Essay Topics

[transgression]

I thought it would be a good idea if we were to have a thread with accumulated essay topics for English texts and contexts.
In year 11, I was consistently frustrated as I had to dig out and find essay topics to do. So throughout 2008, I had gathered topics I had come across and they proved to be very useful towards exam period.

Feel free to PM me with your list of topics -please add if it is either context/text response and the title of the film/novel.
I will add them to the list.

Edit: Message an English/Global moderator if you would like to have your topics added to the list.

List:
Text Reponse;
* 1984
* Look Both Ways
* The Kite Runner
* A Man For all Seasons
* Maestro
* Richard III
* Don't start talking to me - Lyrics by Paul Kelly
* Of Love and Shadows
* Inheritance
* Selected poetry - Kenneth Slessor
* Cosi

Context;
* Encountering Conflict
* Exploring Issues of Identity and Belonging
* The Imaginative Landscape
* Whose Reality?

[transgression]

Text Response
Nineteen Eighty Four topics

"Despite Winston's ultimate fate, the courage he displays is inspiring." Do you agree?

"In the world of Nineteen Eighty Four, human relationships are impossible to sustain." Discuss.

"Winston's desperate need to form connections with other people is the cause of his downfall." Discuss.

"If there is hope ... it lies in the proles." Is Winston's hope in the proles justified?

"The bleak setting of Nineteen Eighty Four reflects the bleak lives of the characters." Discuss.

"Winston is an unlikely hero whereas O'Brien is a likely villain." Do you agree?

"He had committed ... the essential crime that contained all others in itself." From the moment Winston opens his diary, his fate is sealed. Do you agree?

"If the object was not to stay alive but to stay human, what different did it ultimately make?" Winston betrays his own belief in humanity when he betrays Julia. Do you agree?

"The novel shows that the manipulation of language is the most powerful means of controlling the minds of individuals." Discuss.

"The novel suggests that an accurate understanding of the past is necessary both to the individual and the wider community." Discuss.

"The novel shows that fear is the chief weapon used by those in power." Discuss.

"The novel shows us that the individual is always at the mercy of the state." Discuss.

"Nineteen Eighty Four shows that the human spirit can survive amid tyranny." Discuss.      

"Nineteen Eighty Four shows that politics is only about lies and deception." Do you agree?

"The novel shows that the need for human relationships is the most powerful of all human needs." Discuss.

"Nineteen Eighty Four is a parable for our own times." Discuss.

The citizens have no right to a personal life or to personal thought. How true is this of the society in 1984? Discuss.

"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - for ever." The future is set in 1984 and no-one can change it, not even Winston. Discuss.

"The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. Power and conformity are paramount in 1984." Do you agree?

When writing in his journal, Winston thinks to himself that the only hope for the overthrowing of the Party lies in the proles. Are they to be Winston's saviour? Discuss.

"Do it to Julia!" Why does Winston betray Julia?

Room 101, the place where everyone meets his or her worst fear. In 1984, why is control so complete?

Winston loves Julia but doesn't see a long future with her. Why not?

"As soon as I saw you I knew you were against them." What does being against them achieve in 1984?

"It's the Golden Country. It's nothing, really. A landscape I've seen sometimes in a dream." The novel 1984 never reflects this view. Why?

"You will be fighting in the dark. You will always be in the dark." How true of this is Winston's life in 1984?

"The bleak setting of Nineteen Eighty Four reflects the bleak lives of the characters." Discuss.

Nineteen Eighty-Four shows that politics is only about lies and deception.? Do you agree?

“The Party cannot be defeated.” Do you agree?

[transgression]

Text Response
Look Both Ways

‘Look Both Ways shows that despite life’s trials, happiness is possible.’ Discuss.

 “Look both ways' show characters that face a crisis go through real and imaginary fears.” Discuss

“When all seems lost and pointless is a time when profound life lessons are learned”. Is this true of Look Both Ways?

Essay topic: Julia says to the train driver: “It wasn’t your fault”

Is anything that happens in Look Both Ways anybody’s fault?

