VCE English Question Thread

[TheLlama]

For the prompt above, would I lose marks in an essay if i had a few quotes that weren't directly about reason and passion?

Remember that you don't really 'lose' marks - assessors are looking to justify giving you a certain score, and they want to find reasons to give you marks. Put a little differently, your reader will be asking why you've selected a particular quote (or quotes) and what it adds to your reading of the text. If anything, you're going to need to use quotes that go beyond the whole question of reason/passion in order to get into the nuances of the text and, in turn, show that you've formed a slightly more complex reading.

There's also more important thing - notice how this topic talks about the "crucial conflict"? That implies that there's more to this question than just reason vs passion. So quite the contrary: a strong response would ideally go a little beyond that limited focus!

[pha0015]

should you use quotes in a creative essay?

[Yertle the Turtle]

should you use quotes in a creative essay?

Yes. In a creative piece you should always use either footprints of the text (embedding themes, concepts, ideas directly from the text, and hinting at the text, but not directly quoting), or quotes. If it is a creative essay, then use quotes, if other types of creative, probably just use the footprints.

[lilyrosee]

should you use quotes in a creative essay?

I did not use direct quotes from the text in my creative piece as the task is to use your own language/writing in a creative response to the text, not to use the author's own words. However, in your explanation you can quote from the text, perhaps discussing how an idea for your creative piece stemmed from a quote in the text etc.

I hope this helps

[TheLlama]

should you use quotes in a creative essay?

Generally, I'd suggest steering clear of quoting from the text in a creative piece.

Remember that this task is largely about showing you understand the ideas in the text as well as presenting your abilities as a creative writer. So while you might be borrowing and adapting ideas, imagery, metaphors and literary devices used by the author/director/playwright you're emulating, a cut-and-paste approach usually doesn't work well. Pieces that tend to quote the book, for example, just sound like you're copying, rather than adapting.

When you justify your choices, you can explain the link between the two (for example, "In choosing to employ images associated with... I was heavily influenced by the author's use of..." and make reference to what they do).

There is, however, a nice way to use a quote: as an opening line of your piece. If you have something that encapsulates what you want to say, you can have it as a single line at the top of the page, quoted. You might notice that sometimes books/chapters of books do this!

[Poet]

Can I use quotes from famous philosophers from Greek society in order to drive my point in my Medea essays? if so how can I effectively incorporate these quotes?

I agree with sdfg. Don't feel the need to use a bunch of quotes from outside the text, because the thing assessors are looking for is actually your knowledge and understanding of what you're meant to be studying - not your skill in remembering your year 9 history lessons! Keep it on topic, and try to "drive your point(s)" home with quotes from Medea. It's a lot better to fill your brain up with relevant quotes from the text than irrelevant quotes from ancient philosophers!

[clarke54321]

Can I use quotes from famous philosophers from Greek society in order to drive my point in my Medea essays? if so how can I effectively incorporate these quotes?

I'd strongly suggest that you don't include external evidence, regardless of its seeming relevance. Note that the following is a key aspect of VCAA's section A criteria, use of textual evidence to support the interpretation. VCAA is primarily interested in the interpretations that you can build from the world of the play. That is, which views and values are confined to its own context? The context that Euripides established?

[MissSmiley]

Hi everyone!

Could I just ask if this interpretation of the quote "a rock or wave or sea would pay more attention to a counsel of friends than she does" (From the prologue of Medea) is right?

Shows that Medea does not position herself with nature already --> foreshadows her plan to kill her children, that is a defiance of natural order

Or this unclear?

Is there a better interpretation of this quote?

Thank you so much!!

[Arithmetic]

Hey guys,

We have an english sac coming up on Monday, it is a comaprative language analysis. We were given the articles yesterday and one of the articles is written by an author called Emily Ritchie. But the author does not write from her own perspective, but quotes and talks about another lady called Germaine Greer. I'm confused as to who's point of view I should discuss in the essay. The other article is written by the editor of the publisher.

Thanks y'all,

[Poet]

Hi everyone!

Could I just ask if this interpretation of the quote "a rock or wave or sea would pay more attention to a counsel of friends than she does" (From the prologue of Medea) is right?

Shows that Medea does not position herself with nature already --> foreshadows her plan to kill her children, that is a defiance of natural order

Or this unclear?

Is there a better interpretation of this quote?

Thank you so much!!

Hello MissSmiley!

