“Significant events in texts and the impact they have on readers often helps clarify the general vision and viewpoint of those texts”

– with reference to the three texts on your comparative course, compare the ways in which at least one significant event in each text, and its impact on you , helped to clarify the general vision and viewpoint of these texts.

#625Lab. Corrected by experienced examiner, graded as H5 with feedback on how to improve. You may also like: Leaving Cert English Complete Guide (€).

(P) punctuation is missing.

(M) spelling or grammar error.

Significant events in ”All My Sons “(AMS) by Arthur Miller , “The Great Gatsby”(TGG) by F.Scott Fitzgerald and “Brooklyn” by John Crowley all help to clarify to the general vision and viewpoint (GVV) of  these texts. (A stronger, more robust introduction required. Address the question, don’t just state it… It is because of the impact of important events in my three texts that I was able to gain a clear insight into the GV&V each author succeeded in achieving…)

When I look back on my study of my comparative texts I can see how opening scenes contribute to feelings of either optimism or pessimism. In AMS (P) Kate Keller makes several remarks in relation to her son Larry. She interprets  the tree breaking in the same month of Larry’s birthday and her finding his long-lost baseball glove as signs that he is only missing . She also says due to Ann’s  single status she too believes Larry is not dead. She is clearly grasping at straws trying to convince herself that her son is alive. The truth about her son is tormenting her due to her inability to move on.

On the other hand in TGG (P) Nicks (P) first sight of Gatsby himself conveys a sense of optimism and outlook  for the future . He is standing by the waters edge at twilight reaching out for a green light across the bay . His eyes are firmly fixated on a goal of capturing the green light and what it symbolizes. It an ambitious outlook that highlights  freedom (Sentence is unclear) in comparison with the controlling nature of the truth about Larry in AMS.(Develop this link , comment on it) In Brooklyn as well , the opening scenes help me to clarify the general vision and viewpoint of this text. Crowley paints a wholly pessimistic view of the town of Enniscorthy and off Eilis’s life . Her work is spirit numbing and lacks  any stimulus emphasized when she must give a man a single cigarette from a box . This pessimism is further compounded when even though Eilis decides to leave and make a life for herself Mrs Kelly says that Eilis has ruined her sisters life because she has left her to care for her mother. All of this Pessimism (P) evaporates when she finally leaves Enniscorthy and I look forward to what lies to ahead for Eilis. (You should now draw the 3 points together, you need to explain that the openings and how they effected you are essential  in creating the GV&V. This is the question, it must be addressed head on.)

Apart from the opening scenes , key scenes in  these texts helps to clarify the GVV . ( This is a weak opening to a sections. Set it up…. Throughout each text there are moments which cause the reader to react in such a way that the GV&V becomes crystal clear/is further emphasised…)

In AMS (P) Joe and Chris argue over Joe and his role in the death of twenty-one pilots including Joe’a (M) son in the war.Chris is outraged that his father could commit such an irresponsible crime and furthermore(P) let Ann’s father take the fall for him . He questions him as a man(P) asking “(P)do you have a country?” He’s disgusted that Joe would place family and the profitability of his company over everything in life including his morals. It is a wholly pessimistic view of life in AMS but optimistic in that Chris does not accept what his father has done. I admire Chris for his unwavering moral beliefs in this instance. (Good response to the KM) (There is no comparative link here) In TGG (P) the key scene of the the(P) plaza tea party helps to clarify what the GVV is for this text . Gatsby tried to tell Tom Buchanan that Daisy does not love him and instead has fallen for himself(Unclear point) . In a heated exchange(P) Tom dismisses this idea while mocking Gatsby’s overly used phrase “old sport”. Nick comments that “with every word she[Daisy] was drawing further and further into herself”. The result of this confrontation is that Tom with all his prestige and class trumps Gatsby who(P) although more suited to Daisy has failed to woo her sufficiently. Even though Tom was complacent with(P) His and Daisy’s relationship (P) his brute like power has wrestled Daisy back from Gatsby . It is a pessimistic scene for the ordinary man who in the end cannot fully be accepted by the upper classes . On the other hand in Brooklyn the tea scene with Mrs Kelly and Eilis in Ireland is in my opinion (P) optimistic . When confronted by Mrs Kelly (P) Eilis does not retreat into herself like Daisy Buchanan does . Upon her former employer informing her that she knows about Eilis’s marriage in Brooklyn she confidently replies “(P)my name  Eilis Fiorello”. After leaving the shop a close up shows Eilis panicked but she soon takes a deep breath and composes herself . It is a defiant image of a girl who has had many decisions in life made for her but has taken this one on herself. (Draw the 3 texts together in a closing section, explain how the key moment drew a reaction from you and then this clarified the GV&V. The task is to compare whether each text had events which impacted on you bad then demonstrated the GV&V. You need to make this clear in your answer. You admire Chris – optimistic. You were shocked by Tom – pessimistic. Eilis impressed you – optimistic. All shown through events.)

