Words, Words, Words....

Hello All

So we covered some very important issues in this week's lessons.

First, we talked out some technical issues to do with essay writing - spelling, punctuation (especially apostrophes), word choice, and the use of spelling and grammar checkers; and plagiarism, attribution, referencing and the use of the internet. Second, I talked about the need to show awareness of the issue of interpretation when you write. Yes, what you write should be a 'personal' response, but it must be a knowledgeable, informed personal response which shows awareness of alternative interpretations and the broader contexts in which we make judgements about works of literature - such as knowledge of social and historical context, and awareness of the writer's craft. Third, we explored in more detail than we have done so far the way in which Shakespeare uses language for particular effects. We looked at three short passages from Act 2 in which Shakespeare uses a variety of techniques (extended metaphor, irony, rhetorical structures, etc) to suggest certain aspects of character and relationships.

For homework, I've asked you to write up these ideas about language by writing three short commentaries on the way Shakespeare uses language in these three passages in order to create particualr effects. This is to give you practice, and to build your confidence, in deploying terminology and ideas about language and the craft of the writer as part of a discussion of interpretation.

Next week - Act 3.

Mr Snapper