English A: Literature

Learner Portfolio

M21

Jmd718
Sylvia Plath
The Applicant

Theme: Marriage and Objectification

Structure: 40 lines

Keywords: it, guaranteed

Related Words/Phrases: waterproof/shatterproof, stock/salt, teacups/sew/cook, bury/shut your

eyes/at the end.

Repeated words/phrases: “will you marry it?” “talk”

Rhymes: crutch/crotch, proof/roof, look/cook

Dino Buzzati
The Tartar Steppe (1945)
04.02.2020

Narrative point of view: in the 3rd person, makes the feelings of the protagonist reliable and
clear to the reader.

Protagonist: is an anti-hero

The narrator explains Drogo’s mistakes as an advisor, “Drogo, you’re making a mistake!”

The reader tends to take the narrator’s side, not Drogo’s and gets angry for what he does and his
mistakes.

Words associated with the Fort:

 Prison-like
 Gloomy, dark
 Not worth being there
 Old
 No risks
 Messy Makes robots out of humans.
 Institutionalized
Standardized way of living
 Similar behavior
 Strict rules They Grow accustomed to the life in
the fort

Themes: Futility in the passage of time, inner conflict of leaving/staying, military life, death
IA: Individual Oral
Global Issue
31.08.2020

7 Concepts
 Identity: the different perspectives, voices and characters
 Transformation: connections between texts (intertextuality)
 Culture: values, beliefs and attitudes prevalent in the text
 Perspective: of characters, of the writer and of the reader
 Creativity: to analyze and understand the writing, role of imagination in interpretation
 Communication: relationship established between the reader and the writer
 Representation: the way in which language and literature represent reality

5 fields of inquiry
 Culture, identity, community
 Beliefs, values, education
 Politics, power, justice
 Art, creativity, imagination
 Science, technology, environment
Paper 1 Practice: Prose
Mind Map
31.08.2020

Characterization: Lillian’s thoughts and feelings

Analysis of Diction
30.09.2020

Vocabulary
Connotation v. Denotation
Concrete v. Abstract words
Verb choice
Cacophonous v. Euphonious words (sound)

Analysis of prose or poem:

Title
Literary devices: voice, mood, tone
Structure
Diction
Paper 1 Practice: Poem
Guiding Questions
30.09.2020

I go back to May 1937 by Sharon

1. What is the speaker’s attitude in this poem? What specific words shows the speaker’s
tone?
2. How does repetition reinforce tone or mood?
3. What sort of mood or atmosphere is created by the speaker’s tone?
Paper 1 Practice: Poem
Death of a Naturalist
30.09.2020

Notes:
through the verb tenses, first describes a “before” period therefore putting emphasis on passage
of time
imagery in words choices, negative connotations in words like:
 Festered
 Rotted
 Punishing sun
 Mud grenades
 Obscene threats
 Vengeance
 Invaded
 Angry

Death of a Naturalist: Analysis

This poem’s theme is growing up and loss of innocence. The poem is divided into two stanzas
where in the first, we can understand through the past tense is a period of time that has passed,
putting an emphasis on the passage of time. Additionally, there is fascination and innocence
through the description while in the second stanza, we see a mostly disgusted and negative
tone.

In the first stanza there is focus on the creatures in a positive manner like the dragonflies,
butterflies and frogspawn, which later changes in the second stanza.

“All year the flax-dam festered in the heart

Of the townland; green and heavy headed
Flax had rotted there, weighted down by huge sods.
Daily it sweltered in the punishing sun.”

The use of olfactory imagery in these lines brings about an imagination of a place with a horrid
smell that the speaker does not seem bothered by. Instead, they seem more focused on the
observation of the creatures in the flax-dam with amusement. Additionally, auditory imagery is
also utilized through onomatopoeia like “Bubbles gargled delicately,” which we see in the
second stanza as well. Then the speaker continues to describe their intrigue of the life cycle of a
frog, displaying them at home and school in “jampotfuls of the jellied specks.”

In the second stanza, the image of the dam through the narrator’s eyes shifts into a less
enthusiastic attitude. This is evident in the choice of words with negative connotations like how
the “angry frogs invaded the flax-dam.” The sights he once took pleasure in are now disgusting
and “obscene threats.” Then he is sickened and runs away which is a direct contrast to his
relaxed attitude in the first stanza towards the smell and view of the dam.

