[dizzylizzyrose]

for my A2 English Literature course we have a choice of 17 questions and use roughly 3 texts (2 independent and one taught) or 3 independent texts

the taught one I will use is most likely to be the play Translations.

I will probably choose one of these questions:

1. ‘A sense of cultural loss is common to all Irish writing.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement?

2. ‘The relationship between empire and colony is doomed from its inception because neither side speak the same language.’ To what extent is this statement illustrated in your chosen texts?

3. ‘Throughout history, every empire, like a good parent, begins with good intentions, but often resorts to violence and suppression.’ To what extent do you agree that this statement adequately describes relationships in your chosen texts?

Does anyone have any suggestions for interesting texts that may suit these themes ? I don't need a line of argument just yet, just some ideas of novels/plays/poetry that people have read or studied that they think might be of an interest to read or that I could apply to these questions.

Thanks for any ideas!

[dizzylizzyrose]

anybody?

[LeSacMagique]

(Original post by dizzylizzyrose)
for my A2 English Literature course we have a choice of 17 questions and use roughly 3 texts (2 independent and one taught) or 3 independent texts

the taught one I will use is most likely to be the play Translations.

I will probably choose one of these questions:

1. ‘A sense of cultural loss is common to all Irish writing.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement?

2. ‘The relationship between empire and colony is doomed from its inception because neither side speak the same language.’ To what extent is this statement illustrated in your chosen texts?

3. ‘Throughout history, every empire, like a good parent, begins with good intentions, but often resorts to violence and suppression.’ To what extent do you agree that this statement adequately describes relationships in your chosen texts?

Does anyone have any suggestions for interesting texts that may suit these themes ? I don't need a line of argument just yet, just some ideas of novels/plays/poetry that people have read or studied that they think might be of an interest to read or that I could apply to these questions.

Thanks for any ideas!

Particularly for no. 1 I'd say looking at the poetry of W B Yeats would be a good idea. "Sailing to Byzantium" in particular, but you will obviously need to include more than just this one short poem to count as a decent amount of 'text':

THAT is no country for old men. The young
In one another's arms, birds in the trees
- Those dying generations - at their song,
The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas,
Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long
Whatever is begotten, born, and dies.
Caught in that sensual music all neglect
Monuments of unageing intellect.

An aged man is but a paltry thing,
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing
For every tatter in its mortal dress,
Nor is there singing school but studying
Monuments of its own magnificence;
And therefore I have sailed the seas and come
To the holy city of Byzantium.

O sages standing in God's holy fire
As in the gold mosaic of a wall,
Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
And be the singing-masters of my soul.
Consume my heart away; sick with desire
And fastened to a dying animal
It knows not what it is; and gather me
Into the artifice of eternity.

Once out of nature I shall never take
My bodily form from any natural thing,
But such a form as Grecian goldsmiths make
Of hammered gold and gold enamelling
To keep a drowsy Emperor awake;
Or set upon a golden bough to sing
To lords and ladies of Byzantium
Of what is past, or passing, or to come.

[dizzylizzyrose]

thank you!

[Cassius]

For question 1 I reckon James Joyce? Not a fan of his work personally but I can see it being useful.

For questions 2 and 3 I'd recommend A Passage to India by E. M. Forster, possibly The Tempest, and I'm struggling for poetry suggestions...

edit: also The Royal Hunt of the Sun by Peter Shaffer is an amazing play, which might be quite useful for questions 2 and 3

[snow leopard]

(Original post by dizzylizzyrose)
1. ‘A sense of cultural loss is common to all Irish writing.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement?

For this particular question, I'd recommend the novel Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín.