"The Crucible" - language

The language spoken by the characters in the play is intended to give us the feeling of a society which is different from ours in time and manners. When he was researching the play, Miller was intrigued by the language of the court records and adapted some of the forms and usages for his own dialogue. He does not use the exact form of English that the people of Salem would have recognised as this might prove too difficult for a modern audience to understand. Instead, Miller gives us a flavour of the language spoken in seventeenth-century America.

The Influence of Latin

The English spoken at the time of the events in Salem was heavily influenced by Latin. Most educated people would have used Latin for written communication and many important texts were available only in Latin. In Latin, the verb usually comes at the end of a sentence, e.g. "Up the stairs she climbed". If you find that some of the word order in The Crucible is unusual it is because we have now moved away from this way of constructing sentences.

As Latin had been used by the church in order to keep the Bible from ordinary people, the Puritans of Salem rebelled against the language itself but still spoke in a was that reflected the English of their home counrty. Note that in Act 1, when Reverend Hale wants to drive out the Devil, he chants in Latin.

Miller uses double negatives and inverted sentence structures in his version of this language. John Proctor says, "I never said no such thing", Giles Corey tells Danforth "I will not give you no name". In Act IV, Danforth tells Elizabeth "We come not for your life" when the modern version would be "we do not come for your life".

In his autobiography Timebends, Miller said of the language:

I came to love its feel, like hard burnished wood. Without planning to, I even elaborated a few of the grammatical forms myself, the double negatives especially, which occured in the trial record much less frequently than they would in the play.

Some words are used in a way that we would not use them now. Giles Corey complaining about his wife's reading habits, says, "It discomforst me!", using discomfort as a verb, whereas we would say "It makes me uncomfortable". John Proctor expresses amazement that Mr. Hale would "suspicion" his wife. Modern usage would be "suspect".

Christianity and the Bible

The rhythms and imagery of the language echo that of the King James's version of the Bible of 1611. The Puritans in England, forefathers of the Salem settlers, had requested a new transformation of the Bible as part of their pressures for reform of the Church. It took seven years to complete and had a definite influence on style. This Authorised Version, used by Protestants for 350 years, was loved for the beauty and clarity of its English and would have been familiar to the audiences of the 1950s and still is to many today. It was only replaced by modern versions around 1960.

The forenames of the characters and others mentioned are taken from the Bible, as was the parctice in Christian communities. some of them which are not so commonly used today, such as Ezekiel, Isaac and Susanna are from the Old Testament. Others, like John, Thomas, Martha and Elizabeth, can be found in the New Testament.

A good deal of the language found in The Crucible has its origins in religion. As the Puritans took the Bible literally they would have thought it perfectly normal to use sayings from it in everyday speech. Rev. Hale, when he describes his period of soul-searching before he tries to persuade John Proctor to save his life by confessing, says, "I have gone this three months like our Lord into the wilderness". He is comparing his experience to that of Jesus when, according to St Matthew, he was, "led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil" (Matthew, 4:1). In Act 2, speaking of Abigail, Elizabeth Proctor says, "Where she walkes the crowd will part like the sea for Isreal", which is a reference to the parting of the Red Sea in the book of Exodus when Moses led the Isrealites in their escape from Egypt. When Danforth is asked to delay the executions, he replies, "God have noot empowered me like Joshua to stop this sun from rising", which refers to Joshua, 10.

This is a powerful, dignified way of speaking which helps to create the impression of a different soiety, one which is rural and deeply religious. It is deliberate and simple language, which is appropriate to the period in which the play is set without being too difficult for the modern audience.

Within this form of language some characters are made to be more eloquent than others. It is important that Abigail in an impressive speaker, whereas Mary Warren has to be more timid. It is not that the girls actually spoke like this: it suits Miller's dramatic purpose to have the two girls speak differently from one another.

Language in Context

Arthur Miller uses the rhythms and patterns of speech that would have been heard in Salem at the time of the original trials. You need to remember this when writing about the play. the characters are not speaking old English or even funny English. It is simply that the English that we speak today has changed since the seventeenth century. If you need convincing of this, imagine how our speech might sound to people in four hundred years' time.

More Technical Terms

Have a look at this web page. There are a few more technical terms and I will start using some of these in the weekly tests!!


http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/N/novel/glossary.html

Creative writing

A reminder that this is due on the 5th December. I would like you to post these up on here by then too.


Thanks!!

Structure in "The Crucible"

The Crucible follows a fairly striaghtforward structure. Events on the stage reflect the time that would be spent in real life. This realistic drama concentrates on the important epiodes and fills in what happens between acts as unobtrusively as possible.

This internal structure is slightly more complicated. Miller employs a different pattern of pace and climax in each Act, and unifies all four by interweaving John Proctor's personal history with the fate of Salem. Act 1 is "an overture". The main characters introduec themselves as neighbours invading Mr Parris's house to ask about the rumours of witchcraft. Their rapid entrances and exits creat an atmosphere between John and Abigail alerts us to another storyline, but the topic of witchcraft remains dominant.

Act 2, in contrast, opens quietly, and explores at length a different situaion: the relationship between John and his wife. These two perspectives are brought togethr when the court officials burst in to arrest Elizabeth.

Structurally, Act 3 is the most complicated section of the wholeplay. Miller does not place his trial scene in the courtroom itself. We briefly overhear what is happening there, and then, by a natural sequence of events, judges and defendeants remove themselves to an anteroom on stage. Thus Miller can bring into play the cut and thrust of legal drama, but in a much freer setting. In this act, there is also a striking example of what he calls the holding back of climax.

After the uproar of the court, comes the chilly isolation of Salem jail. In Act 4, the witchcraft theme gives way entirely to the resolution of John Proctor's personal crisis. It is a proof of Miller's dramatic skill in blending the public and personal themes of his play that the transition seems entirely natural.

"Crucible" - Themes

Purification

A crucible is a container in which metals and other materials are heated so as to seperate the pure metals from waste and impurities. The crucible in the title is a metaphor for the town of Salem and the period of the witch-hunt hysteria. In this "fire", some victims survive the temptations and fears and emerge as better and stronger people.

Tyranny

The Crucible shows a group of people reacting within a state of tyranny, in this case tyranny exerted by religious bigots, who manipulate a situation for their own purposes and choose to misinterpret events for their own momentum and veer out of control.

Bigotry

Throughout the events in Salem we wee the effects of religious zeal, fear of heresy, intolerance and superstition. Reverand Hale is so proud of his knowledge of witchcraft that he is quick to accept the girls' confessions as prook of this skill. Others are more than willing to accept supernatural reasons or "unnatural causes" for their problems. There is so much insecurity in the young colony that anyone who questions the authorities, either religious or state, is seen to be launching an attack on the whole foundations of society.

Conflict

The coflict between the security of the community and "individual freedom" is one theme which runs through the play. Salem was a community which felt under seige, threatened by the dangers of the wilderness, the possible corrupting influences of other Christian sects, and a genuine fear of the Devil. The play has obvious parallels with the McCarthy investigations, which were proceeding when it was first produced. The Crucible has been seen as a simple allegory of the abuse of state power by those who persucuted and denounced people who were thought to be undermining the American way of life. Just as in Salem, any who opposed McCarthy's investigations were treated as enemeies of the state.

Integrity

Honesty and personal integrity are important themes. the most admirable characters who retain their dignity are those who will not subscribe to lies. Rebecca Nurse and Elizabeth Proctor are shining examples: both insist on the truth, regardless of the consequences for themselves. John Proctor is finally at peace with himself when he decides to die rather than give up his good name. He is purified in the "crucible" of the stresses and temptations he is subjected to. On the other hand, Reverend Hale (who at the end begs Proctor to lie, admit to witchcraft and save his life) is miserable, mentally tortured and morally bankrupt.

Loyalty

Loyalty is a theme which is illustarted in the behaviour of John Proctor towrdas his friends. He is temoted to withdraw his charges against Abigail and her group when he is told that his wife is pregnant and is not in immediate danger of hanging, but he goes ahead to support his friends whose wives have also been accused. Elizabeth, although she has been badly hurt by her husband's affair with abigail, is too loyal to shame him in court and denies knowledge of it. Ironically her loyalty destroy's John's case against Abigail.

Courage

We are shown courage in the behaviour of the accused, particularly Rebecca Nurse. As she goes to be hanged she tells John to "fear nothing!" as another judgement awaits them. John tells his wife to defy the authorities and to show them no tears. We hear of Giles Corey's stubborn courage in refusing to answer the charges so that his sons may inherit his farm. His last defiant words, as he was being crushed to death, were "More weight".

Crucible interactive revision

I found this on another website - you can play around with it when revising!!!

http://www.hawick.scotborders.sch.uk/departments/Handbook2/S6H/Crucible/The%20Crucible.ppt

"The Crucible" - Act 4 Questions and Notes

ACT 4

The scene opens at daybreak, some three months later, in Proctor’s cell.
This cell is very oppressive. In contrast to the previous acts, no sun pours or streams through the windows, no open door gives a glimpse of green fields. The place is in darkness and the moonlight merely ‘seeps’ through the bars. This idea is strengthened by the “high barred window” and the “heavy door”.


· The ‘devil bird’ seen by Sarah and Tituba could serve as a reminder of the bird that Abigail and the others saw in Act 3. In what ways , however, does it seem different?

· How is Hale now regarded by the authorities? What does he feel towards his ministry now?
· Hale and Parris pray together here. Why does this seem strange? Provide a brief character analysis of Parris at this stage.

· List some of the devastations affecting the community as described by Cheever.

