Operators
What is an operator?
An operator is a work order or a term that specifies which intellectual activity is required in a task.
What is the difference between a short story and a novel?
A short story is brief, usually focusing on a single event or theme, while a novel is longer, with a more complex plot and multiple characters.
What is a verse?
A verse is a single line of poetry, often with a specific rhythm or meter.
What is the essential feature of drama compared to prose?
Drama is intended for performance and relies on dialogue and action, rather than narration.
What is the difference between narrative time and narrated time?
Narrative time is the time it takes to tell the story, while narrated time refers to the time span covered by the events in the story.
Give two examples of typical operators in exam questions.
For example “analyze" and "compare”.
Define the term narrative perspective.
Narrative perspective refers to the point of view from which the story is told.
Describe the metrical pattern of a sonnet.
sonnet typically follows a 14-line structure with iambic pentameter and a specific rhyme scheme.
What is the role of the chorus in classical drama?
The chorus comments on the action, provides background information, and reflects on the themes of the play.
Explain the technique of time compression in narrative.
Time compression, or time summary, condenses events over a longer period into a brief description to maintain the narrative pace.
What does the operator "interpret" mean in relation to literary texts?
It means to explain the meaning or significance of a text (underlying themes, symbols, messages).
Name and describe two common narrative perspectives.
First-person perspective (story from the character’s viewpoint), omniscient narrator (knows all the characters’ thoughts and events).
What is the function of rhyme in poetry?
Rhyme creates sound harmony, supports the rhythm, and can emphasize meanings or link different parts of the poem.
Describe a tragedy.
A tragedy involves serious themes and a downfall of the protagonist.
What is direct speech and indirect speech?
Direct speech quotes a character’s exact words, while indirect speech paraphrases what the character said without using quotation marks.
Name a difference between "analyze" and "evaluate”
"Analyze" involves breaking down a text into components to examine how they work together, while "evaluate" requires making a judgment about the quality or effectiveness of the text.
What is an interior monologue?
An interior monologue presents a character’s thoughts directly, as though the reader is inside the character’s mind.
What is a metaphor?
A metaphor directly compares two things by stating one is the other and not using therms such as “like”.
What does the term catharsis mean in drama?
Catharsis is the emotional release or cleansing experienced by the audience as they witness the resolution of the play’s conflict.
Name and explain the difference between showing and telling in narrative technique.
"Showing" allows readers to experience the story through actions, thoughts, and dialogue, while "telling" provides direct information from the narrator.
Describe how an operator can influence the structure of an essay.
The operator determines the focus of the essay by dictating the type of response required.
How does an unreliable narrator affect the reader?
An unreliable narrator creates doubt and uncertainty, forcing the reader to question the truth of the narrative and interpret events critically.
Explain the term lyrical I and its role in poetry.
The lyrical I is the speaker in a poem, often expressing personal emotions and thoughts, but it is not necessarily the poet themselves.
Describe the classical structure of drama.
The classical structure consists of a beginning (exposition), middle (rising action, climax), and end (falling action, resolution.
What is the effect of flashbacks?
Flashbacks provide background information, deepen the reader's understanding of characters or events, and can create suspense by disrupting the chronological order.