Unlike the Area of Study, Module C and, to some extent, Module A—which are concept based—Module B, the Critical Study, is text based. By this I mean that rather being about an idea (belonging, conflicting perspectives, context or the role of humanity), Module B’s focus is on studying the core text. The Module B Syllabus [...]
Posts Tagged ‘English literature’
Approaches to Advanced English Module B
Posted in HSC English, tagged Bronte, Cloudstreet, Critical Study, English literature, Jane Eyre, Module B, rubric, Shakespeare, Tim Winton on May 10, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Getting started with Frankenstein Part 2
Posted in HSC English, tagged Comparative Study, English literature, Frankenstein, HSC, Mary Shelley, Module A on March 25, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
While (re)reading Frankenstein it is worth asking the question, “who is telling this story?” The structure of the novel is layered. There are a few different visual representations that can help us to understand how it works. The first is a series of concentric circles… …with the Creature’s story in the centre, then Victor’s, [...]
Getting started with Frankenstein Part 1
Posted in HSC English, tagged Comparative Study, English literature, Frankenstein, HSC, Literature, Mary Shelley, Module A, reading on March 18, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
The Preface is key to understanding the context of Frankenstein and Module A has a really strong focus on context. Unfortunately, the ugly edition chosen by the Board of Studies does not deign to include Mary Shelley’s Preface so it might be worthwhile finding another edition. I recommend the one from Vintage and have included [...]
Paradise Lost and (post)Modern Prometheus
Posted in HSC English, tagged Art, Blade Runner, Comparative Study, English literature, film, Frankenstein, HSC, John Milton, Literature, Mary Shelley, Module A, Paradise Lost, poetry, Romanticism, texts in time, William Blake on March 15, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
The epigraph to Frankenstein reads: Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay To mould me Man, did I solicit thee From darkness to promote me?” This is Adam addressing his Creator in Book 10 of Milton’s Paradise Lost. This epic poem has been hugely influential, not just on Frankenstein or the Romantics but also on [...]
Experience of the Human and Module A
Posted in HSC English, tagged Blade Runner, Comparative Study, English literature, film, Frankenstein, HSC, Mary Shelley, Module A, Ridley Scott, texts, texts in time on November 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The composers of Frankenstein and Blade Runner both use non-human characters to shine a spotlight on the human experience. In addressing questions related to these texts we must ask ourselves, what are the fundamental needs, experiences and desires shared by human beings? We are all born, we all need nurturing, we all desire to know [...]
Bible Verses for the Comparative Study
Posted in HSC English, tagged biblical allusion, Blade Runner, Comparative Study, English literature, Frankenstein, HSC, Mary Shelley, Module A, Ridley Scott, texts, texts in time on May 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Biblical allusion is a key technique in both texts for the Comparative Module: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Blade Runner directed by Ridley Scott. In an increasingly secular and multicultural country, it can no longer be assumed that students know the bible verses being alluded to in various texts. Here are some suggested verses and [...]
Fun with Words
Posted in Random, Reading, tagged English literature, fun, language, quotes, Shakespeare, teaching, vocabulary, wordle on December 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
A colleague of mine recently mentioned that, in the race to meet a billion outcomes, we had perhaps lost some of our love of and fun with language. One of my teaching resolutions for 2009 is to spend more time on activities that inspire a love of our crazy language. Here’s an interesting start: This [...]
EX11 Term 3 Project Post 3
Posted in Reading, Teaching, Writing, tagged appropriation, creative writing, English literature, Jane Austen, journal, Literature, Preliminary, reading on August 6, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
All three of my texts end with a relationship being firmly established. In P&P and B&P, this relationship is a marriage and this has been the goal, if not of the female leads then at least of their mothers, all along. Bridget ends up with her Darcy but, in the modern western tradition (begun, I [...]
EX11 Term 3 Project Post 2
Posted in Reading, Teaching, tagged appropriation, English literature, film, Jane Austen, journal, Literature, Preliminary, reading, texts on July 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
During discussion in class today a student asked, “isn’t that the one where they randomly burst into song?” He was, of course, referring to one of my chosen appropriations, the Bollywood film, Bride and Prejudice (see previous post for an example of a musical number from the film). This got me thinking about the links [...]
EX11 Term 3 Project Post 1
Posted in Reading, Teaching, tagged appropriation, English literature, Jane Austen, journal, Literature, Preliminary, reading, texts on July 1, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Following the example of Dr Shann, I have decided to begin work on the Term 3 project being undertaken by the Preliminary Extension English classes. These journal entries will chronicle my progress and, hopefully, serve as a guide to the students who are tackling the idea of a learning journal for the first time. This [...]
