We: Record Nine

In Record Nine a cipher becomes sacrificed by the Benefactor. This act foreshadows I-330's death later on.

When the cipher is being sacrificed it is described as his hands being tied back by a "purple ribbon" which then the narrator (D-503) refers to this being a spin-off tradition to that of the Ancients but instead of ribbon, they would use chain as the one being sacrificed would often fight back. D-503 is shocked with this idea of one fighting against the Rulers decision. This shows the people of OneState are conditioned to such a degree that they will not fight for their life.

The minor sentence "Cube Plaza." demonstrates that the name of the Benefactor's auditorium is enough to symbolise all it stands for. By creating this minor sentence, it gives the "Cube Plaza" immediate power, authority and dominance over everything and everyone. Thus signally the importance of what is about to occur in it.

We: Frederick W Taylor and Femme Fatale

Frederick Winslow Taylor was a mechanical engineer who sought to improve industrial efficiency. Taylor believed that in his day the industrial management was amateurish, and that it should be formulated as academic discipline. He believed that workers were supposed to be incapable of understanding what they were doing.

This relates back to the novel We as this is very much of the OneState operates. Everything runs with smooth efficiency and workers seem to not think beyond what they are told to do.

definition of femme fatale: enchantress - a woman who is considered dangerously seductive.

I-330 fits into the definition of femme fatale as she is related to fire and darkness which is a very compelling aspect as OneState is all about ice as everything is blue and made out of glass and also it is always light and barely dark. This makes the character I-330 interesting. I believe the action that makes her seductive is the fact that her eyes are said to close off like blinds, able to hide what she is feeling inside. To be able to hide something in OneState is very rare and dangerous. It is this rarity and dangerousness that seduces D-503 towards I-330.

Narrative Terms

Extended Metaphor defined: An extended metaphor, also called a conceit, is a metaphor that continues into the sentences that follow. It is often developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work, and are especially effective in poems and fiction.

Narrative Terms

~ Point of View

First Person: Only see one persons point of view so can come across as bias. However, may gain a deeper insight as you can more clearly understand the feelings and emotions of a particular character.

Third Person: See everything that is happening within the story. Objective point of view

~ Treatment of Time Schemes: is the consistency of the characteristics of persons, plot, objects, places and events seen by the reader or viewer.

~ Dialogue: gives characters a voice. Adds another dimension to the story. Alternative point of view.

~ Narration: the act of giving an account describing incidents or a course of events.

Record Two

I found reading Record Two was very different to record one as two was now showing the reader the differences between inside the Green Wall and outside the Green Wall.

The land beyond the Green Wall is described in the book as "wild" with "yellow honey-dust from a flower of some kind" and when describing the city inside the Green Wall, the image of machinery is portrayed. However D-503 sees the machinery as beauty as he describes "the balance wheels were rocking proudly; and the cutting head of the perforating machine curtsied".

Reflection on We

The text uses a range of culturally defined language (idiom) which appear very structured and strict.

The story is being told in first person narration meaning that the view is more personal and the reader experiences the full emotions of the narrator, however this can become bias. This is shown in the first page where the narrator quotes an article that appeared in the State Gazette. He is opposed to this article, though does not seem to really inform us of the reason why - maybe he does not completely know himself, which opens up a stream of questions from the reader such as why the narrator cannot decide why he does not agree and why does he not agree.

Irony is a heavily used technique in the first passage. Lines such as "it will be our duty to force them to be happy...resorting to arms" (pg 1) and "mathematically infallible happiness" - mathematics becomes a symbol of 'reductionist' theory. No creativity, no free thought. One set way.

Mid Year Exam Essay Review

In what ways has a writer shown that things are not always as they seem? (If you answer on short stories or poetry, you must refer to 2 texts)

Summary of Introduction:- The Helmers relationship is not as shown in the exposition, Nora isn't as closely related to the typical nineteenth century housewife aas originally believed to be and Torvald is portrayed as the villain until his back story says otherwise.

Paragraph 1:-

~ The Helmer's marriage is portrayed as loving and playful...."is that my little skylark out there?"

~ However, the repetition of the words "skylark" and "squirrel" begins to appear as diminutive.

~ Torval is constantly showing his superiority to Nora...."[Torvald] playfully grabbing Nora's ear"

Paragraph 2:-

~ Protagonist Nora appears to enjoy Torvald's treatment....."humming happily"

~ Their social status is portrayed as upper-middle class "small bookcase with handsomely bounded books"

~ Seems content with her doll like exsistence

~ "Macaroons" contradict this observation

~ The loan she took out secretly also reinforces that Nora is a complex character.

~ Therefore Nora is independent, courageous and intelligent.

Paragraph 3:-

~ Nils Krogstad is displayed as "villain" as blackmailing Nora

~ However, Mrs Linde reveals his softer side and is seen in new light by audience.

Conclusion:-

~ Ibsen uses characters to show things are not always as they appear.

~ Helmers relationship ended in seperation

~ Nora became independent from a "doll" wife

~ Krogstad no longer villain but lonely man

Overall, I am pleased with my essay. Reading over it now, I understand now that in some instances I said too much plot and that brought down the register of my writing. I also need to relate back to question at the end of each paragraph but despite these things, I feel an improvement in my knowledge and understanding of the text and essay writing as a whole.