AS LL STREETCAR ANALYSIS QUESTIONS INTRODUCTION

STREETCAR REVISION - THE ANALYTICAL QUESTION

PREPARING for ELLA 1   (You have, of course, already re-read & revised the 2 books & know them very well!)                       WITH CLOSE REFERENCE TO ‘A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE’

REMEMBER:       you must complete 2 tasks, one analytical essay on one of the texts you studied for ELLA 1 and one production task on the other text you studied for ELLA 1.  You are free to choose which task you do for which text.

READING AND CHOOSING:         make sure you read both tasks for both the texts you have studied very carefully before you start. Identify precisely what the tasks require – highlight key words / the key character(s), relationship or theme to be addressed by the task.   Choose carefully according to the knowledge and understanding you have of the 2 texts.  Do not rush this careful reading of the tasks, take 4 – 5 minutes to THINK.

KEY TIP - TIMING:            the production task is worth 45 marks and you should allow 45 - 50 minutes to plan and write it. You should do this task first.  The analytical essay is worth less at 30 marks. You need to allow 35 - 40 minutes for this essay.  You should plan and write it second. 

PLANNING FOR THE ANALYTICAL TASK:

Identify precisely the key elements of the task:

1.       Which character / relationship / theme are you being asked to comment upon – highlight / underline key words

2.       Note that all the analytical questions use the words HOW does the writer – you must make sure you can comment on the literary, linguistic and dramatic techniques used.

Select relevant material from the text:

1.       In your revision make sure you have learned a clear timeline of events – you must be able to find the key passages you need to refer to for evidence very quickly in the exam.

2.       Select only 3 key scenes / incidents to refer to in your answer – this will ensure that you write in good depth and detail about the writer’s techniques (rather than a more general description of a character / behaviours across the whole play)

3.       Jot down page references for quotations (from both the dialogue and the stage directions), the point they illustrate and language / literature feature used by the writer.  i.e. several  PEEs.  Aim for a good range of different techniques – make sure you have the terminology to identify them precisely.

Write a sequenced plan:

1.       A  1 – 2 sentence introduction to focus the answer on the key topic of the question

2.       A sequence of paragraphs to explore the character / relationship / theme as directed by the question – it is most straightforward to take a chronological approach.

3.       Make sure every paragraph opens with a topic sentence to direct the examiner to the new point you are about to explore / explain. Make sure this new point is explored by close analysis of techniques – lots of quotes plus analytical comment (technique used and the effect)

A01        15 MARKS           You need to show you can choose relevant linguistic and literary concepts and terminology to analyse the text.

A02        15 MARKS           You need to show in detail that you understand and can analyse the ways in which form (the play form), structure (the organisation of events for effect), and language (used in dialogue and stage directions) are used to create effects / impact.

REVISE THE PRESENTATION OF CHARACTERS, RELATIONSHIPS AND KEY THEMES FOR THE ANALYTICAL ESSAY.

Look back over the past questions for analysis and make sure you could answer them.  Write a plan for each in which you identify the key scenes you would analyse to answer the question.

Think about possible new questions:  e.g.

·         How does Tennessee Williams portray the relationship between Stella and Stanley?  OR between Stella and Blanche?

·         Explore how Williams has portrayed contrasting women in the play.

·         How does Williams present the theme of desire through the play.

·         Explore how Williams uses the setting of Elysian Fields in A Streetcar Named Desire.

Analytical  Frameworks

Spoken Language features – such as

·         Fluency/non-fluency features

·         Turn taking

·         Adjacency pairs

Language features – such as

·         Grammar

·         Lexis

·         Syntax

·         Register

Literary features

·         Imagery

·         Phonology

·         Rhetorical techniques

Dramatic features

·         Dramatic irony

·         Juxtaposition

·         Dramatic motifs

·         Stage directions

·         Expressionistic techniques

AS LL STREETCAR - DRAMATIC TECHNIQUE

AS ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

INTEGRATED ANALYSIS AND TEXT PRODUCTION

STREETCAR – DRAMATIC TECHNIQUES

Whether you are writing a production task or the essay task for A Streetcar Named Desire knowing about dramatic techniques is vitally important for writing a good answer in the exam.

Below is a partially filled in table to help you use dramatic techniques. You should consider carefully the comments and purposes for these techniques.