Revd. Hale was previously concerned with saving souls and driving out the Devil; now he seems more interested in saving lives. His change in attitude should reflect the views of the audience at this point, identifying and appreciating the difference between saving souls and saving lives.

· Why has Parris waited two days before telling the court of Abigail’s disappearance? Examine Parris’ language here. What is he most concerned with? Has he really changed?
· Why does her flight have serious implications for Danforth?
· What is Danforth’s reaction to events in Andover?
· What do the answers of the previous questions tell you about the character of Danforth?

Danforth does not seem unduly moved by Abigail’s disappearance and the girls are not mentioned again. Despite the fact that the court owes its existence to their accusation, they seem irrelevant now the witch-hunt has taken on a momentum of its own.

· What can you determine about Parris’ mental state from his reaction to the dagger?
· Comment on the stage directions regarding Hale being “steeped in sorrow”.
· Consider Danforth’s argument that to pardon the condemned would only “cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died until now.” Do you have any sympathy for his argument or do you think the judgement is rooted in pride?
· Examine Hale’s speeches on pages 104/105. How is his guilt evident?
· Why does he feel doubly damned for counselling the people to lie, to confess sins of which they are innocent?
· Why do you think Elizabeth called this advice of Hale’s the “Devil’s argument”?
· How do you judge Revd. Hale in light of Elizabeth’s sense of right and wrong?

· What does Proctor’s refusal of cider show of his character, even after months in prison?
· What effect does Giles’ death have on Proctor? In what way does it show a build up pressure on him?
· a) Why would John’s conscience have been eased if Rebecca had confessed?
b) What does her standpoint thus illustrate?
c) Why, yet, does John not feel in the same position as her? (QUOTE)
d) Either mentally or on paper, follow the reasoning by which John changes this apathetic attitude, convincing himself he does have some shred of goodness.

· Proctor knows he has his wife’s support in whatever he decides but she declines to advise him. Is she right to do this? From what you think of her character, what do you think she really feels about John’s initial decision to confess?
· Elizabeth’s response that John should “forgive himself” is strange yet shows her understanding of the situation is deeper than her husband’s. What has she recognised?
· Examine Elizabeth’s moment of truth, shown through her remark, “It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery.”
In light of these revelations, was Abigail right in her judgement of Elizabeth’s “coldness”?

“Then who will judge me?”
There are two answers to John Proctor’s questions: God, and John Proctor. Proctor recognises that a false confession would be a lie, and therefore a sin. Coming to terms with this helps him find the strength to act according to the dictates of his conscience later on.
· Find words from this dialogue, which either conform or betray truth.

· Explain Danforth’s error of judgement in bringing Rebecca before John.
Pressure again mounts for John and the appearance of Rebecca is skilfully done. She speaks hardly at all, but the significance of her appearance lies in her bright greeting and her astonishment at his plans: this is not the John Proctor she knows by his name.

· Consider the dramatic pacing of the climax of this Act. In one sense, we want Proctor to survive, he seems safe, then suddenly he changes his mind in a dramatic twist, has one short speech of justification, then is swept to death and the final curtain.
· Explain how the crux of the problem is highlighted by John’s speech, “I want my name.”
· In what way is the tearing of the confession different to the tearing of the warrant in Act 2? How is John different?
· Parris is in “deadly fear”; Hale condemns John’s decision as stemming from “pride” and “vanity”. Is Hale more interested in the confession for personal reasons? How does he compare with Parris?

Note the similarities between this scene and the first. Does the sun, this time, carry a sense of hope? The end focuses on conscience, not on an historical context. It is conclusive in terms of Proctor’s moral conscience.

“Echoes down the corridor” adds authenticity to the drama.

"The Crucible" - Act 3 Questions and Notes

Note on Act 2
Proctor: “Pontius Pilate was the Roman administrator of Judea, responsible for the administration of law in that area, who refused to condemn Christ because he could find no wrong in Him. However, instead of freeing Christ, Pilate allowed the Jewish mob to determine his fate, leading to His crucifixion and death.
Is Proctor being fair or accurate in using this parallel? Elizabeth is like Christ in her innocence, but what of Reverend Hale? Is he like Pontius Pilate? Both men commanded positions of power, and Hale has signed seventy-two death warrants, but has Rev. Hale really the power to prevent anything? Has Proctor? Can any individual withstand the tide of hysteria in Salem?


ACT 3

I t is now a week later in the courtroom of Salem.
In this act the tragedy of John and Elizabeth is acted out. John is forced to admit his adultery, Elizabeth lies to save him, and Abigail triumphs, although she loses what she so desperately sought- the love and possession of John.

· This act also allows John and Elizabeth to find out what is really important to them. Explain and link to the problems in the community, showing how they have broken free.

· How does the court react to Giles’ claim that Putnam “is reaching out for land”?
· What does his comment “You’re hearing lies” do to the credulity of his own evidence?
· Find a quote that shows the hopelessness of arguing against convoluted (complicated/intricate) logic.

· Find a quote on page 96 that again shows Hale’s doubts.

· What is the reaction to Francis Nurse’s claim that “the girls are frauds”?

· Examine what Danforth says regarding the girls on page 71, and so what problems the accused are faced with in attempting to defend themselves.

· Comment on the quote “We burn a hot fire; it melts down all concealment.”

· Find parallels between Danforth’s questioning of John, “Are you a gospel Christian” and allegations voiced by the Reverend Hale.

· Why is it ironic that John states Elizabeth would never lie, in light of later events?

Reverend Hale now seems disturbed, whereas John Proctor is calm.
· Find evidence to back this up.

· Study the logic of Danforth’s argument, “Let you consider now.”
Is it possible that Mary Warren, the “subservient, naïve, lonely girl,” can now become the instrument of justice and truth?

The argument about the poppet adds a touch of the ridiculous to the proceedings.
· Find a quote by John that links in with this.
· Why can Mary Warren not faint now?
How do a) Danforth, and
b) Abigail respond to this?
Do you notice any similarities between Abigail’s behaviour now and in Act 1?

· Comment on the dramatic change in John Proctor form a controlled man to one who physically attacks Abigail.

· Why does Danforth so readily accept John’s claim of adultery? Quote as evidence.

· How does Miller create tension when Elizabeth is questioned?

· Why is Elizabeth’s final answer so ironic?

Hale states at this time that he cannot “shut [his] conscience” – indicating his anguish. He is now prepared to defend John and Elizabeth.
· How accurate do you consider Hale to be in his claim that “private vengeance” lies beneath the court’s charges?
· How does Abigail react at this point?
Her manipulation of this event shows the power and the far-reaching nature of hysteria.

· “A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours, Danforth!…God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together!”
John gives a different interpretation of fire. He implies that Danforth’s fires are Lucifer’s and help to conceal falseness. This is a powerful condemnation but ironically it reflects the fraud in John’s own heart.

The fact that Hale quits the court and the proceedings helps to add weight to John’s words.

"The Crucible" - Act 2 Questions and Notes

ACT 2

The setting is evening, eight days after the events of Act 1.
The enclosed atmosphere is continued as Act 2 is set in the main room of Proctor’s house. The action at first centres on John Proctor and Elizabeth. Affairs that touch the Proctor household are symptomatic of the wider events which affect the whole of Salem.

John seasons his food, then complements Elizabeth on how well she has seasoned the food.
· What does this illustrate about their feelings towards one another?

John’s relationship with his wife is uneasy and constantly changing. Their first appearance together is full of subtle hints of an unhappy marriage (which is later redeemed by their sufferings).
· Find examples of this unease.

· Explain clearly why you think Miller directs Elizabeth to “receive” John’s kiss?

They cannot talk about the affair and their lack of honesty with each other illustrates, in microcosm, the ill that affects the whole community.

Mary Warren is discussed.
· She was originally described as a “mouse”. Does this description still apply?
· What does the change in Mary represent?

· Examine the way Elizabeth describes events in the town and how this contrasts with the (superficially) peaceful mood in the house.
· Find two remarks made by Elizabeth that point to the rise in Abigail’s power in the past few days.

John’s first ‘test’ comes when Elizabeth asks him to go to Ezekiel Cheever. He refuses to take action and perhaps this is because of his feelings for Abigail and his desire not to accuse her.

John admits to having been alone with Abigail.
· What do you think this revelation does to Elizabeth’s faith in John?
· What do you think is John’s main concern: his own good name, Abigail, or the relationship with his wife?

“You forget nothin’ and forgive nothin’…”
· Is this resentment justified, or is it the result of John’s guilty conscience?

Although John’s independence and refusal to accept authority can later be regarded as noble, here it leads to an expression of guilt through resentment.

“The magistrate sits in you heart” shows John has to look to the demands of his own conscience for decisions, just as he will have to do later on.


Balance seems to be suggested in the death sentence pronounced against Goody Osburn and the fact that Sarah Good had confessed and will not hang.
This is mirrored when Danforth strives for Proctor’s confession- he sees it as partial justification for the trials and hangings already taken place.

· Find the ‘evidence’ by which the women are accused.
What is terrifying and ominous is the credulity that the court shows in hearing evidence.
· Look for more unlikely or unconvincing things being believed.


Proctor’s final test is prepared for: “Then go and tell her she’s a whore”
Elizabeth has now realised that Abigail means to ‘replace her’ as John’s wife and is aware of her ‘name’. John is uncertain what to do, but his decision not to confess grows out of several changes of mind.

· Find the description of Hale. What has changed about him?
· Why does he act without 'authority’?

