Year 10 Exam Messages and Mistakes

Concise

giving the relevant or necessary information clearly and in a few words; brief but comprehensive

Coherent

logical and consistent

What do you need to check for when editing your essay?

Is Roderigo jealous?

No

When mentioning Othello’s jealousy you need to…

explain how he became jealous by showing and proving how the change was brought about.

Is Othello jealous by nature?

Not in the beginning, he is “not easily jealous” but after being “wrought” he becomes “Perplexed in the extreme”. Iago incites Othello’s jealousy.

When Othello claims to be “not easily jealous” what does he mean?

Othello believes he is not jealous of nature, that it takes great effort and manipulation to make him jealous.

Roderigo is controlled by…

gullibility/foolishness/lust/desire/carnal urges/weakness.

When forming arguments you need to…

show how the text led to my conclusion.

Roderigo is not jealous he is…

merely heartbroken and cannot accept that Desdemona does not love him. He mourns mischief past and gone (his unrequited love for Desdemona), but not because of jealousy.

What are some synonyms for mischief?

hurt, injury, misdeed, grievance, wrongdoing, mishap

Instead of: “Othello is slowly turned jealous” you should write…

“Othello is slowly incited into jealousy”

William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello…

follows the downfall of its titular protagonist, a respected Venetian general, who is manipulated into a state of destructive jealousy by his vengeful ancient, Iago.

Iago is fuelled by…

old resentments and suspicions

“trifles light as air” can be…

magnified by jealousy

Good terms and phrases to use for Othello are…

brood (instead of dwell), vow, exploit, “seal their own tragic fates”, “capture the self-perpetuating power", “Othello’s transformation”, “jealousy as a relentless, devouring force", “jealousy blinds, distorts, and consumes”, “jealous heart”, “Iago the architect of the scheme”, succumbs, feigned reluctance, orchestration, flimsy, calculated, delusion, amorality, catalyst, deteriorates, integrity, endures

Iago understands jealousy’s destructive nature, yet

he does nothing to resist it.

Can quotes be effective if they are short, but well incorporated and relevant?

Yes

Your response must…

be direct and use what I know about the text to create an answer to demonstrate my knowledge.

Key language that you will highlight and underline when you dissect the prompt will…

indicate the topic

What should you do when you are stuck?

Start writing words about the text, ideas will come to me.

How do you frame an introduction

by using words from the topic

Iago does not tell an outright lie until he claims Cassio spoke in his sleep when he is trapped. His deception instead involves…

insinuations, suggestions, and hints

What do children represent?

imagination, innocence, playfulness and joy

Pascal is…

healthy, more introspective, at the beginning like a stray cat wandering, look for something (colour, light, vitality, brightness, childhood, friendship), resilient, friendly, more mature than other kids

What are two essential themes to write about in your Red Balloon essay?

conformity and individuality

When is conformity evidenced in the Red Balloon?

The kids initially want to play with the red balloon but after the principal locks it away the kids realise that to belong in the bleak and monotonous society they must resent it, leading them to chase the balloon and destroy it.

Describe the French philosophy about children

When the world is viewed through the eyes of a child, you are taught to appreciate true value. Children are thought to represent truth, justice, hope and innocence, but society is thought to crush these traits from them.

What do balloons represent?

fragility (like childhood, the balloon may be a reminder or message to Pascal telling him to hold on to his childhood) and joy

What does red represent?

love, boldness, vitality, blood

Try to answer the question:

What do children represent in literature? (linked to Pascal)

When analysing the Red Balloon…

write what is literally evident and then describe the implied meaning

What does the discovery of all the other balloons mean?

There are kids like Pascal and to fly above society they must come together.

What are good terms and phrases to use in the Red Balloon analysis?

naivety, intangible, “experience of being unable to express oneself authentically”, ostensibly, anthropomorphic, “functioning as both a character and a prop”, dreary, monotonous, bleak, spirit

Ostensibly

as appears or is stated to be true, though not necessarily so; apparently

When writing an analysis of a text what must you do?

underline or italicise the title

List some synonyms for destructive

ruinous, devastating, detrimental, fatal, damaging, harmful and injurious