Franz Kafkas magic realist novella The Metamorphosis uses the physical transformation of the protagonist Gregor into a bug as a reflection of his place in society

Franz Kafka’s magic realist novella The Metamorphosis uses the physical transformation of the protagonist Gregor into a bug as a reflection of his place in society, and how he perceives himself belonging in his relationships and community. The story opens in third person limited omniscient narration in a sober, straightforward manner. This contrast between the extraordinary situation, “he had been changed into a monstrous verminous bug” and the ordinary terms used to describe it creates a sense of disorder and chaos in both the world in which the story is set, and the psyche of Gregor, hinting at the deterioration of the value of his place in society. The extended metaphor of transformation (metamorphosis) is used to literally and emotionally alienate Gregor from his family members, and from humanity in general – he refers to it as his “imprisonment”. He experiences little human contact, eventually becoming totally isolated from everyone around him, including his sister Grete who had taken care of him. As the story progresses however, it is revealed that this feeling of estrangement actually preceded his transformation. Shortly after waking up and discovering that he has been transformed into a bug, he reflects on his life and notes how shallow and transitory his relationships have become, “I still have to cope with…never come from the heart.” Although

  • Word count: 556
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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The Great Gatsby (pg 88-89): How does Fitzgerald make this a significant and symbolic moment in the novel?

The Great Gatsby (pg 88-89): How does Fitzgerald make this a significant and symbolic moment in the novel? F.Scott Fitzgerald has made the reunion between Gatsby and Daisy from page 88-89, highly significant and symbolic to criticize the high class society on their immense desire towards materialism and conspicuous consumption during the roaring 1920s, and that during this time love is neglected against the sight of wealth. This significant and symbolic moment is further heightened by Fitzgerald’s skillful use of range of key techniques, including dialogue, characterization, metaphor and symbolisms. Fitzgerald shows the symbolism of Gatsby’s house by describing the interiors of his house to show its representation of Gatsby’s love and desire. Gatsby’s house is described as “wandered through Marie Antoinette music rooms and Restoration Salons” or “period bedrooms swathed in rose and lavender silk and vivid with new flowers”. These mellifluous images highlight Gatsby’s excessive wealth that he has decorated his own house. The diction such as “Marie Antoinette” , “period bedrooms” implies the fact that Gatsby’s interior contains a range of items imported from Europe, further proving his desire to show off his style of old British aristocrat aspects that are associated with wealth and respect, making Gatsby a man of the riches. However, Gatsby’s

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How guilt is represented in 'An Inspector Calls' by JB Priestley

How guilt is represented in ‘An Inspector Calls’ The theme of guilt was not represented until Inspector Goole arrives along with the news of Eva Smith’s/ Daisy Renton’s death, and from then on the guilt from each of the characters has been represented in many ways. Each main character seems to have played a part in the lead up to her death and the guilt, although not always shown massively, is still quite apparent and develops as the play goes on. Mr Birling had employed Eva in one of his machine shops for over a year but when she asked for a very small rise in pay he refused and warned “if they didn’t like those rates, they could go and work elsewhere.” Because of this, Eva was thrown out of the workplace. He believed he was just looking after his business when it actually led her on a downward spiral eventually leading to her suicide. He didn’t understand or think that he had done anything wrong or he just didn’t want to admit it but during the play, the inspector made Mr Birling feel slightly guilty for his part in Eva’s death but this didn’t happen until the later stages of the play. Although he became a bit guilty he is unable to admit his responsibility for his part in Eva smith’s death. Probably the character that shows most guilt and sympathy is Sheila Birling. She is horrified by her own part in Eva's story. She feels full of guilt for her

  • Word count: 867
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Of Mice And Men - Lennie and the Death of the Mice

