CHECKLISTS ( ENGLISH B )

Show Knowledge of the poem or poems

Identify Literary Devices used by the poet and state their effectiveness to the theme or issue
brought out, or to the overall presentation of the poem.
Use personal knowledge or experiences to comment on or analyze the poem/s and its
effectiveness.

CHECKLIST FOR READING/ANALYSING A POEM*

Subject Matter
· Who is speaking? (speaker)
· In what situation? (occasion)
· To whom? (addressee)
· Privately or publicly
· About what? (subject or theme)
· What is said? (thesis)
· Directly or indirectly?
· What common human concerns do this touch on? (universality)

Sound
· What does the sound pattern tell you?
· Is the rhythm quick or slow?
· Does the rhythm suit/reinforce the subject matter?
· Is there a rhyme?
· Does the rhyme contribute to your understanding/enjoyment of the poem?
· Is there any interesting or appropriate use of alliteration or assonance?

Diction
Are the words simple? Or complex?
Sophisticated? Or naive?
Formal? Or conversational?
Smooth? Or rough?
Many-syllabled? Or monosyllabic?
How does the diction contribute to the meaning/ mood of the poem?

Imagery
Is the imagery striking? Or ordinary?
Easily understood? Or obscure?
Is the principal appeal to the sense of sight? Hearing? Touch? Taste? Emotion?
Is the imagery functional? Or ornamental?
Is the imagery symbolic?
Is the symbolism natural? Conventional? Original?

Mood and Tone

How would you describe the mood of the poem?
Is the poem more thoughtful than emotional?
More emotional than thoughtful?
Are thought and emotion balanced in the poem?
Is the tone of the poem serious? Or light?
Is it ironic? Satirical? Sentimental?
Sincere? Flippant?

Are there any elements which appear unsuited to the rest of the poem?

2. SHORT STORIES (Prose)

Students will study 10 short prose narratives or short prose fiction. It is different from an
anecdote which usually narrates a single incident in a simple, unelaborated way. It is also
different from a novel in that it is much shorter and more concentrated. Short story writers
usually have different literary aims from those of novelists or poets.

The short story is not as long as a novel or novella, it selects a small aspect of life or of a
personality and builds on it. The setting is usually restricted to a small are, not spread over
many places as with a novel. Short story writers attempt to achieve a close and direct link
between their subjects and their readers. They try to do this in a swift and complete way.
Words are therefore, used with care so that maximum power is gained from as few as
possible.

For the exam, you will be required to be familiar with:

Genre
Elements
· Plot
· Character
· Setting
· Point of View
· Theme
· Style

Main Points
Themes/Issues

There are two types of questions associated with this section on the Examination paper.
First:-
· Ask you to consider two (2) specific stories from the collection and to discuss aspects
such as content, theme, author’s techniques
· Compare any two (2) stories from the collection and to discuss aspects such as
content, theme, author’s techniques.

Students should be able to:-

Show knowledge of the important parts of the story/ies, specific details, cause and effect.
Think of each story as a whole and asks for your judgment on concepts, techniques, devices
and their effectiveness.
Identify Literary Devices used by the author and state their effectiveness to the theme or
issue brought out, or to the overall presentation of the story.
CHECKLIST FOR READING/ANALYSING A SHORT STORY*

Plot
How are the events presented in the story?
How is the plot developed? Does the author use a linear (chronological) pattern?
Is flashback one of the techniques used?
Do any of the early events or incidents prepare the reader for later ones?
Do any events or incidents lead you to anticipate the outcome?
What is the nature of the conflict?
At what point does the story climax?
Does the climax bring about a change in character or situation?

Character
What are the types of character/s present in the story? (flat, round, stereotype, stock)
Are the characters believable?
How are the characters presented by the author?
What is the main character like?
Does the author present fully developed characters?
What are the conflicts that the main character faces?
Does this character change as a result of the events that he or she experiences in the story?
What is the nature of the change?
If there is no change, why not?

Setting
· How important is the setting of the story?
· Does the setting help to develop the plot? How does it do so?
· What does the setting contribute to our understanding of the meaning of the story?
· Does the setting have any influence on the characters?

Point of View
Does the point of view that is used help the author to expose the theme? If so, how?
To what extent is the narrator a reliable witness to events?
Would the choice of a different point of view change the story significantly?

Theme
What is the theme of the story?
Does the title provide a clue to what it is?
Is there only one theme or are there several themes?
Does the author suggest the theme through imagery?

Style
· Does the author use figurative language in telling this story, or is the language literal?
· If figurative language is used, what is the effect?
· Does the author use dialogue to advance the action of the story? If dialect is used

what is the effect?

· What examples of figurative language are most striking in the story?
· Why are they striking?
· How does figurative language contribute to the meaning and theme of the story?