The juxtaposition between his attitudes towards frogspawn versus frogs, the life cycle of a frog,
can also represent the development of a boy especially into sexuality. First, it’s something
precious that is to be observed then later is menacing and repulsive. This is all evident in the
word and language choice throughout the poem, especially with the innocent description of the
natural sex cycle of frogs.

“The daddy frog was called a bullfrog

And how he croaked and how the mammy frog
Laid hundreds of little eggs and this was Frogspawn.”

What this poem represents is the way a boy’s perspective on sex transitions as he develops and
grows, which is what the frogs stand for. This is executed through the stanzas which make the
disparity understandable in that as a child, he views sex from a very innocent point of view and
as he grows he senses a threatening feeling that he runs away from. The speaker knows, in a
sense, he is trapped and that there is no way out of this feeling with no going back to being a
child. The “jellied specks” were now “gross bellied frogs” that “sat poised like mud grenades”
which he was no longer in awe of.

Ursula K. le Guin
The Left Hand of Darkness (1969)
13.10.2020

Purpose of the novel: To allow the reader to examine their world from different perspectives
and embrace alternative forms of identity and reality, presenting a prediction to the possible
androgyny of humanity that will come in the next millennium.

Writing style/tone
Descriptive, goes into mythical/folklore in some chapters
Genly Ai chapters are descriptive and exact
Estraven chapters have a journalistic tone

What is the setting and its effect? (ice, winter, cold)

Settings, in order: Karhide, Orgoreyn, Gobrin Ice, Karhide

Major themes
Gender and sexuality, alienation/otherness, patriotism, religion, language/communication,
loyalty, sexuality, dualism

Characters
 Genly Ai: main protagonist, masculinity shapes him, he characterizes Gethenians gender
based on his beliefs, stands out in Gethenian society, alienated.
 Estraven(real hero): primer minister, idealistic, honorable, loyal androgynous(his
kemmering: Ashe, who is emotional)
 Agraven: mocked by Genly for being pregnant
 Tibe: anti-hero, traitor
Bond and similarities between Genly and Estraven: Both in exile, idealistic and loyal.
Title: The Left Hand of Darkness
Light is the left hand of darkness(darkness is the right hand)
There is a focus on the binary: light/dark, right/left, man/woman(Genly)

Ursula K. le Guin
The Left Hand of Darkness (1969)
Extracting a Global Issue
21.10.2020

Extract

"Three thousand? I see. Now tell me why we, one against three thousand, should have anything
to do with all these nations of monsters living out in the Void?"
He turned around now to look at me, for he was still dueling, posing a rhetorical question, almost
a joke. But the joke did not go deep. He was—as Estraven had warned me—uneasy,
alarmed. [...] "Are they all as black as you?"

Gethenians are yellow-brown or red-brown, generally, but I had seen a good many as dark as
myself. "Some are blacker," I said; "we come all colors," and I opened the case (politely
examined by the guards of the Palace at four stages of my approach to the Red Hall) that held my
ansible and some pictures. [...]
The king glanced at a couple without interest. "What's this?" "A person from Cime, a female." I
had to use the word that Gethenians would apply only to a person in the culminant phase of
kemmer, the alternative being their word for a female animal. "Permanently?"
"Yes."
He dropped the cube and stood swinging from foot to foot, staring at me or a little past me, the
firelight shifting on his face. "They're all like that—like you?"
This was the hurdle I could not lower for them. They must, in the end, learn to take it in their
stride. "Yes. Gethenian sexual physiology, so far as we yet know, is unique among human
beings.
"So all of them, out on these other planets, are in permanent kemmer? A society of perverts?”

Ethnocentrism in the The Left Hand of Darkness

A recurring social issue in The Left Hand of Darkness is the high amount of ethnocentrism by
King Argaven XV. Ethnocentrism refers to the act of judging other cultures with one’s own
culture as the standard. The King very noticeably puts Gethenian culture as the frame of
reference as Genly Ai tries to instigate Karhide’s acceptance for Gethen to join the Ekumen.
King Argaven displays this through his constant questioning of the other types of living beings in
the world as well and of the culture of humans on Terra, Genly Ai’s home planet. One might
consider the fact that this unfamiliar to him hence his various interrogative questions, however,
he consistently disparages all things foreign to him. For instance, his referral to other beings on
planets in the Ekumen as “monsters living out in the void” and “a society of perverts.” Genly Ai
tends to exhibit ethnocentrism as well like his stubborn refusal to accept that Gethenians are
genderless, consistently categorizing them as feminine or masculine through their behavior..

