworthy journalists feed off death
where is passage to africa set
village in somalia
“pictures that stun the editors one day are written off as the same old stuff the next.”
reflects the media industry.
dismissive, dehumanizes the subjects of these images
the same quality ceases to be satisfying, need more - addictive
desensitised, greedy
describe the title “chinese cinderella”
connotations of neglect, foreshadows the rest of the story
describe the opening few sentences in chinese cinderella
"should have had" implies the opposite "and left there." unusual, abandonment "despised by her..." negative diction "autobiography" personal experience "went home" makes it seem unordinary
use of pathetic fallacy in chinese cinderella
“outside it was hot and there was wind blowing” increased tension = dread
“the thought of leaving school throbbed at the back of my mind like a persistent toothache”
simile, painful thought
why does adeline yen mah run downstairs so distressed
she was “wondering who had died this time”
effect of the chaffeur picking up adeline
shows the disconenction from her family - “during the short drive home” also shows their lack of care for her
“where are we?” I asked foolishly
shows her self-depreciation, and how its her first time there
“perhaps the end of school forever”
conscious of time, melodramatic, likes school/hates home
describe the biblical allusion
“holy of holies” increases the anticipation and irregularity
does the chaffeur treat her nciely
no wierd beacuase she is the daughter of his employer so her father must not care.
does adeline go to boarding school for practicality
no its a short drive home
“summoned by father”
increases formality, anticipation and reinforces god-like hierachy
does adeline have a good relationship with father
no, lots of distrust and fear “dare i let my guard down?”
whats wierd about “is the winner adeline jun-ling yen related to you?”
theyre friends but he doesnt know his daughters name
does adeline believe she has won at first
no, “is it possible? am i dreaming? me, the winner?” it shows her disbelief and doubt in her abilities
“for once”
adverbial
metaphor that shows the effect of her fathers pride
“i only had to stretch out my hand to reach the stars”
does her father approve of her self depreciatiopn
yes he encourages it
describe adelines reaction at the possibliy of uni abroad
disbelief, so happy to leave and study whatver, desire to leave hong kong
is her father encouraging of wriitng
no, he is belittling and implies she is emotionally unintelligent
what does her father want her to do
medicine, become an obstetrics because “women will always be having babies. women patients prefer women doctors”.
does he kindly suggest medicine
no he repeats a list of modal verbs, he is very commanding
“dont you agree”
leading quesiton, closed
what is the art of diplomacy
conversation
why is the ending of chinese cinderella ironic
she is over the moon but hasnt gotten what she really wants
structure in chinese cinderella
hyperbole, rhetorical questions, adverbs