“Meryl’s fears are the paranoid imaginings of a woman who has too much time on her hands.” Compare Meryl’s experience with that of other characters in “Look Both Ways”

“The characters such as Julia and the train driver who say the least in the film are the characters who are suffering the most in “Look Both Ways”. Is this true?

“The use of parallel narratives is an effective strategy that complements the story of Meryl and Nick.” Do you agree?

“It is Andy who is the most troubled character in the film, despite his knockabout, blasé streak.” Do you agree?

“Andy is an irresponsible character who is reluctant to admit to his mistakes”. Discuss

“Nick and Meryl come together only out of their fears of loneliness and death.” Discuss

“The film demonstrates that death is a universal human experience.” Discuss

“This text shoes that, ultimately, we must all face the consequences of our actions”.

“Look Both Ways shows that a fear of death can prevent people from living fully”.

“Although speaking the truth can be difficult, the text shoes that people should be honest with one another”.

“Look Both Ways challenges the norms of standard male-female relationships.” Do you agree?

[transgression]

Context: Encountering Conflict
The Crucible / The Secret River

Conflict and injustice arise from the human rive for power over others

"The prime instigator of conflict is fear"

Ignorance is the main reason that conflict occurs

"The reasons for conflict are never simple"

Conflict and injustice arise from the human drive for power over others

Encounters with conflict arise from miscommunication.

The reasons why conflict occurs, are less important than how conflict is resolved.

At the heart of conflict is fear.

Encountering conflict changes both those with power and those without power

A conflict’s importance lies not in its causes but in its consequences.

In conflict there are no winners, only losers

It is through conflict that we grow.

Conflict can be a catalyst for change

Fear and ignorance generally have catastrophic consequences

There are both winners and losers in conflict

Survivors of conflict are forever shaped by their experiences.

 “The most significant divisions in any community are not ethical or moral, but personal animosities, insecurities and greed”

Conflict is inevitable and it is a fact of life that stronger social groups will win out over weaker ones. Discuss

Conflict occurs between the powerful and the powerless

The best way to deal with conflict is head-on, not by avoiding it.

The search for truth and justice is vital in resolving conflicts.

Conflict is resolved through better understanding

Conflicts may be difficult to resolve

Conflicts involve a clash of ideas, interests and expectations

People’s responses to conflict vary

Who we are is truly tested and proven when we encounter conflict.

Conflict can reveal unexpected qualities in an individual.

Conflict has only negative effects on individuals.

Conflict is inevitable, the way we deal with it is not

[Toothpaste]

Context: Exploring Issues of Identity and Belonging
The Catcher in the Rye / Witness / Sometimes Gladness / Bombshells

There are costs to the individual in belonging to a group.

Society often creates unrealistic and unattainable expectations of individuals.

If we are unaware of whom we really are – we can never be truly content.

Without close and supportive relationships, we can often feel isolated.

To conform to the expectations of others may be very self-destructive for the individual.

Maintaining one’s own identity is more important than belonging to a group.

Cultural identity and belonging is paramount to one’s sense of self.

A strong sense of identity depends on belonging to community as well as to family.

The environment we belong to ultimately shapes who we are.

Belonging to a group gives one a sense of identity.

The pressures that stem from an individual's lifestyle make self reflection impossible.

Belonging involves conforming and a loss of identity.

Sacrifices are necessary in order for an individual to feel accepted in a community.

One needs to be one’s true self.

Our relationships with others define who we are.

Before acquiring a strong sense of self, hardships need to be experienced.

Belonging is always preferable to alienation.

Choosing not to belong may be detrimental, yet rewarding.

Families stifle who we are.

Belonging requires sacrifices that may lead to unhappiness.

Who we are often depends on where we are.

Stereotypes limit the growth of our identity.

The fulfillment of one's duties can lead to the loss of one's individuality.

Happiness is linked to a stable sense of self.

Our sense of who we are is directly influenced by the people in our lives.

Our personal security comes from the experiences that also shape our identity.

Families play a role in abolishing isolation.

[ell]

Context: Whose Reality?
The Shark Net / Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / Enduring Love / A Streetcar Named Desire

We need to hold onto illusions in order to cope with reality.

Our sanity depends on a clear understanding of what is real and what isn’t.

We believe what those who are stronger than us tell us to believe.

