Literature
Here you can discuss books, poetry, short stories, plays, etc., either for your reading pleasure or books that you have to read for A1 class. This forum is for the discussion of books only, whereas discussion of any literature assignments should go in the Language A1 forum.
366 topics in this forum
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"Where writers unite." That sounds corny. Whatever. Anyway. Lc and I love to write. One of the ambitions of our lives is to publish a book (separately, not together). So we thought we needed a place here to talk about our writing and consequently see how many other writers we have here. So do you write? This is the place to share your works, maybe get some constructive criticism or comments, or just talk about your writing habits. To be totally honest, I can be extremely defensive and insecure about my writing, so I don't show them around too much, but I occasionally do. And when I do, it's either because I think it's pretty darn good, or it was written to be shar…
Last reply by Taylanian, -
- 3 replies
- 3k views
I'm studying 'Atonement' as one of my HL English books... i'm liking it so far. What do you think about Briony as an unreliable narrator??
Last reply by OverEasy, -
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My literature teacher chose to work with this book. I didn't really understand her, I didn't even knew the book. However I really enjoyed it. It soon became a really polemic book, upon which we debated fiercely. -Brick's homosexuality (Some people still say he's heterosexual) -The film adaptation (I extremely disliked it) It isn't a well-known book, but I would like to share experiences if someone has been working with it too
Last reply by Grumps, -
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Has anyone read this short story? what are your thoughts on it?
Last reply by Julia32, -
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Anyone have any discussion points to talk about for these plays? These are the three plays I am studying for Paper 2.
Last reply by shelby1993, -
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Can somebody help me with this poem "Men Talk" by Liz Lochhead? I am doing a WT2 for it and I don't really understand the meaning of the poem. Help pls? Thanks
Last reply by JacquiHB, -
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Hey, guys) I'm having IOC on this book in 10 days and I would like to discuss this book with you. What is the role of fire in the book? I can see that it is a contrasting imagery, since it is a cause for destruction (we can see a lot of references to it) and the only source of light. However, when the child says 'we're carrying the fire', I could not really get what he means by that. You could say that it stays for 'life' and all that but why would McCarthy write about the destruction? Also, if you have some other useful notes on the book (imagery, tone, allusions), could you please share it with the rest of us? Collective thinking is always good.
Last reply by Blackcurrant, -
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Hey, I'd like to know if there's anyone (besides me) working on an EE that includes or is based around postmodern fiction or its derivatives. I am working on an EE centered on Don DeLillo's White Noise, but am probably bound to including some other writers (perhaps Pynchon or D.F. Wallace) and some things based on literary theory (de Man and Derrida)... Anybody out there?
Last reply by lyanchang1, -
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- 16 replies
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On behalf of this thread I intend to discuss the infinite themes and motifs of one of the greatest dystopian novels of the twentieth century. I read 1984 for IB english and found it very interesting, it opened my mind to the reality of the world and existing power relationships. As an IB history student, it contributed to my understanding of single party leaders. It is a novel full of symbolism, suspense and emotions. It made me realize about the freedoms that we nowadays enjoy and made me wonder how long will these liberties last, as well. I absolutely loved it and I believe it leaves certain issues open to readers to question such as the abuse of power from the authorit…
Last reply by Teertha, -
I needed help with this question on an old paper I read in english, Do you think that the characters in 1984 are portrayed by the author to be trapped somehow by means of society? Any references to characters in the book?
Last reply by ~Lc~, -
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Does literature offer a means to understanding other cultures? Foreign mindsets? Which literary work (novel, poem, memoir, literary non-fiction) has given you insight into another mind, time or culture? Or your own culture and time? How? Share your personal views and experiences here.
Last reply by emantse, -
- 8 replies
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Hello guys, I am planning to work on "Catcher in the Rye" and one another book related with it in terms of themes or subjects or something else. I have "The Great Gatsby" in my mind that I can compare them in terms of looking at American dream and also "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is another option in terms of conflict society versus individual. However, I could not decide the topic yet. I'd be glad if you comment on this or recommend some other books.
