Year 10 English: term three reading and comparing

Unit outline You will study a pair of texts and construct a comparative response that references both texts Based on comprehending (your ability to understanding the meaning of a text: literal/surface level, e.g. plot, characters) Also based on analysing the texts (interpreting a text’s themes and issues, as well as the overall message) Your ability to think analytically about texts is fundamental to your success in English

Understanding texts Author’s and directors make choices about how they want their work to look, sound and feel As English student’s, you’re looking for choices relating to form, purpose and context You will also be looking at setting, character, narrative voice, imagery, symbolism as well as themes and issues Similar to a standard text study, but with the element of comparison

purpose Authors rarely write just to tell a story Authors have a purpose: voice concerns, challenge an idea or represent an opinion e.g. an author might be concerned about how society perceives the role of women or how Jews were persecuted in world war two

Your turn Summarise the story of the book thief in no more than 50 words Explain in one sentence the director’s opinion on the following topics: Education (reading and writing) Power of Nazi leaders Innocence of children war

context Context: physical, social, demographic world in which an author writes Can be influenced by time and place in which an author lives, as well as by their age, gender, culture and social values Art, literature and film reflect changes in society. How is today’s world reflected in recent texts?

Context: The BOOK THIEF NOVEL WRITTEN IN 2005 BY MARKUS Zusak (adapted for screen 2013) ZUSAK WAS BORN IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA IN 1975 His mother Lisa is originally from Germany and his father Helmut is from Austria. They emigrated to Australia in the late 1950s What could have motived zusak to write a novel like the book thief? What relevance might it have to his culture? Does the story reflect anything that is going on in today’s world? Create a Venn diagram to present this information

Context: government or power Animal farm and the book thief both present political concerns Governments or rulers can strongly influence the values of a society and impact the way people in that society live Ties into author’s purpose

Your turn Research the following TERMS AND WRITE DEFINITIONS IN YOUR WORKBOOK: fascism DICTATORSHIP COMMUNISM SOCIALISM How might communism/socialism and fascism/dictatorships clash? What problems might arise from this? Use the events of the film, and what you know of history to explain your answer.