Hysteria is increased because we do not se the majority of the arrests: the numbers grow with horrifying speed.

The Commandments
It is ironic that John should forget “Thou shalt not commit adultery”.
· How do the three characters react to this lapse in memory? What greater significance does it carry for at least two of them?

Giles Corey arrives with news of his wife’s arrest. His timing is ironic as Hale has just been interrogating Proctor about his belief in witches and this interrogation was prompted by Giles’ earlier unthinking remark. His question about his wife’s reading of books has inadvertently led to her arrest.

Elizabeth is arrested and this shows different side to her character. She is a realist- she recognises the inevitability of her arrest and makes preparations for the family. She demonstrates great control and puts her own safety last.
· Do you believe that she is “cold”, as Abigail says? Discuss in light of the present situation.

Reverend Hale is in a “fever of guilt and uncertainty”.
· Look back and assess his reactions to Mary Warren’s evidence. Was this where his doubts about the validity of the witch-hunts began?

The fact that Mary knows about Abigail’s relationship with Abigail brings John to an abrupt halt. After all, if Mary knows, who else knows? Proctor’s guilty secret, the thing which has been keeping him back from taking the necessary action, seems to be common knowledge. However, he still has to come to terms with confessing this in public.
· Find the religious imagery that Proctor now uses.
It is his moral duty as a Christian to put a halt to the witch-hunt. He almost welcomes the honesty that is forced upon him.
“It is a providence, and no great change; we are only what we
always were, but naked now.”
He will no longer have to live with a lie, tormented by his past, but he knows what is coming will not be easy. His ordeal will be great.

"The Crucible" - Act 1 Questions and Notes

Stage Directions
These are very important in The Crucible. Not only do they help us visualise what is happening but they also tell us about characters, themes, and historical background.

Characters are described on first entry eg
Abigail has “an endless capacity for dissembling”
Mrs. Putnam is described as a “death-ridden woman”
In addition, Miller periodically adds short essays for those reading the play.

ACT 1
There is a claustrophobic atmosphere in the small upstairs room. The smallness of the room in Parris’ house symbolises the narrow-mindedness of the community and, as a setting for different emotions let loose, helps to intensify the effect.

The scene is charged with fear, guilt, hate and envy.
There are many entrances and exits, which creates activity and the idea of the crucible as a melting pot- basic elements are mixed, heated to the point of an explosive force.

All the main characters make an appearance, except Danforth and Elizabeth. Nevertheless, the latter is introduced.
· How does Miller do this?
· Why do you think he does this?

Many petty disputes and animosities are shown which are important to an understanding of character motivations.
· Find at least one example.

The play opens in springtime.
· Traditionally, what does this time symbolise?
· Why does it seem ironic for sunlight to be streaming through the window?

COMMENT ON:
The Reverend Parris “prays”.
· Who for?
· Compare to Hale’s prayer at the end. How are they contrasted?

The Reverend Parris “weeps”. This shows confusion, a lack of strong personal convictions.

Tituba asks after Betty. This illustrates violence for the first time, verbal and physical.
· Examine the difference between Parris’ prayers to God and to Betty.

· Find examples of Parris’ growing self-centredness.

Parris questions Abigail about her name; this is the first reference of the kind. Abigail resents the fact that her name (her character) is being compromised.
· Do you think that she truly believes “There be no blush.”

· Identify how quickly Abigail’s defence becomes an attack.

The arrival of the Putnam’s signal an intensification of pressure on Parris, increases the threat to his security.
· Why do you think Parris does not tell the truth about what he knows happens?

· Examine the confrontation between Abigail and John.
(Note that in each Act, John is involved in emotionally charged scenes with women: Abigail in 1 & 3 and Elizabeth in 2 & 4.)


The first naming of another with malicious intent comes from Putnam.

Abigail “is enraptured, as though in a pearly light.”
· Is this true? Is she pretending?
She reaffirms what Tituba said, adds a new name for ‘proof’.
· Why is this commented on with “great relief”

· Comment on the stage direction “great glee”
· Why do you think Miller called this act an “overture”?

The call for irons brings the action into the community.

I need your help!!

It has become apparent that you guys are using the blog a lot and taking a varying amount of advice and use from it. I am currently looking at setting up a website for the whole department, for all year groups and parents to use. I am turning to you guys for some advice here. If you were going to use a website, not just this class blog, what would you like to see on there?

Try to think about you experiences of the English department since S1 and think about what information you would have found useful on there. I'd also love to hear from any of you who would have an interest in helping me set this up. Perhaps you have an interest in ICT and could give me a hand. I am not always the best with technology, as I am sure you are aware, and would appreciate learning something from you for once, rather than the other way around!!! I am sure that some of you owe me by now!

Let me know you thoughts.

Spec. Study NAB

Just wanted to let you know that I have decided to change the date of the Specialist Study NAB from Tuesday 28th November to Tuesday 5th December. You have an extra week to work on it and to speak to me if you need to.

Colons, Semi-Colons and Dashes

A colon usually introduces a quotation a list or an explanation or expansion of the previous statement.

A semi-colon is generally a "finishing" pause, marking the end of a sentence but less firmly than a full stop does. It often comes between two statements which are closely connected, or which balance or contrast one another. it may also be used to seperate a list of phrases.

A single dash can be used to add on an extra piece of information very much as a colon does. it can also be used to indicate a breaking off in a sentence. A series of dashes might be used informally to convey an outpouring of ideas or emotions.

Two dashes can mark off an extra, non-essential piece of information in the middle of a sentence - a technique known as parenthesis.

Checklist for Tackling Sentence Structure Questions

Think about the following when examining sentence structure questions:

* can you identify the type of sentence: statement, question, exclamation, command, minor sentence?

* does the writer use rhetorical questions?

* how is punctuation used to divide up the sentence?

* do you notice anything about the order of the words: inversion? climax? anti-climax?

* is there an element of balance between different parts of the sentence?

* does the author vary the lengths of his/her sentences?

* is parenthesis used?

Sentence Analysis

This is a reminder as I am fed up going over this!!!



Sentence = Subject (who or what the sentence is about) + Predicate (Verb and object)

There are three types of sentence to be aware of:

A simple sentence (one subject and verb) can also be called a main clause.

For example: The girl ran for the bus.

A Compound sentence is made up of more than one main clause joined together with conjunctions.

For example: The girl ran for the bus but she missed it so she was late for work.

A Complex sentence is made up of at least one main clause and one or more subordinate clause. (A subordinate clause is a phrase which when removed from the rest of the sentence makes no sense on its own. It relies onthe main clause.)

For example: Because it needed food for its cubs, the lion killed the zebra.

Here you can see that the first part of the sentence only makes sesnse when the second part is added.

At last! The post we were all waiting for...

Hey you guys, guess who's got high anxiety? Lol, sorry this is so late, my stupid father's computer wouldn't let me on, this is the first chance I had :( sorry...
lucy xx

‘The Buddha of Suburbia’ - Hanif Kureishi
Specialist Study


‘The Buddha of Suburbia’ is the first novel by Indian writer Hanif Kureishi, which deals with a mixed race protagonist named Karim Amir and his life and relationships. Karim defines himself as having “emerged from two old histories” and he also refers to himself as “an englishman born and bred...almost”. But how does Kureishi use setting and character to show that Karim has an almost undefined personality when he is not in a relationship? To show the difficulties that Karim has in coming to terms with his own identity one can study the plot, setting, and characterisation. Karim has a very mixed up racial identity, calling himself “an englishman born and bred...almost”. His nickname is Creamy, because his mixed parentage of an Indian father and a British mother has left him with a different skin colour to all of his friends and relatives. He is neither Indian or British in his own mind, he is just Karim. His end character is very different to the character he portrays at the start of the novel, this is mainly due to the fact he has grown up and is finally seeing the world as it is, not how it should be. Karim has many sexual encounters with both men and women, starting with the relationship he has with Charlie. Charlie is characterised by Kureishi as a heart breaker, as he neglects Karim, “neither [phoning] since [their] last love making nor [bothering] to turn up.” Charlie’s only goal in life is to become a famous rock star. He succeeds in this and ends up moving to New York with his punk band under the pseudonym Charlie Zero. Charlie often tells Karim what to wear, while his mother tells Karim what to listen to. Karim’s relationship is based upon love on Karim's part and greed on Charlie’s part. Charlie believes deeply in the teachings of Karim’s father Haroon and so to get closer to that power he sleeps with Karim. There is no real care about Charlie. He is willing to let Karim touch his penis, but turns his own face away when Karim goes to kiss him. This may be Charlie trying to compensate as he knows what they are doing is seen as wrong, but he has his eyes shut so perhaps this makes everything all right. And with his eyes shut, it does not have to be Karim making him aroused, it could be anyone. in that way Charlie does what he has to to get where he needs to be, but he does not have to take notice of what is going on.

Karim’s relationship with Eleanor is totally different. Karim feels he is trapped by the ghost of Eleanor’s past lovers and almost wishes he had not embarked in this relationship. Eleanor loves Karim, but you get the feeling this is because he is so different to everything she has known before. She does not love him in the conventional sense, but in her own way.

Karim finally settles on a career about half way through the book, which happens to be as an actor. This is an odd choice as in most Indian families it is seen as a disgrace that ones son or daughter would be an actor/actress. But perhaps Karim felt it was justified as he is not Indian, but Indo-British and also because his father has become so much a character of himself, and also had an affair, that shame has already been brought upon their family and there is nothing to do but make it worse. While working as an actor he is asked to play “ethnic” roles, to fake a broad Indian accent and be authentically Indian, although he has never been to India. His director Shadwell is forever reminding him that he has “been cast for authenticity and not for experience”.

