Possible questions oral exams H5/V6

You will find the questions formulated in general terms, they can of course be
adapted to specific books.

1. Which book did you like best?

American Psycho, tension build up, perspective, the way story was written

2. Why have you chosen this theme?

American psycho movie, then I had a choice between choosing the same
genre or theme.

3. What are the similarities in relation to the theme?

(dentiteit, isolatie, geweld, dissatisfaction/materialism)

Both of the books differ in the main theme, In American psycho the main
theme is more about how capitalism affects society. Whereas the theme in We
Need to talk about Kevin more talks about what the limits of parental love can
be towards a child. These books show however similarities in theme
concerning the identity of the characters since the outsider, besides observing
the psychopaths in both of the books, does not know who they are actually
dealing with. The real identity of the psychopathic characters in both of the
stays mainly hidden to the outside world. Both of these books also show
similarities in theme concerning dissatisfaction, violence and isolation. I figured
that the characters isolate themselves from the outside world by not showing
their real face and thus hiding their identity. Violence occurs in both of the
books when these psychopaths start killing and dissatisfaction or disinterest
occurs in both of these books. In American psycho Patrick bateman is very
picky with where to go out for dinner and his clothes for example and not to
fast satisfied, as in We Need to Talk about kevin there is also a lot of
dissatisfaction, from mothers side towards the deviant behaviour of kevin and
dissatisfaction from kevin towards normal daily activitys.

4. What are the differences in relation to the theme?

5. How does the (main) character deal with ….. (a certain situation in the
book)?
We need to talk about kevin-mass shooting/school shooting

American psycho- mass shooting

Sir Gawain and the Green knight. How the green knight tests sir Gawains
loyalty. How well sir Gawain keeps to his agreement with the Green knight

6. Does he/she learn anything / change? How? Is there a message?

American Psycho
Patrick Bateman at the end of the books feels guilt of what he had done.
Although him calling up his lawyer and admitting everything, his lawyer did not
believe him. This is probably the case since Patrick Bateman is a very wealthy
person, and the fact that he is wealthy is a result of capitalism and since the
wealthy are not as fast suspected for murder as poor people, the author is
trying to bring across the vicious aspects of capitalism.

Sir Gawain and the green knight:

Sir Gawain learns more about the importance of loyalty and so does the
reader too.

We need to talk about kevin

How does eva deal with her son after he killed his clasmates or after he killed
his sister celia or his father franklin. Eva always tried to understand why kevin
did the things he did, later in the book after trying and trying she eventually
gives up and does not seek the reasons for kevins behavior, she does not
care anymore, which sets her mind open for others things.

7. Describe the relationship between …. and ….. in the book?

Kevin-Eva
The relationship between kevin and Eva is unsteady, Eva tries to be a good
mother and help her son or having a good time with him, while kevin tries to
annoy her mother and neglect her, which often results in Eva being annoyed
and mad at kevin. Love between kevin and his mother almost completely
fades away during the book and at the end there is basically only hate
between Eva and Kevin.

-Eva-Father Franklin.
The book actually consists of letters Eva has written to her husband, which
she devorced from. In the letters she basically describes her families history
from which becomes clear in the book that Eva and her husband often argued
about Kevin’s intentions, which left them quite often having a row with each
 other. Due to Eva’s distrust and disbelieve in contrast to fathers trust and
belief towards kevin they eventually broke up.

Sir Gawain and

-the lady of the castle

-the green knight. The green knight is towards sir Gawain a loyal opponent. Sir
gaiwan does not have hate specifically towards the green knight, nor the
green knight towards sir Gawain.
8. How does the relationship between ….. and ….. develop?

9. What role does the setting (time and/or place) play?

American psycho, the setting is only in this book extensively described, it plays
a roll by reflecting the obsession the main character has with the materialistic
world and his disinterest for the normal social world

In sir Gawain and the green knight the overall setting doesn’t play a major role
as in American psycho. At the end of the book however, the setting at the
green chapel is described to be a bit mysterious. Which gives the reader a bit
of the feeling that supernatural events are about to take place. In this case, the
setting played a role in building up tension at the end of the book.

In we need to talk about Kevin the setting does not play a significant role, if not
at all. The setting in we need to talk about Kevin is throughout the book also
nearly never described. The only thing the setting did was literally giving where
the story was set place at that moment, like at Kevin home, at his school, or at
the local hospital. But nothing special was implemented in the setting.

10. Could you identify with …. in book ….?

I could identify me a little bit with sir Gawain since we share the same
principles like praising honesty and loyalty, but overall, he is still a man who
lived in the 14th century and agreed to a huge muscular green knight that he
could try to chop of his head, which I would have never said yes to. In that
sense I value to live to a much greater extend than sir Gawain which made
that I on the other hand couldn’t identify myself with him to well.

I could identify myself definitely with Eva from we need to talk about Kevin, but
on the other hand I couldn’t. Eva physically hurt her son several times in the
book with one time being at the hospital when she throwed her son out of
anger through the hallway of the hospital, which I found to be even for the
circumstances they where in very unethical. Parents should not physically
assault their children unless it is out of self defense in my perception. I think I
could identify myself better with Eva than sir Gawain though, because Eva is
just mother of modern times which tried to understand her son, although she
got very mad often.
 I certainly could not identify myself with Patrick bateman from American
psycho. I as a person do personally appreciate social contact and activities
and I don’t like hurting people for no good reason like Patrick bateman does.
And I definitely don’t like working as a businessman, but that doesn't really
matter.

11. Would you have acted in the same way as ….in book …..?

12. Which passage impressed you most? Why?

13. How did ….. react to ….. (a certain situation in the book)?

14. What do you know about the author? (V6)

15. What background information did you find about …..? (V6)

16. In what way is the book characteristic of the period it was written in?
(historical novel V6)

How to prepare:

 Make sure you know what the book is about, it would be best to skip through
the book one more time to ‘bring it back to you’.
 Speak as much English as possible either alone or with someone. You can
use the (type of) questions above.
 Study (and practice!) the handouts about pronunciation and fluency.

Characters (possible questions for oral exams)

main character:

17. Describe the main character.

18. Mention an important event / experience in his/her life. Why was it important?
19. Does the main character experience a learning process / development? How?
20. Does he/she find some kind of (self) insight? Explain.
 21. What is his/her relationship to the minor character(s)

minor character(s)

22. What role do they play in the main character’s life?

theme (possible questions)

23. Why have you chosen this theme?

24. Could you compare the books in relation to the theme.
25. Does the theme play different roles in the books you’ve read?
26. What is the role of the theme in the main characters’ lives (+ compare)?

Books (possible questions)

27. Why have you chosen these books?

28. Which one is your favorite? Why?
29. What is your general experience of reading (English novels)?
30. What can you say about the use of language and (difficult, easy, (in)formal,
ironic etc.)
31. Is there a message in your books? Explain

Setting (possible questions)

32. Where is the book set?

 33. When is the book set?
34. What role does the setting play?
35. What was new/surprising to you about these settings?

general questions
36. Which book did you like best? Why?
37. Which character could you identify with most? Why?
38. What did you learn about your theme?
39. Would you have acted differently if you had been in the shoes of the main
character? When? How? Why?
40. Did you like reading the older novel (before WWII)? Why / why not?

Use your imagination:

41. Suppose, your two favorite main characters met, where would that be and
what would they have to say to each other. Would they like each other,
explain.

Wat vond je van het boek

Did you like reading the older novel (before WWII)? Why / why not?

Which character could you identify with most? Why?

Which book did you like best? Why?

Is there a message in your books? Explain