The English Department Website
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The English Department Website
|
 |
Past Exam QuestionsLinked questions take you to student notes on possible ways to interpret the questions. These are not meant to be model answers. May 07 HL "To succeed in creating a convincing character, the dramatist needs to give the audience a sense that characters have inner thoughts and feelings." To what extent and in what ways does this apply to two or three plays you have studied? Setting can often reflect the underlying ideas in a play. In the light f this statement; consider the importance and use of setting in two or three plays you have studied. May 07 SL Consider the ways in which scene changes may highlight the
development of the characters and their relationships in two
or three
plays you have studied Nov 06 HL (b) “All plays pose questions about the world, yet some questions are easier to ignore than others.” In the light of this statement, evaluate the questions raised in two or three plays and show how and to what degree these issues are explored. Nov 06 SL (a) “The success of a play depends not on our liking, or approving of, the characters but on whether we recognize in them something of ourselves.” Say how far you would agree or not with this view of characters in two or three plays you have studied, discussing how characters are presented and with what effect(b) “Plays are rarely entirely tragic or comic, but a mixture of the two.” Using two or three plays you have studied, say how far you would agree with this statement, supporting your view with address of both content and form.
May 06 SL Comparing the opening scenes of at least two plays, discuss what audience expectations are aroused and how."Drama explains individuals, not relationships." Paying close attention to how individuals and relationships are presented in two or three plays you have studied, say how far you find this statement to be true.May 06 HL "In dramatic construction there must be variation of pace and rhythm, monotony of any kind being certain to induce boredom." Comparing at least two plays you have studied in the light of this statement, show how variations of pace and rhythm have been used to attract or heighten the interest of the audience. To what extent can the plays you have studied be seen to have, directly or indirectly, a social or political purpose? Refer to two or three plays, exploring how they achieve their purposes. Nov 05HL What dramatic techniques have playwrights used to convey ideas and/or beliefs in 2 or 3 of the works you have studied and how effective have they been? Nov 05 SL How and to what effect have dramatists made use of time in two or three plays you have studied? Compare and contrast how dramatists create & use suspense in the development of 2 or 3 of the works you have studied Often members of the audience will identify or sympathise with one character in a play over others. Discuss by what means playwrights have managed to draw or undermine such a response in 2 or 3 of the works you have studied Nov 04 HL "Dramatic structure is not arbitrary or random; it imposes a recognisable order on human behaviour and events." In what ways has structure in 2 or 3 plays you have studied seemed to impose some order on the human events of plays? "In creating characters in
drama one may begin with stereotypes but must end with individuals."
Discuss how far such a rule is obeyed in 2 or 3 plays you have
studied. May 04 SL Through an analysis of some of the characters in 2 or 3 plays you have studied, compare the ways in which the struggle between internal & external forces is represented? May 04 HL Compare and contrast the role of symbolism in 2 or 3 plays you have studied "Long after words are forgotten, the spectacle of the drama is remembered." Compare 2 or 3 plays you have studied in the light of this quotation Nov 03 SL Important characters in plays are usually multi-dimensional. Discuss to what extent this statement is true in 2 or 3 plays you have studied and comment on the techniques of characterisation employed by the playwrights Plays often depend on various forms of irony to add complexity and interest for the audience. How has the theatrical experience been enriched by irony in 2 or 3 plays you have studied? May 03 HL “Visual action can be as important on stage as speech” How far do you agree with this claim? In your essay you should refer to 2 or 3 plays you have studied Compare the dramatic effectiveness of the relationship between setting and plot in 2 or 3 plays you have studied May 03 SL "Drama at its best investigates the problems that beset ordinary individuals" In the light of this statement, consider the ways in which dramatists have explored the problems that affect individuals in 2 or 3 plays you have studied Compare the presentation and functions of the openings in 2 or 3 plays you have studied Nov 02 SL "People often act first and reflect afterwards." In what ways have the connections between action & reflection been more and less important in 2 or 3 plays you have studied? A "love story" is often present in drama. Compare and evaluate the manner in which a love story, broadly interpreted, either sits at the centre of plays you have studied or intrudes its concerns into central issues. May 02 HL Compare the presentation of 2 or 3 characters (e.g. introduction, interaction with other characters) in 2 or 3 plays you have studied saying in each case how the presentation furthered the dramatists’ purposes and how it rewarded your study “Time & place are the basic elements of a play” In what ways does your study of 2 or 3 plays lead you to support or modify this generalisation? May 01 HL "As the action of the play unfolds, dramatic tension is often produced by the contrast between concealment & revelation." Compare 2 or 3 plays you have studied in the light of this statement Compare and contrast the presentation of 3 or 4 characters in 2 or 3 plays you have studied. Say how and how effectively each one furthers the dramatic force of the play May 01 SL "Theatre brings into the open important issues of the time." How have dramatists presented important issues in 2 or 3 plays you have studied? Compare & discuss how the action unfolds in 2 or 3 plays you have studied, paying attention to sequence of particular scenes. How effective do you find the arrangement to be in each play as a whole?
