Module A Practice Questions PDF

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HSC ENGLISH ADVANCED: MODULE A

Module A Practice Questions “The pursuit of perfection is an idea which connects the Great Gatsby and Elizabeth Barret Browning’s poetry”. How do these texts from different contexts reflect changing perspectives on this idea? The pursuit of perfection is a futile and enduring idea which connects texts, however their perspective differs according to the composer’s context and purpose. Such is seen in the comparative study between Elizabeth Browning’s love sonnets, ‘The Songs of the Portuguese’ (1846), which reflects her subjugated female experience in the Victorian era, and Scott Fitzgerald’s experimental modernist novel, ‘The Great Gatsby’ (1921), which criticises the materialism and hedonism of the 1920’s Jazz Age. Both texts reveal the fulfilling and demising pursuit of perfection through sincere love and identity, however do so in differing ways as either a fulfilling or demising experience. Browning reflects the pursuit of perfection in the form of sincere and spiritual love, as a source of liberation on her repressed female identity in a patriarchal society. While Fitzgerald emulates the superficiality in the pursuit of perfect love, instead reduced to a commodified and disillusioned identity rather than individual fulfilment, in response to a post WW1 context. Both texts explore the idea of the pursuit of perfection through sincere love, however their individual depiction differs across contexts Ø Browning, in response to a Christian Victorian society, reflects the pursuit of perfection in the form of spiritual love, towards a pure and holy matrimonial union Ø In contrast, Fitzgerald reflects the materialism and hedonism of the Jazz Age by depicting the pursuit of perfect love as a commodified, inhibiting and undesirable experience. In addition, both texts reflect on the pursuit of perfection through individual identity, however its perspective on the issue alters according to societal context. Ø Browning as an early feminist chooses to subvert the conventions of the Patriarchal sonnet, to reflect that the pursuit of perfection through sincere love, can present an empowering and liberating force on her female identity Ø Comparatively, Fitzgerald criticises the materialistic pursuit of perfect love by reflecting the spiritual emptiness of the Jazz Age and the depthlessness of the American Dream, by constructing Gatsby’s identity as obsessive and disillusioned.

HSC ENGLISH ADVANCED: MODULE A In what ways is your appreciation of both texts enhanced by a comparative study of passion in the Great Gatsby and the poetry of Elizabeth Browning? A comparative study of passion in texts provides an enhanced appreciation of how differing contexts and composer’s purposes can amount to opposing perspectives on established ideas. Such is seen by comparing Elizabeth Browning’s love sonnets, ‘The Songs of the Portuguese’ (1846), revealing a feminist perspective in the Victorian era and Scott Fitzgerald’s experimental Modernist novel, ‘The Great Gatsby’ (1921), which criticises the materialism and hedonism of the 1920’s Jazz Age. Both texts explore the distinctive and individualised ideas of passion through spiritual love and identity. Browning expresses how passion through sincere and spiritual Christian love can liberalise and fulfil her female identity. While Fitzgerald reflects that a compromise of passion and spiritual fulfilment by prioritising materialism and perfect love structures can lead to a commodified and disillusioned individual identity. Both texts enhance individual appreciation by examining passion through sincere love, however their perspective alters according to differing contexts Ø Browning embraces passion with her companion in Victorian Christianity, to value sincere and spiritual love which amounts to matrimonial union Ø In contrast, Fitzgerald reflects the hedonism of the Jazz Age through Gatsby’s compromise of passion in sincere love, instead representing it as a commodified acquisition rather than spiritual fulfilment In addition, both texts enhance individual appreciation of passion by examining identity, whose perspective differs according to context Ø Browning, as an early feminist in a patriarchal society chooses to subvert the conventions of the Petrarchan sonnet to reflect how her passion for sincere love has presenting an empowering and liberating force on her female identity Ø Comparatively, Fitzgerald criticises the depthlessness of the American Dream by reflecting the lack of passion in Gatsby’s materialistic love structure, instead reduced to a disillusioned and obsessive identity.

HSC ENGLISH ADVANCED: MODULE A “A deeper understanding of aspirations and identity emerged from considering the parallels between the Great Gatsby and Browning’s poetry”. Compare how texts explore aspirations and identity By considering the parallels between texts and the impact of differing contexts and composer’s perspectives, a deeper understanding of aspirations and identity can amount. This is reflected in Elizabeth Browning’s Victorian love sonnets, ‘The Songs of the Portuguese’ (1846), exemplifying a feminist perspective in the Christian Victorian era and Scott Fitzgerald’s experimental modernist novel ‘The Great Gatsby’ (1921), which criticises the materialism and hedonism of the 1920’s Jazz Age. Both texts explore aspirations towards sincere love and identity however in differing ways according to context. Browning reflects her aspirations in obtaining sincere and spiritual love in accordance with her Christian beliefs, to liberate and empower her female identity in a patriarchal society. While Fitzgerald reflects an individual’s aspirations for perfect love structures in accordance with the American Dream, however this futile and superficial search instead amount to a disillusioned sense of identity, rather than spiritual fulfilment. By paralleling the ideas of texts and comparing differing contexts, a deeper understanding of the aspiration for sincere love can amount Ø By embracing her Christian Victorian values, Browning reflects her aspiration to obtain sincere and spiritual love towards a pure matrimonial union Ø In contrast, Fitzgerald reflects the materialistic values of the Jazz Age through Gatsby’s search for a perfect love structure, which instead contributes to its devaluement Furthermore, a deeper understanding of identity can amount by paralleling similar ideas and considering the impact of context in offering differing perspectives. Ø Browning, as an early feminist, subverts the conventions of the Petrarchan sonnet to reflect love’s empowerment and liberation on her repressed female identity Ø Comparatively, Fitzgerald criticises the depthlessness and moral emptiness of the American Dream by reflecting that the aspiration of perceived perfect love can lead to a disillusioned and commodified sense of identity.

