![Image of the first marked page of Chris Larham's essay on idiomatic malapropisms and irony ['A*'-grading, 2000/2001].](https://i0.wp.com/sharedsapience.info/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/idiomatic-malapropisms-and-irony-astar-2000-2001-image-one.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
This piece of creative writing explores the phenomenon of the ‘malapropism’. [‘A*’-grading, 2000/2001]
Blog Archives
Linguistic Analysis: Essay One [ungraded, 2000/2001]
![Image of the first marked page of Chris Larham's linguistic analysis of an excerpt from John Pilger's 'Heroes' [ungraded, 2000/2001].](https://i0.wp.com/sharedsapience.info/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/language-used-to-convey-attitudes-analytical-essay-one-image-one.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
The tone of the piece relates the feelings of some White Americans towards the Indians; a general lack of respect is apparent early on, reflected through the absence of serious thought for the Indians. Through the re-telling of the ‘Colonel Kit Carson’ tale, Pilger puts across the idea that Indians are second-class citizens – that they deserve to feel ‘ignominy’ and terrible living conditions: this was the army officer’s view, obviously. Throughout history there has been disdain for the Indians.[…]
Poetry Analysis: Essay Six [22 out of 25, 2000/2001]
![Image of the first marked page of Chris Larham's essay on 'The Collar' [22 out of 25, 2000/2001].](https://i0.wp.com/sharedsapience.info/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/the-collar-george-herbert-poetry-essay-six-image-one.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Drawing heavily on the traditions of his contemporary metaphysical poets, George Herbert passionately relates a turning point in his life in “The Collar”. Herbert attempts to convey his inner angst at the crossroads of his life, with the theme of religion a prominent feature of the poem.[…]
Poetry Analysis: Essay Five [25 out of 25, 2000/2001]
![Image of the second marked page of Chris Larham's essay on 'There's a Certain Slant of Light' and 'God's Grandeur' [25 out of 25, 2000/2001].](https://i0.wp.com/sharedsapience.info/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/theres-a-certain-slant-of-light-and-gods-grandeur-poetry-essay-five-image-two.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Using unorthodox typographical features in abundance, Emily Dickinson’s Victorian poem, “There’s A Certain Slant Of Light”, cryptically relates an intangible unhappiness “That oppresses”, perhaps reflecting her manic-depressive personality.[…]
Tagged with: Emily Dickinson, Gerald Manley Hopkins, Poetry Analysis
Posted in AS Level English [A1]
Posted in AS Level English [A1]
Poetry Analysis: Essay Four [22 out of 25, 2000/2001]
Samuel Taylor Coleridge uses “Kubla Khan”, an ancient warrior, as the vehicle through which the description is relayed in the poem (similar to the ‘traveller from an antique land’, which Shelley employs in ‘Ozymandias’); it was Khan who did ‘decree’ this particular place.[…]
Tagged with: Emily Brontë, Matthew Arnold, Poetry Analysis, Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Posted in AS Level English [A1]
Posted in AS Level English [A1]
Poetry Analysis: Essay Three [23 out of 25, 2000/2001]
Throughout ‘To Virgins’, Robert Herrick employs an ‘abab’ rhyme scheme, coupled with an ‘8787’ syllable mix, in each of the four compact stanzas, to put forward his ‘while you’ve got it, flaunt it’ message. Versification is very ordered throughout the poem; Herrick knows what he wants to say, and the desired tone in which to say it – this assuredness in his own mind helps make the poem more persuasive. The stanzas are all one-sentence long, with a colon or a semi-colon joining the two contrasting parts after the opening two lines (the apparently limitless youthful opportunities in love and relationships/the aged loss of beauty and chances). Written from a third person perspective, ‘To Virgins’ comes across in a fun, playful ballad form that is reminiscent of youth. Such a free-flowing style makes the idea of losing one’s virginity seem trivial – not the massive, life-changing event that it is usually considered-and advised- to be. Herrick uses this style to good effect: in using it to convey his words of advice, the virgins will think that love and relationships are something to be enjoyed while youth is on their side; the ease with which the poem runs will encourage them to relax and enjoy themselves.[…]
Tagged with: Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Poetry Analysis, Robert Herrick, William Shakespeare
Posted in AS Level English [A1]
Posted in AS Level English [A1]
Poetry Analysis: Essay Two [22 out of 25, 2000/2001]
Swift chooses a traditional funeral song format to question the virtues of the general, and pour doubt upon his worth. It is written from the point of view of somebody present at the funeral (as demonstrated when the individual commands the generals to “Come hither, and behold your fate!”; they seem to be standing over the dead body of the general). The satirical content of the piece is highlighted by Swift’s choice of poetic form: whereas elegies are normally sombre, melancholy, mournful affairs, Swift has opted for a pacy poem with eight syllables per line (octosyllabic) to lift the mood into one of almost joyous celebration.[…]
Poetry Analysis: Essay One [‘B’-grading, 2000/2001]
In the first stanza, there is a definite tactile quality apparent. In foregrounding the fruit, warmth and weight of the season- particularly its early, ripening nature- Keats gives us a ‘feel’ for Autumn; “And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core”. A feeling of abundance is demonstrated through “fruitfulness”, “maturing”, and “fruit”: these key descriptions are echoed for effect – Keats is celebrating the physical landscape of the season.[…]
‘The Color Purple’ [Alice Walker]: Essay One [‘B++’, 2000/2001]
Throughout “The Color Purple”, letters are written by Celie to God/Nettie and by Nettie to Celie in reply. This epistolary form relates to the image of quilting, symbolising community spirit, independence and working. There are patterns in the letters. Women are traditionally family writers, demonstrated by the fact that historians study female letters. Both objective and subjective views can be put across to the reader. One final point about this style is that the letters are undated: they don’t firmly tell us which time period it is set in, although clues can be found in the text. Employing the epistolary form as she does, Alice Walker highlights Celie’s feelings of helplessness and loneliness – she has only God to write to.[…]
Descriptive Writing Assignment {Positive and Negative Descriptions} [‘A*’-grading, 2000/2001]
In this piece of descriptive writing, there are two accounts of the events leading up to a Marilyn Mansun ‘gig’: the queuing; the stadium; the weather; the atmosphere; and the man himself… The first description praises the place and the people, whereas the second account is an example of how a piece of writing can condemn; criticising both the place and the people encountered.
Posted in AS Level English [A1]