Our political climate strongly resembles that of the one in The Left Hand of Darkness.
This xenophobic attitude is unfortunately very much alive in our world and poses a threat to
globalization. This fear of anything foreign or different will stop progress and change to a great
extent if we fail to consider other cultures in our frame of reference and destroy standards that
we create for others with our own. Similarly, King Argaven is clearly preventing mass progress
that can occur like the exchange of “goods, … knowledge, technology, ideas, philosophies, art,
medicine, science, theory.” He is withholding something that can be largely beneficial for his
people, solely because in his eyes it is something foreign and, as a king, his priority is
“protecting” his people.

22.10.2020
Examples of guiding questions
Search for Keywords like: tense, moving, important, ironic…
How does the writer strikingly portray the character of Grethren and his relationship with other
characters?
How does the mood and tone change if something is present like a contrast or confliction…

Paper 1 Practice: Poem

Nighttime Fires
23.10.2020

A poem from the perspective of a 5 year-old child, displays how bitter and resentful her father
becomes towards a capitalist society after losing his job. The father develops this sort of
addiction to seeing houses burn, and the mother seems to be the only one aware of it. “My
mother watched my father, not the house. She was happy only when we were ready to go, when
it was finally over and nothing else could burn.” The children, however, seem to long for the
only time they could feel close to their father because “My father who never held us would take
my hand…” The reason for his addiction is his resentfulness or jealousy towards the rich people
who he does not think are more deserving than him of their fortune. His excitement when seeing
their houses, and everything they own, burn could be his way of thinking that ‘justice is
achieved,’ in a sense.

The narrator uses diction to explain and show the events that led up to the ‘nighttime fire’ in
great detail. Reading “Piled seven of us, all pajamas and running noses…” allows for the reader
to be in that moment. The poem is highly descriptive as a 5 year-old could not have possibly
interpreted her father’s actions in any complex way. Nevertheless, through the innocent
description, there is a contrast constructed with the father’s unsettling intentions and thoughts
evidently as the children only “...longed for burnt wood and a smell of flames high into the
pines.” and to be in the company of their father. This is also present in the title as ‘Nighttime
Fires’ gives the illusion that this poem is about a calm night with a bonfire/campfire. Yet, as we
read through we discover that is actually about seeing houses in rich neighborhoods being
disintegrated into ash and ember.

Figurative language used in this poem in the form of similes, is to further give depth to the
events. For instance “...he followed the fire engines that snaked like dragons and split the silent
streets. It was festival, carnival.” This comparison shows that his chasing of these long red trucks
that resemble red dragons in chinese parades, is to put a spotlight on his excitement, as he sees
this event as something to be celebrated like “festival” or carnival.”

Paper 1 Practice: Poem

The Survivors
28.10.2020

The poem is about men who get stranded on a boat. They did not have time to get food or water.
The poet is narrated throughout the time it takes for them to start losing their livelihood. They
could sing and did not face issues the first day, then they begin to lose their livelihood as they
stop talking and start thinking about death. Then, after six days, they find the shore and are
rescued by a man on a horse.
 Narrative poem
 Speaker addresses the reader to grip into the story and engage.
Bird symbolizes hope and freedom.
Visual imagery – tone goes from depressing to hopeful

Planning:
Intro: Summary and purpose of the poem + thesis statement
Body: 1. Imagery (poetic but casual)
2. Tone (unfolding of events, narrative storyline)
3. Literary techniques
Conclusion

The Survivors: Anlaysis

This poem is about men who get stranded on a boat. They don’t have any food or water and we
follow through as they slowly begin to lose their livelihood. Then, after six days, they are
rescued by a man on a shore. The speaker uses imagery to effectively unfold the events of the
story. A shift in tone is also observable in the third stanza.

Imagery in the poem is created through different types of figurative language like personification
“The boat became an ear,” similes “..as empty as the sky” and “Ominous as the big guns / Of
enemy shores,” metaphor “a vast disc under a dome.” The speaker uses all of these types of
figurative language to provide a vivid description of the event.

