English Literature - Essay Questions

Essay Questions (40 minutes, 20 marks)

• A good way to revise for essay questions is to read the texts again. This really does help give you the confidence to tackle any question.
• Another useful thing to do is to read through your exercise book and cut down your notes on characters and themes into memorable chunks - perhaps on cards or in 'poster' format.
• Finally, planning or even writing practice essays against the clock is a great idea.

Revising by planning/writing essays:

• Write the exam question down at the top of a page.
• Without looking in your books quickly list anything that comes to mind (in any random order) that you think you could include in your answer.
• Now go through your exercise book/notes, and as you do so, add any extra ideas to your list.
• Now re-organise the list you have made. You need to spread the list across 6-8 paragraphs (remember an introduction and conclusion). To do this, start by writing a heading for each of your 6-8 paragraphs. These headings might be character's names, key events or themes. Now write down what fits under each heading from your list.
• You now have a plan!
• Read it through again regularly.
• Perhaps even sit down fo 40 minutes and try to write the essay (with or without notes)

Here's a selection of typical questions for 'Of Mice and Men' and 'An Inspector Calls':

'Of Mice and Men'

1. What do you think of Curley and the way he is presented to the reader?
2. What do you think is the importance of Crooks to the novel as a whole?
3. Remind yourself of the ending of the novel. To what extent do you think that it is a satisfactory ending?
4. To what extent do you feel sympathy for Curley's Wife?
5. Loneliness is an important theme in the novel. How is it presented to the reader through different characters?
6. How is the title of the novel relevant to what happens to the characters?
7. What is the importance of the shooting of Candy's dog to the novel as a whole?
8. Write about the character of Lennie. How does the writer manage to make him a sympathetic character?
9. How does the writer gain and hold the reader's attention in the opening chapter?
10. How does the writer show us the harsh realities of life on the ranch?

'An Inspector Calls'

1. Choose what you think is the most dramatic part of the play. Show how the writer creates dramatic tension for the audience.
2. Remind yourself of the ending of the play. To what extent do you think that it is a satisfactory ending?
3. Write about the ways the writer presents the themes of guilt and responsibility in the play.
4. What do you think of Eric and the way he is presented to the audience?
5. Which characters do you feel the most and least sympathy for in the play.
6. What is Inspector Goole's purpose in the play and does he achieve it?
7. The mood in Act 1 of the play changes from relaxed to tense. Explore the ways in which the writer achieves this effect.
8. How does the writer suggest Eric’s guilt in Acts 1 and 2?
9. Do you think that Mrs Birling is more to blame for the death of Eva Smith than the other characters? Give reasons for your answer.
10. The older generation and the younger generation take the Inspector's message in different ways. Explain these differences and say what, if anything, the various characters have learnt.
    

Example plan:

Question: What do you think to the character of George and the way he is presented to the reader?

List 1 (quick ideas without books):

• father figure to Lennie and protects him
• shares the dream with Lennie and later Candy
• speaks for Lennie at the ranch
• doesn't like Curley or Curley's Wife
• wants to shoot Lennie himself

List 2 (more details from exercise book):

• Father figure to Lennie. Made very clear at start. Looks after Lennie's work cards. Takes dead mouse from him.
• Frustrating for George. Gets angry with Lennie - ketchup. Regrets this straight away. Cares for Lennie. Keeps him out of trouble. Incident in Weed. Used to tease Lennie but respects him now. (tells Slim this - junping in river, couldn't swim). Why does he stay with him?
• Shares the dream with Lennie. Wants to be his own boss and own his own land. Escape. Can retell lots of details of the dream. Practiced many times. George and Lennie are different because of friendship. Lets Candy join the dream - could come true with his money.
• Speaks for Lennie at the ranch. Explains what a good worker he is. Doesn't want trouble. Their friendship makes them different. Not lonely. Protective of Lennie at ranch. Worried about Curley - threatened by Lennie's size. Has to make Lennie fight and then stop fighting with Curley.
• Doesn't like Curley's Wife. Worried about Lennie's reaction. Doesn't want to lose their jobs again. Influenced by Candy's opinion - she's "a tart". Doesn't like her flirting or trying to talk to them. Puts the dream at risk.
• Wants to shoot Lennie himself. Knows sraight away Lennie killed Curley's wife. Dilemma. Feel sympathy for him. No real choice or Curley will get Lennie. Pathos with retelling of the dream.

List 3 (organise under paragraph headings)

Paragraph Headings:

1. Introduction
2. George as father figure
3. Frustrations for George
4. Friendship and loneliness
5. Sharing the dream
6. Threat from Curley and Curley's Wife
7. Shooting Lennie
8. Conclusion

Try arranging the notes from above under these headings for yourself. You could even add further ideas of your own.

Remember: introductions should briefly outline what you will be including and conclusions should briefly sum up your main points. You should clearly refer to the words of the question in both.