What we feel tells us what is real.

The answer to each of us to the question of “Whose reality is more important?” is mine.

There is a difficulty in maintaining one’s sense of self and of one’s reality in the world in which one lives.

Reality has the ability to crush the human spirit.

One person’s reality can make perfect sense to them, but little sense to anyone else.

People attempt to escape a reality that has become totally unpalatable.

One’s reality is influenced by various events.

The same event can provide very different versions of reality.

When competing realities clash the only result can be tragedy.

Memories make the person.

Truth itself is an illusion.

What we convince ourselves we don’t know, won’t hurt us.

The amount of power we have in a particular situation determines how we see it.

Our perspective on social norms has been filtered by our experiences.

“We can never attain a fully objective view of reality because we remain trapped in the prison of our subjectivity.”

“The line between illusion and madness is a fine one.”

“When we attempt to make order out of chaos then we risk distorting reality.”

"When the differing perceptions of people conflict, catastrophe is sure to arise."

"The truth is sometimes difficult to discover"

“Some people’s versions of reality are more accurate than others’”

"Reality depends entirely on the individual and the context they find themselves in."

"Differences in perceptions result from the differences of individuals."

“A child's world is shaped by their parents’ reality.”

“Writing is an act that always involves a revision of reality.”

“Every reality is open to interpretation.”

“Reality is beyond the understanding of mere humans.”

“Believing is seeing. The reality that we perceive is the reality that we want to perceive.”

[Toothpaste]

Text Response
The Kite Runner

"'The Kite Runner' demonstrates the only way to escape the sins of the past is to confront them." Discuss.

Amir’s eventual return to Afghanistan was ultimately of great importance for him “to be good again”. Do you agree?

“We had both betrayed the people who would have given their lives for us”. How accurate is Amir’s assessment that he and his father were more alike than he had realised?

How does Hosseini show the stages that mark Amir’s journey into self understanding?

Hosseini believes that despite our desire for love, humans are inevitably drawn to betray those who love them best. Do you agree?

"I became what I am today at the age of twelve." Hosseini believes that a brutal childhood environment cripples a person’s character. Do you agree?

"Baba’s refusal to jeopardise his own good name to provide for his illegitimate son subsequently led to Hassan’s rape." Do you agree?

"... the tree hasn’t borne fruit in years." Amir’s life is a story of compounding failure. Discuss.

"One last gift for Amir." The Kite Runner’s focus on the importance of duty and honour seems strange, to Western eyes. Do you agree?

"For you a thousand times over." The Kite Runner demonstrates the destructive power of love.

Hosseini emphasises that no matter how far someone runs from their sins, it will “claw its way out again”. Discuss.

"Amir manages to live up to his father's expectations." Do you agree?

‘It is wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out.’ With reference to The Kite Runner, do you agree with Amir’s claim?

Discuss the nature of friendship between people born into different social classes with reference to Amir and Hassan, Baba and Ali.

Identify some of the key symbols in The Kite Runner and what they reveal about the characters.

America is described as having ‘no ghosts, no memories and no sins.’ To what extent do you agree with Amir’s description?

‘The Kite Runner is a story of a boy’s thwarted longing to be his father’s pride and joy.’ To what extent do you agree?

‘The Kite Runner is primarily about the power of fathers over sons – their love, their sacrifices and their lies.’  Discuss

To what extent is The Kite Runner a story of redemption?

‘A memorable life or a life full of memories.’  Compare and contrast with reference to The Kite Runner.

‘The hardest person to forgive is one’s self.’  Discuss this statement in relation to The Kite Runner

[Survivor]

Text Response
A Man For all Seasons

‘For all our admiration of More, it is the Cromwells of this world who reflect reality and credibility.’ Discuss.

'When a man takes an oath, Meg, he's holding his own self in his hands' How does More resist the various pressures to crack his 'self'?

‘A Man for all Seasons demonstrates that passive resistance will always fail.’ Discuss.

Both the decline of a man of principle and the steady rise of an opportunist are discussed in A Man for all Seasons.

Cromwell says to More, "you brought yourself to where you stand now". Is More responsible for the situation in which he finds himself?

