five key areas + context - school for excellence · know the five key areas of text and how context...

The School For Excellence 2011 The Essentials – Year 11 English Page 9

TEXT ELEMENTS You need an organised approach to writing a text response. You need to: Know the five key areas of text and how context influences text construction and

development. Construct a study sheet. Understand the conventions, terms and features associated with different forms of texts

and their genres. No matter what type of text you are asked to write you need to able to discuss your texts in terms of their issues and experiences as well as the five key areas.

FIVE KEY AREAS + CONTEXT


CONTEXT Context refers to the surrounding circumstances and influences on the author and text. These circumstances include: Political.

Social.

Educational.

Religious.

Family.

Cultural.

Influential people.

Other experiences.

Economic factors. Knowing the context of a set text and the author before you read it provides you with an insight into the background of the texts and the factors that influenced the construction of the text. You also need to consider the actual context within the text. For Example: Geographical location of story/cultural, political and social setting and how it affects the issues and development of the text. The Wife of Martin Guerre by Janet Lewis, reveals the role of women in a patriarchal society in the sixteenth century village of Artigues that is isolated due to its climate and geography.


FIVE KEY AREAS OF TEXT There are 5 key areas you need to consider when studying most literary texts. Understanding these areas; themes and issues, setting, plot, character, style and how they influence one another in the construction of the text helps develop your knowledge and appreciation of the text. You need to be able to write about your text using these terms. The context acts like an umbrella over the key areas. Setting, plot, character and style all help to develop and explore theme. Not all these areas are always covered in every literary text eg. a poem, unless it is a ballad might not necessarily contain plot.

THEMES AND ISSUES The themes, issues and messages of a text are central to the purpose of the text. The writer, film-maker, playwright or poet selects and arranges material in the text to support and develop their themes. They can refer to the subject of the work. These themes may be stated directly by a character or in the author’s introduction or title. The film, Gattaca, explores issues of genetic perfection and conformity in a sterile futuristic setting. Because readers have a variety of experiences and therefore interpret texts differently two people can read the same text and elicit different themes. Knowing the context of the text and the issues the author is interested in can provide the reader with central themes beforehand. You need to read the text closely in order to identify and track the development of themes. See next page for list of themes/issues.


COMMON THEMES IN TEXTS Betrayal of friends and/or family.

Change vs. Continuity

Commitment

Conformity and individuality – One character standing alone.

Cultural conflict

God-made vs. Man-made

Role of women in society

Effect of death on characters

Dependence vs. Independence

Family relationships – Destruction of or building of

Fantasy vs. Reality

Gender

Honour among friends

Discovering identity of self

Jealousy vs. Trust

Man’s justice vs. God’s justice

Loneliness

Power and politics

Racial prejudice

Religion effects family

Sexual Harassment in the workplace


SETTING Setting refers to the time and the place including cultural, geographical and historical in which the text is set eg. The Third Man is set in post World War II Vienna which is crumbling and run by black market interests. The setting helps the reader visualise the characters in their environment and can create expectations and understanding about why characters behave as they do. This is done more easily in plays and films where you can actually see the setting. When studying novels it is a good idea to draw labelled sketches of written, physical settings or arrange your classroom furniture where possible if the text is set indoors. The setting influences the characters and plot.

PLOT The plot refers to the events of a text and their order. A plot usually contains some basic elements and these elements can occur in a variety of structures.

BASIC ELEMENTS OF PLOT Action: Introduction of key characters. Exposition: Background material provided so that reader feels knowledgeable about what is happening in text. Conflict: Argument, fight, dissatisfaction, unhappiness etc with another character. It can also be internal. For example: character arguing with his conscience about something he has done or likely to do. Complication: When a character is suddenly confronted by an unexpected problem or unfortunate turn of events. For example: sudden illness. Rising action: Events that lead up to climax. Climax: The ‘highest point’ of a single action or story, the big moment preceding events seem to lead to. For example: the death of a villain. There can be more than one climax in a plot. Resolution: Coming to terms with problem either by self or with help of others, difficult choice has been made. For example: friends helping you get over a death in the family. Solving of a problem.


STRUCTURE The structure of the text is the order in which these events happen. This is deliberately planned to emphasise the message(s) in the most effective manner. Possible structures include: (a) Chronological – Events arranged according to how they would occur in ‘real time’.

(b) Retrospective – Events arranged so story begins with final moment.

(c) Flashbacks – Providing background information where necessary.

(d) Traditional linear – Beginning, middle and end. A plot can be simple eg. Boy meets girl, falls in love, she rejects him, he leaves – miserable ever after. It can also be complex and include sub plots eg. Minor characters indulging in conflict forming a second, complete story etc. Some texts can be devoid of a plot and concentrate solely on description of characters or the setting or emotion, as in a poem.

