IB English Literature HL - Questionbank

Patteson — Pussy Meow: The Autobiography of a Cat

How does the type of text enable the author to convey themes in a unique way to the reader?

Alexie — The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

How does the text convey ideas about poverty?

Atwood — The Handmaid's Tale

How does the text use allusions and symbolism to depict the role of women in dystopian Gilead’s society?

Stevenson — Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

How does the use of language help convey the complexities of the narrator’s internal struggles and reflections on human nature?

Fitzgerald — The Great Gatsby

How does the author's language and style express themes of wealth, social class, power, and public vs. private life ?

O'Henry — Memories of a Yellow Dog

How does the writer create a humorous tone in the extract?

Brothers Grimm — Little Red Cap

How do traditional fairy tale elements enrich the narrative and aid in the exploration of its themes?

Hawthorne — Rappaccini's Daughter

How does the writer draw a parallel between the stories to reflect on the dangers of human experimentation?

Bronte — Wuthering Heights

How does the author manage to present dialogue in this extract to create a heightened sense of drama?

Perkins Gilman — The Yellow Wallpaper

In what way does the text reveal the state of mind of the narrator?

Douglass — Narrative of the Life of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave

How does the deliberate use of control and manipulation in the text serve to accentuate and underscore the theme of dehumanization?

Satrapi — Persepolis

Analyze how the extract uses authorial choices to portray the protestors and the authorities.

Nicholson — Diary of a Honeymoon Trip to Australia in 1897

To what extent is the perspective of the Victorian Empire towards the colonies portrayed in Evelyn Nicholson´s personal journal?

Zitkala-Sa — The Cutting of My Long Hair

How does this story highlight the power struggle of the characters and their transformation over time?

King — I've Been to the Mountaintop

Analyse how the writer uses techniques and diction to evoke an emotional response in the readers.

Lelhomela — The Girl Who Survived Her Mother

How does the extract exemplify the typical conventions of memoirs as reflective and emotional texts?

El Saadawi — Woman at Point Zero

How does the writer use conventions of frame narrative in a creative way in the passage? 

Shakespeare — Hamlet

How does the author use language and interactions to present characters and themes?

Ibsen — A Doll's House

How does the writer use techniques to empower the main character?

Shaw — Pygmalion

What do the dynamics and interactions of the characters reveal about the broader societal context?

Wilde — The Importance of Being Earnest

How are status and power manifested in these exchanges?

Shakespeare — Macbeth

In what ways does the text reveal the thoughts and feelings of the character?

Duffy — Little Red Cap

To what extent does the poet offer a different perspective to the original fairy tale of Little Red Cap?

Hughes — Freedom

What role do language and literary technique play in exploring thematic elements in poetry, and how does this affect the reader's interpretation of these themes?

Walker — When You Thought Me Poor

To what extent does the poem portray the speaker's timeless sense of belonging to African American Culture?

Whitman — Song of Myself

How does the author’s writing style contribute to the overall impact of the work on the reader?

Ewing — Madrigal

To what extent does "Madrigal" explore the struggle of women to be understood in oppressive societies through time and space?

Owen — Dulce et Decorum est

How is a particular group portrayed in this poem to criticise pro-war leaders?