The Common Man provides an objective view into the tragic circumstances surrounding More's death. Discuss.

Norfolk and Alice both accuse More of cruelty. Does the play show More’s failings as well as his virtues?

‘A Man for all Seasons illustrates that ordinary people’s lives are inevitably controlled by the will of leaders.’ Do you agree?

“I do none harm, I say none harm, I think none harm. And if this is not enough to keep a man alive, in good faith I long not to live”. Did Sir Thomas More, as Bolt depicts him in A Man for All Seasons, choose to be a martyr or was it thrust upon him?

‘A Man for all Seasons demonstrates a deeply pessimistic view of humanity’. To what extent do you agree?

More’s ‘selfhood’ is simply disguised selfishness and lack of consideration for others. Do you agree?

Cromwell and Rich are real people, More is an unconvincing ideal. Discuss.

‘Rich, Cromwell, Wolsey and the Common Man are all victims in their own way’. Discuss.

“We must stand fast a little – even at the risk of being heroes”. Is Sir Thomas More truly heroic?

‘While Sir Thomas More may have failed as a diplomat and politician he certainly succeeds as a human being’. To what extent do you agree with this assessment?

‘There’s nothing wrong with Richard Rich. He makes the best of difficult circumstances’. Discuss.

‘A Man for all Seasons demonstrates that there are many dangers involved for the individual who disobeys authority’. Do you agree with this interpretation of the text?

‘A Man for all Seasons shows that justice does not always prevail.’ Discuss.

‘More died in vain. It would have been more honourable had he compromised his beliefs and stayed alive for the good of society.’ Do you agree?

To what extent is A Man for all Seasons about the struggle of good over evil?

The issue for which More died is irrelevant. The important thing is that he was prepared to oppose authority and suffer for what he believed to be right.

‘A Man for all Seasons demonstrates that it is wiser to adjust to the historical situation than to maintain conflicting ideals.’ Discuss.

“Better a live rat than a dead lion”. ‘The play suggests that some kinds of behaviour give you a better chance of survival than others.’ Discuss.

‘Thomas More’s defiance of the King is pointless and unnecessary.’ Discuss.

‘In A Man for all Seasons characters are motivated by their loyalty to the King.’ Discuss.

How does Bolt use other characters to highlight More’s strength?

‘Bolt demonstrates in A Man for all Seasons the consequences of a conflict between private conscience and public office.’ Discuss.

‘A Man for all Seasons shows that one must have principles, especially in times of crisis.’ Discuss.

‘A Man for all Seasons demonstrates that having status and power is more important than having ideals and integrity.’ Discuss.

How does the playwright use the Common Man to influence our response to the play?

More says of himself, ‘This is not the stuff of which martyrs are made.’ Do you agree?

‘The characters regard their personal beliefs as being more important than their relationships.’ Discuss.

More says, “as a spaniel is to water, so is a man to his own self.” How does the playwright convey the strength of More’s sense of self?

[Survivor]

Text Response
Maestro

'Maestro demonstrates the destructive force of self-centred ambition'. Discuss.

'Maestro is a story of betrayal and cowardice.' Is this how you see the novel?

'The setting in Maestro is inextricably linked with the characters' lives.' Discuss.

'Paul maintains his ambivalent attitude to Keller throughout the novel.' Discuss.

Does Goldsworthy suggest that it is immaturity that prevents us from seeing true value?

'And thus, while I listened the future became the present, unchallenged; and all too soon the regretted past.' Analyse the relevance of the past in Maestro.

'As he tells his own story, Paul reveals himself to be a sensitive, intelligent and likeable character well aware of his youthful weaknesses.' Do you agree?

'Humour and human warmth to some extent compensate the evil and pain in the novel, but in the end, suffering dominates Paul's and Keller's lives.' Discuss.

'The reader, in the end, sees Paul and Keller both as egoists and equally unattractive characters.' Discuss.

'The central message of Maestro is demonstrated by the many parallels between Paul and Keller's lives.' What do you think?

"When I think of my parents I see only polarities... Thick and thin, hard and soft." How important are Paul's parents in his life?

'Darwin - "a town populated by men who had run as far as they could flee." Discuss the impact of 'place' in the novel.'

