writing tips Flashcards
extract question
What has happened before this scene, and what happens after it? Is anything foreshadowed?
How does the scene reflect the social, cultural and historical context of the play?
To what extent do characters behave in ways that we do/do not expect of them?
What attitudes do characters reveal?
Are any relationships exposed; do characters reveal their opinions of one another?
What types of conflict are evident in this extract?
Which themes are explored? What imagery/language/ metaphors are used to explore them?
How is the setting described?
How is tension established, and at which moments is it increased?
What is revealed about characters’ attitudes to particular themes of the novel, and to what extent are characters used as cyphers? What is revealed about the attitudes of the author?
Qs on Relationship
- paraphrase the Q
- relevant themes and author’s attitude
- quote + metaphor
- characters - sympathize? + conflict
- Context
- quote + metaphor
- metaphor - imagery, symbols, foreshadowing, language, dialogue
- personal response - effect of context on characters and moments of tension
Questions on THEME
Introduction - What the theme is, the author’s attitude to it, brief plot summary
Symbols - relevant to the theme
Quotes - 1 and 2 (attitude)
Structure - question raised, answeres offered
Character - who or what they are in conflict with, themes cause their conflict
Context
Personal Response - A character is affected by a theme - how do you feel about them at that moment?
response to character
At key moments, ask yourself how you feel about a
character:
Do you sympathise with them?
Do you admire or respect them?
Do you despise them?
Do you think they have made a mistake, or could have
behaved better?
Do you fear for their safety?
Do you share in their pride or joy at a successful
outcome?
Do you hope they will change or learn something
new?
Do you think they deserve what happens to them?
Do you root for them?
Response to Tension
There are four types of tension:
Tension of relationships.
Tension of task.
Tension of surprise.
Tension of mystery.
Identify the moments of tension and release from tension, and any unanswered questions that remain.
Question on Character
- theme
What are the main themes of the text? What aspect of the theme does that character represent? - conflict
In what types of conflict is the character involved?
How does socio-historical context cause conflict?
How does the reader feel about the character when they are involved in conflict? - quotes
Which two quotes perfectly summarise the character?
Which words from the quotes can you analyse in detail? - symbols
What objects with metaphorical significance does the character use or own?
What places of metaphorical significance does the character visit?
what to write about characters
What aspect of themes they embody.
How the playwright uses them as ciphers.
Their actions, and what happens to them.
Their attitudes and beliefs.
Any objects they use/possess with symbolic or metaphorical significance.
The relationships they have with other characters.
The metaphors and symbols in their language.
What the audience thinks of them at certain moments.
The types of conflict they are involved in.
Two quotes (by, to or about the character) that summarise them perfectly.
(+for Hamlet) Their use of prose and/or verse to signify their status and state of mind.
IMAGERY
- What is the actual event or feeling being described?
- How is it being described?
Visual Images: Metaphor, Personification, Oxymoron
Aural Images: Alliteration, Assonance, Sibilance, Dissonance - Quote
4.What effect does it have
Pick out a key word - say what it usually means/connotations - why it is interesting in the context by describing how it makes you feel or think
Theme is explored through
Characters’ attitudes and function as thematic ciphers
Metaphors and images (in characters’ language, as well as in the form of objects and locations)
Characters’ actions and what happens to them in the plot
Relationships and conflict between (and within) characters