By Daniel Warmsley “Of Mice And Men”, being a story about two men and their struggles, however never really going into detail of the mice in which were unjustly murdered. The mice slaughtered by Lennie were never really at fault for their actions. When being harshly petted by Lennie, the mice would only try to protect themselves, thus Lennie resorted to killing the mice in his own defence. These mice, being killed constantly by Lennie, were innocent victims sent to their predator by Lennie’s Aunt Clara. Did Aunt Clara consider the consequences that would later effect the mice? These mice may have had families of their own in which they would never return to. A mother mouse may have gathered food for the next meal only to see the father of her children never return. Of course it is better that she never see what had fatally happened that day. These mice, once caught by Aunt Clara, never had a chance. After capturing this poor, innocent, little creature, it was then released into the hands of Lennie. Is it the mice’s fault that they are so soft, and touchable? If only mice were more repugnant, hideous or gruesome they would have a chance of surviving. Maybe if these minute creatures were more passive, and did not try to protect themselves they would still be alive. However, how can one be sure of that? Perhaps Lennie would have petted the creature to a more powerful

  • Word count: 487
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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'Of Mice & Men' by John Steinbeck (Character analysis)

Of mice and men By John Steinbeck Within the book there are several charterers, the story revolves a round two main charters George Milton and Lennie Small. George is of average build, with toned muscles, dark hair, and strong features’. “The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined: small, strong hands, slender arms, and a thin and bony nose. George is a father, brother figure / guardian to Lennie, but also a friend. He has undertaken the task of looking after Lennie as he promised Lennie’s aunt. George has learned from his life experiences and has great knowledge of how to survive in life. He travels with Lennie looking for work and holds his work card and takes care of his affairs for him. George sometimes resents the fact that he has to look after Lennie and can find it a burden. “If I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an work an no trouble. No mess at all, and when the end of the month come I could take my fifty bucks and go into town and get whatever I want.” Lennie is a complete opposite of George, he is of large build with shoulders that slant, and his face is much fuller and his eyes are big but pale in colour. As he walks, he drags his feet, with his arms loosely fallen at his sides.”A huge man shapeless of face, with, pale eyes, with sloping

  • Word count: 1358
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Curley's Wife Essay

How Steinbeck presents the character of Curley’s wife in “of Mice and Men”? In the John Steinbeck’s novel “of Mice and Men” he introduces us to the character of Curley’s wife. She could be interpreted as a mis-fitting character in the novel as no one relates to her. Steinbeck relates her to how women were powerless during 1930’s and makes her seem desperately lonely and isolated from the others on the ranch. She has sexual power which she uses to get to the men on the ranch and she just needs someone to talk to. She dislikes her husband and had a desire to become a movie star. She is not seem as an individual and has no name. This shows how a woman belonged to their husband. This essay is going to examine in detail how Curley’s wife has been presented in this novel. Steinbeck presents her as a negative married woman. She has been presented first through the dialogue of ranch-hand Candy when he describes her to George. His opinion is very sexist towards Curley’s wife as he says “Curley married...a tart”. This shows Steinbeck presents her in a very crude manner. The word “tart” shows the immediate impression and effect Curley’s wife has on the other men on the ranch. Steinbeck used this effect because he wants to show the reader the first impression the man have about Curley’s wife. This affects the reader to pre-judge Curley’s wife even

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  • Word count: 1439
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Looking for Alibrandi

‘Looking for Alibrandi’ Essay Describe what Josephine Alibrandi learns about herself, her family, friends and cultural background and explain how her insights enable her to achieve her ‘emancipation’. The journey of discovery teaches us that while we make our own decisions in life our ability to do so is often limited by our family, friends and cultural traditions. Josephine Alibrandi is a third generation Italian-Australian who attends the prestigious St Martha’s Catholic School. During her HSC year she endeavours to achieve her ‘emancipation’. Josie’s journey reveals the discovery of her grandmother’s secret and the return of her unknown father. Her struggle with identity, acceptance and the cultural differences within her society also act as a catalyst towards Josie's ‘emancipation’. Josephine feels trapped between her family’s Italian culture and the Australian culture of her peers. She believes running from this confusion will lead to her ‘emancipation’, “I’ll run one day… Not as an Australian and not as an Italian … I’ll run to be emancipated.”(page 40) Josie learns from Jacob that her culture is a large part of her identity which makes her unique. As Jacob tells her: “I like that culture in you …and that’s what I’m attracted to about you.”(page 83) Josie resented her Italian heritage because she believed it held