May 07 SL How and to what extent have strong females been depicted in two or three works you have studied? Many works of Literature deal with a sense of longing. How and to what effect has this been used in two or three works you have studied? Fear & hope are significant in any person's life. How have these emotions been presented and what role have they played in two or three works you have studied? "Literary works persuade us that human being s are worth caring for & writing about, no matter what their circumstances or condition." To what extent is there evidence of this in two or three works you have studied? May 07 HL "It is the role of literature to challenge and confront the conventional values of a society." In what ways and to what extent have conventional values been challenged in two or three works you have studied? "Memory feeds imagination." To what extent has memory been used in two or three works you have studied? "It is impossible for literature to be completely objective." How, and to what extent, does this statement apply to two or three works you have studied? Nov06 SL (a) Examine how and to what end your writers have explored the concept of either misunderstanding or deception in the works you have studied.(b) Consider the creation of humour and the role it plays in works you have studied. (c) “Animals and animal imagery are a rich hunting ground and source for writers.” Explore the ways writers in your study have used such materials and to what effect. (d) Journeys, both literal and metaphorical, often play a central role in literature. Discuss with reference to works you have studied. Nov06 HL (a) “Some authors prefer to write about ‘the real world’, while others prefer to be unhindered by the restrictions of reality.” Discussing two or three works, show how the writer’s preference helps convey the ideas of the works.(b) Compare the ways that the treatment of time has been used to shape meaning in two or three works you have studied. (c) In what ways and to what effect have writers in your study made it possible for you to choose more than one interpretation of their works? Use two or three works you have studied in your answer. (d) “Mirror or X-Ray or lamp?” Which of these terms do you think best describes the way writers in your study have represented the world? In each case examine how this effect is achieved, using two or three works you have studied. May 06 SL "There is no literature without conflict." How and to what effect is conflict used in two or three works you have studied?In what ways and to what effect have your writers focused on either the darker or lighter side of life in two or three works you have studied?There are many ways of achieving a memorable ending to a work of literature. In two or three of the works you have studied, how have your chosen authors made endings memorable?"A literary work is not a mere play of the imagination, but a reflection of contemporary manners and customs." Discuss the validity of this statement in relation to two or three works you haveMay 06 HL "Art is on the side of the oppressed." Evaluate the means by which two or three works in your study either confirm or raise questions about the validity of this assertion. "Works of literature are often layered, and may require close attention to discover their depth and complexity." With respect to two or three of the works you have studied, show how valid this view is. "A writer conveys not only experiences but a whole world in which these are possible." With respect to two or three works you have studied, discuss whether the author has created a coherent, imagined "world". In what ways and to what effect have writers in your study made use of illustrative elements such as anecdotes, analogies, allusions and the like in their works?
