Bringing old stories to life

Last month we blogged about the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible in 1611.

In addition to the television programmes and books which have come out in the UK this year, there has been a conference at the University of Sheffield which looked at the impact of this famous text on education today.

Delegates and lecturers expressed the very real concern that students were hampered in their studies because of unfamiliarity with biblical stories and language. And the question was raised: When there is so much to catch up with, where can you start?

Experience it live

If you live near enough to Oxford and can carve out some time THIS WEEK, a lively way of getting to grips with some of the Bible’s contents is to attend a performance of Tales from King James, by Creation Theatre Company (http://www.creationtheatre.co.uk/show-one/tales-from-king-james). Performed, appropriately enough, in St Barnabas’ Church in the Jericho area of the city, the cast use a combination of modern and Jacobean text to portray some of the biblical events in a modern context.

As Oxford’s Daily Info review puts it:

‘In their quirky condensed version of the Bible, Creation treat the audience to a whistle-stop tour of the famous book’s most marvellous stories and breathe new life into such well-known tales as Jonah and the whale, Noah’s Ark and Moses’ parting of the Red Sea.

As well as making the stories accessible to those unversed in the Old Testament, the seamless blend of old and new shows the prevalence of the language of the Bible in modern day secular life. As characters contemplate ‘the valley of the shadow of death’ or ponder ‘am I my brother’s keeper?’ the audience is reminded how the teachings of the Bible live on today in all strands of society.’

Boost your knowledge online

Don’t despair if you can’t get to Oxford. Crossref-it.info has all sorts of easy ways to get familiar with the stuff you need to know from the Bible. Check out the A - Z Glossary tab on the home page for speedy access to:

• Famous stories from the Bible
• Common sayings from the Bible
• A handy list of the key events in each book of the Bible (66 in all).

Of course there’s much more, but don’t let that daunt you – just make a start.

Whatever your personal attitude to the Bible, it has had a profound impact on literature down the centuries. Anyone who is serious about enjoying great writing cannot afford to ignore it.

Exams have arrived – it’s now or never

How on earth do you prepare for an A Level Eng. Lit exam?

Welcome to the third in a short series about how to revise English successfully.

What does it mean to revise: An author’s methods of presentation?

It is very likely that at least one of the questions you will face in the exam will focus on how an author presents his/her intentions within or across texts. How can you prepare for that?

The key aim of questions like these is to get you to focus not on ‘what happens’ but how the author has crafted the text in order to elicit a particular response in the reader.

There are basic areas to cover, regardless of the text. For each of the following:

• Try and make condensed notes / a mind map / list headwords
• Learn a quotation or specific example to illustrate.

Plot

1. With whom is a reader to identify – a 1st or 3rd person narrator, a particular character?
   
   a) How has the author achieved that sense of identification?
   b) How does it shape the reader’s perspective on the plot?
   
   
2. If there is a sub-plot
   
   a) What is its relevance to the main one?
   b) How are the main and sub-plots interwoven?
   
   
3. What is the impact of presenting events chronologically / non-chronologically?
   
   a) What is the impact of any time frame on the presentation of the plot?

Narrative perspective

1. Who is telling the story and how close is the reader to him/her?
   
   
2. At what pace do events unfold – how has the author created that effect?
   
   
3. Is there direct authorial comment and/or does tone / irony / mood guide a reader’s response?

Patterning

1. What themes brought to the fore? (See previous blog in series)
   
   
2. How are imagery and / or symbolism used?
   
   
3. Are there repetitions / echoes of:
   
   a) Events
   b) Locations
   c) Family structures?

Description

1. How would you characterise the author’s descriptive techniques?
   
   
2. What kind of language is employed when – to what effect?
   
   
3. How do these techniques create:
   
   a) Character (see previous blog in series)
   b) Location and atmosphere
   c) Drama, tension / suspense?

As you cover these ideas you always need to keep in mind the intentions of the author – and remember to tell the examiner what they are!

GOOD LUCK