I saw this quote as a lot more opaque, and I didn't seem to find any deep symbolism in it. I saw this quote as merely meaning that Medea took no heed of her friend's ministrations or words of comfort - she was distraught, and did not want any comfort. She didn't listen to anyone who told her anything that did not align with her bitter thoughts.

Your interpretation, in saying that Medea did not "position herself with nature already", is basically implying that Medea herself consciously knows that she is going to do something that the other women see as unnatural - the murder of your own children. I like the thought of this act as being a defiance of the natural order, that this might be the first indication of Medea's unnatural behaviour, but I don't feel like this quote foreshadows any plan on Medea's behalf to kill her children.

That's just some of my thoughts. I hope you find this meaningful.

[MissSmiley]

Hello MissSmiley!

I saw this quote as a lot more opaque, and I didn't seem to find any deep symbolism in it. I saw this quote as merely meaning that Medea took no heed of her friend's ministrations or words of comfort - she was distraught, and did not want any comfort. She didn't listen to anyone who told her anything that did not align with her bitter thoughts.

Your interpretation, in saying that Medea did not "position herself with nature already", is basically implying that Medea herself consciously knows that she is going to do something that the other women see as unnatural - the murder of your own children. I like the thought of this act as being a defiance of the natural order, that this might be the first indication of Medea's unnatural behaviour, but I don't feel like this quote foreshadows any plan on Medea's behalf to kill her children.

That's just some of my thoughts. I hope you find this meaningful.

Great!
Thank you so much, secretly_a_poet!
Of course it's meaningful!!
So I'm just overthinking it probably!

Thanks a lot!

[MissSmiley]

Hi guys!

I'd love to hear a response as soon as possible, because I have my Medea SAC tomorrow!

Do you think there could be a question based on literary techniques (symbolism, metaphors, etc) used in the play?
Obviously more to it with including character and everything, but could there be one like this?
VCAA hasn't given one of this type since so long, that's why I put it out there 

Thanks guys!

Would love to hear your thoughts about this!

[clarke54321]

Hi guys!

I'd love to hear a response as soon as possible, because I have my Medea SAC tomorrow!

Do you think there could be a question based on literary techniques (symbolism, metaphors, etc) used in the play?
Obviously more to it with including character and everything, but could there be one like this?
VCAA hasn't given one of this type since so long, that's why I put it out there 

Thanks guys!

Would love to hear your thoughts about this!

Hi MissSmiley 

I highly doubt that you'd be given a prompt based around a literary technique alone. The closest Medea prompt I've seen, in relation to symbolism and metaphors, concerns the role of the children in the play. Also, I have come across one pertaining to the role of the Chorus.

But try not to stress about this too much. It's an unlikely possibility. Just to be sure, however, have a few literary techniques at the back of your mind, which you can easily link to key views and values if necessary.

All the very best with the SAC!

[MissSmiley]

Hi MissSmiley 

I highly doubt that you'd be given a prompt based around a literary technique alone. The closest Medea prompt I've seen, in relation to symbolism and metaphors, concerns the role of the children in the play. Also, I have come across one pertaining to the role of the Chorus.

But try not to stress about this too much. It's an unlikely possibility. Just to be sure, however, have a few literary techniques at the back of your mind, which you can easily link to key views and values if necessary.

All the very best with the SAC!

Great! Thanks a lot, Clarke!! 
Also, could I just ask, if the topic focuses on one character, for e.g "Jason's capacity for evil stems from his weaknesses than from strength." Do you agree?,
Can you divert the discussion of this topic to include other characters (such as the other men) as well? as long you discuss Jason throughout your piece?
Would you signpost that in the intro?
Because obviously you want to include other characters and Medea as well, otherwise it would be pretty boring right? just talking about Jason?

It's easier when the topic's focused on Medea and any other ideas about the play, but made me scratch my head about this one! 

Thanks a lot!! 

[clarke54321]

Also, could I just ask, if the topic focuses on one character, for e.g "Jason's capacity for evil stems from his weaknesses than from strength." Do you agree?,
Can you divert the discussion of this topic to include other characters (such as the other men) as well? as long you discuss Jason throughout your piece?

Absolutely. In fact, you'd be penalised if you didn't. However, you must ensure that you are making coherent links back to Jason's character. Ideally, you'd be using these other male characters (and female characters, don't forget them) as a means of illuminating different aspects of Jason's character. Again, it's unlikely that a prompt would be this narrow in scope.

Would you signpost that in the intro?

This would depend on your particular arguments. But for logicality purposes, yes. You don't want examiners to get an off impression too early.