Flashcards · 9675 · A Level Topic 4

Unit 4 – Literary Representations (A Level) flashcards

6 cards on A Level Topic 4. Pick a subtopic or study them all.

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What does representation mean in Unit 4?: The way a text portrays a person, group, place, event or idea through choices of language, structure, viewpoint and form: a construction, not a mirror.
What questions should you ask about a representation?: Who is represented and who is missing or silent; who does the representing; what is emphasised or left out; what attitude is invited; and whether it stays stable.
How does narrative viewpoint shape representation?: First person presents others subjectively, possibly unreliably. Third person can seem objective but still guides judgement through selection and tone.
How can structure shape a representation?: Where and how often a character appears matters: a figure kept at the margins is represented differently from one at the centre.
How should context be used in a representation essay?: Show how attitudes of the time (to class, gender, race, empire or religion) shape or are challenged by a feature of the text, using only facts you are sure of.
What does it mean when a character is given no direct speech?: They are represented only through others' words, which can silence them and shows whose perspective the text privileges.