Supporting characters
Ed helps this old woman feel happy again. Who is..?
Mila.
What is Ed's job?
Taxi driver
Challenges v. We have to confront challenges to move forward with our lives. What one of these is a theme and why?
We have to confront challenges to move forward with our lives is a theme, as it is a statement of opinion, raised in the novel, about life, which can be argued.
Key words are the words from the question you need to...
Use in your essay
Ed helps these people act like family should, even though it hurts him to do so. Who are..?
Who are the Rose brothers?
Name one of the famous people Ed compares himself to at the start of the novel?
Joan of Arc.....
Something physical used to represent an abstract concept. What is this called?
Symbolism.
When NCEA questions use 'ideas' does this only mean theme?
No. (Character, setting as well)
Ed helps this person learn that they should live life on their own terms. Who is...?
Sophie
How are taxis a symbol for Ed at the beginning of the story?
1. He drives people around who are living their lives but he's never part of this shows how he is not really living his life. 2. The taxi always ends back at the same place just like Ed's life isn't really going anywhere. 3. The company is called Vacant Taxis symbolising the emptiness if Ed's life due to his lack of purpose.
What is a theme statement from the novel and how is it developed?
Eg - Everyone can live an extraordinary life, but to do so takes courage. Shown by Ed confronting his mum. He needs closure from her to stop holding him back, but that requires learning how she really feels about him which is challenging.
Issues, perspectives, worldview are all examples of what key word?
Theme
How is the river a symbol in the Hearts section?
The river symbolises life and Ritchie (and sort of Ed) is the stone that sits in the river but never moves. Ritchie is doing nothing with his life so he is the stone that does not move with the river.
In what ways does the Joker card suit Ed?
Jokers aren't always in a game, just like Ed didn't think he was getting cards/messages either. Jokers are wild cards, can change the game, and Ed is doing this to people's lives (and his own).
How are language features used across the novel to show Ed's change?
Eg - personification changes from things acting on Ed while he is passive, to changing to Ed acting alongside them.
Analyse how means to refer to what?
Literary elements and language features - characters, events, setting, conflict etc
Overall, through the supporting characters, what sorts of challenges does the author suggest are the most difficult to confront?
Emotional ones or ones where you have to confront your own inadequacies. This is because emotional pain takes a lot longer to heal than physical damage.
How is Ed's voice developed? Name at least two language features that achieve this.
Why does the author use this style of voice for Ed?
Ed's voice is developed through some of the following - sarcastic and self-deprecating tone, humour, colloquial language, rhetorical questions and direct address, a lot of figurative language (personification and metaphor etc) The style is designed to make the audience like Ed despite his flaws and to build empathy between us and the character through the personal style.
How does the novel illustrate ideas to do with existentialist philosophy? You have to refer to an actual philosopher as part of your answer.
Eg - The way Ed's challenges involve him having a positive act on other people shows that the novel is illustrating Simone de Beauvior's existentialist ideas, in that, as Ed develops his own sense of purpose he is also empowering others to live their own authentic life.
Plot, contrasts, recurring motifs, order of events, hero's journey are all examples of what key word?
Structure