HSC ENGLISH ADVANCED: MODULE A “Texts on their own are interesting but when you compare them to other texts they become illuminating and dynamic”. How has your appreciation of the shared ideas of the Great Gatsby and Browning’s sonnets moved to a heightened appreciation of each text? The appreciation of shared ideas in texts is made illuminating and dynamic upon conducting a comparative study to consider the impact of a composer’s context and purpose in leading to differing perspectives. Such is seen by comparing Elizabeth Browning’s Victorian love sonnets, ‘The Songs of the Portuguese’ (1846), which reflects a feminist perspective in Victorian society and Scott Fitzgerald’s experimental modernist novel, ‘The Great Gatsby’ (1921), criticising the materialism and hedonism of the 1920’s Jazz Age. Both texts explore shared ideas of sincere love and identity, however these are further appreciated and illuminated when compared. Browning reflects her Christian value for sincere and spiritual love as a source of empowerment and liberation on her female identity in a patriarchal society. While Fitzgerald reflects commodified love structures in response to the depthlessness of the American Dream, as individual identity is commodified and reduced to disillusionment instead of spiritual fulfilment. Both texts reflect share ideas of sincere love, however their distinct qualities are illuminated when comparing differing contexts and perspectives in texts. Ø In response to her Christian Victorian values, Browning reflects her value for sincere and spiritual love as the paramount consideration in obtaining a holistic union Ø In contrast, Gatsby reflects the materialism of the Jazz Age by prioritising the search for a perfect love structure rather than spirituality, thereby contributing to its devaluement Moreover, both texts upon comparing shared ideas of identity aim to illuminating their distinct and dynamic qualities, by considering the impact of context and perspective in the presentation of ideas Ø Browning as an early feminist chooses to subvert the conventions of her Petrarchan sonnet to reflect the value of love’s empowering and liberating qualities on her female identity Ø Comparatively, Fitzgerald criticises the moral emptiness of the American Dream by reflecting that a prioritisation of superficial love can contribute to a disillusioned identity rather than spiritual fulfilment.

HSC ENGLISH ADVANCED: MODULE A “The pursuit of the ideal is a fundamental idea which connects the Great Gatsby and Browning’s poetry”. Evaluate this statement The pursuit of the ideal is a fundamental idea which connects texts, however its perspective differs according to the composer’s distinctive context and purpose. Such is seen in Elizabeth Browning’s love sonnets, ‘The Songs of the Portuguese’ (1846), which depicts these values through a feminist perspective in the Victorian era and Scott Fitzgerald’s experimental Modernist novel, ‘The Great Gatsby’ (1921), criticising the materialism and hedonism of the 1920’s Jazz Age. Both texts focus on the fundamental idea of the ideal, in the form of sincere love and identity, though differ according to distinctive values. Browning, with her Christian values, pursues ideal love through sincerity and spirituality with its consequent empowerment and liberation of her female identity. While Fitzgerald, in response to the moral vacuity of the American Dream, criticises the superficial pursuit for ideal and perfect love structures, as identity is instead reduced to disillusionment rather than spiritual fulfilment Both texts explore the pursuit of ideal love, though its perspective differs according to changing contextual concerns. Ø In response to her devout Christian Victorian beliefs, Browning reflects her pursuit for ideal love through sincerity and spirituality, ending in pure and holy matrimony Ø In contrast, Fitzgerald criticises the moral vacuity of the Jazz Age as individuals seek ideal love structures through the acquisition of material objects, rather than spirituality Moreover, both texts reflect the impact of the search for ideal love on identity, influenced by the composer’s pervading purpose and contextual concerns. Ø As an early feminist, Browning chooses to subvert the Petrarchan sonnet, to reflect her ideal of spiritual love as an empowering and liberating force on her female identity Ø Comparatively, Fitzgerald reflects the depthlessness of the American Dream by exemplifying that in pursuing perceived ideal love structures, the individual is instead left disillusioned rather than spiritually fulfilled.

HSC ENGLISH ADVANCED: MODULE A Does the treatment of individual desire in The Great Gatsby and Barrett Browning’s poetry reveal similarities or reinforce the texts’ distinctive qualities? In your response, make detailed reference to your prescribed texts. A comparative analysis of texts reveals similar values of individual desire, as an enduring quality within the human condition, however different contexts reinforce the texts distinctive qualities. A comparative study between Elizabeth Browning’s Victorian love sonnets, “The Song of the Portuguese” (1846), which reveals a reflection of the female experience in the Victorian era and Scott Fitzgerald’s experimental modernist novel, ‘The Great Gatsby’ (1921), which depicts the materialism and hedonism in the 1920’s Jazz Age, reveal the futility in an individual’s desire for sincere love and identity. Browning depicts the liberating qualities of holy and matrimonial love in Christianity on her female identity within a strict patriarchal society. Whereas Fitzgerald reflects on how an individual’s desire can lead to commodified love and consequently a disillusioned sense of identity. Both texts, in their treatment of individual desire through sincere love, are indescribably shaped by contextual values and perspectives, reinforcing the texts distinctive qualities. Ø Browning embraces her Christian ideology within a dominating Victorian society by exploring an individual’s desire for sincere and spiritual love, and reflects on her contextual concerns through a subversion of the male persona in her sonnets.

Remaining Questions: “A fundamental connection between these texts is conveyed through characters in the struggle to make sense of the world they live in. This struggle inevitably tests their humanity.”. To what extent is this statement true “Our interest in the parallels between the Great Gatsby and Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poetry is further enhanced by the consideration of their marked differences in textual form”...