1. Anthology B – approaching the short stories
Tuesday, 13 November 2018
jonathan peel reviewed JLS 2017

2. PAPER 2, question 1 EITHER SHORT STORY OR POEM Found in anthology B.
jonathan peel reviewed JLS 2017

3. The syllabus
Reading Students will study the following key features of texts: • the understanding of texts • ideas and perspectives of the writer • the writer’s use of language, structure and form. They will understand how the writer uses these key features to present ideas, themes and settings. 30 marks (AO1 :12, AO2: 18) (20% of your entire IGCSE)
jonathan peel reviewed JLS 2017

4. Assessment
jonathan peel reviewed JLS 2017

5. Approaching a short story
Often feel that the poems are “easier”. Look carefully at the bullet points and be guided by them in your reading Remember the key features of ANY form of writing Apply a framework such as SLIME or SCASI to your writing and hit each section Try to recognise the internal structure of a piece or a passage. Remember to use quotations and discuss the effect of the language used at all times.
4: Falling actions
5: Resolution - a new status quo
1:Exposition: status quo
2: Rising actions
3: Climax
jonathan peel reviewed JLS 2017

6. EACH SHORT STORY has a distinct “style”
I have started some of these, use the ideas to develop more elements of style for yourselves. The Story of an hour: Omnisicient 3rd person narration, irony, heavily emotive at times… The Necklace: Significant Cigarettes: Passage from a longer text, balance between characters? Sense of entrapment and uncertainty… Whistle and I’ll come to you: Passage from a Gothic novel – supernatural, creation of tension and fear…. Night: Personal, semi autobiographical? ‘not quite a story’, use of direct speech and free indirect speech…
jonathan peel reviewed JLS 2017

7. In practice: Sample examination question Paper 2
jonathan peel reviewed JLS 2017

8. MAKE SURE you understand the question
Focus is on isolation, not several other elements of the Gothic. It is a writer’s craft question and should focus on techniques, not retelling the story.
jonathan peel reviewed JLS 2017

9. Apply SLIME And focus on the question – tensions and resolution.
jonathan peel reviewed JLS 2017

10. S: structure and setting
How is the shift from rational observer to rather more worried narrator achieved? What ways are used to describe the setting - how do these develop the idea of isolation?
jonathan peel reviewed JLS 2017

11. L: Language
Use the next bullet point to start this section. What sort of language is used to describe the childhood memories? How do these memories feed into the theme of isolation?
jonathan peel reviewed JLS 2017

12. I: imagery
Use the third bullet here. Take the chance to develop any key language features not already discussed- metaphors and similes, personification, sentence structure and so on. Make sure you are linked to the idea of isolation.
jonathan peel reviewed JLS 2017

13. I: continued (ideas)
How does isolation increase the sense of impending fear? How is light/darkness used to increase the sense of isolation? Is the dog a good companion and how does his intervention at the end help to restore the narrator to balance?
jonathan peel reviewed JLS 2017

14. M: Meaning
Now answer the question… Isolation increases uncertainty and helps to change the rational protagonist from calm to terrified, before the dog, a companion, serves to remind him tha the is not alone….
jonathan peel reviewed JLS 2017

15. E: Effect
A gothic ghost story in which isolation –a key trope of such literature – is used to enhance the fear felt by the protagonist. We share his fear – the isolation of the reader is important – imaginations run free when alone.
jonathan peel reviewed JLS 2017

16. PAPER 2 Q1
Each story requires this treatment. The focus may well be on characterisation - look at each and chart the progress of characters… Sudden sense of freedom explored before death. Irony – heart disease Change in Mme Loisel once poor – she does work hard to repay her loss – sheb is much more than a vain young woman… Contrasts between Lev and Lydia – time taken to discover her name, intellectual differences and hopes for the future, preparedness, Lev’s back story. Protagonist from rational to scared and emotional and back again Sense of family relationships, purpose of father, Munro’s worsening mental state - humour used.
jonathan peel reviewed JLS 2017