English Literature – Form | e-Consult

This question requires a broad response, prompting students to analyze how authors manipulate or subvert established conventions within different literary forms. A strong answer will demonstrate a clear understanding of what constitutes conventions in prose, poetry, and drama, and then provide specific textual evidence to support their claims. The key is to show *how* these deviations or adherence to conventions contribute to the overall meaning and effect of the work. The student must choose a specific text and demonstrate a detailed analysis of its use of conventions.

Possible areas of focus for analysis include:

• Prose: Narrative structure (linear vs. fragmented), point of view (first person, third person limited, omniscient), use of language (formal vs. informal, dialect), genre conventions (e.g., realism, gothic).
• Poetry: Form (sonnet, ballad, free verse), rhyme scheme, rhythm, imagery, figurative language, use of traditional or experimental poetic techniques.
• Drama: Structure (act/scene divisions), dialogue, stage directions, conventions of realism vs. non-realism (e.g., soliloquies, asides), use of dramatic irony.

The answer should not simply list conventions but must explain *why* the author chooses to use them (or not) and the impact this has on the reader's understanding and emotional response.