TEXTS
1984
by George Orwell
EXTENDED RESPONSE QUESTIONS​
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How does Orwell represent the emotions arising from human experiences through the features of prose writing?
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"Texts represent the challenges and complexities of human experience, enabling responders to gain new insight." Explore this statement with close reference to 1984.
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"1984 is a presentation of Orwell's definition of dystopia and was meant as a warning to those of the modern era." To what extent does Orwell achieve this in 1984? What specifically is he warning readers against and how does he achieve this?
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"Don't let it happen. It depends on you." - George Orwell. How does the above quotation resonate with your understanding of Orwell's authorial intent? In your response, make detailed reference to 1984.
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How does Orwell represent the nature of human emotions within a totalitarian regime, and how does this representation help support his authorial purpose?
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"The representation of human experience makes us more aware of the intricate nature of humanity." In your response, discuss this statement with detailed reference to George Orwell's 1984.
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"The best books . . . are those that tell you what you know already." - George Orwell. How has 1984 provided new insight on shared human experiences over time? Make reference to the provided quotation and key values explored within the text?
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"Orwell's story has always had an uncanny ability to be relevant to whatever politics is on foot in different parts of the world, at different moments in history." - Brigid Delany. Evaluate how 1984 challenges widely held assumptions on human society.
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"1984 seeks to underline oppression as a common human experience not to criticize or divide, but to educate and unite." To what extent do you agree with this statement?
All the Light We Cannot See
by Anthony Doer
COMING SOON
An Artist of the Floating World
by Kazuo Ishiguro
​EXTENDED RESPONSE
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To what extent is An Artist Of The Floating World a presentation of an interconnected world?
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In what ways is An Artist of the Floating World a novel about the shifting relationships between an individual and his world and family?
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"Two people can live the same life, see the same things and yet tell completely different stories." To what extent does this statement align with your understanding of An Artist Of The Floating World?
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"When you are young, there are many things which appear dull and lifeless. But as you get older, you will find these are the very things that are most important to you." Discuss how Ishiguro uses metaphors to explore conflicts in An Artist Of The Floating World.
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How has your study of An Artist Of The Floating World altered and expanded your understanding of tradition?
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"An exploration of unreliability, ambiguity and contradiction." To what extent does this view align with your understanding of An Artist Of The Floating World?
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Ono is widely considered to be an example of an unreliable narrator in the text An Artist Of The Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro. What does this phrase actually mean and in what way does Ono prove the moniker fits him?
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“I have still in my possession a painting by the Tortoise – a self-portrait he painted not long after the Takeda days. It shows a thin young man with spectacles, sitting in his shirt-sleeves in a cramped, shadowy room, surrounded by easels and rickety furniture, his face caught on one side by the light coming from the window. The earnestness and timidity written on the face are certainly true to the man I remember, and in this respect, the Tortoise has been remarkably honest; looking at the portrait, you would probably take him to be the sort you could confidently elbow aside for an empty tram seat. But then each of us, it seems, has his own special conceits. If the Tortoise’s modesty forbade him to disguise his timid nature, it did not prevent him attributing to himself a kind of lofty intellectual air – which I for one have no recollection of. But then to be fair, I cannot recall any colleague who could paint a self-portrait with absolute honesty; however accurately one may fill in the surface details of one’s mirror reflection, the personality represented rarely comes near the truth as others would see it.” In what ways does this excerpt reflect the concerns and aesthetic qualities of Ishiguro’s novel? In your response, make close reference to the excerpt and to your prescribed text?
Animal Farm
by George Orwell
EXTENDED RESPONSE
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Animal Farm paints a very bleak picture of humanity. Explore this statement.
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"Manipulation has the power of distinctly prove how those that are vulnerable are easily influenced and exploited through the use of propaganda." Discuss this statement with detailed reference to Animal Farm by George Orwell.
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"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." How does Orwell explore the theme of power and how it leads to corruption in Animal Farm?