Over all this novel deals with the harder aspects of everyone’s teenage years, while introducing the concept of how to come to terms with sexuality, heritage and personality.
Kureishi suggests it’s ok to make mistakes, so long as we can aknowledge the fact they have been made.

Scott's Redraft - Sorry It's Very Late

“Complicity” By Iain Banks

Statement of Intent
The novel “Complicity” by Iain Banks has a definite turning point and decisive moment.
This study will describe what happens at this point and will explain why this is so integral to the plot.
This study will refer to the characterisation, setting and plot building up to this moment.



“Complicity” tells the story of Edinburgh journalist, Cameron Colley and the situation he finds himself in, when what he thinks is a lead for a “juicy” article turns out to be part of a plot to frame him for a series of murders. An anonymous informant sends Cameron all over the country on various pretexts and calls him at pay phones with the next piece of information on the supposed “scoop”. The locations are actually the perfect cover for the real serial killer to put Cameron in the right place at the right time to look suspicious. Cameron is actually completely innocent but so much evidence is stacked against him that he is arrested and questioned. He realises that whoever is framing him has access to a lot of information about his present and his past which narrows the field. For example there is a note in his handwriting at one of the murder scenes and many of the victims were featured in an article produced by Cameron that was very much against them and what they stood for. “Introduce a real avenger…Somebody who’ll give people like James Anderton, Judge Jamieson and Sir Toby Bissett a taste of their own medicine” Two more victims are mentioned in this article and it begins to read like a hit list. Cameron wracks his brain and finally realises his childhood friend Andy is behind the murders. The reason Andy is never suspected before is because Banks “tricks” the reader into believing he is dead. This is because a man is described being murdered in Andy’s bed, in Andy’s house and then set on fire. The body is so badly mutilated that it is never identified but he is believed to be dead by both Cameron and the police, thus eliminating him as a suspect. This is the turning point on which this study will focus.

Banks uses two narratives within the novel. A first person narrative is used for Cameron’s side of the story, where he is the narrator. A second person narrative is used for the section describing the gruesome murders taking place, for example “You took the gun out once, reaching under your thin canvas jacket”. This narrative is very unusual and rarely used. The main reason for using it is that it brings the reader closer to the text, almost making the reader a character in the novel. This narrative structure also makes the reader feel guilty because it’s as if they are murdering the people. The second person narrative is what allows the turning point to come so unexpectedly because the reader sees the man murdered in Andy’s bed and as the reader has no idea who the murderer is, automatically assumes Andy is dead. “The hotel is dark and very quiet” “The snooker room is waterlogged”. These two quotes both automatically remind the reader of Andy’s damp and dingey hotel. “You bring the log down with all your might. It hits his head but you don’t hear the noise it makes because you cry out at the same time, as though it’s you in the bed.” The statement “as though it’s you in the bed” is very ironic because it’s supposed to be Andy in the bed. This moment sees the whole book turned round as it now becomes a hunt for Andy, before he strikes again. This keeps the reader in suspense to see if Andy is eventually caught.

The characters are portrayed through their thoughts, dialogue and actions. Cameron has a delusional view of his childhood and sees it as an almost idyllic period of his life. Cameron also has some very contrasting moods.

“I’m tempted to call in at the paper and pick up a copy fresh off the press” His story has made the front cover and he takes great pride in this. “It’s as bad as that television piece you did last year.” This shows his work is not always up to standard and is told to rewrite a piece. This is in contrast with the piece that made the front page as he can’t have taken pride in the article he has to rewrite.

“I dream of Strathspeld, and the long summers of my childhood passed in a trance of lazy pleasure.” He looks back on his childhood as heavenly and idyllic which contradicts the fact that Andy almost died, Andy is sexually assaulted and then preceded to murder his attacker! This is the first sign of Andy’s violent nature.

The setting is integral to the plot because Cameron is in this situation because of his locations at the time of the murders. Banks also uses descriptions to vividly set the scene throughout the book. The fact that the book is set in Scotland, especially Edinburgh, will allow Scottish readers to identify places within the text. “tour of Stockbridge by night looking for a parking place”, readers who know the area can identify with the fact that the streets are always packed with cars and that Cameron has to drive round the whole place to find a space.

“Eddie is sitting on – no; housed within – a throne of a chair, all black carved wood and buttoned red leather” This paints a vivid picture in the reader’s mind that Eddie is sitting in a very grand and imposing chair, to represent his authority as the editor of the newspaper.

“The mountaintops are smothered, black crags violent spattered marks against that blankness.” This describes the snow covered mountains with rock formations poking through as if they have had to fight their way through the snow.

While Cameron is being interrogated by the police he starts to fall apart and even starts to believe it was him who committed the murders. His frantic and distressed state is conveyed thorough repetition of word I. “I thought I was some tough cookie but I was wrong I’m just a dunked digestive baby I’m soft I’m flopping I’m disintegrating”. As this is read it seems to speed up a Cameron becomes more and more stressed. Punctuation marks have been omitted for it to read quicker and without pauses.

The plot is what makes this book so clever and enjoyable. Almost everything that happens has some significance in the case. The reader takes on the role of the detective and is given small clues to the killer’s identity throughout the novel. Allowing the reader to become involved in the text, keeps them interested throughout. It also keeps the reader looking very closely for anything that could help to reveal the murderers identity. One of the biggest clues is when Cameron has a very strange phone conversation with Andy in which Cameron phones him but Andy claims to have phoned Cameron. It turns out that Andy was murdering one of his victims and it was a recorded message that Cameron was talking to, this provided Andy with an alibi. At the end the whole plot links back together and you realise how important all the things that happen are; in relation to finding the killer’s identity.

To conclude, the novel is very unpredictable and this adds to the reader’s enjoyment as you can never be sure which way the plot will turn. Many readers will also enjoy the fact that they can take on the role of detective. Banks is also very clever in the way he ties together the plot in the end. The way Banks “tricks” the reader and turns the plot around, means the reader is kept guessing all the way through the novel.

Callum - Specialist Study Redraft

Im sure i've made it worse now than it already was !


Things Fall Apart
By Chinua Achebe

The novel “Things Fall Apart” by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe follows the life of Okonkwo and his family in their village in Lower Nigeria. The book is set in the 1890’s and the novel depicts the colonisation of Africa by the European Settlers and it focuses on individual members of Okonkwo’s tribe. Throughout the book we see Okonkwo’s life follow its path and we see the things happening around him. Is Okonkwo destined to his fate or was his inevitable downfall in his own hands? This essay will try and answer this question by examining the characters the author has created and the theme of the text.

Some of the major characters created by Achebe are Okonkwo, Nwoye; Okonkwo’s eldest son and Mr Brown/Reverend Smith. Okonkwo is plays a major role in the novel and is a very powerful man. He achieved fame in his and the surrounding villages by throwing Amalinze ‘the Cat’ in a wrestling match. He achieved this fame, as Amalinze had not been beaten for several years. Okonkwo’s greatest fears are that he will end up like his lazy father and he also fears that his son Nwoye will end up like him as well. Throughout the novel Okonkwo pursues achievements to make up for the shame that his father brought on him and on the village. He achieves great success becoming a warrior, a farmer, a Clansman, a husband to three wives and a father to several children. However Okonkwo is not the man he wants to be as he has his weaknesses and it is these weaknesses that destroy everything he has created for himself. He is determined not be seen as weak and internal and external forces drive this determination. His behaviour is often rash and impulsive usually involving violence and it is this behaviour that makes him break the ‘Week of Peace’ by beating his wife, which is sacred in his village. “The evil you have done can ruin the whole clan. The earth goddess whom you have insulted may refuse to give us her increase, and we shall all perish.” A priest who is angry with Okonkwo for breaking the sacred week of peace says this quote. It lets us know that what Okonkwo did was wrong and that in his village everything is fair. It is his carelessness that results in his banishment from his village for seven years, and it is his fiery temper which makes him kill a white man and then pushes him into taking his own life. Okonkwo is a ‘tragic hero’ whom is superior to other characters however his temper and his actions lead him to destroy himself. Okonkwo’s life is intertwined with fate. Was it fate that his gun went of killing the dead man’s son or was it just a careless error by Okonkwo? This incident could be classed as fate as it happens right after Okonkwo helps in the killing of Ikefuma despite being warned not to.

Okonkwo’s eldest son is called Nwoye and he lives in the shadow of Okonkwo. Okonkwo has high hopes for Nwoye as he hopes that when he dies Nwoye will be a strong man who will be able to run his father’s household when Okonkwo is dead. Nwoye however has different ideas and his interests are more similar to his grandfather’s than his fathers. This earns him many beating from Okonkwo, as he is adamant that he will grow up to be a strong man. When Ikefuma arrives in Okonkwo’s house Nwoye takes a liking to him and treats him as an older brother who he looks up to. With the influence of Ikefuma, Nwoye much to his father’s delight begins to become more masculine. Okonkwo backs off Nwoye not beating him and Nwoye begins to win Okonkwo’s approval. Even with this masculine influence Nwoye Is still in conflict with himself. He makes a point of scorning feminine things to please his father however secretly Nwoye misses his mother’s stories. When Ikefuma is killed Nwoye misses him and retreats into himself becoming more and more alienated and wrapped up in his own thoughts. He begins to question some of the tribe’s customs and when the missionaries arrive he finds himself drawn to them despite his father’s hatred towards them. Nwoye’s joining of the Christians could be seen as a rebellion towards his father as he seems to find peace once he has left his father. Okonkwo disowns him and curses himself for giving birth to such an ‘effeminate’ son. He blames himself for not being tough enough on the boy even though Nwoye receives several beatings. Was Nwoye destined to leave his father or was it due to the heavy hand and lack of respect that Okonkwo showed him? It could be said that Nwoye left because due to Okonkwo’s actions, which were his own actions and not that of fate.