'Paul refers to his teenage years as belonging to a "world of delucion and feeling ridiculous dreams". To what extent do you agree?'

'The use of a first-person narrator makes us more aware of Paul's weakness than his strengths.' Discuss.

"Everything grew larger than life in the steamy hothouse of Darwin, and the people were no exception." How important is place in the novel?

'Neither Paul nor Keller gets the life he expects.' Is Maestro primarily a study of disappointment and loss?

[Survivor]

Context: The Imaginative Landscape
Fly Away Peter / Jindabyne / Island / Poems by Robert Frost

‘The place in which we live strongly influences how we make sense of the world.’

‘Landscape is often linked to emotion.’

‘For most people, there is a strong connection to a remembered landscape.’

‘The landscape of the imagination draws on the physical landscape.’

‘Landscape exerts significant influence on individuals and communities.’

‘The place in which we live has an impact on our understanding of the world’

‘The way we relate to our physical environment can determine the kind of person we become.’

'The landscapes that we create in our minds help to keep our imaginations alive.’

‘People’s fears and desires are often revealed through their perceptions of the external landscape.’

‘We make important connections with the landscape through our imaginations.’

‘Who we are and what we believe about the world is tied to the landscape in which we feel most at home’.

‘It can be difficult to accept changes that occur to a familiar landscape.’

‘Changes to the place in which we live can cause pain and a sense of loss.’

'A change in landscape can reflect a corresponding change in a person.'

'People who are in conflict with their landscape are usually in conflict with each other.'

'When we do not understand out landscape, we cannot understand ourselves.'

'Human impact on landscape is always fleeting.'

'People show their humanity in their relationship with the landscape they inhabit.'

'An imaginative landscape paints a picture of the human psyche in crisis.'

'History has shaped the meaning of the landscape for all its inhabitants.'

'Changes to a natural landscape through industrialisation transform its meaning.'

'The landscape provides a sense of community and belonging.'

'One landscape is perceived in many different ways.'

'The imagination has the power to transform the landscape.'

'Our evolving ways of who we are is shaped by our interactions with different landscapes.'

[jess3254]

Text response
Richard III

‘Men plot and scheme; women weep.’  Is this the way the world of Richard III seems to you?
 
‘Richard’s succession as king is the turning point in the play. Before that he is engaging and amusing; after than he is sullen and callous.’  Discuss.
 
‘Richard is able to succeed because the rest of the characters are so easily deceived.’ Discuss.
 
‘In Richard III, justice is only seen to happen when death is answered with death.’ Would you agree?
 
‘Richard acts more like a devil than a human.’ Do you agree? 
 
‘Some characters are worse than others, but there is no-one in Richard III  who could claim to be innocent.’ Is this true?
 
‘O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me.’ Shakespeare demonstrates that nobody can ultimately ignore their conscience.  Would you agree?
 
‘Margaret is the only woman in the play with any strength.’ Discuss.
 
‘Richard is so engaging because of his honesty – about himself, as well as others. Would you agree?

‘We know each other’s faces; for our hearts 
He knows no more of mine than I of yours.’
In Richard III, Shakespeare demonstrates that nobody can trust what other people are thinking or planning to do. Discuss.
 
‘Even though Richard is guilty of atrocious crimes, he is still the most attractive character in the play.’ Do you agree?

The play shows Richard in such a way that it is impossible for an audience to feel any sympathy for him. Discuss.
 
Richard asserts his determination ‘to prove a villain’. Does he succeed?

Compare the characters of Buckingham and Hastings. How do their conceptions of loyalty to their respective masters differ? What traits lead them to their eventual executions?

Richard III has been called Shakespeare's first fully developed character in that we see many sides of his personality. Do any other characters in this play show more than one side? If so, who? And how?

How important are clergymen, the archbishops, bishops, and priests in Richard III? Are they different from other members of the court?Discuss.

Discuss the role of Buckingham. Is he better or worse, wiser or more foolish than Richard's other victims?

Revenge and the quest for justice dominate the action in Richard III. Discuss individual examples and their relevance to this major theme.