In the second stanza we see what happens to the occupants of the boat as death seems closer and
closer as their inevitable fate. They stop singing on the second day and seem incapable of speech
on the forth. On the fifth day, their physical well-being starts to deteriorate as well. This can all
be a result of their dehydration and lack of food however, it is mostly as they start to fear their
demise and lose hope. “They began to think about death, / Each man to himself, feeding it”
Starting the third stanza with “But..” indicates to the reader that a shift is going to occur. Here we
can spot a symbol of hope for the occupants of the boat which is the bird. It appears right as a
hopeful tone is taken on by the speaker. A bird soaring is often seen as a sign of freedom and
emits feelings of hopefulness hence the men’s inability to sleep after the sighting. It can be
argued that the bird is there to foreshadow the survival of the men.

Although the title of the poem indicates that the men have survived there is still a level of
ambiguity to their ultimate fate. They are saved by a “horseman” which can be literal or a
religious allusion to the four horsemen of the apocalypse from the new testament of the bible,
where a pale horse is identified as Death. However, this might not be the case as the first two
lines of the poem suggest the survival of at least one of the men that lived to tell the story. Other
interpretations might suggest they were saved by a lifeboat and the curt sand is the shore which
they reach.

To conclude, several techniques are used in this poem to effectively narrate a story like the
figurative language and shift in tone. In the end, we are left with our own interpretation of what
ultimately happened to the men.

Sylvia Plath
The Snowman on the Moor
28.10.2020
This poem follows the story of a man overpowering his wife as an allegory for the
submissiveness of women and their suppression by men. The woman storms out of her
husband’s house after an argument and asks a “snowman” to teach her husband a lesson.
However, she ends up in submission to her husband and returns home with obedience. The
poem uses figurative language in order to convey the message. A shift in tone is also present that
occurs as the woman becomes frightened of the “snowman” and returns home.

Plath’s usage of symbolism when describing the “snowman” leads to the interpretation that it
represents her husband or a patriarchal figure, especially after we observe her compliance, a
further indication of a woman's expected obedience to men. “...saw dangling from that spike-
studded belt / Ladies' sheaved skulls: / Mournfully the dry tongues clacked their guilt.” The
previous quote is used to symbolize how the dominant male silences women who dare defy or
challenge the roles set out for women. Furthermore, “to ride that woman / With spur and knout”
is an allusion to how the snowman will dominate the woman, with a possible sexual reference as
well.

Additionally, the use of enjambment creates a stream for the storytelling, allowing for a smooth
flow. It also causes the reader to feel suspense as the story is developing. It is especially used in
the first half of the poem as the woman storms out of the house, creating tension to mirror the
mood and leading to the climax.

Another observable element is the shift in tone that occurs in the poem. In the beginning, there is
a very angry and dark tone as the woman is filled with rage and seeks revenge on the husband.
“She came, and called hell to subdue an unruly man / And join her siege.”
However, as she approaches the snowman on the moor she becomes frightened by it as she
senses danger. “Dozens dropped dead in the hedges: o she felt / No love in his eye,” In addition,
the aforementioned symbolism of the snowman is also an indication as to why it instills fear into
the woman and brings about her submission, abandoning her desire for retaliation. “Humbled
then, and crying, / The girl bent homeward, brimful of gentle talk / And mild obeying.”

To conclude, Sylvia Plath uses several elements in the poem like symbolism, enjambments, and
a shift in tone to get across a message and tell a story. The poem represents the forceful
compliance of a woman to patriarchal figures through violence and abusive course of action.

Arthur Miller
Death of a Salesman (1953)
Characterization

Willy Loman Linda Loman Biff Loman Happy Loman

Typical patriarch, head of Typical submissive Accepts criticism from Comparatively more
household housewife role. people around him. “successful” than Biff

Wanted his sons to work, More sympathetic than Gave up his dreams and Desperate to climb the
calls Biff lazy and Willy (she is very goals because of father’s corporate ladder.
belittles him. maternal) infidelity.
Lack of intimacy. has
Does not treat his wife Dominated by husband Is lost and unstable. short-lived relations with
with much respect, but is still caring and women.
somewhat short- loving towards him. Cannot find happiness in
tempered. the life paths available to Still unhappy and
Patient and sympathetic. him. unsatisfied
Has 2 sons.
Clings to the capitalistic
notion that material things
bring happiness.

Victim of capitalism.