Mr Brown is the author’s attempt to create a balanced colonial presence in Okonkwo’s country. Mr Brown is a friendly white man who listen to the villagers stories, beliefs and he listens most importantly to their opinions. This is how he succeeds in winning a large number of converts. Mr Brown accepts any coverts unconditionally and this shows his sympathetic nature towards the inhabitants of the villages. Mr Browns name hints at the fact that he can successfully navigate between the racial differences between the white people and the villagers. Mr Brown however is replaced with Reverend Smith who despises the villagers thinking that they are inferior to him and the coverts. Reverend Smith is the complete opposite to Mr Brown and he lets the coverts do whatever they please to annoy the villagers. Reverend Smith is a small-minded character and some of the things he says about Mr Brown after Mr Browns leaving illustrate the colonial’s intolerance towards any sympathy shown towards the villagers. The strictness of Reverend Smith brings around the downfall of Okonkwo so Mr Brown’s leaving could be regarded as fate.

The text has two major themes, which are ‘the struggle between tradition and change’ and ‘varying interpretations of masculinity’. These play an important role in the novel.
The main theme of the novel is the struggle between change and tradition and throughout the novel we see how the change from their old ways of life to the new life of Christianity affects the characters. The new regime angers Okonkwo who is afraid in a way of losing her personal status that he has earned also he believes that the new religion is not manly. Many of the clan’s outcasts find that if they join Christianity they will have a new-elevated status and will not be placed below everyone else. Throughout the book the villagers are caught between resisting and welcoming this new religion. Many are against this change like Okonkwo however many are for it. “Does the white man understand our custom about land?” “How can he when he does not even speak our tongue? But he says that our customs are bad; and our own brothers who have taken up his religion also say that our customs are bad. How do you think we can fight when our own brothers have turned against us? The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.” This quote appears in a conversation between Obierika and Okonkwo when they are discussing the white men. Obierika is another who believes that the new religion is bad and he talks about the impossibility’s of the Umuofian’s leaving their traditional methods of doing things for the unfamiliar customs of the white man. The new influence that the white men bring threatens to extinguish skills needed for the survival of Okonkwo’s tribe such as traditional methods of farming, harvesting, cooking and building. These skills were essential for the survival of Okonkwo’s people but now they are being eradicated by the influences of the white men.

A minor theme of the book is varying interpretations of masculinity. Much of Okonkwo’s violence came from him trying to be the opposite of his weak father. He see’s views such as his fathers to be weak and therefore he calls them feminine. Okonkwo’s clans society is very much sexist. The word for a man who has taken no titles in the clan is ‘agbala’, we as the reader are told that this also means woman. Okonkwo is so violent as he believes that anger is the only emotion a man should show and that any other emotions are feminine which is why he frequently beats his wives and occasionally threatens to kill them. We also see this in Okonkwo when he accompanies the men on the trip to kill Ikefuma, when the boy runs to him for help he cuts him down as he is afraid of looking weak. When Okonkwo is exiled he flee’s to his motherland where his mothers kin live. This is a chance for him to get in touch with his feminine side however throughout the exile he reinforces his ideology that men are better than women. Okonkwo’s feeling is that anything weak is feminine. Okonkwo is always seen as a violent character that loses his temper often. This is not the action of fate but it is Okonkwo’s own free will.

The characters and the themes of the book help the reader to decide whether they think that Okonkwo is in charge of his own life or whether they believe that his downfall was inevitable due to fate. At various points in the book we are left to decide whether it was fate or Okonkwo’s actions that caused the results. For example did the killing of Ikefuma by Okonkwo lead to his exile later on in the book?
Was Okonkwo’s destined to his fate or was his downfall in his own hands? This essay has looked at some of the main characters and at the themes of the novel. Okonkwo was in my opinion in control of his own life and if his temper and anger had not got the better of him or his desire to be the best then his life would have turned out differently. His fear of looking weak led to his own undoing.

redraft specialist study: Danielle Locke

Specialist Study

A Critical Review of
“Butcher Boy”
By Patrick McCabe

The novel “Butcher Boy” by Patrick McCabe is a novel which revolves around the central character Fancie Brady. The study will discuss the importance of the flaw in Francie’s character in our understanding of Francie. We will be looking closely at the text and at least two of the key incidents. His story is one of a series of unfortunate events which lead to the complete and utter break down of the character Francie Brady and eventually to his insanity. We will look at whether there was already a flaw in his character waiting to surface or whether he only became mad because of these events. The key events that we will be looking at are; the suicide of his mother, being sent to a borstal and subsequently being sexually abused there and his best friend disowning him.

Firstly, we will look at his life before the events. He lived in a small town in Ireland at the beginning of the Second World War. He had an alcoholic father “ …what else would you expect from a house where the father’s never in, lying about the pubs from morning to night…”said Mrs Nugent when talking to Francie’s mother. This bought shame to the whole family as the whole town knew it. His mother was very depressed “Francie you would never let me down would you?... that was all there was in this world people who let you down.” She puts a lot of responsibility onto a little boy who should never be given that kind of responsibility. His mother blames his father for the way she feels “she meant you wouldn’t let me down like da did” and Francie’s father blames his own Father for leaving him and his brother “he was off into the speech about his father leaving them when he was seven and how nobody understood him…” His family was already troubled and Francie was already showing signs of being mentally ill by obsessing over what Mrs Nugent (a school mate’s mother) had called them, “Pigs”. He is always fantasising or imagining what Mrs Nugent is saying about him and his family or what she said to him “Please Francie, I’ll give you anything! She’d say.” He longs to have some sort of power over her. In his family he feels powerless, he has no order he can’t even protect his mother from his father this is essentially why he longs for the power.

When Francie is first told about his mother’s death he doesn’t even take it in. He is to busy looking at Mrs Nugent’s appearance he doesn’t even listen to what she is saying and when he did, he didn’t want to believe it.
she was so close I could see the wiry hairs on her chin and the pink make-up and powder on her cheeks. The smell of it turned my stomach .I could barely hear what she said she dropped her voice so low.
She was staring at me to see what I would do. I did nothing. I tried not to look at the stringy mouth or smell the powder. I said to myself; do nothing Francie…It’s ok. Everything’s ok now.
He did not believe his mum was dead as he reassures himself its ok. However he did hear Mrs Nugent tell him as he says he could “barely” hear her but didn’t say he couldn’t. It also says “She was staring at me to see what I would do.” He felt paranoid that it was maybe a cruel joke to see his reaction, earlier on it said “to see was there anyone else with her some trick she was playing” this show he was paranoid at the beginning of the situation. When he is told the second time from his father there’s no avoiding her death.
O didn’t you hear? He says with a bitter smile. Then he told me they had dredged the lake near the garage and found her at the bottom of it,”
Francie was now in contact with feelings of blame from his father. His father cruelly enjoyed telling his son that his mother was dead because his father wanted to hurt Francie because his father was in so much pain and blamed it all on Francie. Francie was never consoled or comforted for the death of his mother. In fact his only source of love that he had ever had was from his mother and now she was gone and he was blaming himself for it. Instead of grieving for his mother he began to become obsessed and terrorised the Nugents family. The first thing he did when he had the news of his mother’s death was go round to the Nugents house. He attempted his first murder the day after with Philip Nugent (his school mate) it seemed like it was premeditated. He stayed very calm and chatted away nicely to Philip before hand. He becomes extremely jealous of Mrs Nugent and Philip’s mother son relationship. We know he feels guilty for leaving his mum as while he had ran a way he imagined talking to her
“I don’t know what made me do it ma, I said. An old fellow stop and says to me are you alright your shaking all over. Then ma smiled and said she understood, she knew it wasn’t my fault. Come home Francie she said. I’m sorry ma, I said again then she said it again ,come on home, I’m waiting for you.”
He wanted to tell his mother he was sorry. He relates his mum to being understanding, warm and loving. This also shows Francie’s state of mind was unstable at the time before his mother’s had died. He was hallucinating and he believed he could talk to his mother when he was in a different town. This is proof that there is already signs of madness before his mother had died.

He is sent to a borstal, to begin with he feels guilty towards Joe his, old best friend, as he had promised before to Joe that he would leave the Nugents alone and the reason he was at the borstal was for breaking into their house and vandalising their property. “There was a gapping hole in my stomach for I knew Joe would have heard all about the Nugents by now. I had let him down.” He also says “I had nobody now that was for sure and it was all my own fault.” This could be Francie admitting that the death of his mother was also his fault. He begins to feel completely powerless again and so tries to commit suicide because at least he will have that power yet that doesn’t even work, he can regain no power. “I tried to get at my wrist with the jaggy bit of the statue.” When he receives a letter from Joe so he decides he will be good. He begins to fantasise about the saints and instead of the priests seeing this as a sign of him being delusional they encourage him to believe he can see the saints and treated like he had some sort of special gift. One priest in particular takes a big liking to Francie. This is when the “Tiddly Show” started to happen. He called the Priest ‘Tiddly’ and he would make Francie play parts in Tiddly’s sick fantasies. Tiddly claimed he loved Francie. Eventually Tiddly was found out, nobody talked to Francie about it and so Francie became more and more in his own head. “…all I could see was ma smiling and saying to me over and over again saying don’t worry Francie no matter what she says about you I’ll never believe it I’ll never disown you ever…” he hallucinates. This also shows how the death of his mother is still affecting Francie and he feels that he still needs to feel that his mother has forgiven him and still loves him.

