IB English Paper 2 Tool Kit
Prose Literary Features
Plot: The sequence of events in a story. It typically includes an introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
Characterization: The process of creating and developing characters. This can be done directly, through the narrator's descriptions, or indirectly, through characters' actions, dialogue, thoughts, and interactions with others.
Setting: The time and place in which a story takes place. Setting can be used to set the mood, provide context, and influence characters' actions and motivations.
Point of View (POV): The perspective from which a story is told. Common points of view include first person, third person limited, and third person omniscient.
Dialogue: The spoken words of characters in a novel or play. Dialogue can reveal character traits, advance the plot, and provide important information.
Conflict: A struggle between opposing forces. Conflict is often what drives the plot and can be internal (within a character) or external (between characters or between a character and their environment).
Theme: The underlying message or central idea of a work. Themes can be moral, philosophical, political, social, or emotional.
Symbolism: The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. Symbols in prose can be objects, characters, figures, or colors that carry deeper meanings.
Foreshadowing: A technique used to hint at events that will occur later in the story. It builds anticipation and helps to create narrative tension.
Flashback and Flash-forward: Techniques that shift the narrative timeline to provide backstory (flashback) or to jump to future events (flash-forward).
Narrative Style: The author's choice of language, sentence structure, and overall writing style. This can greatly influence the tone and pacing of a story.
Irony: The use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite of its literal meaning. Irony can be situational, dramatic, or verbal.
Imagery: Descriptive language that appeals to the senses and paints a picture in the reader's mind.
Motifs: Recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes.
Allegory: A narrative in which characters, behavior, and even the setting demonstrate multiple levels of meaning and significance. Often, allegory is used to impart moral, ethical, or political lessons.
Stream of Consciousness: A narrative mode that depicts the multitudinous thoughts and feelings passing through a character's mind. It's often used to depict a character's interior monologue.
Metafiction: Fiction that is self-aware or self-referential and highlights its own nature as a work of fiction.
Literary Devices
Simile: Similar to a metaphor but uses "like" or "as" to make the comparison. For instance, "Her smile was like sunshine" compares a smile to sunshine, suggesting warmth and brightness.
Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human entities or objects. For example, "The wind whispered through the trees" ascribes the human action of whispering to the wind.
Alliteration: The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words in close proximity. For example, "She sells seashells by the seashore" uses repeated 's' sounds.
Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within words in close proximity. For example, "The light of the fire is a sight to inspire" features repeated 'i' sounds.
Consonance: Repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words in a phrase or sentence. For instance, "The lumpy, bumpy road" repeats the 'm' and 'p' sounds.
Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate natural sounds. Examples include "buzz," "hiss," or "bang."
Hyperbole: Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or effect. For example, "I've told you a million times" exaggerates to make a point.
Imagery: Descriptive language that appeals to the senses and paints a picture in the reader's mind. For instance, "The golden sun set beneath the vibrant horizon, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the sky."
Symbolism: Using an object, person, situation, or action to represent something else, often an abstract concept. For example, a dove often symbolizes peace.
Irony: A discrepancy between what is said and what is meant, or between what happens and what is expected to happen. For example, a fire station burning down is an example of situational irony.
Rhyme: The matching of ending sounds in words, usually at the end of lines in poems. For instance, "sky" and "high."
Meter: The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in poetry. For example, iambic pentameter consists of five iambs (unstressed/stressed syllables) per line.
Enjambment: The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next, without a pause or break.
Oxymoron: A figure of speech that combines contradictory terms. For example, "bittersweet" combines opposites to convey a complex experience.
Context
Historical Context: Understanding the time period in which the work was written or is set. This includes the political, social, economic, and cultural conditions of the era. Researching historical events, societal norms, and prevalent attitudes of the time can provide insight into the themes and characters of the piece.
Author's Biography: The life, experiences, beliefs, and values of the author can greatly influence their writing. Understanding the author’s background, including their upbringing, education, and significant life events, can provide clues to the motivations and meanings behind their work.
Cultural Context: Investigate the prevailing cultural attitudes and practices during the time the work was written. This includes looking at religious beliefs, social customs, gender roles, and other cultural norms that might influence the narrative.
Geographical Setting: The specific location or locations where the story takes place or where the author lived while writing the work can have a significant impact on the story’s setting, plot, and characters. Understanding the geography, climate, and landscape can enhance comprehension of the text.
Literary Movements: Identifying and understanding the literary movement or genre the work is associated with can provide insights. For example, knowing a novel is part of the Romantic movement or Modernism can shape how you interpret its themes and styles.
Political Context: The political environment, including any prevalent ideologies, governance structures, and major political events, can heavily influence literary works, especially those that tackle political themes.
Economic Context: The economic conditions during the time the work was written or set, such as poverty, wealth distribution, and economic policies, can influence the characters, plot, and themes.
Technological Advances: The level of technological development at the time can influence a work’s content and themes, especially in genres like science fiction.
Publication Context: The circumstances under which the work was published, including the intended audience, the publishing norms of the time, and the initial reception, can offer insights into its interpretation.
Reader Response: How contemporary and later audiences received and interpreted the text can also provide valuable context. This can include critical reviews, academic analyses, and popular reception.
Inter-textual References: Understanding references to other literary works, historical events, or cultural elements within the text can provide deeper insights.
Character Development: Observe how characters evolve over the course of the narrative. Their actions, decisions, relationships, and changes can highlight and support the central themes. For example, a character's journey from innocence to experience could underline a theme of maturation or loss of innocence.
Dialogue: Pay attention to what characters say and how they say it. Dialogue can reveal their thoughts, beliefs, and motivations, which can be directly tied to the themes. For instance, discussions about freedom or choice can support themes of autonomy or determinism.