Last reply by becoming meursault, -
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Was there a book that inspired you to develop passion in literature? For me, it all began with Lee Young Do's fantasy novel, Dragon Raja. I still thank my friend who recommended that book to me, because without reading that book, I would not have realized how fascinating literature can be, earlier. How about you?
Last reply by mechnight, -
- 16 replies
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I'm a quarter way through the book and i'm finding it interesting so far. I do agree with most of the reviews though that it's alarmingly different to the magical imagination Rowling put into Harry Potter. This one is just so... British Townsfolk drama. Sort of below her if anything! It is still well written I think, and it is a page turner so far. Has anyone else read it yet? No spoilers please!
Last reply by Captain Jeeves, -
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Hi does anyone have any suggestions about a dolls house research question that pertains to hypocrisy. Anything pertaining to symbols or anything that relate to Torvald or Kristines' immorality, hypocrisy.
Last reply by Nujra, -
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Please im badly stuck after stanza 3 analyz , can any one do a stanza by stanza summery Reluctance Out through the fields and the woods And over the walls I have wended; I have climbed the hills of view And looked at the world, and descended; I have come by the highway home, And lo, it is ended. The leaves are all dead on the ground, Save those that the oak is keeping To ravel them one by one And let them go scraping and creeping Out over the crusted snow, When others are sleeping. And the dead leaves lie huddled and still, No longer blown hither and thither; The last lone aster is gone; The flowers of the witch hazel wither; The heart is still aching to seek, But the …
Last reply by bellfrankding, -
Amaaaazing Books? 1 2 3 4
by timtamboy63- 61 replies
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This thread is for everyone that loves to read~~ What are your favourite books/authors/series? I really like Matthew Reilly, he has a pretty awesome fast pace and has a pretty grand plot I also liked Kite Runner, it was written quite well
Last reply by cclina32, -
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An Analysis of the Social Classes in Patrick Suskind’s Perfume Analysis of Manipulative Relationships and Animal Metaphors in Patrick Suskind’s Perfume In Perfume, Patrick Suskind illustrates the importance of social classes in Germany post-World War 2 through his story of Grenouille, a murderer with a strong sense of smell and a goal to control everyone around him, in 18th century France. The difference in time and place forces the reader to make connections between what was occurring in the book and Communist Germany. Although the settings are different, they demonstrate the rise of communism and social order along with the eventual downfall of it all w…
Last reply by nicholasnj, -
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i'd cut myself and bleed the heavens just for you without it, i'd fall and die so with my blood, i'll paint the sky! i'd bleed myself and paint the sky a brilliant red!
Last reply by IbTrojan, -
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Hey! Just quickly, our english class has an in class essay on Antigone tomorrow. This is our first in class essay of the year with no revealed question (We are not told the question) So, I want to ask you...what is the most effective way of preparing for an inclass essay on Antigone without knowing the question? *Some ideas would give me a great boost (Areas such as theme, characterization, literary devices??) Thanks a lot, much appreciated!
Last reply by Andy K., -
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I'm interested in Japanese literature lately. I've been reading Murakami the whole time but now I want to explore more on other Japanese writers, in any era. Any suggestion for Japanese literature books/novels that are already translated to English? So far I know that Natsume Soseki and Akutagawa Ryuunosuke are well-known Japanese writers.
Last reply by Blackcurrant, -
- 4 replies
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Is there any way to drop literature entirely? I can't stand the subject and am frustrated with how difficult it is. I personally don't see the point in the subject as it seems pretty boring and useless ( at least for me ). Of course if you enjoy the subject, I don't mean to say that the subject should disappear entirely, but rather there should be alternative options to literature. Sorry if I offended anyone and thanks in advance.
Last reply by JaskaTheOm, -
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I love Shakespeare! Which one is your favorite and why? Be detailed! I want to know cause I haven't read all his plays and you could really open my eyes to his other work. By the way, if you want to recommend any classic literature you can too! I am a huge bookworm!!!!