Richard is a brother, a husband, an uncle, and a son to various characters in the play. Analyse his behavior in each case.

[jess3254]

Text response
Don't start talking to me - Lyrics by Paul Kelly

'Kelly's use of the narrator enables the reader to gain insights into the frustration of men in contemporary society.' Discuss.

'The characters of Kelly's poem are emotionless.'  Do you agree?

'Although Kelly's characters struggle with their daily lot, they strive for betterment.' Do you agree with this observation?

'Kelly's poems highlight the frustration and isolation of many people’s lives.'Discuss.

'Kelly's poetry addresses confronting issues with directness.' Discuss.

'Through Kelly's poetry we see evidence of a society where the relationship is in a form of decay.'  Do you agree?

'Kelly's poetry shows that people are courageous.' Discuss.

'The poetry of Paul Kelly invites readers to examine their own values and ethics.' Do you agree?

'Even today Australian communities continue to struggle with reconciliation.' Discuss.

'Kelly's poetry challenges readers to examine the accepted view of Australian history.' Discuss


'The narrator of Kelly's poetry is acutely aware of his effect on the world.' Discuss.

'The unnamed narrator enables Kelly to expose the powerless nature of men.' Discuss.

'Rather than embracing what the future might hold, Kelly's characters cherish the past.' Is this true of the characters in Don't Start Me Talking (p.97)?

'Kelly's characters preach advice which they do not appear to take themselves.' Do you agree with this observation?

'The characters of Kelly's poems are ensnared in lives of disappointment and loneliness.' Discuss.

'There is little happiness in the world of Kelly's characters.' Do you agree?

'In what way does Kelly manage to convey the struggle of everyday people?'

'The characters of Kelly's poetry hold their fortune in their own hands.' Discuss.

'Loneliness is the greatest issue for the characters of Kelly's poetry.' Discuss.

'Kelly's characters prefer to ignore the results of their actions.' Discuss.

'Kelly's poetry reveals the disintegration of communities.' Do you agree?

'The people of Kelly's poetry are brave, daring to face their transgressions.' Discuss.

'Kelly's poetry challenges the reader to reflect their own moral code.' Do you agree?

'Kelly’s poetry gives voice to the continuing struggle of Aboriginal Australians.'

'Kelly's poetry exposes the intolerance of Australian people.' Do you agree?

'Kelly's poetry shows that personal integrity is vital to living a happy life.' Discuss.

'The poetry of Paul Kelly illustrates the danger of succumbing to greed.' Discuss.

'Kelly writes about the manner in which some people manipulate those closest to them.' Do you agree?

'Kelly's poetry demonstrates that love is the key to happiness.' Do you agree?

'Kelly's poetry asks us to consider our own mortality.' Discuss.

[jess3254]

Text response
Of love and shadows

Discuss the relationship between love and shadows in Isabel Allende’s Of Love
and Shadows
 
In Of Love and Shadows  we most admire those characters who show endurance of the human spirit and its capacity to survive as long as there is hope. Do you agree?
 
The movement into exile is the only possible resolution for the protagonists of Of Love and Shadows. Discuss.
 
The strong and committed character of Francisco Leal was defeated in the end. Do you agree?
 
Of Love and Shadows cannot work as both a love story and a political commentary. Discuss.

The society presented in Of Love and Shadows is one in which violence has been normalised through fear and repression. Do you agree?
 
It is suggested in Of Love and Shadows that a community must be able to recognise its dark heart for hope to be possible. Do you agree?
 
Of Love and Shadows explores the appropriateness of different political philosophies. How does the novel achieve an endorsement of some philosophies and a criticism of others?
 
Through its complex narrative structure, Of Love and Shadows presents a wide spectrum of life in Chile and demonstrates how different groups within a society can live in ignorance of each other.  Discuss.
 
Evangelina Flores ‘travelled throughout the world, denouncing the tragedy that had befallen her nation ... speaking out about the desparedicos, to ensure that the men, women, and children swallowed up by that violence would never be forgotten.’ (p 280). Political literature such as Of Love and Shadows has an important function in naming and remembering human rights atrocities. Discuss.

The strong and committed character of Francisco Leal was defeated in the end. Discuss.