The contrast between Howard and Willy’s attitude towards business:

Howard – “Business is business”
Willy – Business what his life and wellbeing are dependent on

Miller’s use of language: colloquial, snappy, tense, sentimental, amusing

Staging and stage directions: reinforce the theme of the importance of the past.

Arthur Miller
Death of a Salesman (1953)
Notes for Presentation on the “The portrayal of the American Dream and Capitalism in
Death of a Salesman”

Set after The Great Depression and World War 2 where people were fooled and given hope by
the American Dream
The American Dream -> trap as a result of capitalism, idealistic and glamourized
Willy gets old = less productive -> disposable to the system (ruthlessness of a free market)
Class conflict and divide between Willy and Howard shown through: “maid,” “audio recording
machine” (something that Willy can’t afford, doesn’t need)
Willy has visions of what capitalism represents such as: being “well-liked” and “respected.”
We see how capitalism has succeeded when it comes to Bernard -> he worked hard and became
successful, did not stick to the same glamourized preconceptions of what brings success unlike
Willy.
The play may be commentary about how people’s delusions are the reason for the negative
perceptions of capitalism.

Arthur Miller
Death of a Salesman (1953)
Biff and Happy’s Relationship
04.11.2020

Typical of any sibling relationship, the eldest, Biff, acts as a role model for his brother Happy.
Happy seems to have adopted several of his brother's actions and tendencies. Additionally, they
both appear to share the same worries about their father's well-being, though Biff has some
repressed resentment towards his father’s criticism and belittling. They also maintain a close
relationship as we learn that they have conversations at night and talk about their "dreams and
plans." However, Happy has gone on to be more successful than his brother, with Biff still not
making enough money to support himself. Although, both of them seem to be unstable and
unhappy with the directions in which their lives have taken.

Arthur Miller
Death of a Salesman (1953)
Act 2: Questions
25.11.2020

Where did Biff go early that morning?

He went to see Oliver for a job.

What did Willy resolve to talk about with Howard?

He wants to work in the city in which he presides due to tire travelling for his job.

What is the result of Willy’s conversation with Howard?

He ends up getting fired as Howard does not think WIlly is capable of doing his job
anymore. He also thinks that Willy is no longer a good representative of the company
when he travels.

“You can’t eat the orange and throw the peel away - a man isn’t a pierce of fruit!” Explain
why Willy said that.
As a result of capitalism, people are disposable when they are unable to do their duties
like they were once able to and so, Willy refuses to accept that.

Think about the 7 concepts of the course and relate them to the play.
Communication:
Linda and Willy: He dominates the conversation, doesn’t let her speak(esp with other
people around) probably just as a result of the way he is treated by people above him.

Howard and Willy: Despite being younger, and less experienced, he is above him and
ignores him etc…

Franz Kafka
The Metamorphosis (1915)
Notes

Motif of the X (symbol)

In math: unknown variable
In the novel: irrationality and cannot be explained through reason, associated with I-330, S-4711,
R-13 -> they embrace the irrational side of human nature
Motif of Hairy hands (irrational nature)
D-503 believes that he’s not purely rational, that he has a bit of irrationality The wall
represents
The one-state citizen’s alienation
from their rational
Totalitarian regime
(physically and
-Sexual arrangements spiritually) self
Irrationality The Rationality (emotions, desires,
-Machinery of the society green imagination)
Green Grey glass
world wall world
Power terror

How far does the state of the world today matchup to the society of “We”?
Modernity? A metaphorical glimpse.
“Time” in the novel is not fluent, not current.

- The opposition of ideological - The relation between Kafka’s

viewpoints led to the personal life and the novel (Kafka’s
“Revolution.” letters to his father)
- The central issue of choice - The relationship between Gregor and
between cold rationality and his family members/their
revolutionary potential of transformation
human achievement - The role of Grete in the novel/the
- Revolutionary literature role of his parents
- Emotional revolution in D-503 - Gregor’s relation to his job/his
- Scientific revolution alienation/isolation/Capitalism-
- Considering Russian revolution >Modern Industry/Socioeconomic
- Dystopia (scientific revolution) conditions
- Magic realism/Grotesque
The setting of the novel and its
influence on the novel

Franz Kafka
The Metamorphosis (1915)
What is the purpose of Gregor’s metamorphosis?