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"Most of the time, Mr Jones had spent sitting in the top room of the Red Lion at Willingdon, complaining to anyone who would listen of the monstrous justice he had suffered in being turned out of his property by a pack of good-for-nothing animals." Imagine you are Farmer Jones. Tell the other farmers at the Red Lion the story of the rebellion on Manor Farm from your point of view.
Bad Dreams and Other Short Stories
by Tessa Hadley
COMING SOON
Big World
by Tim Winton
EXTENDED RESPONSE
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"Big World conveys the change in the understanding individuals have of themselves and the world around them. It challenges pre-existing attitudes and beliefs through the ongoing process of transition." To what extent do you agree with this statement? In your response, make close reference to Winton's Big World.
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"Significant transitions in one's life are marked by growth and insight." Discuss this statement making detailed reference to Winton's Big World.
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Explore how the Big World functions as an escape narrative from a restrictive small-town life, and how the characters' journey tests and reshapes their identities.
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Discuss how Winton's representation of the vast, elemental Australian landscape informs the human experience and the characters' internal struggles.
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Examine the nature of the friendship between the nameless narrator and Biggie, and how their interactions reveal the dynamics of loyalty, jealousy, and disillusionment.
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How does the concept of community function as both a source of conflict and connection for the characters in 'Big World'?
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"Discoveries and the process of discovering can lead to new worlds and values and stimulate new ideas." To what extent do you agree with this statement in the context of your study of Tim Winton's 'Big World'?
Born a Crime
by Trevor Noah
SHORT ANSWER
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What is the significance of the title "Born A Crime"?
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What is interesting or unusual about the structure of the book, based on the opening parts of the first chapter?
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SHORT ESSAY
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Explain the serious message underpinning Noah's very funny anecdote in chapter 3. Why is it important?
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Explain the significance of religion and spirituality in Noah's upbringing.
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What is the link between language and race?
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"I never felt poor because our lives were so rich with experiences." Did Trevor Noah suffer because of the poverty of his youth?
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How does Trevor Noah explore the challenges of growing up coloured in a post-apartheid South Africa?
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EXTENDED RESPONSE
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In Born A Crime, the law means different things to people." Discuss this statement with detailed reference to the text.
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"Life is full of pain. Let the pain sharpen you, but don't hold onto it." Hardship shapes the lives of the characters in Born A Crime. Discuss.
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"Now you're officially the best-looking person in the family." Humour is Noah's strongest defense in Born A Crime. To what extent do you agree?
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". . . language, even more than colour, defines who you are to people." To what extent does Trevor Noah demonstrate this to be true?
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"Born A Crime is a story of overcoming limitations." To what extent do you agree with this statement?
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To what extent does racism play a part in Born A Crime? In your response, make detailed reference to the text.
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"That was my mom. Don't fight the system. Mock the system." How do Trevor and his mother mock the various systems of oppression in South America?
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Discuss the complex relationship between Trevor and his mother in the novel Born A Crime. To what extent does it impact the play?
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'When grappling with issues over race, one should not forget people’s humanity.’ Discuss.
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'Even if he never leaves the ghetto, he will know that the ghetto is not the world.” How does the world in which an individual lives help shape a sense of self?
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“It is easier to be an insider as an outsider.” How has race played a part in Trevor Noah's understanding of himself?
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‘Relationships are essential to help individuals survive difficulties.’ Discuss.
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How does Noah expose the evils of a racist society?
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In Born a Crime Trevor Noah shows that humour is a powerful tool to expose systems of division and oppression.
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While Born a Crime is a very funny book, but it also exposes the serious issues that many had to overcome. Discuss.
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To what extent does poverty shape the attitudes of the central characters in Born a Crime?
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“I remember being told as a child, ‘If you don’t hit your woman, you don’t love her.” How does Noah explore the power struggles between gender in his memoir?
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At a certain point, I felt so invisible…I wanted to jump up and point at the TV and say, ‘Are you people blind?!’ To what extent does Born a Crime suggest that it is ignorance that gives rise to prejudice?
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‘Noah’s characters are driven more by their past experiences than by their aspirations for the future.’ Do you agree?
