Unit 2- ELLB2 Themes in Language and Literature

Theme-
           Discovery

Part A- tests critical skills
Part B- tests creative skills

Part A

For this piece of coursework two extracts need to be chosen, roughly 2 1/2 pages long. 500-800 words.
The extracts need to demonstrate links with the set theme- DISCOVERY.

The critical piece of coursework needs to explore the theme and other significant issues revealed. In order to do this I must COMPARE AND CONTRAST SOME SIGNIFICANT SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES.
However a sustained comparison throughout is not required.

To complete this section I must....
> Demonstrate evidence of planning
> Include an informed discussion of set theme
> Balance treatment of set text
> Show ability to compare and contrast
> Use supporting evidence from research of social, historical and literary context
> Should discuss significant features of presentation
> Interpret and analyse features of literary and linguistic interest
> Provide informed discussions of changes in language and style over time

Anti-plagerism strategy needed, which is where I must outline what I did and this is how I went about it etc.

Part B

Part B is the creative aspect of the coursework, which should be between 500-850 words. These are the guidelines of this piece-
> It should compliment the theme of Discovery
> Needs to be imaginative and different
> Can be written in any genre
> May use existing or invented characters

I must show evidence of planning, which is shown through highlighting understanding of book and issues raised and also by challenging views, attitudes etc expressed in set text.

Context needs to be focused on in this piece. Literature is affected by context, due to the time it was written and other influential books at the time. This type of literature that stands the test of type if canonical literature, which is texts which are seen as authoritive in terms of standard of writing and whether they will stand the test of time.

Literature is any kind of writing which for some reason or another somebody values highly
Terry Eagleston, 1983 

Now I am going to look at the separate areas I must think about before I begin writing my coursework.

Form, Conventions and Genre

Form-
    way the piece is structured

Conventions-
features in the text

Genre-
      type/category of text


Example
The Lost Continent, page 222
The form, a list displaying Bryson's rules of dining, makes his concept of not eating in restaurants attached to bowling alleys more of a joke. However seeing the list, a person would expect it to be serious rules of dining but once read we can see that it is purely a joke. This is shown through Bryson referring to himself in the 3rd person saying 'Bryson's third rule of dining...'



Register-
             way in which a text is written, including how it is pitched and also looking at the meaning.

Bill Bryson is a humourous writer who tries to keep his writing light hearted but also informative about the places he encounters and also the people.

Robert Louis Stevenson is a lot more serious, as he is researching political and historical issues so it seems like he is extremely eager to find out these things.

Intentions and Meanings

Bryson's intention
From the book it is evident that Bryson is going through a mid life crisis, as his father has just died we gather he is looking for something in life, possibly to fill that void. Ostensibly he is going to find out about America and also attempt to find the perfect town of Amalgam, but we also know that he wants to find out more about himself.

Stevenson's intention
Stevenson wants to find out more about his religion including the religious conflict between the Protestant and Catholics, being a Protestant this greatly interests him.
He has travelled for his health also, as the fresh air would do him a lot of good, this is also a way to test himself and prove that he can do the things that normal men can do. It is almost a way to prove to Fanny that he is a great man and is not lacking.

Examples
The Lost Continent. page 81
On this page Bryson shares his dislike of southerners with the reader, he suggests that they are inferior to him but he is very curious to know whether they are like the people depicted in horror movies.
Bryson presumes that they think he and his friend are 'long- haired, nigger loving, Northern, college- edjicated, commie hippies'.
This suggests that they are the complete opposite to this, and is the implied meaning of the paragraph.

Travels with a Donkey, page 67
On this page Stevenson takes a very narrow minded view, commenting at how bad the Catholics are calling them persecutors, whereas he sees the Protestants are the victims. He is taking a very bias view, and it is his intention to portray the Protestants as heroic.

Literary and Linguistic features
>List of 3
>Alliteration
>Personification
>Simile
>Metaphor
    etc

Diachronic variation-
 language that has changed over time

Archaic language-
language that doesn't exist anymore


Example
Travels with a Donkey, page 45
A short paragraph can be changed and made into modern day English.
For example, 'The old soldier's face turned red, and he hit the table like a child.
"Comment monsieur?" he shouted. "Comment Gambetta moderate? Give you reasons for this"

                        



Lexis and Ideolect

To ensure we capture the writer's language and style we must look at these things and try to write like Stevenson and Bryson

Ideolect-
individual way we talk etc

Geographical dialect-
accents, way you sound

Socio-dialect-
lexis used

Criteria

In order to write a decent essay we must show an understanding of these areas.

Diachronic Variation/ Context

> show understanding of how language has changed (diachronic variation)
> how does context affect the writing?
> how has genre developed?

Ideolect/Pragmatics

> how do the writers use literary techniques to create meaning?
> what effect do they create?
Discussion of how the form, style and vocabulary affect the meaning

Ideologies

> how does the writer's language show their ideology?
What are their ideologies?
> what were the writers trying to do?

Understanding

> a good knowledge of the theme
> understand meaning and tone
> understanding of narrative methods and conventions of genre