The closing event  in AMS demonstrates the pessimism of the GVV in that text . Leading on from the epiphany moment in which Chris confronts his father , Joe Keller kills him self unable to live with the knowledge that he killed his son . The past catches up with him and so to (M) with Kate Keller . I realize that in this text the  past also shapes the present and future into a grim and tragic reality for the family . It a completely pessimistic scene that highlights the damage hearing the harsh truth about their son has done to this family. (More specific textual reference would strengthen this section) (There is no comparative link here) In TGG (P) the closing events only serve to further the pessimistic outlook of life during this booming time in New York . Nick desperately tries to gather people to attend Gatsby’s funeral but “no one arrived except for more police and photographers”. Nick goes onto to question “is it the rain?” (The Reason why people didn’t show). (Avoid using brackets, use commas) “Or is it the heartless selfish crowd who was happy to come to the feast but won’t come to the funeral ?” Gatsby’s life ends with a whimper which portrays the lack of individualism and sincerity at this time and furthermore throughout the novel .

On the other hand (P) Brooklyn’s closing events shine light on the optimism of the GVV of the film. On the boat back to Brooklyn Eilis meets a girl who like Eilis on her first voyage to Brooklyn is innocent and naïve. She says that “you’ll be so homesick for her you’ll want to die “(P) but that one day the sun will come out . This represents her life now and the presence of sun imagery in the final scene summarizes the optimism for Eilis in her new life . (There needs to be a closing section here to draw all 3 together. More of the impact, your reaction is needed. Your comparative links are fine but there should be more. AMS, it was upsetting when Joe took his own life… and TGG… In a similar vein, the ending of Gatsby is upsetting in the callous attitude everyone shows towards Gatsby’s funeral…)

Overall the general vision of AMS is pessimistic. Joe never fully understands Chris’a moral outlook . He tells Kate “if there is more than family , then I’ll put a billet through my head “. Similarly in TGG the general vision is pessimistic . The  ambition of Gatsby to chase the green light at the end of his dock is his eventually downfall . As Nick notes “His dream of Daisy was corrupted by money and dishonesty , the American dream of happiness and individualism has disintegrated into mere

Pursuit of wealth “. The key scenes in this novel leave only a sour taste in my mouth. (More of these types of comments, you are dealing with the question here.) In contrast the GVV of Brooklyn is optimistic highlighted by Eilis’a escape from the depressing town off Enniscorthy . The opening and closing events coupled with key scenes in these texts help to clarify the overall general vision and viewpoint of those texts. (This is a good conclusion, this is what you need to do throughout your answer. Deal with the question. Don’t leave it till the end.)

In this question there are 3 tasks – compare – impact on the reader of significant events – clarify the GV&V. You have used comparative phrases, shown significant events and discussed the GV&V. To improve this answer, you should clearly compare, not just the token phrase, how a significant event impacted you and how this helped you see the GV&V.

You have the bones of a good answer and you have sections where you are answering the question, this needs to be more consistent.

Language is good throughout.

21-P-12

21-C-10

21-L-11

7-M-7

40/70 H5

You may also like: An interesting review of “Brooklyn” by The Guardian