Responding to texts The Book Thief Animal Farm

Responding to texts The Book Thief & Animal Farm

Textual Features • Authors use a variety of features to create and convey meaning in a text. By year 10, we need to look beyond traditional elements such as characters, setting and events • In Year 10, you are expected to start looking at texts in a more sophisticated manner, which means you (I) need to be able to acknowledge and understand all of the following features: • • • Themes AND issues Characters Setting Narrative Voice Imagery and Figurative Language Symbolism

Let’s start with Narrative Voice/Point of View • To successfully analyse any text, you must consider who is telling the story, that is, who the narrator is and the point of view (style of narration - first person, second person or third person) which can create limitations as to what the narrator can know about what is happening in the story • First person narration: uses the personal pronoun “I” and “we” – the narrator is the character in the story • Second person narration: uses the personal pronoun “you” and “yours”– the narrator talks directly to the reader • Third person narration: uses the personal pronoun “he/she” or “they/it” – the narrator is not a character in the story

Narrative Voice/Point of View QUESTIONS: • Looking at Animal Farm, which narration style does Orwell use? • How does this change the impact/authenticity of the novel? What are the advantages? Disadvantages? • Whose point of view is The Book Thief told from? Explain.

Imagery • As authors write, they create mental pictures for their audience through the words that they choose to use. Striking moments of rich description that create a vivid picture for the reader • Authors use imagery for a variety of purposes, including to characterise, to associate certain emotions with a particular setting or to introduce the concepts and ideas explored in a section

Imagery: Animal Farm At last they could stand it no longer. One of the cows broke in the door of the store shed with her horn and all the animals began to help themselves from the bins. It was just then that Mr. Jones woke up. The next moment he and his four men were in the store-shed with whips in their hands, lashing out in all directions. This was more than the angry animals could bear. With one accord… they flung themselves upon their tormentors. QUESTION: What imagery is evoked in this sequence? What emotions do you associate with this? Does it reveal anything about a theme or issue?

Figurative Language • While much of a text relies upon imagery, authors can also utilise figurative language to create an image in a reader’s mind. Types of figurative language includes: • Metaphors • A comparison which states that one things IS another • Similes • A comparison which states that one thing is LIKE another • Personification • A description that gives human qualities to a non-human thing. • Figurative language relies upon the reader to understand the shared qualities between the thing being described and the thing being compared to.

Your Turn… • Find ONE example of figurative language in Animal Farm. Write it into your book as an example and include the page number • We will make a list on the board to write into your notes

Symbolism • Symbols are physical objects that appear in a text that have a metaphorical meaning • Authors use symbols to convey rich messages in an implicit, but detailed way • An action can also be considered symbolic when it represents or points to a broader idea. For example, the windmill symbolises the pigs’ manipulation of the other animals for their own gain

Your Turn… QUESTIONS: • What do the whips and shackles represent in Animal Farm? • What do the burning books in The Book Thief represent? • How could these things be seen as similar in terms of what they symbolise?

Setting • There are many types of settings in texts. Natural world: weather and climate, geography, animal life, seasons and conditions. Objects of human construction: interiors and exteriors and buildings. Historical and cultural conditions: perceptions and values of society. How does setting influence character? Create mood? How do objects take on importance and symbolic meaning? How do weather conditions highlight themes? • The setting of The Book Thief indicates the filmmakers were concerned about political and cultural issues, like oppression and prejudice in Nazi Germany. This is reflected in the setting. • The setting of Animal Farm brings up similar issues around oppression, but is also concerned with depicting how power corrupts. The setting of Animal Farm is also allegorical. QUESTION: What else do the settings of each text have in common? (Think era). What elements are different? Remember to acknowledge the setting of Animal Farm is an allegory and represents an actual time/place.

Characters When analysing characters, we are interested in the following questions: How are ideas in the text expressed by character? What actions bring out important traits of the character? Is the character supposed to represent an idea, belief, or value system? How is the character described? Why is this important? To what extent do the traits and the character’s actions permit you to judge him/her? Is the character dimensional or stereotypical? Has the character changed in any way from the beginning of the narrative? ACTIVITY: Choose a character from each text and answer the above questions with those characters in mind.

With ou can b t educat io e eas ily m n people anipu lated Themes vs. Issues? = n io r t ca we u d po e e e or or M m Remember: • A theme is a neutral idea or concept, such as ‘reality’ • The issue arises when that theme is made into a problem. E. g. “The manipulation of reality for profit” • There may be numerous issues that you can explore from each key theme • If you’re unsure, it may help to visualise it like a tree… >> POWER OF WORDS U m sin an g ipu wo lat rds e o to th er s

Holiday homework Your task this holidays is to complete the ‘comparative theme table’ worksheet • In the middle column, you are writing six key themes evident in each text • On the right hand side, identify two issues relating to ‘The Book Thief’, an example of where theme occurs in the text, and a key quote relating to that theme • On the left, find two issues relating to each theme for ‘Animal Farm’, an example of where theme occurs in the text and a key quote relating to that theme • Lastly, choose one theme and write a comparative paragraph using TEEL structure about how the texts present that theme, what elements they have in common and any differences. Use both quotes in your response. Extension: write a complete essay comparing and contrasting the way the texts present a chosen theme. You must also complete your final copy of your creative response, ready to hand in first day back of term 4. You may type this. Ensure you proofread. Due: 3 October (first day back of term 4)