Welcome to AS - A2 English Literature - Transition Welcome to A2 English Literature

Whatever you do, English Literature students – DO NOT THROW AWAY YOUR STUFF FROM LAST YEAR!!!!!!!!!!

What you should know about A2 English Literature … - You will be required to do lots of background reading and independent research. Obviously, you will be building on skills you developed during your AS year – but A2 is much more detailed and when we re-visit AS texts our interaction will be more sophisticated. We will also be developing our interaction with different schools of critical enquiry and this will especially be apparent when we study the Shakespeare Critical Anthology.

Theatre Trip!! Oct 2016 http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/may/24/maxine-peake-blanche-dubois-streetcar-named-desire-manchester-royal-exchange

Plan of the year A2 English Literature For the half first term we will be (a) working on coursework -starting on the first part of this coursework now and you will be completing the first draft over the Summer holiday and (b) studying William Shakespeare’s Tragedy Othello. After the first half term of next year you will be beginning your study of Pre 1900 Poetry

For your comparison you can, after discussion with your teacher – choose any two texts you like! However, in class we will be studying this text and suggesting possible comparisons.

LITB4 – COURSEWORK Starting now, first draft completed over the Summer. For the first part of your coursework – you will be comparing an aspect of The Catcher In The Rye (for example!!) with another text – (for the second text you will have a choice of a range of possible satellite texts.) Your completed essay will be between 2500-3000 words.

Satellite Texts ..Some suggestions “Cat’s Eye” – Margaret Atwood (1988) “The Bell Jar” – Sylvia Plath. (1963) “Black Swan Green” - David Mitchell (2006) “The Goldfinch” Donna Tartt (2014) “The Curious Incident of the dog in the night-time Mark Haddon (2004) “American Psycho” - ~ Bret Easton Ellis (1991)

Developing a title for your comparison - The following aspects of narrative are often used as a basis for your comparison (A03) Titles Plot Symbolism Setting Time & Sequence Characters & characterisation Voice Point Of View Destination When we are reading “Catcher” during transition think about which aspects of the text you are going to compare to your satellite text.

Assessment Objectives AO1 Articulate informed, personal and creative responses to literary texts, using associated concepts and terminology, and coherent, accurate written expression AO2 Analyse ways in which meanings are shaped in literary texts AO3 Demonstrate understanding of the significance and influence of the contexts in which literary texts are written and received 21.9 AO4 Explore connections across literary texts AO5 Explore literary texts informed by different interpretations

CONTINUATION INTO A2 IS ON THE CONDITION THAT THE FIRST DRAFT OF YOUR COURSEWORK IS COMPLETED OVER THE SUMMER. THIS IS WRITTEN IN STONE!!! THERE WILL BE NO TEACHING TIME ALLOCATED IN CLASS AT ALL FOR COURSEWORK NEXT SEPTEMBER

J D Salinger (1919-2010) Jerome David Salinger - (J D Salinger) is a world famous American author. He was born in Manhattan on New Year’s Day 1919. His mother was of Scottish / Irish descent and his father was a Polish Jew. He died in January 2010. He is famous for his seminal text The Catcher In The Rye written in 1951. He gave his last interview in 1980. He lived a reclusive life style in his later years and shunned publicity.

“The Catcher In The Rye” -- has been listed as one of the best novels of the 20th Century. - Originally published for adults, it has since become popular with younger adults who relate to its themes of teenage confusion, sexuality, alienation, and rebellion. It has been translated into almost all the world’s major languages. Around 250,000 copies are sold each year, with total sales of more than sixty-five million. The novel's protagonist, Holden Caulfield, has become an icon for teenage rebellion. It also deals with complex issues of identity, belonging, connection, self perception and alienation.

The Catcher in the Rye is written in a subjective style from the point of view of its protagonist Holden Caulfield, following his exact thought process (a writing style known as stream of consciousness. There is flow in the seemingly disjointed ideas and episodes; for example, as Holden sits in a chair in his dorm, minor events such as picking up a book or looking at a table, unfold into discussions about experiences. Critical reviews agree that the novel accurately reflected the teenage colloquial speech of the time.

You will be expected to get your own copy of “The Catcher In The Rye (if indeed you are writing on it) and you will need to be studying it independently as part of the key requirements for A2. We will only be studying certain chapters in class.

Make sure you capitalise on every opportunity for research!!

Read Chapter 1 … First Impressions?? Style Sense of voice Tone / Mood - Character

Holden’s attitude to his parents Catcher Chapter 2: Points to consider: The importance of Holden’s meeting with Mr Spencer – how is his personality further revealed? Holden’s attitude to his parents What is revealed about Holden’s physical appearance? Why does Holden get “kicked” out of Pencey? Significance of the ducks - Symbolism Significance of the term “phony”

Chapter 3 - Page 14 “I’m the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life.” Holden addresses the reader “your life” and introduces the idea of an unreliable narrator. VOICE / NARRATIVE

Look at page 16 (“Anyway”) until the end of the chapter and consider the use of: Colloquial language, sociolect and prosodics Contrasting characters – Ackley & Stradlater (what do you notice about them both and Holden’s interaction with them? How Holden’s character is emerging / developing Unseen characters – “Sally Heyes” and Stradlater’s date (to be developed later in the text.