Questions 19 & 20; Presentations
• Order of lessons between now and Easter
• Today
– Presentation groups
– Past answer
– Presentation time
Lessons between now & Easter
• Wednesday: past papers/model
answers/exam technique
• Next Monday: Mock exam – one past
question, answering on Hosseini and
Browning?...
• Next Wednesday: Student presentations
June 2009
19) Write about some of the ways characters are created in the three texts you have studied.
20) Write about the ways the authors use time to shape the order of events in the three texts you
have studied.
January 2009
19) Writers often choose their titles carefully to allow for different potential meanings. Write about
some potential meaning of titles in the three texts you have studied.
20) Write about the significance of one or two key events in each of the three texts you have
studied.
June 2010
19) Write about the significance of the ways writers end their narratives in the work of the three
writers you have studied.
20) Write about the significance of narrators in the work of the three writers you have studied.
January 2010
19) 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.
20) How do writers use repetition to create meanings in their texts? In your answer, refer to the
work of the three writers you have studied.
19) Write about some of the ways characters are created in the three texts you have studied.
Hosseini, Auden and Browning all use techniques to create characters in their texts. However, they do this in
different ways.
*** [Hosseini] ***
In Browning’s poem “My Last Duchess” which is a gothic tale of a psychotic murder. It is in form of a dramatic
monologue.
Firstly, the use of verbal pointing develops the character of both the Duke and Duchess; “that’s my last
duchess painted on the wall.” The Duchess is portrayed as an object and “last” gives connotations that
she wasn’t the Duke’s first and won’t be his last. This highlights the Duke as very obsessive as he likes to
show her off and show has ultimate control over her. This is further highlighted by; “The curtain I have
drawn for you.” The Duke has a curtain drawn around the Duchess, so only he can choose who gets to
see her, de does this as he felt he didn’t have ultimate control over her when she was alive so he wants
to now she is dead.
Secondly, the use of rhetorical questions, “who’d stoop to blame this sort of trifling.” This shows that the Duke
is a very proud man and thinks he is superior over the Duchess. He feels that he shouldn’t have to say
anything to her has she should know already that she shouldn’t behave like that. Thirdly, the complete
change of topic at the end of the poem; “Notice Neptune, though, taming a sea horse.” This portrays the
Duke as materialistic as he first moves on to talk about another possession. Also the fact that “Neptune”
is “taming a seah-horse” highlights the Duke’s view on power and how he must have ultimate control.
Another poem of Browning’s is “Porphyria’s Lover,” which is a dramatic monologue which has similar
openings to the Romantics.
Firstly, the use of pathetic fallacy develops the character of the lover; “sullen wind was soon awake” and
“worst to vex the lake.” This shows that the character has mixed emotions and the weather “tore the elmtops” is destroying the forest the same way the lover is going to destroy “Porphyria’s” life. Also “she shut
out the cold,” gives connotations that “Porphyria” is a warm and friendly person. Secondly, the title
“Porphyria’s Lover” gives connotations that Porphyria is the one in charge and that the lover doesn’t have
much say. This is highlighted later on in the poem; “from pride, and vainer ties dissever.” “Porphyria” is
from an upper class from the lover and therefore would superior to him.
Thirdly, the use of other characters such as God, who is someone of great importance, highlights parts of the
lover’s personality. “and yet God has not said a word!” The use of God here reveals that the lover has a
sense of justification for his actions and does therefore not think he has done anything wrong.
*** [Auden] ***
• 33/46 – Detailed exploration of several
aspects. Each text dealt with focuses on
task. V. good supporting references.