When he is released from the borstal he returns home to his father, who was slowly drinking himself to death. He drops out of school because he does not want to have to do school with a whole year group younger than him. His best friend Joe was very close with Philip Nugent when Francie returned. Francie tried to talk to Joe about what happened in the borstal he changed it into a joke “I fairly fooled you there Joe. Tiddly! Imagine someone doing the like of that. Tiddly!” he felt embarrassed, alone and he had noone to confide in. Joe was also a metaphor for his childhood and when Francie started loosing Joe he was saying goodbye to his childhood. It was never going to be the same as it had been.
“I wanted to talk about the hide and the old days…” Francie feels Joe has moved on and completely left him behind. He wishes he was back in those days when he was completely innocent and he still has his mother and before he was ever a “pig”. He relates Joe to when everything was as good as his life gets. He does everything to try and be his friend again “I was going to go right in and say hello to Joe and them all sitting there and if they wanted me to sit beside them then all the better…” he imagined what it would be like being able to be friends with Joe again.

I believe that Francie had a flaw in his character waiting to surface and these unfortunate events provoked this flaw to come to surface. Yet each event made Francie more isolated and more in his own head. His mother dying, he blamed himself for the most part, he also hated his father and believed he was also to blame. He lost his only source of love also. Being sent to the borstal and being abused, he lost his innocence, his childhood and he did not talk to people about it. Finally, he lost his best friend, his last sense of sanity. By loosing his friend, he looses the remaining part of his life that was good and that he related his old life with.

Graham's Redraft

Here's my spec study redraft. I need to add more to the bit about Beelzebub, but not really sure what else to write just now....




“Lord of the Flies” by William Golding centers around a conflict between two of the main characters, Jack and Ralph. This essay will look at how the conflict eventually ends in tragedy for most of the people on the island, using the writer’s use of symbolism and the characterisation of the two characters.

Ralph, one of the first characters we meet, is a kind, fair-minded character, who immediately appears to the reader as an ideal leader for the group. “We’re having a meeting. Come and join in.” The fact that he is the one who calls the first group meeting shows that he knows that if they are going to be stuck on the island for a long time, there will need to be some order and authority. “We ought to have more rules.” This shows he is doing all he can to retain peace and keep everything running smoothly. He is also the one who comes up with the idea of building a fire, which does eventually get the boys saved. “There’s another thing. We can help them to find us. If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us. So we must make smoke on top of the mountain. We must make a fire.”

Jack is quite the opposite of Ralph. He is arrogant and violent and it would seem that Golding has created Jack with the intention of making the reader dislike the character. Golding has done this so that from the start, the reader gets the impression that there will be conflict between these two boys, and takes the side of Ralph. Jack is the leader of anarchy on the island, and the leader of the savage tribe which hunts the pigs. “He swung back his right arm and hurled it with all his strength.” This shows he is really determined to make his first kill. At the first meeting, he wants to be leader, but when Ralph is elected, “the freckles on Jack’s face disappeared under a blush of mortification.” This suggest he is probably used to being a leader, as he is head boy at his school, and does not like it when someone has more power than him. The fact the he feels power when he has a weapon in his hand shows that he a violent character. “Slammed his knife into the trunk and looked around him challengingly.”

At the start of the novel, Jack and Ralph seem to get along quite well, and work as a team. “Jack and Ralph smiled at each other with shy liking.” However, as the story goes on, the difference in personality becomes apparent. The first sign of conflict between the two comes when Ralph and Simon are building shelters at the beach, and Jack is out hunting pigs. Ralph is annoyed that nobody is helping them with the huts and confronts Jack in a very civilised manner. “You wouldn’t mind helping with the shelters, I suppose?” Jack however, replies in a very violent aggressive manner. “Suddenly Jack shouted in rage “Are you accusing me-?”

Golding uses lots of symbolism in the novel, and many of these symbolic objects are related to the conflict. Firstly, the conch is the shell that Ralph uses to call meetings. At these meetings, only the person holding the conch can speak, so it symbolises order, democracy and leadership. “I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking.” Jack and Ralph are fighting for leadership in the novel, fighting for control of the conch. We see this at one of the group meetings, when Jack claims that Ralph has insulted one of his hunters, and then holds a vote in an attempt to overthrow Ralph as leader. This attempt fails, when even his choir vote against him. This conflict is the starting point for the chaos which leads to the tragedies.

Piggy’s glasses are used to start the fire. “His specs – use them as burning glasses!” Without these, there would be no fire, meaning no food and no rescue, therefore meaning survival. The fire is what cause the first death on the island; the death of the boy with the birthmark. After the boys split in two, Piggy’s glasses are stolen by Jack’s group so they can use them to light fires. This leads to Piggy’s death when he tries to retrieve them. His glasses therefore symbolise life and death.

The “beast” and the pig’s head – or Lord of the Flies – both symbolise power and the evil that is present in all of us. The Lord Of The Flies refers to Beelzebub, which is another name for the devil. Simon talks with the Pig’s head as if it understands him and talks back to him, and realises that the boys are scared of the beast because it exists in all of them. “There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the beast. Fancy thinking the beast was something you could hunt down and kill! You knew didn’t you? I’m part of you?” This very sinister quote backs up Simon’s thoughts earlier on in the novel that the beast is actually the boys themselves. It also shows just how evil this creature is, as it is taunting Simon in a similar way to which the boys taunt each other.

Possibly one of the main symbols in this novel is the island itself. The island is a microcosm representing the world, and of the good and evil that is produced in the world. Golding has placed these characters on an island because an island is alone and isolated, and the boys have no contact with any adults or anyone outside the island. This also conveys the theme of conflict, by showing that if a large group of people are stranded in the same place, without any way of leaving, there will always be arguments due to personality clashes. At the start of the novel, the island is described as a peaceful, tranquil place, but as the story unfolds, it turns into a very sinister place. This is because of the evil events that have happened on the island since the boy’s arrival; the forest fire, the death of the small boy with the birthmark, the killing of Piggy and the killing of Simon.

Golding uses symbolism and characterisation to great effect in “Lord Of The Flies,” to convey the main theme of conflict and also to show how this conflict ended in tragedy, and even death, for some of the boys on the island.

Graham

redraft of le specialist study x

Specialist Study


“The Acid House” by Irvine Welsh is a collection of short stories which plays with the reader’s expectations and typical stereotypes of particular characters. This study will examine two of these stories “Grannies Old Junk” and “Where The Debris Meets The Sea” and show how Irvine Welsh breaks down these stereotypes using characterisation and language.
“Grannies Old Junk” is about a heroin addicted man who is going to visit his grandmother. He is planning to steal her money savings, which she keeps hidden in an old biscuit tin, to buy more heroin. From the title “Grannies Old Junk” the reader would expect it to be about him finding some old antique rubbish she keeps or relate to some sort of old keep sake she has, it is a play on the words, a pun. However in the end the grandson finds a stash of drugs in the tin where she kept the money. “Git away fae thair! Git away! Fukin thief!” before he opens the tin she catches him and begins to get very aggressive and swears (not what you would expect from an elderly woman.) It becomes apparent to the reader she is hiding something through her sudden change of character. However the idea of her having drugs and potentially being a drug dealer somewhat differs from the typical stereotype of a granny. Irvine Welsh uses her character to play against the typical stereotype through her use of slag language “Cook up a shot then, make yourself useful.” Stereotypically you wouldn’t expect an old woman to understand much about taking drugs never mind encourage their Grandson to stay on them. Also the way she reacts to her grandson finding her stash, she suggests that it’s a good thing and that they can work together basically, all this plays with the reader’s mind to realise just how strange the whole situation is. Welsh works hard at the beginning to portray her as a typical old woman to then later surprise us. He does this by making her seem very concerned that her grandson may be involved with drugs and that she feels very strongly against drugs. It’s also ironic that all throughout the text she keeps saying to him that he is an “Abercrombie” and reminding him he is family then at the end when it turns out he is on drugs and she is a dealer she again says “Yir an Abercrombie right enough.” Suggesting because of the drugs he really is one of the family.
“Where The Debris Meets The Sea” is a similar text to “Grannies Old Junk” in that the reader is questioning is there any reality in these unique characters Welsh creates? This text brings across the idea of a group of celebrities, including Madonna and Kylie, reading magazines together and talking about who in the magazines they would “shag”. Irvine Welsh is swapping the characters into different lives, he has the celebrities talking about going to Leith to see this man “Deek Pretice fi Gilmerton.” When usually it would be men from the likes of Leith dreaming of meeting the celebrities. The language used contributes greatly to the insanity, Welsh uses Scots dialect which contributes to the role reversal as they sound like typical Leither. “Phoah! Ah’d shag the erse oafy that anyway.” And “Total fukin ride. Ah bet eh’s hung like a hoarse.” This is totally goes against expectations the reader has of the celebrities would act and talk. The stereotypical celebrity is rich and has everything they want, they may not all be posh however their language in interviews etc isn’t anything like that. So to suggest the idea of people as famous as Madonna and Kylie, who are themselves usually in the magazines, lusting after some nobody from Leith, Welsh is totally crossing all lines of reality. Today’s celebrities have everything in the world they could want from their money, as if they would need or possibly want someone from the magazines Welsh has them reading when they usually have footballer, movie star or some other form of major famous guys anyway. He is creating these totally unique characters. Again like in “Grannies Old Junk” the title is fairly significant, it suggests its where the less important, “Debris”, meets with the so called upper class which would be “The sea”. It is suggesting where different people from different classes in society meet.