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‘The hopes and expectations in the lives of Noah’s characters are often not met.’ Discuss.
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Born a Crime demonstrates that strength can take many forms. Discuss.
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‘Born a Crime is a search for identity in a hostile, divided world.’ Discuss.
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“We had created this idea about ourselves as a defence mechanism to survive in the world we were living in.” How does growing up in South Africa fuel Noah’s ambition and his will to survive?
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"Trevor Noah's book is as much a tragedy as it is a comedy." To what extent do you agree with this statement?
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"She never let me see us as victims. We were victims, me and my mom, Andrew and Isaac. Victims of apartheid. Victims of abuse. But I was never allowed to think that way, and I didn't see her life that way." To what extent were Trevor Noah and his family victims?
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The text explores the complexities of relationships between men and women. Discuss.
Fahrenheit 451
by Ray Bradbury
COMING SOON
Feed
by M.T. Anderson
SHORT ANSWER
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Is there a place for empathy in the world of Feed?
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Does education have a place in the futuristic world depicted in Feed?
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EXTENDED RESPONSE
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How does Feed confirm or deny audience expectations of its genre?
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How is resistance dealt with in Feed and what does that say about power?
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"The reliance that society has on technology is cahllenged through M.T. Anderson's use of technology in Feed." To what extent do you agree with this statement?
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"Everything must go." How does Anderson's ending reflect various aspects of his novel?
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How do the distinctive qualities of M.T. Anderson's novel communicate his commentary on the relationship between humanity and technology?
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In what ways does Feed invite questions about resistance and conformity?
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"Context is a significant factor in shaping an individual's perception of themselves and others." Discuss this view with reference to M.T. Anderson's Feed.
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How does Anderson shape character and setting to create a personal and intellectual connection with the reader?
Jasper Jones
by Craig Silvey
EXTNEDED RESPONSE
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Many of the characters in Jasper Jones are harbouring secrets, How do these secrets advance the plot? Which ones come to light, which ones don't? What does this say about the meaning of Jasper Jones?
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How does the representation of society communicate themes in Jasper Jones?
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Discuss how Craig Silvey uses characterisation to explore significant ideas in Jasper Jones.
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To what extent is racism explored in Jasper Jones? What impact does this have on the story?
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"Jasper Jones presents a particular perspective on common social beliefs." To what extent do you agree with this statement? Make detailed reference to Jasper Jones in your response.
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"It is through the characters that authors portray the flaws of humanity." To what extent is this true of the text Jasper Jones?
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How does Silvey use language to convey the emotions of the protagonist in Jasper Jones?
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How does Rachael Perkins, director of the film Jasper Jones, incorperate intertextuality to convey her ideas about the prejudice and how to deal with it?
Of Mice and Men
by John Steinbeck
EXTENDED RESPONSE
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How does Steinbeck construct loneliness in this story? Despite living in close proximity, all the characters seem to be lonely. Do you think loneliness is caused by socially imposed barriers, personal choice, or both? Explain your response.
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"Of Mice And Men is a poignant exploration of the value of human connection." Explore this statement making detailed reference to the text.
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How does Of Mice And Men show the fragility of the American Dream?
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
by Ken Kesey
COMING SOON
Past the Shallows
by Favel Parrett
EXTENDED RESPONSE
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How does Parrett represent the emotions arising from human experiences through the features of prose fiction?
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"No man is an island entire of itself." - John Donne. Does the above quotation affirm or challenge Parrett's representation in Past The Shallows?
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Explore how Past The Shallows illuminates the inconsistencies in our behaviour and how this shapes our understanding of what it means to be human.
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"Human experiences are varied and differ for each individual." Evaluate the ways that Past The Shallows represents the human experience in powerful ways.
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"Meaningful connections - whether they be between people, places or beliefs - are important to the quality of the human experience." To what extent do you agree with this statement? In your response, make detailed reference to Parrett's Past The Shallows.
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"Composers use features unique to their form to offer insight perspectives on human experiences that invite audiences to self-reflect." Evaluate this statement with detailed reference to Parrett's Past The Shallows.