CHARACTERS Characters are persons or creatures who do and say things in text. They help communicate the author’s messages and point of view and help develop themes through their actions, thoughts, feelings, descriptions and dialogue. Character types you should know include: Protagonist – Most important character, usually hero, in a drama (play, film) or narrative (story). For example: Griet in the novel, Girl with a Pearl Earring. Antagonist – Name given to describe character that is in opposition to hero (protagonist) in a drama or narrative. Rounded characters – Fully developed individuals who are capable of complex emotions and actions and can be unpredictable. Flat characters – One-sided and are based around a single identifying trait. For

Example: Revenge. The reader sees only this trait about the character and no other sides.

A character can be the narrator of the story. For example: In Gattaca. When this is the case the reader is presented with only one perspective and it is important for the reader to be aware of the possible limitations of the narrator.


STYLE Style is made up of the following elements and they all influence one another. Language.

Tone.

Form and genre.

Point of view.

Film techniques. Authors write using the elements of style that enables them to convey their message(s), to the audience they want, in a manner that is effective. Bruce Dawe, the poet, writes in a direct, uncomplicated style using a lot of Australian vernacular. This gives him what is termed a ‘common man’ voice, which can enable a larger audience to relate to his messages. Authors from the nineteenth century employed a far more wordy style with emphasis on description rather than action. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is an example of this style.

LANGUAGE AND EXPRESSION The intended audience and purpose of the text influence the author’s style by determining the choice of language needed to suit the audience so that it understands the purpose and messages conveyed. Authors can choose to use colloquial, jargon, personal, formal language depending on their audience and purpose. To make their characters convincing they choose language people from that time would have spoken. For example, in Garry Disher’s novel, Divine Wind uses some language we would consider racist. Shakespeare’s distinctive style reflects the language spoken at the time and was what his audiences expected.

TONE Tone indicates the author’s attitude towards his subject matter including characters, themes, institutions etc. Tone is a characteristic of voice. In plays and films this can be demonstrated by changes in an actor’s voice and manner. In writing the author uses language to indicate tone. Some common tones used by writers include: Curious, joyful, cautious, regretful, guilty, thoughtful, aggressive, positive, negative, fearful, bored, shocked. (See more examples in Language Analysis section.)


POINT OF VIEW Point of view is the perspective from which a text is seen or told. You need to ask yourself, ‘who is telling the story?’ Three principal points of view most commonly used are: The first person narrator in which the point of view is solely that of the character telling the story. They may be a central or minor character who either observes or participates in the

action. A first person narrator cannot see into the minds of the other characters. This device significantly reduces the reader’s sense of author’s presence in the text.

The point of view of a single character who is used by the author as a central observer or participant in the action (third person narrative). The omniscient (godlike) point of view enables the writer to present the inner thoughts and feelings of his characters. The narrator has no part in story.

FORM AND GENRE/TEXT TYPE An author chooses the form and genre/text type that enables them to best communicate their message(s). An author needs to know the conventions of their chosen form and genre and to feel comfortable writing in it. Genre conventions include: Types of characters

Storylines

Settings

Themes

Film techniques

Music

Iconography – costume and props The different forms in VCE selected texts are: Play, novel, short story, film and poetry. Different text types include; horror, naturalistic drama, historical drama, war, biographical, autobiographical, science fiction etc.


FILM TERMS AND TECHNIQUES

Term or technique Definition Example/effect

Camera shots

Camera angles

Camera movement

Framing

Mise-en-scene

Lighting

Iconography

Soundtrack

Editing


TEXT CHEAT SHEET

Andrea Hayes Cambridge Checkpoints 2009 VCE English Units 3 & 4 p21

Title: Author:

Themes (3-5)

Main characters (3-4)

Plot (8-10) identify TPs

Setting(s) Cultural, historical, social

Style features POV, language, film techniques, tone, genre (3-5)


VOCABULARY LIST

Advertise Dramatically Outweigh

Apostrophe Deceptive Opportunities

Aggressive Disadvantages Onomatopoeia

Approximately Dogmatic Particular

Argument Dialogue Political

Alteration Domineering Pragmatic

Admirable Downtrodden Presence

Amiable Difficult Personally

Apprehensive Extraordinary Personification

Ardent Expression Philosophical

Argumentative Especially Peculiar

Assertive Emotional Preposition

Authentic Flattering Resolution

Benefit Happy Religious

Bizarre Horrendous Resilient

Behaviour Inexperienced Sanctimonious

Biased Ignorant Self-Interested

Beginning Immoral Sinful

Contemplating Improbability Seriously

Compulsory Intelligent Solution

Character Interesting Themes

Challenging Incompetent Technology

Communication Licence (Noun) Technically

Cliché Leisure Terminates

Charming Malevolent Tolerant

Courageous Minimum Treacherous

Cowardly Materialistic Timid

Consonant Manipulative Unforgiving

Circumspect Merciless Unctuous

Considered Militant Uncivilised

Consequences Malleable Undoubtedly

Chauvinist Meticulous Unbiased

Compelling Moral Unjust

Captivating Melancholy Wicked

Comma Motive Wise

Conclusion Mischief Weight

Continuous Marriage Weather


ACTIVITY Write as many alternatives as you can to ‘says’ in the target below.

SAYS

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