Last reply by Avan:), -
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hello ib students worldwide , Im taking Arabic A lang and lit self -taught and i was wondering what is the requirements ? or if someone has the guide
Last reply by Sally, -
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Hallo, i do arabic A self thaught, and i looked on the past peapers language and literature – Standard level – Paper 2 they have asked to answer one qustion from the list and your ansower it depend on two books you read in part 3. my qustion is i have selected a biography in my part 3 and i can not answer any qustion of them, what i have to do if i get the same problem in my exam. thank you
Last reply by Dutchie, -
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Hey Guys, Im starting IB next year and im taking english A SL and these are the books we will be covering Nineteen Eighty Four George Orwell The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald A Streetcar Named Desire Tenessee Williams Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays Oscar Wilde The VisitFriedrich Dürrenmatt I was wondering are any of these books good> if you have taken them or read them? any opinions will be helpful Thanks in advance
Last reply by poppop828, -
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I'm Asian so I guess it's quite obvious that I like reading Asian Literature but I have to admit that Japanese novels are subtle/slightly weird yet VERY VERY down to earth! My Favourite author is Haruki Murakami (Murakami Haruki for me because I'm Asian). I also love reading Korean novels (yep I'm Korean)! It's a shame that we can't find translated ones here because they are totally worth a read. But I guess translating Korean in English wouldn't capture the sentiment in it at the first place.
Last reply by ecieee, -
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Has anyone read and have a firm understanding of this novel. It's a potential oral commentary topic for my class next friday.
Last reply by Claire Patterson, -
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What, in your opinion, are the best dystopian novels? Of course, everyone (as in, dystopian lovers ) worships 1984 and Brave New World - but what else? I personally find Player Piano (Kurt Vonnegut) and Darkness at Noon (Arthur Koestler) to be as good as, if not better than, the famous two
Last reply by CeciliaL, -
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If you read Historical fiction, what is your most favorite books ever? The Alexander Tri-ology by Valerio Massimo Manfredi- my favorite books <3
Last reply by CanadianRice, -
- 5 replies
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I am taking the eng lit hl course and i was wondering what the best ways of going about this course are, in order to get good grades. we're reading and discussing the books and making notes, but I'm not sure how i can improve my structure in essays etc. (we aren't writing many in class) any ideas?
Last reply by rockpapertash, -
Was curious about what people thought about this. Just organized in a poll-like form I guess... and not comprehensive, just some examples. i.e. for me Best: Ian McEwan's novels Worst: Twilight series; Eragon series What do you think? Dissidents welcome... thumbs up if you agree, down if you don't!
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I personally enjoy reading comedy such as Augusten Burroughs's Magical Thinking and Possible Side Effects. Any books you've enjoy and recommend for me?
Last reply by steam.rice.sally, -
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Which books are you reading/did you read for your Literature course? (English or other languages) Which one was your favorite?
Last reply by Solstice, -
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Just wondering what books you would've liked to read and discuss in the IB. My list below (not exhaustive): Catch-22: Just finished this; surprisingly potent mixture of tragedy and comedy Tono-Bungay: Somewhat obscure novel by Wells, overshadowed I think by his science fiction, but is quite a good criticism of certain facets of Victorian society Infinite Jest: Probably too lengthy to actually be part of the IB syllabus, but just a great novel overall (although to nitpick a little after re-reading it about 8 times, some of the math seems a bit strange; I mean, seriously, 'post-Fourier analysis'? Also, the derivative of xn is wrong, though it may be just…
Last reply by Nomenclature, -
- 3 replies
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I just wanted to know if it was possible to make a video for a IOP?
Last reply by lonesoldier, -
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The Hunger Games have become very popular since the film came out. I don't consider myself a fan but I enjoyed the books (I didn't like Mockingjay very much though..). Before watching the movie my friends and I discussed whether the books can be considered as literature. My first response was no. It is a YA novel, and most novels of that genre can't be considered as literature. *cough cough* Twilight (btw I hate it when people compare The Hunger Games with Twilight just because of the love triangle). We reached to the conclusion that The Hunger Games describesa a dystopian society and it portrays significant themes (like the control of the government, or the power of mass…
Last reply by Aegle, -
- 10 replies
- 1.2k views
Hey guys! I'd like to read some Chinese literature, but don't know where to start. Could you give me some suggestions? (I can't really read chinese very well, so hopefully one with english translations )
Last reply by Sheepsie, -
- 0 replies
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Does anyone at here take CHINESE LITERATURE SELF-TAUGHT? I will do my orals in 2 weeks, does anyone have any tips or advices? If anyone has any helpful packets, we can share them, too. If you are not SELF-TAUGHT student, it doesn't matter.
