Unseen fiction 31/05/21

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Goals today: 31st May 

You will improve your close-reading analysis skills in text 5

Literature circles League table 

Never Let me Go: x 2 

The Catcher in the Rye: x 2 

Do Androids Dream ...: x 2 

Turtles all the Way Down x 2 

Anna: x 2 

The Big Sleep: x 1 

The Reluctant Fundamentalist: x 1 

Before 27th May - 2nd meeting 

Before 3rd June - 3rd meeting 

Before 10th June- 4th meeting

Optional final meeting before 18th June 

18th June Literature circles analysis test 

Lit circles 

Setting - mirror setting (reflects the prevailing mood or ironically shows the opposite) 

mold setting (Character can be a participant in the rules of an environment or character can be a rebel, or trying to escape the stifling rules of an environment or setting can define how the character sees and responds to the world

Read extract number 5 

Then focus on the first section from "'What in the name ... to asked this apparition." 

1. List four things you learn about the man who enters the room. 

2. Choose three verbs which suggest the man’s violent nature, and write them down. For each one, explain what specific effect it has in the extract.

3. In this extract, Doyle likens the character to ‘a fierce old bird of prey’. What effect does this have? What does it suggest about his character?

Suggested ideas 

• he has thrown the door open

• he is standing in the doorway

• he is very large

• his clothes are odd

• he is carrying a hunting-crop

• he has many wrinkles

• he looks like a bird of prey.

Suggested ideas 

The comparison used by Doyle suggests that the man he is used to preying on the more vulnerable
and weaker in society. 

The connotations associated with a bird of prey are that he will be dangerous for certain individuals. 

A bird of prey is considered to always be alert and ready to attack when a vulnerability is seen and these actions and attitudes are transferred to the man through the use of this particular simile. 

Focus on the next section from "'My name, sir ... to my companion imperturbably." 

1. How does Doyle contrast Holmes with Roylott? Think about the ways they are described, and about their dialogue. What effect does this contrast have? Write a complete, well-structured paragraph. 

Suggested ideas 

Holmes and Roylott are described in contrasting ways by the author.  Roylott "screamed" "furiously",  whereas Holmes "said" "quietly". This makes Holmes seem calmer and more in control, whereas Roylott appears to be angry and dangerous.

Roylott’s speech is demanding, for example, "What has she been saying to you?"  and rude, "I will do nothing of the kind". He also seems keen to establish himself as superior to Holmes when he states, "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran". In contrast, Holmes refuses to be impressed or intimidated. Doyle highlights through the use of the adverb, "blandly". Holmes is courteous, "Pray take a seat". Holmes does not respond to Roylott’s temper or demands, and, at times, seems to be having a completely different conversation when he refers to the "crocuses". This conveys Roylott as aggressive and unreasonable whilst Holmes is staunchly unintimidated. The balance of power appears to tip towards Holmes even though he is physically weaker

Focus on the section from "'Ha! You put ... a decided draught." 

1. Doyle uses repeated sentence structures in Roylott’s speech, when he says

‘Holmes, the meddler."

My friend smiled.

"Holmes, the busybody!"

His smile broadened.

"Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!"

What effect does this have? What does it suggest about Roylott and his feelings towards Holmes?

Suggested ideas 

The use of repeated sentence structures emphasises Roylott’s growing anger and dislike of Holmes. The effect is that through accumulation Roylott's mounting anger is revealed. 

Focus on the section from "'Ha! You put ... a decided draught." 

1. A motif is a repeated idea or symbol in a piece of writing. In this story, the hunting crop is a motif – here, Roylott is ‘shaking his hunting crop’, and when he first entered, he was ‘swinging a hunting crop in his hand’. What effect does this motif have? What does it symbolise or suggest about Roylott?

Suggested ideas 

The hunting crop symbolises Roylott's aggression as it would be used to hurt a horse in order for the rider to keep control of the animal. 

The hunting crop characterises Roylott as a hunter, preying on those who are more vulnerable.

The hunting crop shows Roylott's wish to physically intimidate others as it can be used as a weapon. 

Focus on the section from "I will go ... of the room." 

1. In this section, Doyle uses a semantic field of violence. Write down five examples.

2. How does Doyle present Roylott as a violent and unpleasant man in this extract? Support your ideas with quotations and terminology, including word class. You may want to use your answer to question 1 to help you. 

Suggested ideas 

• seized

• bent

• snarled

• hurling

• strode.

verbs and gerunds that show aggressive and intimidating actions.

 • the semantic field of violence

• his direct threats to Holmes (‘See that you keep yourself out of my grip’)

• the verb ‘snarled’, which dehumanises the character, with connotations of a dangerous animal.

Focus on the last section from "'He seems a ... in this matter." 

1. Structurally, it is interesting that Doyle only reveals Holmes’ physical strength once he has had Roylott leave the room. What effect does this have?

Suggested ideas 

The revelation of Holmes' physical strength only after Roylott has left means that Roylott is unaware that Holmes is physically as strong as he is. The resulting effect is that the reader becomes aware of this discrepancy in Roylott's understanding and the expectation is that  Roylott will underestimate Homes  later in the text and be overpowered. The author uses foreshadowing to give the reader a hint at a future outcome. 

Homework/ Classwork 

Complete assignments for unit

8d, 8e & 8f  

Put your answers in class notebook =>AWL Academic language acquisition 

Portfolio exam type question

Homework for 31st  May 

Answer question number 4 (in files) and place your answer in your class notebook. 

1. Answers in your tab with the title: Unseen fiction term 4 PORTFOLIO 

2. Give your answer the title: Text 4

3. Underline your 10 academic vocabulary words. (choices from the chapters so far).