G10 English S1 AO1

Term

Definition

An Inspector Calls - Theme: Responsibility

The Inspector argues everyone is connected: Priestley’s socialist message.

An Inspector Calls - Theme: Class & Social Divide

Birlings look down on working class; Eva Smith represents exploitation.

An Inspector Calls - Theme: Gender Roles

Women are dismissed as weak or hysterical; Sheila challenges this.

An Inspector Calls - Theme: Generational Divide

Younger characters (Sheila, Eric) learn, while older ones (Birling, Mrs Birling) refuse.

An Inspector Calls - Character: Inspector

Priestley’s moral voice; drives home responsibility.

An Inspector Calls - Character: Mr Birling

Capitalist, arrogant, obsessed with business reputation.

An Inspector Calls - Character: Sheila

Immature at first, but grows and accepts responsibility.

An Inspector Calls - Character: Mrs Birling

Hypocritical, prejudiced, cold towards Eva Smith.

An Inspector Calls - Character: Eric

Irresponsible at first, but guilty and regretful by the end.

An Inspector Calls - Character: Gerald

Charming yet hypocritical; avoids full responsibility.

An Inspector Calls - Context

Written in 1945 but set in 1912 to expose flaws of pre-WWI society; Priestley a socialist.

Of Mice and Men - Theme: Loneliness

Ranch workers are isolated; Crooks, Curley’s wife, Candy express loneliness.

Of Mice and Men - Theme: Dreams

George and Lennie’s dream contrasts with harsh reality.

Of Mice and Men - Theme: Power & Discrimination

Racism (Crooks), Sexism (Curley’s wife), Ageism (Candy).

Of Mice and Men - Theme: Friendship

George and Lennie’s bond is unique in a world of loneliness.

Of Mice and Men - Character: George

Protective of Lennie, practical yet dream-driven.

Of Mice and Men - Character: Lennie

Physically strong but mentally childlike; represents innocence.

Of Mice and Men - Character: Curley

Aggressive, insecure, abuses power.

Of Mice and Men - Character: Curley’s Wife

Lonely, nameless, dreams of a better life.

Of Mice and Men - Character: Slim

Respected, moral authority on the ranch.

Of Mice and Men - Character: Candy

Old, disabled, clings to the dream for hope.

Of Mice and Men - Character: Crooks

Black stable hand, intelligent, bitter from racism and isolation.

Of Mice and Men - Context

Written during the Great Depression; explores migrant workers’ struggles.

The Danger of a Single Story - Themes

Stereotyping, cultural identity, power of stories.

The Danger of a Single Story - Techniques

Anecdotes, repetition, contrasts between perspectives.

A Passage to Africa - Themes

Suffering, voyeurism, guilt of journalists.

A Passage to Africa - Techniques

Graphic imagery, paradox (smile in suffering), reflective tone.

The Explorer’s Daughter - Themes

Survival vs beauty, morality, respect for culture.

The Explorer’s Daughter - Techniques

Descriptive imagery, factual detail, contrasts.

Explorers or Boys Messing About - Themes

Recklessness, media ridicule, public cost.

Explorers or Boys Messing About - Techniques

Sarcasm, statistics, irony.

127 Hours - Themes

Survival, determination, courage vs fear.

127 Hours - Techniques

Technical detail, sensory description, first-person immediacy.

Young and Dyslexic - Themes

Education, identity, resilience.

Young and Dyslexic - Techniques

Humour, anecdotes, conversational style.

A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat - Themes

Cultural difference, excitement, chaos.

A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat - Techniques

Similes, vivid imagery, humorous tone.

Beyond the Sky and the Earth - Themes

Culture shock, transformation, belonging.

Beyond the Sky and the Earth - Techniques

Contrast, emotive language, descriptive imagery.

H is for Hawk - Themes

Grief, healing through nature, human vs wild.

H is for Hawk - Techniques

Metaphors, detailed description, shifts in tone.

Chinese Cinderella - Themes

Family rejection, resilience, education as escape.

Chinese Cinderella - Techniques

Emotive tone, contrasts, first-person narrative.

Disabled - Themes

War’s futility, loss of youth, isolation.

Disabled - Techniques

Contrast (before vs after), pathos, imagery.

Out, Out– - Themes

Fragility of life, indifference of nature.

Out, Out– - Techniques

Personification, onomatopoeia, understatement.

An Unknown Girl - Themes

Identity, cultural belonging, memory.

An Unknown Girl - Techniques

Sensory imagery, symbolism, free verse.

The Bright Lights of Sarajevo - Themes

War, resilience, normal life vs danger.

The Bright Lights of Sarajevo - Techniques

Juxtaposition, colloquial tone, irony.

Still I Rise - Themes

Racism, empowerment, resilience.

Still I Rise - Techniques

Repetition, rhetorical questions, similes.

The Story of an Hour - Themes

Marriage, freedom, repression.

The Story of an Hour - Techniques

Irony, symbolism (open window), contrast.

The Necklace - Themes

Vanity, class, irony of fate.

The Necklace - Techniques

Twist ending, realism, symbolism.

Night (Alice Munro) - Themes

Memory, mortality, adolescence.

Night (Alice Munro) - Techniques

Reflective tone, imagery, fragmented structure.

Prayer Before Birth - Themes

Innocence, cruelty, fear of war.

Prayer Before Birth - Techniques

Repetition, biblical tone, personification.

Blessing - Themes

Poverty, scarcity, joy in small things.

Blessing - Techniques

Sensory imagery, symbolism, contrasts.

Search for My Tongue - Themes

Language, cultural identity, belonging.

Search for My Tongue - Techniques

Code-switching, metaphor, personal voice.

Half-Past Two - Themes

Childhood innocence, time, imagination.

Half-Past Two - Techniques

Childlike language, free verse, contrasts.

Piano - Themes

Memory, childhood, nostalgia, loss.

Piano - Techniques

Sensory imagery, similes, contrast.

Hide and Seek - Themes

Childhood, betrayal, isolation.

Hide and Seek - Techniques

Second-person narration, sensory detail, twist ending.

Poem at 39 - Themes

Family, memory, admiration.

Poem at 39 - Techniques

Personal tone, imagery, repetition.

War Photographer - Themes

War, morality, suffering vs indifference.

War Photographer - Techniques

Contrasts, metaphor, imagery.

Half-Caste - Themes

Racism, identity, pride.

Half-Caste - Techniques

Colloquial voice, repetition, imagery.