Roald Dahl’s
Short Stories
COMING SOON
Scission
by Tim Winton
QUESTIONS YET TO BE FOUND
The Boy Behind the Curtain
by Tim Winton
SHORT ESSAY
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How does Winton use personal anecdotes and accidents to explore the collective human experience of facing danger and trauma?
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Explain the significance of Winton's "three desks" and what they reveal about the nature of his writing process and the complexity of creation.
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What is the author's purpose in writing this collection? How does it serve to locate his experiences within a broader context of change?
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EXTENDED RESPONSE
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How does Winton represent the emotions arising from human experiences through the features of nonfiction?
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How does Winton's memoir form invite the reader to reflect upon the impact of past experiences in shaping individual identity?
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"For many, certainty has become the new normal, but it's an illusion . . . We'll forever be vulnerable to havoc." - Tim Winton. How does Winton represent the illusions within the human experience?
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To what extent does The Boy Behind The Curtain effectively tell stories to reveal both the personal and shared nature of human experiences.
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"The beauty of literature lies in its representation of human qualities and emotions that arise from experiences." To what extent does The Boy Behind The Curtain agree with this statement?
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How does Tim Winton's innovative representation of the landscape present an insightful vision of the human experience? In your response, make detailed reference to at least TWO stories from The Boy Behind The Curtain.
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“The real land a writer lives when what they write is that of their mind and their soul.” To what extent do composers use storytelling to explore this idea about the human experience? In your response, make close reference to Tim Winton’s ‘The Boy Behind the Curtain’.
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Analyze the role of the natural landscape in Winton's writing and how it shapes individual experiences and identity.
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To what extent does the exploration of human experience in 'The Boy Behind the Curtain' invite you to reconsider your understanding of independence?
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
by Mark Haddon
SHORT ANSWER
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Does this novel fulfil the expectations built by Christopher at the start by labelling it a 'detective novel'?
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SHORT ESSAY
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Discuss Christopher's relationship with space and its importance throughout the novel.
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How does Christopher's unique narrative voice influence the reader's understanding of the world and the events in the novel?
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Analyze the significance of the novel's title in relation to the themes of curiosity, secrets, and pivotal moments.
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What is the significance of Christopher's love for mathematics and his use of prime numbers to structure the novel?
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What is the author's main message about society, communication, and understanding differences in the novel?
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EXTENDED RESPONSE
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How does The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time use the voice of its protagonist in order to allow insight into his unique perspective?
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How significant is it to the novel that Christopher has learning difficulties? To what extent does this impact his thinking and actions throughout the novel?
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Christopher directly states that he intends to write a mystery novel and uses the trope contained within them to explain his thought process throughout The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time. To what extent are the metafictional elements significant to the novel?
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Discuss how The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time can be described as a classical tragedy.
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To what extent is The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time an exploration of difference?
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"The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time is a vivid exploration of the enduring power of love." To what extent do you agree with this statement?
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In what ways does The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time invite questions about acceptance and prejudice?
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How does Mark Haddon create a compassionate insight into the experience of an individual with Aspergers Syndrome?
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​Analyse how Mark Haddon provides a unique worldview in his novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and how this can provide readers with a new understanding of others.
The Dinner Party
by Rebecca Heath
​SHORT ESSAY
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The Dinner Party explores the widely held belief that women do not handle crisis well. In what way is this disproven in the short story, and what is the significance of this in how women are portrayed in stories?
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Explain how the short story The Dinner Party would have been different if it had been told from the hostess' point of view.
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What is the American's true motivation for asking Mrs Wynnes how she knew about the snake? Why do you believe this?
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EXTENDED RESPONSE
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In the story, a colonel and a young girl have a difference of opinion. Who do you think the author agrees with? Is this the same as who you agree with? Explain your answer with close reference to the text.
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People often make assumptions about others. In Mona Gardener's story story The Dinner Party, the colonel from India boasts that a woman's unfailing reaction to any crisis is to scream. What is your opinion of the colenal's comments? With whom do you believe the author agrees? Explain your position.
