CRITICAL APPROACHES:
Advice for tackling the two essay questions
Question A asks for analysis and comparison of texts in the pre-release anthology and of texts printed in the exam paper on the day ('unseen texts')
You must analyse TWO of the unseen pieces; you are advised to compare with these TWO or THREE of the pre-release pieces.
QUESTION A
In Question A, use your analytical approaches to find meanings in the text.
In other words, analyse the texts, using the terminology and methods of the four critical approaches. You do not have to name them at this point. (See Question B)
Address the topic: if the pre-release anthology is about 'heroism', then the unseen passages will be too, and your first approach might be to analyse quite how each text deals with this topic (e.g. define 'heroism' in each case)
You could ask if it takes a negative or positive approach. Does it write for an audience which shares certain values? Does it therefore make certain assumptions of the reader? Does the piece demonstrate bias or subtext? How, and why? And so on.
Consider the persuasiveness of the texts: how are your chosen texts persuasive? What point of view are they promoting, and how are they working on the reader?
Although an introductory sentence or two, giving an overview of the subject matter and its definition for each text is recommended, aim not to discuss them separately from that point on. Your discussion and analysis should explore common themes and techniques (as well as interesting contrasts) so that you can move among your texts freely.
QUESTION B
In Question B, you must use the texts to exemplify the principles of each chosen critical approach.
In other words you say how your knowledge of the principles of each of the critical approaches (identified by their correct names) enabled you to analyse the texts.
1. CLOSE ANALYSIS: A focus on the text as literature, its patterns, its form and its use of poetic techniques.
Key Vocabulary: imagery; connotation; juxtaposition; symbolism; verbs; adjectives.
2. STYLISTICS: An understanding of how the writer has communicated with the reader through language.
Key Vocabulary: lexical choice; semantic field; form, structure and style; grammar; discourse; pragmatics; graphology; phonology; lexis;
3. HISTORICISM: An awareness of its context using, perhaps, your knowledge of the time in which it was written or any knowledge you may have of the author that may have informed a meaning from the text.
Key Vocabulary: context.
4. PSYCHOANALYSIS: An understanding of how some texts touch themes which go to the very heart of the human psyche.
This can help you analyse why some texts have stood the test of time and some haven't.