Personal Study

The outline plan is due in on Mon 15th December. This will include a question and a paragraph plan, saying what you will be doing in each paragraph. You should also provide some supporting evidence for each point, showing that you are starting to pull the novel apart.


It may look something like this:

Question:
In 'Animal Farm', George Orwell explores the relationship between dictators and those over whom they rule. Examine the ways in which Orwell develops this theme and show how in doing so, he reveals some of the nature of political power.

Intro:

Paragraph 1:

Old Major building support, and the universal solidarity of the animals in overthrowing Jones. Look closely at the speech, and power of rhetoric.

Evidence: Language such as 'comrades'; clear vision for the future; personalisation of suffering; ironic presentation of Beasts of England and Orwell's hints at gullibilty in the face of a positive vision.

Paragraph 2:

Characterisation of Napoleon, Snowball and Squealer. Show how the consolidation of power quickly becomes a justification of privelege. Comparison with Communist Russia. Lack of early opposition allows pigs to become too powerful.

Evidence:Squealer's propaganda: "You don't want Jones to come back..."; Developing then changing commandments; exile of Snowball and his demonisation; show their manipulative intent.

Paragraph 3:

etc...

You will need to make at least three solid points in the plan, and possibly more.

The suggested essay questions from class are:

• How does [author] develop the relationship between the two main characters in [novel]?
  
• Show how the [author] explores the theme of [theme] in [novel].
  
• Discuss in detail the development of [main character] in [novel].
  
• Examine [author’s] use of setting in the development of the theme.
  
• Examine [author’s] use of stylistic and narrative devices in [novel].

Please adapt these to your own purpose, as I have done for the Animal Farm essay. It may be easier, especially with theme questions, to make a statement first, the put in a question, as I have done, above.


Remember, whatever your question, you must refer to various aspects of text, including:

• Theme
• Characterisation
• Style (including narrative style, use of figurative language etc)
• Narrative viewpoint
• Setting
• Plot

In characterisation essays, you should look at the following techniques:

• Reaction to plot events
• Relationships
• Description
• Speech/thoughts (perhaps this comes into the narrative)
• Changes in values/world view, as shown through the above

In theme essays, you should look for a theme which really gets to the heart of the novel. You should be looking for the author's central purpose. Why did they write this novel? What do they want their readers to be thinking about? Don't go for something on the surface, like 'friendship', but look at what the novel teaches us.

If you have any questions, please ask, either by email or by coming to see me after class or at interval or lunch. I'm here to help.