Comparative Study - 2016 (Higher Level), Essential Guide
Contents 2
Comparative Study: An Overview 3
Cultural Context 6
Previous “Cultural Context” Questions 7
The General Vision and Viewpoint 8
Previous “General Vision and Viewpoint” Questions 9
Literary Genre 10
Previous “Literary Genre” Questions 11
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald 12
Cultural Context 13
The General Vision and Viewpoint 18
Literary Genre 21
Foster, Claire Keegan 23
Cultural Context 24
The General Vision and Viewpoint 26
Literary Genre 28
A Doll’s House, Henrik Ibsen 31
Cultural Context 32
The General Vision and Viewpoint 33
Literary Genre 36
The King’s Speech (Film), Tom Hooper (Dir.) 38
Cultural Context 39
The General Vision and Viewpoint 41
Literary Genre 43
About the author 45
Comparative Study: An Overview
What is the comparative section all about?
- In this section of the exam, you must prepare three texts for examination.
- There are three possible comparative modes, of which two will appear on the exam.
This year’s comparative modes…
- Theme or Issue: The main message(s) that the writer wants to share with the reader and/or with the world; an issue that is presented within the text
- The General Vision and Viewpoint: What is the tone of the text? What is the author or director’s outlook on life?
- Literary Genre: How is the story told? Genre; imagery; symbolism; narrative; structure; characterisation
This year’s texts/films
- The texts/films that will be covered in this study guide include:
- Novel: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby
- Short story: Claire Keegan’s Foster
- Play: Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House
- Film: The King’s Speech (Director: Tom Hooper)
How do I approach it?
- Remember, this section is about comparing and contrasting (finding similarities and differences) between multiple texts. You must ensure that your response reflect this.
- In choosing which question to answer, ensure that you will be able to compare multiple works within the realm of the answer. It is not enough to strongly analyse one and ignore the comparison aspect of the assessment.
- Be sure to look at key moment...