Prose

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REMARKS

present tense

link to reader's feeling at the end of each paragraph

concise and clear

avoid repetition

explanation needs to be explicit

subject verb agreement

uncountable nouns

Vocabulary:

suggests

demonstrates

outlines

builds

conveys

implies

evokes

connotes

signifies

expresses

develops

strengthens

increases

reinforces

augments

highlights

contrasts

emphasises

proves

explains

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Sredni Vashtar By Saki-Hector Hugh Munro

Potential Questions:

How is the relationship between Conradin and Mrs De Ropp made striking in the story?

How is the theme of religion conveyed in the story?

Conradin

carefully hidden keys : reluctance in C at sharing his secrets with his guardian which is unusual for a relationship, building up how he watns to escape from her

ransacked : causes a mess and makes him feel disgusted

qualm

alien rite : how C thinks MDR's religion is strange and unusual, displaying his lack of interest in the mainstream reality, suggesting the disconnection of him and the adult world

cathedral : a shed as a cathedral suggests that it is a sacred place for him to feel protected and safe as he is dying, developing the distance from the real world

scarlet berries : offering it to Sredni Vashtar portrays his imaginative character, suggesting that the world he likes more is the fantasies

impatient side of things : contrast with the adult world and his religion believes emphasises how his religion focuses on immediate events unlike how her religion highlights the future, which is an immature approach to religion, showing his disinterest

the cult : expresses how C is obsessed with his own religion and his devotion, suggesting his heavy reliance on this religion

for the last time : praying again for the death of MDR connotes his desperate attempt to withdraw from a controlling life with his cousin through the help of an imagined religion

fruit trees : biblical imagery of the tree in Eden, which links to his unrealistic fantasies and a similarity between the religion of MDR and C

every Thursday : mimics the practice of the adult's religion, suggesting how he takes his religion seriously like the adults, connoting that he has a great desire to live in his own imagination that he hopes is real

nutmeg had to be stolen : where MDR's Catholicism is pure and wholesome, his religion is sinister and dark, showing his rejection towards order and rules in reality

personally responsible : the idea of causing misery and pain for MDR explains how he as a young child interprets religion differently in a childish way, highlights the sinister side of his religion

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The Phoenix By Sylvia Townsend Warner

Potential Questions:

How does TW establish a striking impression of humanity?

How does TW present a striking criticism of greed?

how does TW ensure we find the phoenix a sympathetic character?

In what ways is the ending darkly humorous or macabre?

Lord Strawberry (LS)

won its confidence : trust in Lord Strawberry suggests how LS understand nature and the phoenix has recognised LS as a bright and responsible human, representing the good side of humanity

it is well : LS makes sure the phoenix is happy with its place and treats it with care because of his respect and appreciation towards nature

perfectly contented : considerate of the phoenix's emotions and is willing to do anything to satisfy its needs

died penniless : LS spent all his money on the phoenix to treat him with care, making sure it stays healthy an happy instead on using them on personal wealth, showing his generosity

Phoenix/Mr Poldero (MP)

jeer : the phoenix was jeered at, which are loud and rude noises, being tortured by Mr Poldero which is cruel, showing the bad side of humanity

bargain : MP treats the phoenix as an object to achieve own material wealth and look at its extrinsic value, highlighting his greed

stationed : MP taunts the phoenix like a daily assignment, instead of treating the phoenix well with passion like LS, lacking emotion and care for the phoenix

General Public (GP)

no longer in the news : as the initial enthusiasm died down, the interest faded away as they pursued other interest and entertainment, showing the fickle nature of humanity

visits fell off : after the excitement passed no one cared for the phoenix, proving how they only go with the trend and is rather shallow

public interest : only interested in the flames but not the harsh process the phoenix has to go through, highlighting their selfishness and fickle nature

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The Prison By Bernard Malamud

Página 5

Billennium By J.G. Ballard

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The People Before By Maurice Shadbolt

Potential Questions:

How is the relationship with the land or nature shown to be striking between the two?

Ownership of the land

prejudice and cultural differences

Father

reasonable preposition for a dairy farm : only focuses on the extrinsic values of the land and for material wealth

history only began the day he set foot : he paid no attention to the past and history of the land, not knowing its intrinsic value

possession of the land : views the land as a way of making money instead of cultural values

Tom and Maori

the place of happy return : the close bond between the land and the Maoris

nearly a hundred miles : shows the deep hope of returning to this place and is willing to solve any problems in order to go back home

troubling : is considerate, unlike the settlers who had barged into the and with brute force

Ending

robbed : the close bond between the land and Jim rewarded him more than the narrator has as his bond with the land is similar to his fathers

rightfully mine : although he paid hard work and effort into the land, Jim still manages to enjoy more success than he does

forgive him : is ambiguous but can be his father as his guidance leads the narrator to a less successful life than Jim

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Ming's Biggest Prey By Patricia Highsmith

Potential Questions:

how is the theme of jealousy portrayed as striking in the story? [better relationship between owner and pet instead of love relationship]

how is Ming portrayed as a memorable character in the story?

In what ways is the setting vividly conveyed in Ming's Biggest Prey?