In each of the short stories Irvine Welsh uses the language to break down typical stereotypes. Mainly through swearing, usually people don’t associate that with a granny, and the talk of sex from the celebrities is so crude, it’s not what you’d expect to hear the likes of Madonna say about someone from Leith. “Ah thoat, fuck me, ah’d gie ma eye teeth tae get ma gums around that.” It is however to some perhaps how they would expect someone from Leith to talk which is how Irvine Welsh has almost swapped the characters role in “Where the Debris Meets the Sea.” Again it’s the typical stereotypes of class.
Irvine Welsh creates unique characters in each text, “Grannies Old Junk” and “Where the Debris Meets the Sea.” His word choice and language used creates a scene that the reader wouldn’t realistically imagine with characters which jump out against there typical stereotypes. The chosen language is perhaps even offensive to some which emphasises even more to what extreme Welsh is breaking down the stereotypical characters. Each text’s characters challenge the typical stereotypes of today by suggesting things that most people would see as very unrealistic and impossible. Welsh has un underlying message in each story, we perhaps stereotype people to much and cant see past the false impressions we have of them from listing them off as “just an old woman” .Overall through the disbelief of the characters each of Irvine Welsh’s stories are very comical and carries a deeper message of how little we actually know about others.

Steph

Higher English

miss i've tried reeeeeeeeealy hard and i can't get it any shorter :(





“The Changeling” Samantha

“The Changeling” by Robin Jenkins is a novel which centres on the theme of the importance of people’s roots and different peoples attitudes towards them. Robin Jenkins effectively portrays the idea of deprivation through his use of symbolism and characterisation. This essay will aim to show how these two techniques enhance my appreciation of the novel.
It depicts the story of a young boy, Tom Curdie who is taken on holiday with his teacher, Charlie Forbes. Tom is raised in a slum in the east end of Glasgow called Donaldson’s Court. Many of the inhabitants of this slum are either mentally ill or have learning difficulties, very few people who live there make a success of their life and inevitably end up spending their life in Donaldson’s Court. However, Tom is very intelligent and many of his teachers recognise this but they believe because he lives in Donaldson’s Court he will end up like every other product of the slum. Charlie realises this and believes that if he takes Tom away from this environment and into a more supportive home he will flourish and gain enough encouragement and kindness to motivate him to rise above his upbringing. Nevertheless, throughout the novel the reader begins to realise that for Charlie, there is an ulterior motive. He thinks he will gain respect from his colleagues if this succeeds, he is using Tom as an experiment.
The most important use of symbolism is the concept of the changeling. The title of the novel is fitting because this “the changeling” stems from an ancient myth which said that a child of a family was replaced by a fairy known as the changeling. This symbolises how Charlie favours Tom over his other children and is effectively “replacing” his own children for Tom. This theme is established early in the novel when Tom’s younger sister is crying, “humming a song about a baby stolen by fairies in the Highlands”. Charlie has treated him as if he were his own child, not only that but has been proud of him although he has had no achievements. It also shows that his newly formed relationship with Tom has been noticed by others around him. Another significant moment is when Tom finds a library in Dunroth and decides to look up “changeling” in the dictionary. It says that the “creature” left by the fairies “often applied to ill-favoured person or animal spreading an evil influence”. Once Tom has read this he rereads it because he begins to realise how this is reflected in their situation, “seeing more and more why Mr. Forbes had applied it to him and why Mrs. Forbes had looked at him with such loathing”. After he has read it and come to the realisation he describes feeling “a strangeness” and the reader sympathises with Tom as they know how he truly feels about the family and how distraught he must be that when he finally feels loved no one can forget where Tom comes from.
Another use of symbolism is early in the book when Tom discovers a cat cowering on the staircase in Donaldson’s Court. This represents Tom’s relationship with Charlie. He recognises the anguish of the cat and the suffering it has had to endure in the slum. He then offers the cat the apple he has earlier stolen for his younger brother, Alec. The cat, however does not accept the gift because it is wary that Tom is still there watching him. “Suspicious of kindness, it mewed in misery”, Tom knows that the cat does not want to eat the apple because it will make him susceptible to anything Tom may do to him if he lets down his guard. This represents Tom’s relationship with Charlie. Tom has learnt that you never survive Donaldson’s Court unless you let nobody see your true emotions. “to let no one, not even yourself, know how near to giving in you were, these were the principles by which he lived”. He does not want to let his guard down around Charlie, even though he is offering Tom a helping hand, for fear that he may become attached and sooner or later he will be let down by Charlie.
Characterisation is effectively used in the novel to depict different characters inner thoughts and feelings. The main character the theme of roots is portrayed through is Tom. From the beginning the reader knows the reason behind his actions but they do not really sympathise with him until the end of the holiday. One of the first examples which evoke our understanding of Tom is when he is in a lesson and a teacher tells him to step away from his desk because Tom is very dirty. “‘Drop it on the desk and then keep your distance’… Many in the class laughed. He neither blushed nor sulked.” This shows that Tom is used to being treated like vermin and that as part of his act he can handle people treating him like this. Another quote which helps build up his persona is “he knew that if he ever were to be grateful to anybody, his confidence in himself would be destroyed”. This is another insight into the mind of Tom as it conveys how important it is to Tom to survive Donaldson's Court as being “grateful” is another way of letting someone get close to him. Another key point is when the headmaster of the school, Mr. Todd says that despite Tom’s circumstances “‘no child in this school, in this whole city, seeks pity less’”. This shows that Tom is able to accept the life he was born into and does not want others to feel sorry for him because he is perfectly contented with what he has and is.
The character of Charlie is well portrayed because in the beginning of the novel the reader thinks Charlie is extremely kind and sensitive to realise that Tom is not just an insolent thief. However, this respect for Charlie begins to waver during the holiday when the reader realises that Charlie may recognise Tom’s intelligence but he does not truly understand or want to understand what Tom really feels. When Mrs. Forbes says that Tom must go home, Charlie replies with “I’ll take him the whole way home”. This shows the reader that Charlie realises his experiment has failed and admits defeat but does not think of how this will affect Tom He cannot see that taking Tom away from Donaldson's Court means that, to him, he can never return because Charlie and his family have influenced him so much that he will not survive if he has to go back to the slum. In contrast to this in the beginning of the novel when he reads a story description Tom has made of the sea he sees that it is truly wonderful and understands that Tom himself may never be able to go to the sea and therefore feels pity. When he turns to Tom he sees him smiling and thinks to himself, “it was, they said the smile of the certified delinquent, of misanthropy in bud, of future criminality, of inevitable degradation. Forbes refused to accept it as such”. This shows that Charlie can see that Tom is not trying to be impudent, he was smiling because he is aware of how others view him yet they could not be further from the truth. Charlie does not know the true meaning behind this smile and we see that Charlie does not know as much about Tom as he thinks throughout the novel.
Another important character is Gillian, Charlie’s daughter. We see how the roles are reversed and how at the beginning of the novel Gillian appeared to be prejudiced towards Tom and by the end of the novel she is the only person who truly understands him. This first happens when Gillian catches Tom stealing from Woolworths “it did not make her clear of him, rather did it bind her to him in a way she could not avoid or understand”. This portrays the idea that even at an early stage of the holiday, Gillian has an attachment to Tom in that she knows Tom just not just steal as petty crime but there is a much deeper motive she cannot figure out. One of the most important points where she sympathises for Tom and when she first starts to change her opinion of him is when “she began to realise that this armour, of calmness and patience, forged somehow in the dreadful slum where he had been born, must be heavy and painful to wear”. This is where she realises that Tom’s persona or shield he has built around himself to cage his true emotions he’s built up to survive his life in Donaldson's Court is just an act and that having to do this must be hard for him. However she decides to ignore this feeling and continue to annoy Tom but the reader can see that she is doing it in order to understand Tom further Towards the end of the novel when Tom’s family arrive followed by the police wishing to question him about a robbery his friend carried out Gillian panics and runs to help Tom While they are hiding she says “did you steal those things in Woolworths because – because you didn’t want – to get – too fond of us?” this shows the reader that she has finally been able to understand what Tom really feels and she does not resent him for his attachment to her family and does not look down on his actions. This is a pivotal moment as Tom replies with a smile of “gratitude”. This shows that he has finally broken his barrier but also appreciates that she really does know his motives.
At this point the reader begins to think that Tom is happy that someone finally understands what he has hidden for so many years but as we can see by the tragic ending Tom may not fully be able to deal with that.
The reader can see Tom’s anguish as he is due to leave the holiday he knows he has come too far with the Forbes’ and cannot return to Donaldson's Court because he has experienced true love and loyalty which has broken his shield of protection and it is now unable to be fixed. This helps to build to the climatic ending where Tom ends his life. This climax is built up through the thoughts and feelings of Tom throughout the novel and we can feel the frustration at not being able to tell anyone about what he feels inside for fear it may cause him to become like another “product” of the slum. While in the barn with Gillian, Jenkins says “she felt only pity and love for him in his terrible predicament, but also complicity with him”. The reader believes at this point that there may be a happy ending for Tom because deep down all he has ever longed for was someone not to sympathise, but just to care enough that they take time to understand the complexity of his nature.
In conclusion, Jenkins manages to portray to the reader the idea of the importance of roots and deprivation through how use of symbolism and characterisation in a sophisticated manor. He is able to let the reader know what Tom and fellow characters really think and feel using these techniques.

