A SERIES OF CONTEXTUAL ESSAY QUESTIONS FOR YEAR 12 LITERATURE

TEXTS AND CONTEXTS

QUESTION ONE

Examine how your experiences of challenging a dominant reading has allowed you to see how gender is represented in one or more texts.

QUESTION TWO

Underlying the creation of particular characters in texts are broader ideas about what defines femininity and masculinity. Discuss the ways in which assumptions inform the construction of male and female characters (or personas) in one or more texts.

QUESTION THREE

Through the marginalisation of characters, the reader is encouraged to accept a particular view of what could be considered 'normal' in a society. To what extent do you agree? Discuss with reference to one or more texts.

QUESTION FOUR

Discuss the ways in which one or more reading theories can help the reader understand contradictions in the different ideologies or value systems present in texts. In your discussion refer to one or more texts.

QUESTION FIVE

"It is easier to see that texts critically challenge contemporary cultural 'myths', such as those regarding race, gender, ethnic and racial stereotypes, when we disregard authorial intent." Discuss this statement in relation to one or more texts.