Questions

« The novelist teaches the reader to understand the world as a question »

Milan Kundhera

Question to help us understand a text

How far does the context in which the book is written affect the reader’s perception of events within the book?

How far do events in the book alter the way that the reader interprets historical context?

How important are the characters in relation to the plot? Are they just tools to demonstrate different opinions?

Can you look at a book through a feminist perspective without considering a Marxist view?

How does the text mirror the society and its attitudes?

How would I react in the character’s position? (subjective)

Why does the author write it? What is the purpose?

To what extent?

There are no yes and no answers. Must learnt to express definitive views without a conclusive answer.

Double or triple jeopardy – disadvantaged by a mixture of race/gender/class

A Doll’s House

A Streetcar Named Desire

To what extent does Tennessee Williams suggest society take a role in our behaviour and does this differ depending on our class/race/age/gender?

To what extent do the language features reflect the theme in A Doll’s House?

How does the language used and morals of the characters give an indication of the time period?

Would you have different views on A Streetcar Named Desire depending on whether you read it or watched the play and would a different medium change the view of the audience?

Reading the play allows you to pick up on scenery whereas one would just take it for granted

Scenery in a play might help evoke certain feelings that reading alone would not achieve

Seeing body language may help create emotion that reading does not

Senses are more involved in a play

The juxtaposition between the genders in the different rooms cannot be fully understood until seen onstage

One may not appreciate the evolution of characters in a novel, the development is more apparent when seen first hand

Reading is your interpretation, watching is director’s/actor’s interpretation