A critical essay is marked out of 25.
25 – Outstanding
21/23 – Very Sound
17/19 – Comfortable
13/15 – Just Succeeds
11/9 – Fails
7/5 – Serious Shortcomings
You can answer a question in one of the
following sections:
 Prose
 Poetry
 Drama
You must answers two questions, both from
different sections.
The most important thing to do is make sure
you understand the question. You can
write the best essay in the world but if it
does not answer the question then you fail.
The box above the questions tell you what
you should do to answer the question in
general before the actual question gets
specific.
Answers to questions on prose fiction should address relevantly the
central concern(s)/theme(s) of the text(s) and be supported by
reference to appropriate techniques of prose fiction such as:
characterisation, setting, key incident(s), narrative technique,
symbolism, structure, climax, plot, atmosphere, dialogue, imagery ...
This is the text from “THE BOX”. This tells you how to answer every
question in the prose section. It lays out the different techniques
that you should mention. You will never be able to reference them
all but you should try and include as many of them as possible.
The easiest to write about have been put into bold. By constantly
referring to these techniques, you should avoid simply re-telling the
story which results in FAILURE.
Choose a novel or short story which features a relationship between two
characters which is confrontational or corrosive.
Describe how the relationship is portrayed and discuss to what extent
the nature of the relationship influences your understanding of the
text as a whole.
1.
2.
This is a prose critical essay question.
To answer this question you must do the following:
Describe how the confrontational/corrosive relationship is portrayed.
Explain how the relationship increases your understanding of the text
3. Use the techniques from “The Box” in your analysis
4. DO NOT re-tell the story.
Below is a prose question. How would you answer it?
Choose a novel or short story which deals with true
love, unrequited love or love betrayed.
Discuss the writer’s exploration of the theme and
show to what extent it conveys a powerful
message about the nature of love.
When you are writing a critical essay you should follow the following structure.
This should help you avoid re-telling the story.
Introduction
Use the wording of the question to frame your introduction by
using the key words. You should also explain how you are
going to answer the question.
Choose a novel or short story which deals with true love, unrequited love or
love betrayed.
Discuss the writer’s exploration of the theme and show to what extent it
conveys a powerful message about the nature of love.
The main body of your essay should follow
this structure:
Point
 Evidence
 Analysis
 Reference back to the question

Choose a novel which has a
character who is not taken
seriously or respected which turns
out to have tragic consequences.
This is where you make a point that is
relevant to the question.
Example
Piggy is a character that is ignored because he is fat and
because he speaks in a manner that the other characters
believe is common despite the fact that he speaks a lot of
sense.
This is where you provide evidence to back
up your POINT. The easiest way to do this
is with a quote.
Example
“Piggy, for all his ludicrous body,
had brains.”
This is where you get your marks. Markers love good
analysis which shows a real insight into the text. You
should analyse your point in detail.
Example
Golding is being heavy on irony when he makes it clear
that Piggy is someone who could help the boys escape
the island but he is ignored due to his appearance. This
already begins to show the darkness that exists in the
other boys as they are letting human prejudice and
cruelty cloud their judgement and in doing so, damage
their chances of escaping from the island.
This is a very simple part but it stops you from
wandering off course and writing things that are
not relevant to the question. After every section,
refer back to the wording of the question.
Example
This clearly shows that Piggy has been disrespected
for unfair reasons and this all contributes to the
novel’s tragic conclusion.
Conclusion
You should use your conclusion to sum up
your main argument and to refer back to
the question. Just like the introduction,
you should use the wording of the
question to frame your conclusion. This
brings your essay circular back to the
question.
Below is a mini essay question. You will not be able to write in enough
depth for a full critical essay but it gives you an opportunity to try out
the essay structure. Remember to use “The Box”.
The opening chapters of Lord of the Flies introduces
us to characters who exhibit dark tendencies.
Describe these characters and explain how they
contribute to your understanding of the novel’s
thematic concerns.
Due Tuesday September 6th.