  • Word count: 873
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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saving private ryan

Analyse the methods used to make the opening battle sequence of ‘Saving Private Ryan’ both shocking and realistic, and say how effective you find it as an introduction to the film Saving Private Ryan was a war movie; it won five academy awards including best director. Steven Spielberg has directed many fantastic and exciting films in the past, including ‘Jaws’ and ‘Jurassic Park,’ each of which have a cast full of famous actors and actresses. Saving Private Ryan is no different, with its lead actors including Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore and Matt Damon. Spielberg once said about the film “I was looking for realism all the time,” and he uses this realism he mentioned to make the film so gripping and realistic to the audience. You would expect the film to build up to the war from the beginning, but Spielberg sets the film off with an exciting battle scene. The battle scene is very realistic, as well as the rest of the film, because of the use of desaturated colour, which makes it seem like you are at the battle scene and makes it look dull and add to the atmosphere, and your sight has been blurred by blood or rain, and the variety of camera shots used like the handheld shot which makes the film come to life and makes the audience feel like their experiencing it first hand. Steven Spielberg didn’t want this film to be glamorous, but honest. Steven Spielberg

  • Word count: 2099
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Power: An Analysis of Lord of the Flies as a Political Allegory

Power: An Analysis of Lord of the Flies as a Political Allegory Abraham Lincoln once stated “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.” For centuries upon centuries, the people of this world witnesses political power take a great man and slowly corrupt him. Sometimes that man victors over this snake, molding himself into a better man; sometimes that man falls, loosing sanity all together. William Golding allegorically justifies this belief on corruption and sense of responsibility throughout his novel, Lord of the Flies. In the novel, a plane filled with British school boys crashes on a deserted island, with no adult to govern them. In the barren environment, the boys, now away from the eyes of civilization, reveal their true characters. Forced to govern themselves, two leaders step up to the plate named Ralph and Jack. Ralph, a sensible, strong young boy, embodies the spirit of democracy, while his counterpart, Jack, embraces the dynamics of totalitarianism. Aside from the evident challenge of rescue, the main conflict arises in the power struggle between the Jack and Ralph. In the novel Lord of the Flies, William Golding utilizes the characterization of Ralph as the democratic leader and Jack as the totalitarian leader, including the struggle between both types of governments, to portray a political allegory conflict

  • Word count: 1114
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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'Suicide in the Trenches' by Wilfred Sassoon - analysis

Suicide in the Trenches – an analysis What is the meaning of war? What is war like? How do soldiers feel in a war? Glorious? Depressed? This poem accurately shows the harsh but sadly true reality of war - death, suicide and depression. Indeed, as quoted by Sir Williams Henry - “Nobody in his right mind would enjoy war”. The point of view is third person. This is effective in showing one case of suicide, in third person observation, representing the depression and desire to quickly die in everyone else. Life is really worse than death - and this is shown through the eye-catching title “Suicide in the Trenches”. The word “trenches” further emphasized that not only is this depression possessed by one young soldier boy, but also by many others in war. The setting is in depressing, smelly, and stuffy trenches as the title has blatantly stated. The story is about a young soldier boy’s transformation from a happy and innocent person into a depressed soldier who desires to kill himself, because life is really worse than death. The poet deliberately uses the small boy as an example to gain the reader’s sympathy. The structure of the poem is three stanzas with four lines in each. The rhyme scheme is A-A-B-B in each stanza. This seems to be a rigid structure, but it really does bring out how one’s initial carefree innocence and freedom is being lost once he

  • Word count: 1100
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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