The society presented in Of Love and Shadows is one in which violence has been normalised through fear and repression. Do you agree?

[jess3254]

Text response
Inheritance

In her attempt to improve Lyle’s ‘luck’,  it is Dibs who destroys everything’. Discuss.

Both Norm and Lyle claim that ‘life is not fair’ and their view is borne out by all of the characters in the play. Do you agree?

William tells Julia, ‘This is not about what’s good for you’. Is there anyone in the play, Inheritance, who is not driven by self-interest?

Norm tells Young Girlie: ‘That’s the hardest lesson in life, I reckon. Accepting how the coin falls and making the best of it’. How accurate is this view of the world painted in Inheritance?

‘A man has to live or die on his own piece of dirt.  That’s always been the way, hasn’t it?’ Lyle’s beliefs in his right to the land are both the motivation for his life and the reason for his death. Discuss.

Is Maureen Delaney the only winner in the play, Inheritance?

Hannie Rayson’s Inheritance demonstrates that whilst ‘family’ is important, it is not so easy to decide what constitutes a family. Discuss.

This play demonstrates that education alone cannot solve problems of poverty, intolerance and depression. Discuss.

Inheritance shows us that misery is destined to repeat itself. Discuss.

This play supports the notion that people from the city are just as blind to reality as their country counterparts. Discuss.

Hannie Rayson challenges the view that success in life is about luck and ‘timing’. Discuss.

In what ways are Young Dibs and Young Girlie Myrtle similar to Brianna and  Ashleigh Delaney? What about Lyle and Norm?

For Girlie, the city is a place to avoid, but for the younger generation it is somewhere to aspire to. What do the city and country mean for each of the characters in the play?

We are told that Farley is a ‘tyrant’. To what extent is he responsible for the way things turn out in the play?

Girlie tells Dibs that the difference ‘between being a good farmer and a bad one [is] three weeks. All in the timing’.  Is it timing that leads to Lyle Delaney’s downfall?

We think of prejudice most often in association with race and colour. However, Inheritance sees prejudice lurking in many other areas of our lives. What prejudices are explored and what effect do these have on the way the people in the play behave?

‘Doing one’s duty’ is often seen as a positive way to live one’s life.  Does this play endorse such a view?

‘All the characters in Inheritance believe that being members of the family will protect their interests. In fact, it is ‘family’ that destroys them’. To what extent do you agree?

‘Inheritance shows that everyone suffers from prejudice when personal interests are challenged. Discuss.

[jess3254]

Text response
Selected poetry - Kenneth Slessor
 
‘Slessor’s poetry explores both the pleasure and pain of life.’ Discuss.
 
‘In writing about people, places and events, Slessor allows us to explore our humanity.’ Discuss.
 
‘Slessor’s poetry is undoubtedly Australian.’ Do you agree?
 
‘Slessor’s poems are about the meaning of living and the fact of death.’ Discuss.
 
‘Slessor’s poetry reveals a preoccupation with the complexity of time.’ Discuss.
 
‘Slessor’s poems are timeless in their appeal.’ Do you agree?
 
‘Slessor’s poems often describe historical or mythological characters, but he uses them to explore common and universal situations which affect us all.’ Discuss.
 
‘Slessor’s poetry is compelling and powerful because of his use of vivid and original imagery.’ Do you agree?
 
How does Slessor’s poetry convey the beauty of where he lives?
 
‘Slessor’s poetry offers a vision of life’s transience.’ Discuss.

‘Slessor’s poetry encourages us to embrace life.’ Discuss

‘Slessor’s poetry reveals the beauty and the power of the Australian landscape.’ Discuss.

Slessor’s poetry evokes a new nation coming to an understanding about itself. Discuss.

Despite the variety of perspectives of the world seen through these poems, Slessor always puts forth the belief that the world is worth knowing and understanding. Discuss.

'Slessor’s economy and concentration of language gives his work power – the images say it all.' Discuss.

‘Slessor’s vision of the individual in the modern world is too bleak and pessimistic.’ Do you agree?

‘Time is a central theme in Slessor’s poetry.’ Explain.

‘Slessor’s poetry reveals an appreciation of the city.’ Discuss.