Relationship with Elaine

lying in the sun with his mistress : his closeness and security felt when lying with his owner

liked only Elaine : he likes her conditionally while Elaine loves Ming more than the cat loves human which is amusing

quarrelling : Elaine is willing to fend for Ming, showing her protectiveness for him unlike she does with Teddie

darling : a term of endearment but is unusual for a pet

perfect freedom : Ming has good living conditions with Elaine having a high amount of trust in him

Character with Teddie

knelt as if to lend a hand : pretending to be nice and genuine because Elaine is around as she favours the cat, and he must do so to favour her

he fell overboard! : an excuse to act innocent

command to leave the room : tries to overpower / superior / dominate Ming

hurl the wadded towel : violent and angry and hostile and is trying to do anything to get rid of Ming because of his relationship with Elaine

so did I! : fake and lying

Luxurious Life of Ming

barbecued pork : in abundance, unusual for a pet

brilliant sunlight : exaggerated, over the top

tiny electric lights

resting comfortably

glided silently

made his way cautiously

prepared to spring

the bay of Acapulco : sounds exotic

soft canvas chair : contrasts with his old life with a sunless box with straw

big car without a roof

sailboat : only afforded by the rich and hence is a symbol of love from Ealine

Setting

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Games at Twilight By Anita Desai

Potential Questions:

How is Ravi's transition in the story made memorable?

How is the theme of loss of innocence in the story portrayed as striking?

strained : struggle to go out to the outdoors and play shows his eagerness in interacting with the outside world, just like how children want to grow faster and become a teenager

begged : building on his enthusiasm in having contact with the adult world

burst : suggesting the amount of energy and excitement they have before having any interaction with the cruel reality, highlighting their naivety

frightening glimpse : scared and unsure explaining how he is starting to regret his decision of entering the game, just like how one feels towards adulthood

whispers grew angrier : signifying how he starts to acknowledge how terrible the real world may be, and hence scaring him with the change of atmosphere

swallowing a ball of snot : symbolises how immature he is at the moment, as this is an act of a child

cold and triangular : unwelcoming, sharp and emotionless faces of his friends

twilight : the death of the day, connotes how the end of the game brings the death of his childhood

funeral game : game without him gives him a sense of insignificance and neglect, conveying how they have used the way of a child to express opinions about serious theme, showing how the children playing are still immature and full of innocence

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Of White Hairs and Crickets By Rohinton Mistry

Potential Questions:

How is the narrators relationship with his father portrayed as memorable?

How is the transition of the narrator shown in the story as striking?

a tabloid of comics : how the narrator is childish and innocent as he is attracted to the fictional stories and stories, instead of sticking to the reality and adult world

every-single-white-hair-out : obeyed without any objections and concerns, showing how oblivious he is and he does not realise how quickly his father is ageing

resented her speaking against daddy : does not understand how much his father has aged as he is no longer fit for labour intensive work

lines on his brows : wrinkles which symbolises his old age and signs of pain

smell of sickness and medicines made it stink : displaying his distaste towards it and how he has not encounter any issues like this before

towing : how age is consuming Viraf's father, connotes how something can take great control over you by brining a sense of fear and uncertainty

powerless to stop : contrasts with the beginning of the story as he did not think that his father is old and ageing, always hiding the evidence of it away

suggested pain : the sounds and his father's actions hides a lot of proof that displays his age

daddy's were less deep : notices the small details and is becoming more observant, so there is more time to care for his father

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Tyres By Adam Thorpe

Potential Questions:

How is the theme of risk and consequences conveyed in the story?

Rauol and Cecile's Relationship : cannot move on because of his guilt and regret

happy : what he can have by involving with the French resistance ie Cecile

beginning of winter : feels lost, lonely and guilty, related to death and lose his dreams, passion, hope and love

no more than touch up : time and everything else has stopped as his life is over too when Cecile died

I tried - I still try : searching for redemption

I could not change it : want to change the results of his actions because of his hate for the consequences he had to face

I could not paint it out : doesnt feel like he can move on

Settings : from the woods to Germans and soldiers turning up and back into the garrage

immense garden : was full of life and positivity

dynamite : Germans visit makes it dangerous and tragedy is ready to blow any second

scorch marks : the scars of Rauol and the consequences of his choice

German and Rebels

black, evil cat : the german's car represents a bad omen, a symbol of bad luck and bad things that may happen

looped and ripping : the consequences of gong against the Germans can be death; use of visual imagery that horrifies and disgusts the readers

two minions : present a threat or villain and the consequences that may come with it by messing with one

Dad : pragmatic and cautious, likes to play it save and think you will get what you expect, always close to Rauol to ensure he is safe

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To Da-duh, in Memoriam By Paule Marshall

Potential Questions

theme: cultural prejudice / understand and appreciation for different cultures

relationship between Da-duh and narrator

the significance of ending

won the encounter : the start of a competition between the two characters

thin muscular arms spread wide : open arms connotes her embrace and strong love for the city even though her arms may seem weak

I bet you don't know that : conveys pride, and thinks that the narrator's home city is not as good as her own

groping, uncertain steps : Da-duh does not believe her city is not the best in the world, showing uncertainty

incredulous (tone) : in denial that there are other cities better or have different cultures than Barbados

faint mocking smile : unable to appreciate the difference in culture between the narrator and herself

send me a picture : appreciate the beauty that exists in the city with a picture of the Empire State Building

postcard : stops competing with Da-duh when narrator fulfils her request as she too accepts the unique culture of Barbados

alien site : the place was once foreign and unwelcoming

To Da-duh, in Memoriam : respect and close relationship between the two after visiting Barbados