Gregor’s transformation to a bug was in a way a symbol of his role in the Samsa household and a
capitalist society. His family only seemed to tolerate him when he brought money into the house,
however they turn on him when he is no longer able to. In the novella Gregor says “If I didn’t
have my parents to think about I’d have given my notice a long time ago[…] Well, there’s still
some hope; once I’ve got money together to pay off my parents’ debt to [him] – another five or
six years I suppose…” (11) This shows that Gregor was unhappy with his job but was ready to
continue working for several more years for the sake of his parents and his father’s debt. They
were ungrateful for what he did to them and seemed worthless when he was transformed and
unable to provide. When Gregor was late to work his boss came to check why Gregor hadn’t
been to work, Gregor says he isn’t feeling well but the boss didn’t seem to care. That was a
representation of how Gregor is basically just a cog in the machine. Him personally is not of
interest, but rather if he remains the breadwinner or not.

Franz Kafka
The Metamorphosis (1915)
Alienation and Lack of Communication in The Metamorphosis

The reader gets to gradually see and read through as Gregor gets more isolated by his family
starting from the beginning of his transformation. It is seen how at first they were all terrified of
him, which you couldn’t blame them for, considering he was a gigantic bug suddenly appearing
in place of their son. He was alienated and kept in his room. We see communication within the
family, or rather lack thereof, and how it affects all of them, eventually resulting in Gregor’s
death. The transition in the way Gregor was treated is apparent throughout the book because of
the absence of clear communication in the family.
In the beginning of the novella, Gregor tries to verbally explain that he wasn’t feeling well to the
chief clerk. However, after the mother ordered to get a locksmith there, he must have realized he
wasn’t being understood. “’..Did you hear the way Gregor just spoke just now?’ ‘That was the
voice of an animal’, said the chief clerk.” (Kafka, 22) Gregor’s speech was clear to him but
others didn’t seemingly understand what he said. After that, he still tries to communicate and
even clears his throat so he can be well heard. “...in order to make his voice as clear as possible,
he coughed a little, but taking care to do this not too loudly as even this might well sound
different from the way a human coughs..” (Kafka, 23) It makes the reader wonder if Gregor still
assumed that, although he might have sounded different, his family could still understand him.
That could make him feel even more in isolation.
Gregor and his sister’s nonverbal communication had eventually led to misunderstandings,
unsurprisingly so, considering it’s not a very thorough form of communication. At first, she
seemed to be the only one that could at least sympathize with him. “She did not see him straight
away, but when she did notice him under the couch […] she was so shocked that she lost control
of herself and slammed the door shut[…] But she seemed to regret her behavior, as she opened
the door again straight away and came in on tip-toe as if entering the room of someone seriously
ill or even a stranger” (Kafka, 38) With the last few words from the quote, you can tell that the
sister was not completely comfortable with Gregor’s transformation, although, she still tried her
best to treat him properly at first. She seemed to be considerate of his feelings and wouldn’t let
her distaste of the bug show in order to not make him feel bad. However, she had a hard time
adjusting in the beginning. “Out of consideration for Gregor’s feelings, as she knew he wouldn’t
eat in front of her, she hurried out again and even turned the key in the lock so that Gregor would
know he could make things as comfortable as he liked.” (Kafka, 39) After Grete saw that Gregor
hadn’t drank any of the milk she left him, she was attentive enough to put him multiple kinds of
food to see what he liked. That act lets you know that Grete, in a way, still cared for her brother.
Gregor feels sort of obligated to provide for his family which is evident considering when he first
finds himself transformed, all he could think about was how he could get to work. Additionally,
when he thinks “If I didn’t have my parents to think about I’d have given in my notice a long
time ago,” (Kafka, 11) He thought of his job as strenuous yet he never bothered making a change
because he wanted to pay off his parents’ debt. Gregor can be seen to the reader as a very selfless
person that he would put himself to a job he clearly hates just for his family. “Travelling day in
and day out. Doing business like this takes much more effort than doing your own business at
home, and on top of that there’s the curse of travelling, worries about making train connections,
bad and irregular food, contact with different people all the time so that you can never get to
know anyone or become friendly with them.” (Kafka, 10) He tried his hardest to be able to go to
work but eventually realizes he couldn’t. His father seemed to never appreciate his son, evidently
so when he didn’t hesitate by wanting Gregor gone. He treated him badly and was the one who
threw the apple at him, which had rotted and been one of the causes of Gregor’s death. Mr.
Samsa had only gotten used to taking what Gregor would earn and treated him as a “money
machine” rather than a son. He presumably seems to lack empathy towards his son’s
transformation.
Gregor’s unfortunate metamorphosis had made his family go through a tough time to adjust to
him not being a provider anymore. Nevertheless, maybe they just needed not to depend on
Gregor anymore because what he used to do for them in his job, would cost him his livelihood in
the end.