FEATURE	EXAMPLE	COMMENT / PURPOSE
Abstract ideas
	Desire Revenge Death Family
Symbols	Blanche: The trunk, the light shade, darkness, alcohol, soft colours, red kimono Stanley: Red stained package, bowling shirt, playing cards, primary colours, bright pyjamas Other: THE STREETCAR, THE SEASONS, The Mexican lady, the blue piano
Stage Directions
Details	The young man laughs uncomfortably and stands like a bashful kid. Blanche speaks softly to him.	Adds detail, prepares us for the shocking news of Blanche’s sacking in sc 7, contrasts innocence and experience.	Sc5
Descriptions of place	The exterior of a two storey corner building	Creates a realistic and vivid setting
Descriptions characters	Blanche ‘Her appearance is incongruous to the setting. She is daintily dressed in a white suit…earings of pearl, white gloves and hat…’		Sc 1
Props	Chinese Shade, The trunk – clothes and objects, Poker table, Clothes, candles, radio	Props can be used as symbols. They can emphasise the lack of space.
Lighting	Use of light and dark / truth and ignorance / exposure and dissembling
Music / Song	The music from the Four Deuces is slow and blue. / Paper Moon – song / The Polka	Used to create a realistic setting and the song picks up an important theme of appearance and reality See expressionism below	Sc 5 Sc 6
Sounds	Cats – 130 /Trains - 163 / street sellers – Mexican woman 205 tamale man – 175, vendor – 116,	The public and the private	Sc 4 Sc
Non verbal communication	Sc 3 She returns his look without flinching
Setting
New Orleans
The Quarter	The Negro Woman cackles hysterically, swaying	Sc 5 – p172 enter young man
Elysian Fields
The Apartment
Belle Reve	Only referred to ‘bunch of old papers’ ‘the place with the white pillars	= beautiful dream
Expressionistic
FEATURE	EXAMPLE	COMMENT	REF
Lighting	The surrounding areas dim out as the interior is lighted	Focus of attention, transparency thin barriers broken	Sc 1
Sound effects	Inside Blanche’s head inhuman voices		Sc 10 213
The Jungle & Lurid reflections	Inside Blanche’s head	Sounds and sight	Sc 10 213
Music	Inside Blanche’s head The polka tune starts up again….	Polka – European formal dance music of the upper classes 19th century – contrast to the blues music of current time	Sc 9

Expressionistic drama

Time and locations can be compressed. In this play at key moments in the drama we experience what is going on inside Blanche's head. It is as if we are looking at a dream sequence.

Same setting – lights used to highlight different sections of the set. Outside the apartment, kitchen / bedroom creates a transparent set – where everyone can see what everyone is doing this supports the script – Eunice and Steve scene 5, the Mexican Woman – scene 9 the newspaper boy - scene 5, mime with prostitute and drunk scene  Expressionistic scene 10 103

AS LL STREETCAR - BLANCHE

AS ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

INTEGRATED ANALYSIS AND TEXT PRODUCTION

BLANCHE’S CHARACTER – SYMBOLS - KEY SPEECHES

To be able to write a strong answer on A Streetcar Named Desire - either for the production task or the essay question - for the exam you will need an in depth and thorough understanding of the main characters. Blanche is the most important character of the play.

Below is a list of core characteristics of Blanche’s character. Look through the play and identify key quotations that you can use to support these claims about her.

CHARACTER OF BLANCHE – SOME FEATURES

FEATURE	QUOTATION	COMMENT
Vain	I want you to look at my figure!	This is a short imperative statement to Stella. It emphasises her physical appearance. It shows Blanche in a position of power and control. It is also an exclamative statement -  adding emphasis and force to her demand.
Agitated
A Liar
Judgemental
Isolated
Insecure
Desires

SOME SYMBOLS

Below is a table you can use to consider the symbols we can associate with her character.

FEATURE	QUOTATION	COMMENT
The Dark	“I like it dark, the dark is comforting to me.”	In this compound, declarative statement. Blanche is associated with darkness. The connotations of darkness include, hiding, refuge and disguise. In the darkness she can fantasise. In it she is mysterious, unknowable and romantic.
Coloured paper lantern
Moth
Trunk
Alcohol

SPEECHES

Sc 1 p 12 I took the blows in my face

FEATURE	COMMENTS
Context
Summary
Key quote
Attitude
Feature[s]

Sc 2 p 24 There are thousands of papers

FEATURE	COMMENTS
Context
Summary
Key quote
Attitude
Feature[s]

Sc 4 p 47 – He acts like an animal

FEATURE	COMMENTS
Context
Summary
Key quote
Attitude
Feature[s]

Sc 5 p 53  – I never was hard or self sufficient enough

FEATURE	COMMENTS
Context
Summary
Key quote
Attitude
Feature[s]

Sc 6 p 66  – He was a boy, just a boy

FEATURE	COMMENTS
Context
Summary
Key quote
Attitude
Feature[s]

Sc 9 p 87 – Yes, a big spider

FEATURE	COMMENTS
Context
Summary
Key quote
Attitude
Feature[s]

Sc 10 p 93 – A cultivated woman / Yes swine! Swine! / But then he came back

FEATURE	COMMENTS
Context
Summary
Key quote
Attitude
Feature[s]

Sc 11 p 102 – I can smell the sea air

FEATURE	COMMENTS
Context
Summary
Key quote
Attitude
Feature[s]