Spot check

Page 266

a) What are the three main genres of literature?

There are three genres: fiction, drama and poetry.

b)  Are fictional stories always untrue?

The word “fictional” is often used in the sense of “made-up”, and most of the stories are indeed made-up. However, the fiction stories may be partly true.

c)   What are the differences in the way fiction and drama relate to stories?

Drama is about showing the story, and fiction is more about telling the story. However, drama is usually written, so it does not become drama until it is performed.

d)  What is meant by “prose”?

“Prose” means writing that follows the pattern of ordinary speech, without regular rhythm or rhyme.

e) What is meant by “free verse”?

“Free verse” is poetry lacking regular metre or rhyme.

f)  How does literature differ from a user manual?

A manual is supposed to be as clear as possible. The priority is not to be funny, entertaining or personal. Therefore, you cannot use the same type of writing.

g)  How is interpreting literature different from interpreting a real life?

In real life, interpretation happens through the lens of each individual, but in literature, you are also viewing through the writer's lens.

Page 281

a) What are the four main types of point of view?

Third-person objective point of view, third-person limited point of view, third-person omniscient point of view and first-person point of view.

b) Explain in your own words the difference between the third-person limited and the third-person omniscient point of view.

When the author uses third-person limited point of view he or she has only limited access to the thoughts of all the characters. Like in the text “Robert and the Dog”, the author has only access to Roberts’s thoughts, and not the other characters. When the author uses third-person omniscient point of view, he or she has access to the thoughts of every characters in the book.   

c)  What is meant by a “reliable” narrator?

A reliable narrator is often an author who use third-person omniscient point of view and is someone you can rely on. The author gives you access to a lot of information and feelings.

Page 288

a) Where is Jerome at the beginning of the story, and how old was he?


At the beginning of the story Jerome was at school and he was nine years old.


b) Describe the school he attends.

It is a privat school for kids ho has a lot of money.

c) Why does he not live at home?

He does not live at home because his father travels a lot, to many different places. So he is only doing it because of his dad's job.


d) What kind of picture does Jerome have of his father?

Jerome has postcards of his father sent to him from around the world with pictures on them.


e) What difficulties does the housemaster have when telling Jerome what has happened to his father?

The housemaster thinks its difficult because he thinks its funny that a pig fell on him, and thats the reason Jerome's father is dead. He has problem keeping a straight face when telling the story.


f) What is told in the story about the father? for example, his professions. Jerome’s attitude to him, etc.?


In the story he says that he traveled a lot, and his son did not now what his father did, he thought that he was a mysterious adventure who travels to far places. then later on he thought he’s father either "ran guns" or was a member of the British Secret Service. Jerome worshiped his father.



g) What happens when Jerome tells his best friend in public school about the accident?

He probably started laughing (it dosent say in the text) and then Jerome realize what how the stories affects others.


h) Why does Jerome not want to talk to his fiancé about his father’s death?

Beacuse hes afraid she’s going to laugh, because of the embarrassing death and the love for his father had grown stronger.

Page 296

a)  What is the difference between direct and indirect characterisation?

Direct characterisation is the quickest way to establish a character. Provided that we are dealing with a reliable narrator, we believe what we are told and expect the character to behave accordingly. However, another character can describe the character. When the author use indirect characterisation, we learn about the character when he/she says something or the way they act.

b) What is required for a character to be experienced as “round”?

A round character is close to the complexity of real life. Round characters are able to changes and their motives are not always clear.

c)  Why is a “flat” character usually also static?

Because flat characters does not have the ability to develop.

d) Why can only a dynamic character experience an epiphany?

Because dynamic characters are often protagonists.