Personal Study Questions

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7.

Choose a novel or short story you enjoyed from a particular prose genre (fantasy, science fiction, romance, etcetera). . To what extent did your response to the text depend on the.author's use of the conventions of the. genre? In your answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: setting, plot, theme, characterisation, or any other appropriate feature.

8.

Choose a novel or short story in which the lives of characters are disrupted for good or for bad by some person or force. . . By close reference to more than one scene in the story, show how your attitude to this disruptive element developed in the course of the narrative. In your answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: point of view, plot, key scenes, characterisation, or any other appropriate feature.

9.

It has been argued that most prose reflects mankind's pessimism and obsession with the dark side of life. By close reference to one short story or-novel, show whether you agree or disagree with this criticism. . . . '. In your answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: setting, plot, theme, characterisation, or any other appropriate feature.

10.

Choose a work of prose in which the persona of the narrator is an important element in your enjoyment of the text. By referring to one or more parts of the text, show how this choice of persona contributed to your enjoyment . In your answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: point of view, language, theme, characterisation, or any other appropriate feature.

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Some novels or short stories depend for their success-on a well-chosen setting in time, place or both.

/ Consider the use of setting in one novel or short story you know well and explain its effects on your appreciation of other key elements of the text In your answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: setting, plot, theme, characterisation, or any other appropriate feature.

12.

Novels are about human beings - attractive and unattractive. Explain the attractiveness - or otherwise - to vou of a central character whose qualities are not typically heroic. • T..., '\10"- aJiSV'''''' VOU mus: rcTc>.- ,,1"S"'-'\I n'=:' _.t.. ,._ .••.. _-!, to the ••..• text 1..- ~- and -, tc a:"~io~c.••..- - two . -:-~nar.a::ter:SE.tlDI!.~poin: or view. plot. theme. 0_ an:' other appropriate rearur;

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CRITICAL

ESSAY

PAST

QUESTIONS

PROSE - FICTION 1.

Some-works of fiction set out to explore a particular social or political issue.

Choose one such work and show how the author has used the devices of fiction to arouse the reader's interest in the issue. In your answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: theme, plot, characterisation, setting, or any other appropriate feature. 2.

Choose a novel in which the reader sees the events mainly through the experience of one of the characters. , ' Show to what extent this restricted viewpoint actually helps the reader to understand more fully thetheme(s) of the noveL In your answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: viewpoint, theme, characterisation, language, or any other appropriate feature.

3.

Consider a novel in which the main character steadily becomes more isolated. How does the increasing isolation affect the character's attitudes, actions and selfknowledge during the course of the novel? In your answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: viewpoint, theme, characterisation, language, or any other appropriate feature.

4.

Many pre-twentieth century novels are written on a grand scale- there are large casts of characters, varied settings, long timescales, multiple plots. Write about a pre-twentieth century novel, making clear which of these features held your interest and added to your overall appreciation of the novel. In your answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: theme, characterisation, plot, setting, or any other appropriate feature. -

5.

The pressure created by the hostility of other people or of the environment in a prose work is often the single most effective element in forcing a major revelation of character. To what extent do you agree with this statement with respect to a prose work you have studied?

In your answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: setting , characterisation, plot, theme, or any other appropriate feature. 6,

In many novels and short stories the setting (in terms of place, time, social/political conditions, etcetera) is a significant factor, shaping the main character/s) and determining his/her/the;': actions. :--=_ .. - -- -:-- .. .:..',....,--- --. :.- ...._. -. .•..... .. - .. --::--:-

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13.

Select a Scottish prose work (fiction or non-fiction) you know well. To what extent do you consider it as distinctly "Scottish". In yOW" .answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at.leasttwo of: setting .. characterisation, language, theme, or any other appropriate feature.

14.

In some societies; certain books have been perceived to be so dangerous that they have been burned. Choose one controversial work of fiction whose value is such that you would defend it from being burned. Make clear what you think is controversial about the work and go on to examine these features of the work which would lead you to defend it. In your answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: theme, key scenes, characterisation, plot, or any other appropriate feature.

15.

Choose one short story which you think is successful. By referring closely to the beginning and the ending of the story, show how each contributed to its success. In your answer, you must refer closely to thetext and to at least two of: key scenes, characterisation, plot, theme, or any other appropriate feature.

16.

From a novel you know well, select a scene, episode or chapter that is crucial to your exploration of the ideas of the novel. . By close reference to this scene, episode or chapter, show why it is so important to your understanding the the ideas of the novel. In your answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: key scenes, theme, characterisation, language, or any other appropriate feature.

17.

Choose a novel in which the relationship between two characters deteriorates. Explain the reasons for this, and, while assessing the part each character plays ill this deterioration, make it clear where your sympathies lie. In your answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: key scenes, point of view, characterisation, language, or any other appropriate feature.

18 .

"After hundreds of thousands of novels and short stories, there can be no new stories any more, only different treatments of the same broad themes ..." With reference to any novel or short story, show how, though the theme might have been familiar to you, the novel or short story nevertheless led you to new insights. In your answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: theme, . . point of view, characterisation, setting, or any other- appropriate feature.

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19.

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The sea; farmed land; a city's streets; an imagined other-world - often the setting of a prose work takes on an importance beyond that of simply providing the characters with a background against which to act out their lives. __In any prose work which YOu' have studied, show the importance.of the .writer's.use • of setting. In your answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: setting, _ theme, plot, characterisation., opr any other appropriate feature.

20.

"A novel, to be truly successful, needs to combine both the local and the universal: it must speak truths in Edinburgh andErinsborough, in Mollinsburn and Milan ..." To what extent does a novel which you have read fulfil this traditional requirementa successful novel should have both local and universal significance? In your answer. you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: setting, theme, plot, characterisation, or any other appropriate feature.

2.1.

Setting comprises two features: time and place. By referring in detail to any prose work which you have read, show how setting in time contributes to the text as a whole. In your answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: setting, theme, plot, characterisation, or any other appropriate feature.

22.

Authors are often characterised as being "Crime writers", or "Romance writers", or "Historical novelists", or known by some other such stereotyping label. Show' how such a writer also explores themes and/or characters which are of interest to a much wider readership. In your answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: setting, theme, plot, characterisation, or any other appropriate feature.

23.

Isolation, rejection, confrontation, or loneliness are major themes that are explored in many novels and short stories. By examining the techniques used by an author, -show how one or these themes is dealt within a way which you found meaningful in one or more texts. In your answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: theme, plot, characterisation, setting, or any other appropriate feature.

24.

Perhaps the biggest task of the writer of fiction is to 'make it real'. With reference to a novel or short story of your choice, show how the writer has created a believable world.

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25.

Chose one minor but important character from a novel or short story. Give a brief account of his or her part in the plot, and show how important he or she -' ....

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In your answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: characterisation, point of view, plot, theme, or any other appropriate feature.

26.

Short story writers cannot afford to waste time on unnecessary detail. Considering one short story, show how the choice of significant detail is used to increase your understanding of the text In your answer, you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: characterisation, setting, plot, theme, or any other appropriate feature . .-_ .... _-

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