Worksheet 4: Short Story II/ Prose Extract
Witi Ihimaera: ‘The house with the Sugarbag Windows’
1. List adjectives and other linguistic features used to contrast the genteel dinner
party in the colonial house in Kelburn with the poverty-stricken house of the
narrator’s upbringing.
2. What similarities or differences are there between the depiction of race
relations in this story and Stead’s ‘A short history’?
C.K. Stead: ‘A short history of New Zealand’
1. This text divides into sections that relate to different layers of the narrative
(such as the narrator’s voice, the story within the story, the tapescript, etc).
Decide which layers each section of text relates to.
2. What is the ‘meta-fictional’ relationship between the writer of ‘A short history of New Zealand’ and the young writer in the text, and how does Stead use it
as a literary device?
Emily Perkins: ‘The Shared Experience’
1. In what sense is the title of this story ironic?
2. How would you characterise Perkins’ use of language? Illustrate with specific
examples.
Janet Frame: extract from An Angel at my Table
1. Identify five texts that Frame mentions having read during her time with Frank
Sargeson.
2. Identify at least passages in the text where Sargeson gives specific Frame
stylistic and related literary advice about her writing.
3. Underline three further examples of vivid imagery that Frame brings to
everyday objects or situations
‘The house with the Sugarbag Windows’
ReplyDelete1. p.346
wood panelling, old colonial, furniture, expensive paintings in ornate frames, roses in a crystal vase, Persian carpet, circlar stairway, glittering chandelier, latticed windows
The shared experience.
ReplyDeleteQ.2
Perkins is using the faminism language. She was emphasized about the women story. And this story is sexism story.
For example.
P.536
she can easily say goodbye to all that old junk.
The shared experience
ReplyDeleteQ2.
Perkins' use of language contains a lot of swear words.
Also, her story is mostly formed of heroine's monologue and expression of her action.
For example, words such as stupid jerk, stupider cows, wanker, shit, bugger etc.
Monologues such as 'oh Christ why her? Why?' in page 533.
The shared experience by Emily Perkins
ReplyDeleteQ1. In what sense is the title of this story ironic?
I'm not sure that it's a right answer for this question. But I'll try :)
Well, The title of this story is the shared experience, but the ironic part is in a heroine's words. She said the experience she had might be a funny story to tell someone. But not right now, it just has potential. According to this whole story, I think her words mean that she felt shamed and outrageous about the experience to share it. She cannot share the experience.