King Lear practise essays

[the_pplater]

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(That was my first ever B.O.S post btw)

[KarmaKitten]

I think the daughers question seems kind of simple, just discuss different interprepations of the daughter, from monster to corrupted, etc etc

[bextahunt]

KARMAKITTEN: No way, the King Lears daughter question was a HUGE shock when I sat my trial exam. I studied the productions and how they represented the themes, etc etc but to have a specific question like that was hard. Usually the questions I have done allow you to answer with vast amounts of knowledge, this however was very specific.

Pretty much everyone failed for that section in all our advanced classes. So bad!

[jumb]

Originally Posted by shazzam

I must disagree and point out to you that had one who had not studied thoroughly the specific issues of chaos and order (or managed to create some strong links between what had been prepared via some sudden divine inspiration) would have been a poor (naked) wretch in the exam room.

Thus, I implore you to explain and expand on your comment.

Not really, most themes relate to order and chaos somehow.

[steph@nie]

Originally Posted by bextahunt

KARMAKITTEN: No way, the King Lears daughter question was a HUGE shock when I sat my trial exam. I studied the productions and how they represented the themes, etc etc but to have a specific question like that was hard. Usually the questions I have done allow you to answer with vast amounts of knowledge, this however was very specific.

Pretty much everyone failed for that section in all our advanced classes. So bad!

Our school took that question out and replaced it with one similar to the 2002 HSC because they thought that the "how valid are such interpretations of the play?" to be a stupid comment. I agree, however, in the event that the question relates remotely to the sisters, I will cry and then I will kick our English teachers in the head.

[matt_a]

Originally Posted by Will_Sparky

Most of my interpreations are stuff i've read into the play myself, I only use other's interpretations like Historians, to back up my argument.

Word Up.
It's the best way to go, esp after looking at examiners comments for the last few years. They always say those that personally explored the play and its language and stuff did better. Like showing how scenes can be interpreted by changing certain aspects etc, rather than just saying what the interpretations are. If you know the text well like that, you can also answer any question with ease. So if it's about the sisters you dont sit there going "omg i forgot the feminist reading, im screwed", rather you go "hmm in this scene the sisters are portrayed bla bla bla"

Still, this module is a hell of a lot harder than Transformations and Telling the Truth!!

[bextahunt]

STEPH@NIE: hahah yeah its a dumb question, but hey the hsc is done for english now (YAY!) so you wont have to worry about kicking your teachers head in any more :P hahah

[KarmaKitten]

I prefer a specific than broad , cause they just confuse you

[Rekkusu]

Here are my practice questions for this week's upcoming assessment task, hope you find it useful. These three are kind of related to each other..
However, be cautious between Values and Issues in King Lear.

1. "King Lear has enjoyed tremendous success over time."
Account for this success by concentrating on a major character from
the play and outline two different repsonses to this character and the
values implied in these responses.

2. "Every new reading of King Lear implies a reconsideration of the
ways audiences value the play and respond to it."
Discuss this statement in relation to your understanding of King lear
and its reception.

3. "Every important text challenges the reader with complex ideas"
How does the composer use the language and conventions of drama to
challenge the audience with complex ideas?
In your response, you should consider your own reading of King lear as
well as two other interpretations (readings or productions) of the
play.

[*Katie*]

Well if you study chaos and order thats all you need
if they say discuss the transition from "random made up word" to "random made up word" just insert chos and order right

[Entrance Girl]

hi guys...

i need your help...i have an essay dues this friday! the question is-

'Why do modern directors need to update Shakespeare's King Lear'
discuss this statement with reference to:
- reception in a range of contexts
- textual integrity
- language
- your own interpretation
Refer closely to TWO scenes in your response.

if you have any ideas can you please help...i have to have it finished!

[byrnie]

Originally Posted by liddy

2003 HSC
Compose an argument for or against the topic: "That every text has its use-by date." Consider your prescribed text's ideas, language and form, and its reception in different contexts.

enjoy!!! and good thread, And. ta!

This essay is due on wednesyday for me as a practise... I'm choosing the negative. i.e. texts dont have a 'use-by date'. Here's my plan so far:
Talking about differing contexts - Now and then.
Exploring different ideas of the play, which have remained universally constant over the period of time between the two contexts, such as human suffering, morals, family breakdown, truth Vs deception.
Language - How shakespear has used language to convey the previous ideas.

Anything i'm missing or should talk about?
Should I have a paragraph for all three texts, or have them interwoven throughout?

--SnruB

[*Fox*]

About the personal interpretation, it's really quite easy to do. Just make sure you have an opinion. The whole point of King Lear is that you can completely change the meaning of the text by deciding how you think each character should be portrayed. With your interpretation you can say (for example):
There is a choice in King Lear as to whether Lear is "one of Blakes ruined giants" (Agate) or "just a stupid old fart" (Olivier). I believe that Lear is not a weak old man, because he has "that in [his] countenance which [Kent] would fain call master". I think that the Lear played by Ian Holmes in the Richard Eyre production comes closest to my vision of Lear, because he is old, but not weak.

Hahah pretty good after having six months off.. But that's what I mean. Every director of a production of Lear makes a choice of how to portray him, the daughters, the fool, Kent, edgar, edmond, gloucester etc, also things like the storm scene, the ending etc. Just make sure you say how YOU think they should be portrayed, because it shows are "engaged" with the text, which is always a good thing!!!

Also, don't always use productions as examples, use quotes from actors, authors etc, use feminist readings like the one by Kathleen Mcluskie etc. It shows you did more than just watch movies!

[goldenfish]

just adding to that comment about interpretations... at our school all of our responses have been based on our own ideas about the play. We critically analyse themes like chaos and order but are also told to put a lot of emphasise on our own readings.

for example i'm interpret the play as being about chaos and order and the mechanisms that create the chaos but then restore order. To do this i use both a jacobean christian and marxist reading of the play - do any other people do this?

[annademello]

Interpretations of texts can shift and change with time and place.

considering your time and place, reflect on the ways in which context has shaped your critical interpretation of the prescribed text.

In your response, refer to two extracts from your presribed text.