The Handmaid’s Tale
by Margaret Atwood
EXTENDED RESPONSE
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Throughout The Handmaid's Tale, Offred considers the multiple meanings and connotations of specific words. What might Atwood be suggesting about the flexibility or lack of specificity of language? What does this obsession with words convey about Offred's character and situation?
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One of the main goals of the Gilead Regime is to be in control and regulate sex and sexuality. Do you think they succeed? Are sexual relationships more "ordered" and "normalised" under the new regime?
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"Storytelling is a powerful way of inspiring change." To what extent does The Handmaid's Tale agree with this statement?
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"This is a book about what happens when certain casually held attitudes about women are taken to their logical conclusions. For example, I explore a number of conservative opinions still held by many - such as a women's place is in the home. And also certain feminist pronouncements - women prefer the company of other women, for example. Take these beliefs to their logical end and see what happens." - Margaret Atwood. How does the world of Gilead contain elements of extremely conservative religious beliefs, as well as elements of more liberal feminist beliefs? Do you think Atwood accomplished her goal?
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How successful is Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale in portraying a dystopia?
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The Handmaid's Tale is set in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and most of the buildings and landmarks mentioned throughout the novel are part of Harvard University. Why might Atwood have chosen a major university as headquaters of this new regime? In your response, consider the relationship between knowledge and control.
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"Good fiction's job is to comfort the disturbed and challenge the comfortable?" To what extent is this true of The Handmaid's Tale? In your response, make detailed reference to the text.
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"Speculative fiction explores the implications of alternate worlds from different angles." Evaluate to what extent this is true of The Handmaid's Tale.
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Explore how Atwood uses the non-chronological structure and the "Historical Notes" section to comment on the nature of storytelling and history.
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To what extent can Gilead's actions be justified, and what does this reveal about the dangers of ideological extremism?
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Analyze the novel's representation of freedom, particularly the distinction between "freedom to" and "freedom from".
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Discuss the significance of religion as a tool for control and repression in Gilead.
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How does The Handmaid's Tale reflect the social and political context of the 1980s, and what does this tell us about Atwood's views?
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Discuss the importance of the novel in acknowledging a nation's past and its hopes for the future.
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In what ways is Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale a warning for the future?
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"The Handmaid's Tale was meant to be a warning for the future, not a How-To Guide." To what extent have your studies of The Handmaid's Tale allowed you to reflect on the modern world's problems surrounding the treatment of women and women's rights?
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Analyze the use of language, including puns and other figures of speech, to reveal the oppressive nature of Gilead.
The Simple Gift
by Steven Herrick
SHORT ANSWER
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How do you relate belonging to The Simple Gift?
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SHORT ESSAY
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How does The Simple Gift relate to the theme of identity?
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Discuss the effect Billy had on change in Old Bill and Caitlin's attitude to belonging.
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​The Simple Gift highlights the importance of love and friendship. Discuss.
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EXTENDED RESPONSE
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How have the distinctive qualities of The Simple Gift developed your understanding of its key themes?
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"Feelings of security and insecurity are closely linked to an individual's sense of belonging." Explore this statement with detailed reference to The Simple Gift.
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"Money and status don't buy love and friends." To what extent does The Simple Gift agree with this statement?
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"Acceptance and understanding are necessary for belonging." To what extent do you agree with this statement? In your response, make detailed reference to The Simple Gift.
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"Our desire to belong is universal but expresses itself in different ways." Evaluate this statement with reference to The Simple Gift.
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Explore the novel's exploration of true wealth versus material wealth.
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Discuss the theme of belonging in The Simple Gift and how it relates to finding one's place in the world.
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Does the novel challenge or support the idea that poverty holds a sense of honor?
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“Relationships are key to overcoming adversity.” To what extent do you agree with this statement in relation to your study of Steven Herrick’s ‘The Simple Gift’.
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“Understanding nourishes belonging… a lack of understanding prevents it.” Demonstrate how ‘The Simple Gift’ represents this interpretation of belonging.
