Essay plans for prose

Question 1

Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts examine violence.

Answer 1

Both explore how violence is used as a means to control and satisfy desires.

Both explore how violence is used as a tool to gain retribution and fight against flawed morality.

Question 2

Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts use narrative point of view.

Answer 2

Both use point of view as social commentary - PODG on class schism and power of influence through LH and Denver tries to escape generational trauma

Both use narrative point of view to show the effect of social constructs on one’s identity - Beloved on the notions of being a former slave/ Paul D’s trauma and Dorian is consumed by his desires.

Question 3

Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts present and use places.

Answer 3

Both use place to explore the psyche of characters - 124 and the opium dens.

PODG uses the setting of Basil’s studio as a backdrop for the theme of aestheticism and Beloved uses Sweet Home to present the backdrop of slavery.

Question 4

Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts explore imbalances of power.

Answer 4

Both explore imbalance of power between the supernatural and humanity.

Both explore imbalance of power between men and women.

Question 5

Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts use dialogue.

Answer 5

Both use dialogue between characters for thematic exploration - LH’s speeches shows the power of psychological manipulation and Beloved and Sethe’s exchanges shows the effects of the institution of slavery on one’s identity.

In Beloved, dialogue reveals trauma and memory whereas i.
In PODG, dialogue shows Wilde’s support of aesthetic values.

Question 6

Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts present characters who experience anxiety.

Answer 6

Both present anxiety as a result of internal conflict - Dorian is infatuated with his own image as he is anxious that a decline in beauty will equate to a decline in his social image - this is perpetuated by Lord Henry.
Sethe’s anxiety is that her children will be taken from her or forced into slavery - her identity is rooted in the past where she has been mistreated.

Both show the consequences of anxiety through supernatural forces - the portrait is a symbol of Dorian’s anxiety, making the burden of guilt tangible.
Beloved is a symbol of Sethe’s anxiety surrounding the past.