Gregor’s indifference to his Metamorphosis

In the Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa seems to always be ready to adjust to situation he is put in.
Firstly when his father’s business failed and he had to take on the role of the provider in his
family. He started working as a travelling salesman which he despised, nevertheless, still did so
he could make money for his family and to be able to pay off their debt. Furthermore, in the
beginning of his transformation, he appears to not question it at all; in fact, his only thought was
figuring out how to get out of bed so he can get to work. Adapting to inconveniences can be seen
as a good thing but not necessarily in Gregor’s case. Over the course of the novella, he seems to
have little to no character development in the way he deals with things. He only changes in
aspects such as fully accepting his transformation and feeling lack of concern for the changes.
Just as Gregor wakes up in his new form and realizes he cannot go to work, the relief that washes
over him is interpreted by the reader as hatred for his job. Almost all through the story, he is
constantly complaining about how much his job used to take a toll on him. It gives the possibility
that maybe Gregor’s transformation was a miracle for him. The way he easily adjusts makes you
think that he never really wants to go back to work even though he does try to, but only for his
family. His family did need help but it’s mentioned that his father had only “gotten fat and
clumsy” when Gregor took on as the bread-winner. Similarly, his mother’s asthma development
which made it difficult for her to walk even around the house. That meant that they both couldn’t
get jobs and fill in Gregor’s place. But seemingly as they had no choice, they end up fending for
themselves in the end of the novella, both getting new identities as “Mr. Samsa” and “Mrs.
Samsa” instead of “the father” and “the mother.”
The insecurity portrayed by Gregor throughout the story can perhaps stem from his father’s
treatment. The way he always seems violent and abusive toward Gregor affects what Gregor
would think of himself. He was one of the reasons Gregor had ended up dead. The father would
always be cynical as to what Gregor is trying to do so he would hurt Gregor whenever he didn’t
have anything but good intentions. That kind of treatment shows that Mr. Samsa had only cared
about Gregor when he was able to bring in money and otherwise, he was merely a disposable
being to him.
What Gregor felt he owed to his family had maybe made him think he was responsible for them
which simultaneously could have led him to feeling trapped because of his faithfulness to them.
He detested his job, but it was always all for his family. It can be observed that Gregor’s
metamorphosis could have been something he really needed and what made him feel free in the
end, but consequently resulted in his death.
Nikolai Gogol
The Inspector General (1949)
Notes about the playwright and the play

Nikolai Gogol is a pioneer in Russian literature.

He introduced a method in which he could criticize authority with humor.
He amplified corruption and tragedy of Russian life. The Inspector General (Revizor) is a highly
representational work of Russian despotism.
Gogol was a perfectionist and maintained his work on the play for eight years which resulted in
perfecting his techniques.
Humor in the play masks the pain.
The production of the play was very hard to be approved due to censorship at the time. And still,
the play was heavily criticized.

Characters
The Governor: disliked by the townspeople, careless, terribly performs his role as governor
(“flogged” a woman, did not give the prisoners their rations, kept the streets dirty). Liar,
hypocrite, concerned with appearances, cowardly, greedy, incompetent. Addresses others with a
sense of superiority, anger and pride.
Klestakov: irresponsible, careless, privileged and oblivious to it.
Osip: unprofessional, liar, craves respect yet disrespects Khlestakov.

Global Issue in the play: Sociopolitical Anarchy, Political injustice and abuse of power.
Nikolai Gogol
The Inspector General (1949)
How is the relationship between the governor and the merchants established in The
Inspector General? (Act 4, Scene 10) (Act 5, Scene 2)
Point Evidence Explanation Analysis Link
The governor is “try to contradict The governor This represents The relationship
autocratic in his him, and he’ll takes as he the class divide is that of an
position of fill your house pleases from the in Russian oppressor and
power and with a whole merchants with society and how the oppressed.
exploits the regiment of no regard to officials and the He steals from
townspeople. soldiers” them. He upper class the merchants
threatens them abuse their because he holds
with his power authority and power over
when they power. them.
complain.