This is quite worrying

I don't know about you but I found this article quite worrying. I would like to hear what your views are on this.

http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,1948695,00.html

kris spec stud redraft

Specialist Study

‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ is the sixth book in J.K Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter’ collection. This book is sculpted around the idea of how you should not judge a book by its cover. The ‘Half Blood-Prince’ focuses on the presentation of the anti-hero/villain as much as it does around Harry. From the first book in Rowling’s collection we have been given a stereotypical villain which is Draco Malfoy. From the first to the fifth book Draco has been presented in the same way. A strong, competitive juvenile who has no respect for the rules of the school or for any of the teachers apart from one, Snape. Draco’s upbringing has influenced him into believing in superiority of pure wizards (like himself) over mud-bloods (wizards with human parents). He is always racist toward mud-bloods when the opportunity arises and he only ever shows his strong, superior side. However, in the ‘Half Blood-Prince’ we see who Draco and Snape really are past the view they show us.

From book one we have seen Draco as a trouble making, racist juvenile who sees himself better than everyone else. The first sign that Draco is like this is the very first time Harry and Draco speak “You’ll soon find that some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter”. This view of Draco is kept right through to the third book were Draco scares one of Hagrids creatures which ends up scratching him but Draco acts like he is dying and because of his fathers influence within the wizarding government the creature is sentenced to death “I’m afraid he won’t be a teacher much longer, father’s not very happy about my injury”. Draco is clearly fine after this incident but because of his hate for Harry he decides to try and get Hagrid (a good friend of Harry’s) sacked and his favourite creature executed for his own personal joy. This shows the sick, twisted side to Draco that killing does not bother him because it is only a filthy creature which he also thinks of the mud-bloods.

‘Harry Potter and the Half Blood-Prince’ is a more mature and advanced book than the previous five as it has a lot of hidden messages and the language of the book has also advanced to a higher level which reflects how Harry and the other characters have grown up and also become more mature. As a result of this the presentation of Draco is very complex and in-depth. The first few chapters of the book show Draco in the same view; a wicked, boasting juvenile. On the train to Hogwarts (wizard school) Draco boasts to his friends about how the Dark Lord has set him a task to complete knowing it will impress them and make them idolise him “Clearly relishing the effect he had created”. As the train arrives at its destination we see the first encounter between Draco and Harry in this book. Draco has Harry immobilised and at his mercy “You didn’t hear anything I care about, Potter. But while I’ve got you here…” taking advantage of the situation Draco fiercely stamps on Harry’s face spurting blood everywhere which shows he does not believe in what’s right and wrong he only thinks of what will benefit him and that he also does not feel guilty for hurting a defenceless human being. After the battle the reader is left thinking that Draco will be presented in the same stereotypical manner through the rest of the book.

However, as the book progresses we see a change in Draco. Whilst at a Christmas party, Harry, for the first time in ages sees Draco close up “He now saw that Malfoy had dark shadows under his eyes and a distinctly greyish tinge to his skin”. This is the first time in all of the books that Draco has looked genuinely unwell but doesn’t make a fuss out of it like usual. In a confrontation later we see the biggest change in Draco so far as the teacher he has always respected and sucked up to, Snape, requests a word with him. As Harry eavesdrops on the conversation we learn that Draco has been avoiding Snape for some reason and even shouts at Snape for the first time “I know what you’re up to! You want to steal my glory!” Draco also denies the offer of help from Snape who he has always had utmost respect for in accomplishing his mission for the Dark Lord and finally walks away from Snape as a sign of total disrespect. This is the first real change in Draco's presentation. Usually Draco would be trying to get Harry into trouble for silly offences but Draco has kept away from Harry and everybody else at Hogwarts so he can complete his mission. His deteriorating health and confrontation with snape are the first signs that Rowling has changed Draco’s intentions and Draco even seems more mature now that he realises the consequences of his failure would be death from the Dark Lord as punishment if he does not complete his task.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince does not just focus on the changing of Draco but also Severus Snape. Snape is a Hogwarts teacher who worked for the Dark Lord during his regime but after the defeat of the Lord, Snape convinced Dumbledore he had converted to the good side and was being brain washed by the forces of darkness. From the day Snape converted many have wondered whether he really was brain washed and if he really had turned good. From the first time Harry meets Snape he automatically dislikes him and also Snape dislikes Harry. For six years Snape treats Harry badly, bullies him and tries to make his life a misery as much as possible. “But he seemed to really hate me”. This treatment leaves the reader to wonder whether Snape does this because Harry destroyed the Dark Lord but in book three we realise it could be because Harry’s father tormented and bullied Snape when he was a pupil. This is further developed in the fifth book when Harry relives a memory of snapes from his school days. “Pink soap bubbles streamed from Snape’s mouth at once, choking him”. Sirius and James (Harry’s dad and godfather) both made Snape’s school days horrible with constant teasing and fights. Snape’s treatment of Harry could therefore be personal revenge for the way he was treated as a boy.

Through the six books the reader makes a view of Snape whether he is good or evil but even though Snape treats Harry incredibly bad he also tries to save Harry’s life on many occasions. Snape mutters a counter curse in the first book when Harry is in mortal danger. In the third book he goes to Harry’s rescue when he sees him enter the wompingwillow. He tries to educate Harry in mind powers in the fifth book to help Harry block out the Dark Lord. This shows Snape does have a human side to him and his treatment of Harry could just be a false image he wishes to convey to Harry and others to keep his real intentions undercover.

Up until the last six chapters of the book Draco’s presentation has been different. As his health gets worse he does not go to the nurse and make sure everybody knows he is not well. Also he stays away from Snape and even stops playing Quidditch for his house. But the real change in Draco is not seen until the end of the book. As harry and Dumbledore depart on a dangerous mission Dumbledore is severely hurt and left ineffective as protection for Harry. As they make there way back to the school they spot the dark mark (sign the Dark Lord has killed) over the Astronomy Tower. Dumbledore quickly regains control of himself and he and Harry quickly fly to the tower to investigate. The door to the tower flies open and Harry falls back against the wall. As Harry ponders on how he has been frozen it finally hits him that Dumbledore had wordlessly immobilised Harry, but by doing so Dumbledore had lost the ability to defend himself as the attacker disarmed Dumbledore. Without panic or distress Dumbledore casually addresses his disarmer “Good evening Draco”. A conversation between the two follows as Draco boasts about how he completed his task and was able to smuggle the Dark Lords henchmen into the school. As Dumbledore calmly speaks Draco’s hands shake, he begins to sweat but tries to maintain the fact that he has the advantage over a wandless old wizard. As time goes on four of the henchmen get to the tower were they are met by the image of Dumbledore helpless. After another conversation Draco still cannot find it in him to kill Dumbledore. After all the work and effort he put in all year to kill him he just can’t murmur the words. His feelings get in the way and he realises he is not a killer after all the threats he gave Dumbledore. Finally Snape enters the scene. With the knowledge that Draco cannot complete his task snape points his wand at Dumbledore and announces the dreadful words of the killing curse. Dumbledore’s body flies over the edge and the henchmen flee the scene.


Through the book Draco is presented in the same way as the he always has been at some points but as the book progresses his old presentation deteriorates and we see a completely new person. A fragile little boy with emotional difficulty instead of the strong superior outer shell that Draco has always shown. We finally see Draco as a human being with emotions and even the ability to cry. Snape is finally seen in his true colours. After many years of pretended we finally see he is still on the side of evil. This is a total twist to the books and gives the reader a sense that the final book could contain anything as Harry has lost the last person that he cared about and is an angry young man with extraordinary powers. Rowling’s presentation of good versus evil in this book is far more complex than black and white. It is the struggle between those who are not afraid of showing weakness against those who are disgusted with emotions and feelings. Draco has an inner conflict between good and evil in this book as we see him in both views; able to show emotion at some points but avoiding them at others. This effect makes the reader sympathise with Draco and in the end even pity him as he is still just a fragile child trying to grow up to quickly. Snape conveys the idea people aren’t always as they seem to be. After all the trust Dumbledore had in Snape, Snape turns around and stabs him in the back which creates a very powerful scene and the biggest twist possible in the Harry Potter collection. The book is therefore sculpted around the idea of not judging a book by its cover. On the outside we see Draco as a strong-minded juvenile with no care for others feelings and forever wishing to hurt people. On the inside however Draco is just a little boy with the same emotions as everyone else. The only problem is he just can’t show them as easily which leads back to his inner conflict. Snape is shown as an evil man wishing to get revenge for the torment he was subjected to as a child but in the end he is really a murderous lyre with a higher purpose than making Harry’s life miserable. The story shows us that people are complex and everybody has emotions but some find it easier to show them and others conceal theirs like Draco and also that people can lie and hurt those who have risked everything for them without a second thought.

This might be useful

I stumbled across these. You might find them useful. You might not. It is not as though many of you seem to care these days anyway.

Close Reading:

http://www.perth.ac.uk/stream/docs/close%20reading%20handout.doc

Exam Techniques:

http://www.perth.ac.uk/stream/docs/examtips.doc

Want Some Extra Help??

For those of you who are working hard on your own to learn your texts and practicing with past papers you may be pleased to hear that there is another text you can get your hands on with lots of advice on passing the course. It is called "How to Pass Higher English" and is published by Hodder Gibson. It is about £8.99 but is a worthwhile investment. The people who bought it last year found it very helpful.

Just an idea.