Setting: The time and place where the story occurs can significantly reinforce themes. For example, a dystopian setting might support themes of oppression and rebellion.
Plot Events: Key events in the story often directly relate to and illuminate the main themes. For example, a tragic event might highlight themes of fate versus free will.
Symbols: Objects, characters, or events that recurrently appear and represent something else can significantly support themes. For instance, a recurring symbol like a bird in a cage might represent a theme of entrapment or the desire for freedom.
Imagery and Descriptive Language: The use of vivid and descriptive language can create powerful images that reinforce themes. For example, dark and gloomy imagery might support themes of despair or isolation.
Motifs: Recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices can help develop and inform the text’s major themes. For instance, a repeated motif of journeying can underline themes of adventure and self-discovery.
Narrative Voice and Tone: The narrator’s attitude towards the story’s events can indicate thematic direction. A cynical tone might enhance themes of disillusionment, while an optimistic tone might support themes of hope and resilience.
Conflict: Types of conflict (such as man vs. nature, man vs. society, man vs. self) can be a clear indicator of central themes. For example, internal conflict might support themes of identity crisis or moral dilemma.
Irony (including Dramatic and Situational): The use of irony can subtly highlight thematic concerns. For example, an outcome that starkly contrasts with what was intended can underscore themes of unpredictability or fate.
Foreshadowing: Hints or clues about what will happen later in the story can often point towards central themes, especially when these hints are tied to the climax or resolution.
Intertextual References: References or allusions to other texts can enrich the thematic content. For example, references to religious texts might underscore spiritual or moral themes.
Link Literary Features with Themes
Thematic Analysis: These questions ask students to explore specific themes and how they are developed across different texts. For example, a question might ask about the treatment of themes like love, power, conflict, identity, or freedom in two or more texts.
Character Analysis: These questions focus on character development and characterization across texts. For instance, questions might explore the portrayal of heroes, villains, or transformative journeys of characters.
Literary Techniques and Stylistic Features: Questions might focus on how authors use various literary techniques and stylistic features, such as symbolism, imagery, narrative perspective, irony, or humor, across different texts.
Cultural or Historical Context: Some questions ask students to consider how the cultural, historical, or social context influences the texts. This might include examining texts within specific literary movements or historical periods.
Popular Types of Exam Questions
Using Sample Essays
Analyze Essay Structure: Examine how the Level 7 essay is structured. Notice the introduction, how the thesis is presented, how each paragraph transitions smoothly to the next, and how the conclusion succinctly wraps up the argument. Understanding this structure can guide students in organizing their own essays effectively.
Understand Thesis Development: Pay close attention to the thesis statement in the sample essay. A strong thesis is crucial in a high-level essay. See how the thesis is not just a statement but an arguable position that the essay will support.
Examine Use of Evidence: Notice how evidence from the texts (quotations, examples, etc.) is integrated into the sample essays. High-scoring essays skillfully weave in textual evidence to support their arguments. Observe how the evidence is not just presented but analyzed and linked back to the thesis.
Learn Effective Comparison Techniques: Since IB English Paper 2 requires comparative analysis, look at how the sample essay compares and contrasts the literary works. Note the seamless integration of texts and how the essay maintains a balanced discussion between them.
Identify Insightful Analysis: High-level essays offer deep and insightful analysis rather than surface-level observations. Look for interpretations that go beyond the obvious and demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the texts.
Observe Stylistic Excellence: Pay attention to the writing style, including vocabulary choice, sentence structure, and tone. Level 7 essays often demonstrate a sophisticated command of language.
Critical Engagement with the Question: Notice how the essay directly and fully addresses the prompt. High-scoring essays stay focused on the question throughout and continuously tie their points back to it.
Thesis Statement:
Your thesis for Paper 2 should establish a clear comparative framework, addressing similarities and/or differences between the texts under analysis. It should focus on how various elements (themes, styles, contexts) are approached in each text and what this reveals.
Example: "In both [Text 1] and [Text 2], authors [Author 1] and [Author 2] explore the theme of [theme] within the confines of [context], yet their approaches differ markedly in terms of [narrative technique/style], reflecting their unique perspectives on [purpose or message]."
Topic Sentences:
Each topic sentence should introduce a specific point of comparison or contrast between the texts.
Example: "While [Text 1] utilizes [specific style/language element] to [effect on theme or audience], [Text 2] approaches the same theme through [a different style/language element], resulting in [different effect]."
Identify Central Themes and Ideas: Before diving into the text, have a clear understanding of the key themes, ideas, or topics you want to explore. As you read, look for quotes that directly relate to these themes and can help in developing your argument or analysis.
Character Analysis Quotes: If your essay involves character analysis, select quotes that reveal key aspects of a character's personality, changes over time, relationships with other characters, or their role in the narrative.
Quotes Demonstrating Literary Techniques: Be on the lookout for quotes that are excellent examples of the author's use of literary devices like metaphors, similes, symbolism, imagery, and irony. These are useful for detailed analysis in your essay.
Quotes with Dual Meaning or Ambiguity: Quotes that are open to multiple interpretations or that have a deeper, underlying meaning are valuable. They allow for richer analysis and demonstrate your ability to think critically about the text.
Emotionally Charged or Provocative Quotes: Quotes that evoke strong emotions or provoke thought can be very effective, especially if they relate to the central themes or moral dilemmas presented in the text.
Significant Narrative Moments: Look for quotes from significant parts of the text, such as the opening and closing lines, turning points, climax, or other pivotal moments. These often carry thematic weight.