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Evaluating Key Quotes:
It's all in the words! As with any novel that we study, we must consider that the writer has chosen every word that goes into it. The language is there to convey the narrative, to develop character, to build mystery and tension, add imagery and explore themes.
In this activity, we will evaluate the effectiveness of some quotes or passages from the novel, exploring how they work in the context of the whole text or how they connect to the broader themes.
As students of literature, we are interested in spotting patterns in the language and how these may echo the writer's thoughts and ideas, or how they have made deliberate choices to create specific effects.
In the GCSE exam, you are given an extract from the novel. You are asked to write about this part and what you know from different parts of the text. This is where learning a few quotes to remember, and where they come from in the story, is really helpful.
Knowing the book really well is the best preparation, so breaking it down into chapters is a good way to manage this. It also keeps you firmly aware of the structure of the novel and how the author manages the narrative.
To help you even further, there is a brief summary of the main events in the chapter. For a little extra challenge, there are some helpful quotes for you to keep a note of, but, you need to find who said it, or what it describes, and this will help to keep them fresh in your mind as these are some of the more memorable ones to use!
You should always refer to your own text when working through these examples. These quotations are for reference only.