Nov05 HL "Some works of Literature are universal and timeless: others seem specific to one place and/or time." In what ways do 2 or 3 of the works you have studied explore this range of possibilities? Discuss how and to what effect writers have used exaggeration in 2 or 3 of the works you have studied Writers make many deliberate choices in the course of creating their works. Considering one or two stylistic aspects, compare the effectiveness of some choices writers have made in 2 or 3 of the works you have studied Nov 05 SL "Chronological order is the most convincing way to convey a story or an idea." Comparing two or three of the works you have studied, agree or disagree with this statement. Much literature has been written about death and dying. How and to what effect has this subject been explored in two or three of the works you have studied? "Although humans claim to desire freedom above all else, many prefer security." In the light of this statement discuss two or three works you have studied, showing the ways in which they have presented attitudes to freedom and/or security. May 05 HL If one of the tasks of Literature is to provide insight into human nature by what techniques and to what degree did your texts offer you such insight? A writer may speak in his or her own voice or take on the voice of a character or a persona. Discuss what effect these choices have on each work as a whole "In the end is my beginning." This is a statement made by a writer to describe how he organises his work. What do you understand by this and how does it cast light on the literary strategies employed in 2 or 3 of the works you have studied May 05 SL "Look to the future and beware." How and to what effect have writers depicted the future in 2 or 3 of the works you have studied Health and sickness may appear in the works of writers in plots, characters, imagery or themes. In what ways and to what effect have writers used health and sickness in 2 or 3 of the works you have studied? What can a writer accomplish through repetition? What can a writer accomplish through repetition? Respond with reference to 2 or 3 of the works you have studied Nov O4 HL "The last sentence in a piece of writing is an adventure. It should open the work up." Discuss with reference to 2 or 3 works you have studied "A writer cannot put literature and politics on an equal footing without failing as a writer." Discuss with reference to 2 or 3 works you have studied "Language itself is a work of art.; it selects, abstracts, exaggerates and orders. Discuss with reference to 2 or 3 works you have studied Ambiguity has often been considered an enriching aspect of literature. Discuss with reference to 2 or 3 works you have studied Nov 04 SL "The portrayal of children in literature is only successful when it captures both their innocence & their sadness." Discuss with reference to 2 or 3 works you have studied "Some works challenge us more than others." Discuss elements of challenge in works you have studied considering why writers have included such difficulties "Tension is a necessity in all forms of art." Discuss with reference to 2 or 3 works you have studied May 04 SL How have writers shown that things are not always as they seem in 2 or 3 works you have studied? Compare and contrast the treatment of different, new or alien cultures in 2 or 3 works you have studied How effectively have writers been able to portray the opposite sex in 2 or 3 works you have studied? May 04 HL "Some writers succeed in hypnotising readers, others compel reader to think." Discuss this quotation in the light of 2 or 3 works you have studied In Literature the concept of home is often used to locate the thoughts, memories and dreams of humankind. How has home been used in 2 or 3 works you have studied? Compare how writers have used the relationship between experience and understanding in 2 or 3 works you have studied Consider the use made of music or musical elements in 2 or 3 works you have studied Nov 03 SL How important has the contrast or similarity between appearance & reality been to the interest of works you have studied? What significant values have been selected and developed in 2 or 3 works you have studied? By what means and with what success have they been presented? Evil not only fascinates people in general, but writers as well. In what ways and with what effect has "evil" been treated in 2 or 3 works you have studied? "It is possible for a good writer to write about commonplace things with immense even startling power?" How far and in what ways have writers in your study persuaded you to agree with this view? Nov 03 HL Sometimes readers are disappointed with Literature in which abstraction and reflection are more in evidence than the concrete and particular. How far has your appreciation of Literature been based on either of these preferences? Great Literary themes like love, death and survival have sometimes been treated in ways that are unique or are unexpected. Discuss how any of the works you have studied demonstrate this phenomenon. "A writer without a keen sense justice & injustice would be better off editing a school yearbook." To what degree is such a sense of human behaviour important to works you have studied? May 03 HL To what extent have you found it possible to separate the individual from his/her public role in 2 or 3 works you have studied? Fact Vs Fantasy is a clash that can have comic or tragic results – explore the results of using realism and fantasy in 2 or 3 works you have studied Compare how writers have treated the themes of judgement & punishment, OR disguise & deceit or love & friendship and with what effect in 2 or 3 works you have studied May 03 SL "If love is judged by its visible effects, it often looks more like hatred." In the light of this statement, compare the treatment of love in 2 or 3 works you have studied Compare the use of contrast as a literary device in 2 or 3 works you have studied Compare the ways writers have incorporated landscape or celebration or travel and with what effect in 2 or 3 works you have studied Nov 02 HL "The purpose of the work of literature is the reader’s freedom." In what sense can Literature make reader free or make him/her feel free? “Lying, the telling of beautiful untrue things is the proper aim of art” How important is it that Literature be composed of what is true? "The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom." In what ways could such a statement be true in terms of the content/style of both of 2 or 3 works you have studied? Nov 02 SL "To analyse with any discrimination, you must have enjoyed the work." How far is such a view relevant to your studying of Literature? ‘I disavow any central connection between what I write & life I lead’ - Is this a credible view for writers of Literature you have studied? Compare your response to the Literature you have studied when it includes views or behaviour contrary to your own systems values "To read work which was produced in a culture other than your own has difficulties but cultural differences between audience & text may be productive." How far agree? Literature admits conflict between good & good as well as good & evil. Which 2 or 3 works you have studied would you choose to discuss this generalisation and why might both types of conflict be important? Compare in some detail the use made of cinematic techniques in 2 or 3 works you have studied How far has you study of 2 or 3 texts suggested that the idea of a writer’s intentions is beset with difficulty or is a useful approach or both? May 02 SL What questions about power are raised in 2 or 3 works you have studied? What is the relationship between writing & real life as shown in in 2 or 3 works you have studied How useful or misleading is knowledge writer’s life in 2 or 3 works you have studied? May 01 SL “Man’s a strange animal and makes strange use/of his own nature” Discuss some attitudes to human nature, its tensions & satisfaction in 2 or 3 works you have studied & compare the ways in which they have been presented Compare how 2/3 writes from different cultures approach the art of story telling “If human nature does alter, it will be because we begin to look at ourselves in a new way” In what ways and by what means do the works of writers you have studied make us look at ourselves in a new way? With specific reference to 2 or 3 works you have studied, compare the effects of an identified or unidentified narrative voice “Realism is as contrived a way of writing as any methods against which it is defined” With specific reference to 2 or 3 works you have studied, show how far you agree. Compare the subject matter & style of 2/3 works you have studied which highlight regional locality. What is gained by this focus? “Reading against the grain is a phrase that is used to describe reading that identifies but refuses to accept unspoken or implicit assumptions that lie deep in text” In what ways could you read 2/3 texts against grain & with what validity? In what way can fiction make a reader free or feel free? How important is it that Literature be composed of what is ‘true’? (H) Discuss in what ways argument & persuasion are included in Literary works you have studied & compare the effects (H) “The best lack all conviction whilst the worst are full of passionate sincerity” Consider 2 or 3 works you have studied in the light of this statement “Satire is a sort of glass wherein beholders do generally discover everyone’s face but their own” Consider in 2 or 3 works you have studied in the light of this statement (H) To what extent & with what effect have works incorporated either conflict and/or reconciliation between values of science & those of art? (St) "To hold the reader’s attention is an aim always present in writing." By what means have writers done this in 2 or 3 works you have studied? (St) “Happiness & sadness are inextricably linked” How far found this view of life reflected in 2 or 3 works you have studied? (St) “Writers have always been concerned with the freedom of the human spirit, whether through dreaming, solitude or rebellion” Consider in 2 or 3 works you have studied in the light of this statement (St) Compare uses made time in in 2 or 3 works you have studied Discuss problems & benefits reading texts another age Art of DramaNov 00 SL Variation and contrast are considered necessary to sustain the interest of the audience throughout a given play. To what extend and with what similar or different effects have dramatists in your study employed these principles? Nov 00 HL It has been said of a dramatist that "he could not write a scene that was not dramatic" Considering the plays that you have studied, identify and compare the effects of some scenes in plays that you believe have the quality of being authentically "dramatic." Human illusions have always been a powerful subject of plays. In what ways in plays you have studied have playwrights considered this aspect of human behaviour and with what effects? May 00 HL A critic wrote: "The best way to keep people thinking is not to tell them what to think." Discuss the plays you have studied in the light of this remark Consider how playwrights make characters speak in plays you have studied, and say how the language and tone in these dialogues, conversations or monologues contribute to the play as a whole May 00 SL A drama critic recently drew attention to the 'threatening encounters' as a powerful feature of a new play. Discuss encounters (threatening or otherwise) in plays which you have studied and consider them as features of the drama created in each case. "Our revels are now ended." "You that way, we this way." Compare and contrast the endings of plays saying how in each case the ending affects the way you respond to the play as a whole M99 SL Consider the dramatic effect of the presentation of the relationships between characters of different sexes "The audience is not inactive." Compare and contrast the role of the audience & impact of this in 2 or 3 works you have studied Compare and contrast the use of settings in 2 or 3 works you have studied Discuss the importance of power in 2 or 3 works you have studied Given the many aspects of a play that are present on stage when it is produced, from your experience what real value can be derived from simply reading, either alone or with others, the script of a play? Is it possible to make a persuasive evaluation of a play's merit on the basis of reading alone? Since the dramatist, unlike the novelist, cannot easily convey the unspoken thoughts of a character, what means are employed by a dramatist to give a more than superficial representation of character? Isolation, either mental or physical, can lead to despair or enlightenment. Show how in 2 or 3 plays you have studied, playwrights have used isolation of any kind to heighten the dramatic effect of their plays and develop their characters. In order for play productions to be available to many different kinds of theatre troupes, playwrights have often enlisted characters to fill out the stage set. In what ways have playwrights in your study used the speeches of characters to embellish or provide detail to the place in which they are acting out their roles? What use have playwrights made of the difference between what is said & what is done in 2 or 3 works you have studied? A playwright has refused to divide his plays into acts "because the capacity of illusion is disturbed by intervals." How have playwrights made effective use either of division into acts and scenes or the construction of a single unbroken dramatic spectacle? One dramatist has maintained that theatre ought to pursue a re-examination not only of aspects of an objective external world but also aspects of the inner worlds of human existence. What choices have been made in the plays you have studied to pursue one or the other or both of these aspects and what theatrical techniques have been used to carry out this choice? What part does fantasy play in the lives of characters in plays? How is the fantasy presented and to what effect on the audience?. "The reader of a page can go at his own pace & reread. The audience must surrender to the stage & this encounter with time goes to heart of experience" – consider the effect of the encounters with time in 2 or 3 works you have studied The
entrances of character & their exits often have a significant impact on the
issues and on the shape of the action. Compare the ways the playwrights have
used several of these entrances and exits for dramatic effect in 2 or 3 works you have studied. It is often assumed that conflict is necessary for the successful portrayal of human events in dramatic art. By what means other than a central conflict have playwrights tried to evoke and maintain the interest of the audience in 2 or 3 works you have studied? Dramatic irony implicates the audience in a play in ways that can affect the whole experience of theatre. In what ways has dramatic irony enriched the meaning and effects of plays you have studied? How have plays you have studied presented what happens inside a human being in dramatic terms? How far do you support the view that communication between humans is difficult or impossible with reference to 2 or 3 works you have studied
|