The White Tiger
by Aravind Adiga
COMING SOON
Unpolished Gem
by Alice Pung
EXTENDED RESPONSE
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Analyse how language is used in Unpolished Gem to express one's sense of identity.
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How does Alice Pung portray the notion of the 'Great Australian Dream' in Unpolished Gem?
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Explore how the role of gender in individual and collective identity is shaped by cultural aspects and the way individuals relate to culture. In your response, make detailed reference to Alice Pung's Unpolished Gem.
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"Cultural heritage is a legacy that plays an important role in an individual or community identity." To what extent is this true of Alice Pung's Unpolished Gem?
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"A close study of the text Unpolished Gem reveals significant ideas about what it means to be human." Explore this statement.
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How does Unpolished Gem explore human experiences and reflect on the human qualities and emotions that arise from them?
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"An individual's interaction with others and the world around them enrich or limit their experience of belonging." Discuss this view with detailed reference to Alice Pung's Unpolished Gem.
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To what extent do the family members in Unpolished Gem demonstrate conflicting views of cultural identity and belonging?
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Analyze how the memoir explores the challenges of assimilation into Australian society for the migrant community, particularly with respect to the younger generation.
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How does Pung use storytelling as a means to reconcile her dual cultural identities and find a sense of belonging?
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In what ways does the memoir reveal the power of language to both unite and divide individuals within a family and a broader community?
Vertigo
by Amanda Lohrey
COMING SOON
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
by Shirley Jackson
SHORT ANSWER
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Do you believe the story has a happy ending? Why or why not?
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Would you consider Merricat and Constance as the heroes of the story? Why or why not?
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In your own words, described what happened on the night of the Blackwood family's deaths.
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What do you believe the title means? In your answer, explain the significance of the title.
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How is sisterhood portrayed in the novel?
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How mare male and female roles within the family portrayed?
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How do the Blackwood sisters respond to loss in the novel?
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What is the significance of the scene in which Merricat envisions dinner with her dead family?
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What is the significance of the final line?
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EXTENDED RESPONSE
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". . . but I wanted her to be unhappy, dressed in black in our mother's drawing room." The world created by Jackson is one of unrelenting cruelty. Do you agree?
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"Poor strangers . . . They have so much to be afraid of." To what extent is the fear in We Have Always Lived In The Castle justified?
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How is the Blackwood estate both a refuge and a prison?
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To what extent do the characters find power in a world determined to render them completely powerlessness?
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To what extent are the lives of the characters limited by social norms?
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"Family is the cause of all the problems in We Have Always Lived In The Castle." Do you agree? In your response, make detailed reference to the text.
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"Merricat and Constance find safety in their ruined house, but they sacrifice their freedom." Discuss this quote, making detailed reference to the text.
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"In We Have Always Lived In The Castle, the women are stronger than the men." Discuss this quote with detailed reference to the text.
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"In We Have Always Lived In The Castle, the villagers are motivated by fear more than anything else." To what extent is this statement true? In your response, make detailed reference to the text.
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"'The world is full of terrible people,' says Merricat." How accurate is Merricat's assessment of the people around her?
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To what extent does ostracization play a role in the escalation of the story in We Have Always Lived In The Castle?
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"Jackson uses her text to criticize modern society." To what extent do you agree with this statement?
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To what extend does anger play a role in the isolation of the Blackwoods in We Have Always Lived In The Castle?
Wuthering Heights
by Emily Bronte
SHORT ESSAY
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In what ways does Wuthering Heights reveal the influence of Romanticism on Bronte's literary style?
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To what extent does the wild and desolate setting of Wuthering Heights shape and reflect the plot and characters?
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EXTENDED RESPONSE
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When Wuthering Heights was first released, many readers were shocked by its graphic, violent imagery. Why might the violence be important to the story?
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Discuss the relationship between gender and power in Wuthering Heights.
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"Psychological entrapment results in psychological deterioration." To what extent is this true? In your response, make detailed reference to Wuthering Heights.
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How does Bronte use construction and language as a means of developing her ideas about the Victorian era?