Your essay task is below, but I want to explain how to read the examiner report. (In link to the right)
The report covers several regions throughout the
world, so the first code (9695) is the AS English Literature paper code and the
next (31) is broken down as paper 3, region 1. Therefore, reports on
9695/31, 9695/32 and 9695/33 are all good reading for us. Eventually
we'll also want to read the reports for 9695/41, 42, etc., but we haven't
covered any of that as yet.
Last year's novel was A Passage to India, so there
won't be any specific notes on The House of Mirth. Still, we can see what the
head examiner had to say about student approaches to tasks. In all cases,
whether poetry or prose, question (a) is a wider essay question and question (b)
is passage-based. Take note accordingly to how the examiner critiqued
students in either question set. Be ready to ask me about anything you
didn't understand when we return in Term 2.
Essay task for study break:
"The heart of the wise is in the house of
mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth"
Discuss the importance of this passage from
Ecclesiastes, from which the book takes its title, to Wharton's presentation of
New York society.
Remember that your overview observations will still require plenty of specific quotes. Using these helps focus our analyses. Slow down, be patient, address the question. Consider what the author uses, not simply how the story progresses.
Have fun!
- T. Marcus
