Setting

Function

• mood
• reflects society
• context (where/when)
• reflection of characterisation
• establishes narrative (influences events and may reflect journey)
• character placement

The Road

The Cellar = underneath plantation house

• bodies stored (post apocalyptic food source)
• reflects society's decay
• horror (tension, fear) - MEMORABLE AS NOTHING ELSE IS

The Bunker = underneath 

• Food source (pre-apocalyptic)
• built to save from apocalypse
• safe, secure, civilised (why don't characters stay there?

Gun without bullets in the bunker has no purpose, like the bunker as it didn't save anybody. 

Essay Introduction

How far do you agree with the view that Fra Lippo Lippi is simply a "saucy and loud-mouthed monk"? 

Fra Lippo Lippi could be views as a saucy and loud mouthed monk, due to his opinionated intoxication throughout the poem. However, Fra Lippo Lipp's metanarrative enables the reader to connect with the deeper message  which directly concerns the moral decay of society. 

Decoding the question

It has been said that a fault of the poem (T) is the over emphasized (V) moral at the end. How satisfying do you find the poem's moral that "He prayeth well, who loveth well, Both man and bird and beast."? (A)

"Betrayal (V) is at the heart of the relationships (A) between men and women in Rosetti's Poetry (T)". How do you respond to this view?

"The men (A) are more convincingly (V) portrayed than the women (A) in The Kite Runner (T)." What do you think of this view?

The question you get, not what you want!

Subject matter/topic = what in the most general terms the question is about
Aspect/focus = angle on the subject matter.
Instruction = agree/disagree

When in the exam

• identify topic (author or text)
• search for aspect 
• identify instructuon
• check for viewpoint and whether you agree/disagree

Example

How far do you agree with the view that the ending of The Road is unbearably pessimistic?

Agree - man dies, trout scene, boy orphaned, end of 'story'/man's narrative

Disagree - start of new story, boy finds family, female presence, fire continued to be carried, boy released from father. 

Structure

1. address viewpoint immediately 
2. select and develop 3 key points in support of your view
3. select and develop 3 key points which contrast your view
4. conclude your argument by addressing the question