Common Module
Why does Winston begin writing in his diary?
To assert individuality and record truth against the Party’s control.
What form is Hag-Seed written in?
Prose novel, metafiction, intertextual with The Tempest.
What image of the modern city is presented in Preludes?
The grim, monotonous, fragmented life of urban industrial society (e.g. “grimy scraps,” “faint stale smells of beer”).
What is Orwell’s main argument in Politics and the English Language?
Clear, precise language is necessary to avoid manipulation and political deceit.
How does Orwell’s representation of truth and memory in 1984 force us to question the reliability of our own personal and collective experiences?
By showing how history can be rewritten, Orwell highlights the fragility of truth and warns against manipulation, echoing issues of propaganda and fake news today.
How does Syme explain the true purpose of Newspeak?
To narrow the range of thought by removing words and concepts.
What concern about power is consistent across both texts?
Abuse of authority and betrayal: Antonio/Tony’s treachery, Prospero/Felix’s control.
How does Eliot use industrial imagery in Preludes to reflect modern spiritual emptiness?
The mechanical repetition of city life mirrors loss of purpose and inner desolation.
What is the difference between discursive and persuasive writing?
Discursive explores ideas in a balanced way; persuasive argues a clear stance.
Compare the representation of Caliban and the prisoners. How do both texts interrogate marginalisation?
Shakespeare presents Caliban as colonised “other,” while Atwood reclaims his agency through prisoners who embody creativity despite society’s rejection.
What are the main key words from the rubric?
Human Experience
Individual
Collective
Paradox
Anomaly
Inconsisteny
Human Motivations
Human Condition/Emotions
What 21st-century issues shape Atwood’s Hag-Seed?
Postmodernism, prison reform, trauma recovery, art as rehabilitation, gender equality.
What is “fragmentation” in Eliot’s poetry?
Breaking up of narrative, voice, or image to mirror the disjointedness of modern life.
What imagery does Harwood use in “Barn Owl” to capture childhood innocence and cruelty?
Violent imagery ("tangling in bowels”, "hobbled in its own blood.") reflects a loss of innocence and awakening to death.
How does Eliot’s intertextuality enrich his exploration of modern anxiety?
Classical and religious allusions juxtaposed with mundane imagery highlight cultural decline and search for significance.
How does the manipulation of language influence human thought and memory in the novel?
Without words, complex ideas disappear: language controls reality and memory.
How does Atwood humanise or rehabilitate Caliban compared to Shakespeare’s original portrayal?
Inmates debate Caliban’s worth, giving him agency and challenging colonial stereotypes.
How does Eliot’s use of free verse and irregular rhythm reflect his views on modernity?
Breaks from tradition, mirroring chaos, uncertainty, and disconnection of modern life.
How does reflection strengthen Module C writing tasks?
Shows our conscious control of craft and ability to evaluate purpose, audience, and form.
In what ways does Atwood’s Spotty-Handed Villainesses inspire imaginative writing about female characters?
Encourages creation of complex, morally ambiguous women who resist stereotypes of “angel” or “monster.”
How does the concept of “thoughtcrime” represent a suppression of individuality and human experience?
Criminalises independent thought, eliminating freedom, creativity, and personal truth.
Compare how the two forms (play vs novel) shape the way audiences/readers engage with the theme of freedom.
Shakespeare uses performance/illusion to explore liberation, while Atwood uses narrative and metafiction to engage readers in reimagining freedom in a modern justice context.
In Rhapsody, how does the “street lamp” function symbolically?
Personified lamp exposes futility, artificiality, and distorted memory.
What technique does Atwood use to connect with her audience?
Anecdotes, rhetorical questions, and conversational style.
What are Miss Giles' and Mr Clewett's favourite books?
Miss Giles: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Mr Clewett: My Place by Sally Morgan