Last reply by Yueyue, -
Commentary
by nevada- 1 reply
- 764 views
Can someone please give me any advice or tips on how to write a good commentary? I know what it is but I tend to have trouble connecting it to meaning, is there any helpful phrases that tend to score good points? Thanks!
Last reply by Flow4421, -
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any good sites for a jist of analysis for the poem Mid-term break by Seamus Heaney
Last reply by the.shizz, -
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I have my SL Lit IOP next week and I need to find a way to make it creative/interactive. I know that this is not a requirement for the IOP, but my teacher says that the creative presentations always score higher and she encouraged me to make mine creative. I'm doing my IOP on how Tim O'Brien creates different moods in The Things They Carried. By creative things I mean something that would engage the audience and make my presentation stand out. For example, one girl in my class wrote wrote a short children's book which she compared to Romeo and Juliet. I also want to do somethings different than the typical game show, monologue, jeopardy, kahoot, etc. Anyone hav…
Last reply by VictorBernstein, -
- 3 replies
- 1.3k views
How does Dostoevsky use Raskolnikov's mental imprisonment as a means to criticize society? I really need help with this question.
Last reply by daxx, -
- 4 replies
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Has anyone read Crime and Punishment? We are reading it a bit later this year but I've heard different opinions on the book. Any thoughts or comments?
Last reply by freezy19, -
- 1 reply
- 889 views
Hi everyone, I'm a junior working on my English IOP. Apparently I have non-verbal learning disorder, so English isn't really my strong point. But anyway, I'm working on my The Things They Carried IOP and was wondering if anyone had any ideas for what I should incorporate in my presentation. My topic, (approved by the teacher) is "How does O'Brien explore the ways in which characters deal with death" Any extra ideas or personal insights into this topic would be much much appreciated! Thanks, Nick
Last reply by tim9800, -
- 2 replies
- 1.1k views
I'd like to know if any schools have studied or are studying any charles ****ens novels for their Internal/external assignments. i love his works, but we're not studying any at our school
Last reply by CeciliaL, -
- 28 replies
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So I was wondering this? I used to read a lot of Harry Potter fanfiction when I was in the IB (that was a while ago) and it was always a guilty pleasure of sorts. Once, one of my friends caught me reading it in Maths class and she flipped out because she read an excessive amount of fanfiction too. We later found out that 5/8 people on our lunch table used to read fanfiction in their spare time. I sort of reduced this as university became intense, but I've continued to read the occasional story every now and again. So, anybody else out there? Also, if you do read HP fanfiction in particular, any recommendations?
Last reply by Arrowhead, -
- 2 replies
- 742 views
IB English isn't my favorite class because I've always had trouble retaining knowledge or avoiding the temptation to daydream. So some of my favorite books aren't narratives, and don't really have any literary devices begging to be analyzed. One of my favorite books right now is Mathematics 1001 by Richard Elwes. It's a reference book filled with interesting blurbs about topics of math ranging from arithmetic to Fourier series. For example, the sum of all of reciprocals of the factorials converges to e (though most people doing the Series and Differential Equations option should know this). I highly recommend checking it out if you have even a minute interest in math. Wha…
Last reply by aldld, -
hi everyone I'm writing my essay on lang and lit. I chose to do it in category 1. Im wondering if the author of the book i chose needs to be in the IB list of prescribed authors, or if that is only applied to works studied in class. Thank you so much for your help Madison
Last reply by gohgy, -
- 0 replies
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I have a practice IO presentation on Wednesday and I really am starting to confuse myself with exactly what I need in it. I am doing it on two texts (one poem, Night Wind By Christopher Dewdney and The Things They Carried By Tim O'Brien) This is what I have so far and I don't know what else to do (even though I need to talk for 10 mins.) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WtEP7EO36Ir521TD3r2xXOjPWfQYcEtGGstukG-1Jas/edit?usp=sharing
Last reply by Destiny,