In General for Section B ...

1. In General for Section B ... • Start with your first text– and get it out of the way early (spend a short time on it) use it as a STARTER to a more detailed MAIN COURSE. • Do your strongest text second – Go into depth, and discuss in some detail. • For dessert – discuss your remaining text – in some depth – but not as much as the previous one. • Brief (literally 4 sentences) conclusion – say something new (that you haven’t already mentioned).

2. What makes an aspect of narrative significant? An aspect of narrative gains significance if it is used a lot. An aspect of narrative gains significance if it is used to shape the meanings behind the text. An aspect of narrative gains significance if it is very obvious An aspect of narrative gains significance if it affects other aspects of narrative An aspect of Narrative gains significance when it does the most to tell the story.. An aspect of Narrative gains significance if we can debate its effects.

3. Write about the significance of narrators in the work of the three writers you have studied. Also a good one! • Really just a three part Section A (part i) question. • Start easy – does the narrator actually affect the plot – or merely how we view the plot? Make this distinction. • Be as detailed as possible in describing the style and personality of each narrator. How do these two elements shape our response / understanding of the novel. Things to consider • The narrator IS the text – so they are obviously significant. They tell the story, and nobody else would tell the story as they do – what techniques set them apart? • Do we like the way they speak to us – do we have any emotional response? • Do they change their style at different points to help signal a shift in the narrative / plot?

4. Write about the significance of narrators in the work of the three writers you have studied. • Implied Authorial Voice - Personality of the Narrator. • Different reader responses to the narrator. • Reliability / Bias of the Narrator. • Position of Narrator (3rd Person, 1st Person etc). • Narrative Gaps (what the Narrator leaves out). • How they present Dialogue. • Role of Narrator in shaping the ‘meanings’ of the text. The Road Rime of the Ancient Mariner Keats • Chronology. • Master-plots. • Character Development. • Place and Time Settings. • The Events of the Story. The Great Gatsby

5. Write about the significance of narrators in the work of the three writers you have studied. The Road Rime of the Ancient Mariner Keats The Great Gatsby

6. Aim to discuss 2 characters in each of the texts – or 1 character and a group of connected characters. • Remember – don’t EVER discuss character. ALWAYS discuss characterisation. • HOW they are presented by the language and style. • Things to consider: • When is a character introduced (at a crucial moment?) • How much time is dedicated to that character in the narrative • Do we see things from their perspective (first person) or another character’s / narrator. • How much access do we have to their thoughts (and how are they revealed?) – first person or narrator telling us. • What style of language does the narrator use about them • What style of language does the character use? • Do they talk a lot? • Which of the BIG moments in the text do they affect and how? Do they shape the story? • Are they similar or different to other characters (in the text) or in other books (e.g. classic romantic heroine, classic villain)? Write about some of the ways characters are created in the three texts you have studied.

7. Write about the ways authors use time to shape the order of events in the three texts you have studied. • Think about chronology and the narrative – is it linear (in the right order) or non-linear (out of sync). Does this affect things? • Think of 2 moments in each text where time seems to move noticeably quicker, or slower. How does the author achieve this effect? Things to consider • What is the overall time-span of the text – is this important to the narrative? • Are there any significant transitions from particular stanzas to stanzas or chapters to chapters? • Are there any flashbacks (or forwards) and what are there significance? • Does the style help to reflect the approach to time – i.e. Very precise and ordered, or lots of imagery / dreamy (Mariner). Very dense narrative (like Gatsby) can seem to compress (or expand time).

8. Many narratives have one or more significant moments of crisis. Write about the significance of crises in the work of the three writers you have studied. A GOOD Question! • A crisis is the moment that the narrative reaches its breaking point – think about it as the point of greatest tension (gasp!) If the text were Eastenders – this is where the music would come in! • You define the moments YOU want to talk about. Aim for the obvious ones (but also pick an unusual or unexpected one). • You could get away with one per text ... But, it would be better (in at least one text) to say – ‘well, it depends on how we look at it – from this character’s perspective, this is a crises. However, from another’s, this is arguably the main crisis. Things to consider • Traditionally, crises are meant to happen in the last fifth of a text? They are then resolved (doesn’t have to be happy ending). Do your texts match this? • Can you locate the exact line or stanza where you think a crisis takes place?– explain your reasoning. • How does the style / narrative change in the run-up , during, and after the crisis? VERY IMPORTANT. • Even if you don’t do this question – for revision ... find some crises!! • What are the nature of the crises – action, realisation, discovery, violence, passion, etc.