In The Inspector General, the Governor is portrayed as autocratic in his position of power and
tends to exploit the people of his town by stealing from them, “Try to contradict him, and he’ll
fill your house with a whole regiment of soldiers.” One of the merchants saying this shows how
the governor takes as he pleases from the merchants but takes back power through violence and
threats. “Now you are crawling at my feet. Why? Because I am on top now.” He has no regard to
the people of his town thus this represents the class divide in Russian society and how officials
and the upper class abuse their authority and power. The language used by the merchants show
the fear and weakness holding their low positions. “I am guilty before God … the evil spirit
tempted me. Ask whatever satisfaction you want, only don’t be angry.” The tone of the
merchants shows acceptance of defeat but also resemble the way in which one asks forgiveness
from their God. They playwright may have used these specific phrases to display how inhumane
this class divide is and how the lower class take on roles of slaves in the face of authority. This
could also be religious allusion as it uses the language the Christians use in confessionals. This is
further proved by the referral of the merchants to the Governor as “father.” In conclusion, the
relationship between the merchants and the Governor that is established in the play is that of an
oppressor his oppressed. He holds much power over them, and they are expected to abide.
Paper 1 Practice: Prose

The narrator, Suno, describes the noises in his house that shift his focus from studying while
being pressures to continue by his family. He explains their expectations and the effect that it has
on him. All of this builds tension to the breaking point of him storming out of the house to study
in the park.

Point to focus on narrative point of view (first person: stream of consciousness), hyperbole, use
of humor.

The events narrated by Suno as we can observe his stream of consciousness. His use of
hyperbole throughout the story serves to portray the full extent of his annoyance at his family
members. Onomatopoeia is also a tool used to build tension and make the reader experience the
noises thus illustrating a more powerful narration and giving the reader a better perception of the
events that take place.
IA: Individual Oral
Global Issue
Notes and planning

15 minutes
10 minutes non-stop – 5 minutes questions

The Metamorphosis / Death of a Salesman

Common theme: capitalism (politics, power, justice)

 Big change impacting their income.
Turning points leading to their death
Willy: gets fired / Gregor: transforms into a bug.
 Highlight the absurdity of living under capitalism.
 Theme of money = freedom
 How a person is relegated to their ability of making money
Willy: no longer valued by the company/ Howard when he can’t make money, work
becomes his identity (death of a salesman)
Gregor: no longer valued by his family when he can’t provide.
 Father-son relationships: Gregor + Mr. Samsa / Willy + Biff, Happy

The impact of capitalism on identity and relationships

Yevgeny Zamyatin
We (1924)
Letter from I-330 to D-503

Dear D-503,
Quite thought have gone into this and I discern that the life One-state has given us might not be
the ideal. The idea that happiness and freedom do not coincide is a false belief in my eyes. The
utilitarianism of this state is that of the fallen states of the Ancient. We have been inflicted with
such limitations that we can’t bring ourselves to have thoughts of our own. Our metaphysical
entities are to be removed if so; a rather absurd concept. The way dreams can be such
magnificent visions yet we’ve long believed they are an illness that should be treated. I cannot
fathom the thought of missing out on the beauty beyond the walls that have been enclosed on us.
You and I have gotten the chance to visit the Ancient House and see what life could be like. The
color one’s life can hold if it’s not fully open to the eyes of the public as One-state’s. We’ve
criticized all that we could of the way the Ancients led their lives, yet happiness was fully
achievable with the limited freedom they were given. Reading a poem of the Ancient or a novel,
I’m astonished at how they express their feeling0 in ways we can’t. In truth, it’s because we have
not been allowed to feel more than what we are told. Love cannot be ruled out as effortless as it
has with the ridiculous simplicity of pink coupons that objectively assign our bodies to another.
We live in full silence which is not of human nature and although we deniably fail to
acknowledge it, we are humans. The ‘second you’ you speak of is what humans are supposed to
feel.
You can take my words as you wish, but I hope you, D-503, are able to see the world in a
different light than the reflection of glass. We have so much for us that One-state won’t let us
have and I am in eternal disappointment if there is nothing I can do about it. Whatever the
consequences may be, not taking my chances will mean I have left nothing behind.

Yours sincerely,
I-330