AQA English Lit A2 Coursework

Hi everyone!
I'm doing AQA A2 English Coursework and I'm just trying to get going on it, it's proving difficult! I was just wondering whether anyone else was doing the same coursework - it's comparing 'A Passage to India' and 'White Teeth' - and had any thoughts or ideas? I'd love to throw some ideas about with people. Or even just anyone who's read both novels and knows what they're on about! My question is "‘Despite the cast of characters, neither ‘A Passage to India’ nor ‘White Teeth’ is principally concerned with race.’ How far would you agree with this statement?" Anyone any ideas please!!!
Much appreciated :biggrin:

Reply 1

happydinosaur

15

I have only read 'A passage to India' so I can only help with that...From my reading of it I can see how it is not principally concerned with race as a single issue and that the relationship between England and India is a lot more general dealing with colonialism and religion for example.

What idea did you have?

Reply 2

LHMarsh10

OP

sparklyteacosie

I have only read 'A passage to India' so I can only help with that...From my reading of it I can see how it is not principally concerned with race as a single issue and that the relationship between England and India is a lot more general dealing with colonialism and religion for example.

What idea did you have?

Yeah thanks for that, I was thinking along similar lines, there's a lot about colonialism, religion, spirituality etc in Passage. It is more concerned with race than White Teeth, but I guess I only know that coz I've read White Teeth! Passage seems to be looking at the obstacles to maintaining an interracial friendship in colonial India, and what makes people behave that way (human nature etc). I don't know really, I'm about half way through my first draft at the moment, and it's a bit scatty! Ah well! Thanks for your help there, doesn't look like this is a very popular thread!

Reply 3

happydinosaur

15

LHMarsh10

Yeah thanks for that, I was thinking along similar lines, there's a lot about colonialism, religion, spirituality etc in Passage. It is more concerned with race than White Teeth, but I guess I only know that coz I've read White Teeth! Passage seems to be looking at the obstacles to maintaining an interracial friendship in colonial India, and what makes people behave that way (human nature etc). I don't know really, I'm about half way through my first draft at the moment, and it's a bit scatty! Ah well! Thanks for your help there, doesn't look like this is a very popular thread!

Yes it is very much looking at the obstacles in the way of friendship and human nature in my opinion. I think I might read White Teeth after my exams are done...

Reply 4

Charlottie

12

I haven't done the specific novels, but I have done the module and gained full marks in it. It might seem simple, and I don't mean to patronise at all, but the one thing that I'd remember is to focus on language. How does the writer express something rather than what is expressed. Did that even make any sense? I hope so!

Reply 5

LHMarsh10

OP

Thanks a lot guys! :biggrin:

Reply 6

fasterpurple

Charlottie

I haven't done the specific novels, but I have done the module and gained full marks in it. It might seem simple, and I don't mean to patronise at all, but the one thing that I'd remember is to focus on language. How does the writer express something rather than what is expressed. Did that even make any sense? I hope so!

This is true! The reason it gives you full marks (I also got full marks :biggrin:

) is that it stops you from retelling the story, and leads to analysis which is based inherently in the text.

Don't forget to cite lots of critics of fiction (Booth, Lodge etc) as well because that'll get you the top marks.

Reply 7

Vickybaker

Haven't read either, but i am a forster fan so am quite good on him in general. My advice for comparing a forster book (I did Maurice) is to read the first chapter of his book of essays called "aspects of a novel" - it is useful as it talks about context (the effect the time of composition has on subject matter in both) something probably worth looking at in your essay, as, if i'm right in thinking, passage is early 20th cent and white teeth is late 20th cent! there's always a good 2 paragraphs you can squeeze out on context. Its also useful in general for doing prat crit on novels!!! And of course forster's a dude so its nice to hear his jolly voice!!! God i'm sad.

Reply 8

Vickybaker

Ps, it is worth noting that forster was one of the least PC men on earth (he hated jews, was racist, and homophobic, despite the fact that he was in fact gay) so you could also look at how you as a modern reader inteprets the novel and how it might be different from how forster intended it. Oooh just remembered there are some cracking books on forster if you can get your hands on them, they deal with each novel in turn; Lionel Trilling's "E.M.Forster" John Colmer's "E.M.Forster the personal voice" and "E.M.Forster contemporary critical essays" by Jeremy Tambling. I strongly recommend the first two. You can get them off abebooks.co.uk or probably at the old library. Most important tho, has to be, as the guys above have said, language analysis, quote quote quote, and every time you quote you have to make a wider language point - ie what does this choice of word make you, the reader feel?? I'm no blowing my own horn but I also got full marks, so listen to the masters!!!

AQA English Lit A2 Coursework

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