h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Not sure if that's a word, but it's an apt title.

I have a three thousand piece of coursework to do for my A Level English Literature. I'd like to compare the way Harper Lee's 'To Kill A Mocking Bird' and Stephen King's 'The Green Mile' make the reader sympathise with victims of rascism. I happen to think that King does this better, and that was the main reason for choosing these books. But 'The Green Mile' may not be considered 'intellectual' enough for the cheif examiner and his University colleagues, in which case I won't be able to contrast the books. In my opinion, 'The Green Mile' is an excellent book, and has the depth of a true classic. It is not fair to reject it simply because the writer is a modern bestseller, especially as his genre includes quite happily the likes of '1984', which the examiners have no problem with. Despite several wonderful essays on the Harry Potter books, and their increasing likelihod of being a classic of the future, in the manner of 'Lord of the Rings' etc, they are not allowed either. And yet 'Bridget Jone's Diary' sits quite happily on the suggested list. I have no problem with the book, or it being studied, but considering it is at heart 'chick-lit' I don't think it fair that an examiner should allow this to be termed intellectual yet ignore other fine examples of modern literature.

When it comes to Bridget Jones I would have been skeptical too...however I can prove that it can be a good book to study, a good book to write about and indeed a good enough book to get one of the top grades in your English Exam.

A850745 Two Hundred Years and Two Modern Heroines

That's my English Specialist Studies on Bridget Jones and Pride and Prejudice...I got 28 out of 30, my teacher thought it the worst book and choice in the world, she was meant to read ALL our books, she refused to read mine and said to get a new question...I basically said "sod off" wrote the essay without much assistance from her, handed her in this exact draft and came out with one of the highest grades in her class. She expected me to get an upper C...I got an A.



Intellectual Bridget Jones may not be...but that doesn't mean the student writer can't change that around.

Well done, as I said, I'm sure (especially after having read your essay) that BJ'sD is a wondeful choice. Basically, if the student can find two books that are linked in some way, and that link is understandable and strong enough to write 3000 words on it, then the essay should be allowed to be written. In fact, wouldn't an essay on non intellectual books be more difficult to write, as the likelihood of getting help from other sources, and reading others ideas would be greatly diminished.

I agree actually, to right a good essay on a poorly written book is a hell of a lot more difficult than it is to find a good element to write about a classicaly good book

Mmm, and when you think of the exhaustive supplies of other peoples notes and published essays on, for example, a Dicken's novel, it must be simpler to do research.

I know! My friend James wrote about Orwells Animal Farm, I don't think he really read the book properly rather just used other peoples notes to vague out an essay before filling in some blanks!

He got a C for it.

It's much easier to be faux-insightful about Orwell than it is about Dickens though. In fact, I can't imagine why anyone would want to be insightful about Dickens - the most voer-rated author in the history of publishing.

As regards Green Mile, I feel I would have to disagree. Stephen King's writing is based solely upon impact, and whether he is doing this through his more 'conventional' horror themes or branching out into racism or whatever, the text is solely designed to shock the reader and, as such is quite shallow, insincere and detached.

I am, admittedly, deeply prejudiced as I simply adore tkaMockingbird; to my mind the portrayals are plain, frank and unbiased in the way only a child's viewpoint can be. I don't think Harper Lee intended a great exposé of racism; the fact that it existed in the Deep South is well-known enough to everybody. The sympathy is created with a much more subtle effect, as the central characters gradually, but never overtly acquire emotions that, intentionally or otherwise, guide the reader the same way.



B

Two Kill a Mockingbird is an excellent book

Definitely a favourite of mine - I'm so glad that it was picked for my GCSEs and not Silas Marner.

B

Yeah we were made to do it for Standard Grade. Um 3rd&4th year, I don't know what that's equivilent to down south, which is first GCSE's or A Levels? which ever the first is it's that.

Anyway it took me forever to get through the first time, but I thought it was a great book once I managed to get through it

Our 3&4th year would beges 14-15, so the first year of GCSE and the year prior to that, if that's the right translation.

I read it all in one sitting. Just couldn't put it down. Made me look a right swot the next day, when everyone else had only read the first six chapters, or whatever.

B

Yep that's about right we take Standard Grades over 2 years, 3rd year we sit 3rd Year exams on the subjects we've taken over the two years and then we sit out finals.

I did it 4th year then, because we finished the academic year before we could finish the book so it was a while before I could locate the copy in the house to read it all the way through.

Silas Marner is one of the worst books i have ever read. There was not one person in my English class who enjoyed it. Are George Eliot's other books any better?

Considering that it was boring girly fiction, I quite enjoyed Middlemarch...

B

Boring girly fiction? What's wrong with girls fiction, I think they should make guys read it so they know what we're like!

Well, I've read Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice, Emma, Wuthering bloody Heights and Jane Eyre, and they were all irredeemably awful. And don't get me started on Mrs. ing Gaskell.

B

What about modern gils stuff, like Marian Keyes, Jill Mansell *whispers* Bridget Jones' Diary?

Blah!

B

Typical bloke...never capable of sustaining a well rounded view.

No, it's just that enough of a hard time when ladies pour out their emotions my vicinity without having to read them put down on paper as well.

B