English Literature

Pre-enrolment task for 2014 entry

English Literature Why do I need to complete a pre-enrolment task?

Completion of this task will help to ensure that the course is the right one for you and to give us an indication of your strengths and weaknesses as an English Literature student on point of entry. We will then use this information to help you to do your best when you start the course in September 2014.

(Please note, you are not expected to be able to write like a fully fledged A Level Literature student at this stage!)

When should I hand it in?

The deadline for the task is: 1st July 2014.

This can be posted to the college addressed to: Emma Crosbie, English Department, Huddersfield New College, New Hey Road, Huddersfield, HD3 4GL, or you can submit your answers via email to j.bolt@huddnewcoll.ac.uk.

How will I be given feedback on how well I have done?

Feedback on your work will be given either at the new students’ Welcome Day in July or when you come to enrol at the college in August. All students enrolling onto the English Literature course need to come and have a chat with the Course Leader for the subject, Emma Crosbie on enrolment day.

Task In Detail Write an essay response to the question below. In your response, you should try to incorporate the assessment objectives identified.

Before you write your response to the question, it is recommended that you carry out some research on the poem and the writer to ensure that you understand its meaning.

The essay should be approximately 500 - 750 words. You should not write more than 750 words.

The question: How do you respond to the protagonist’s situation in the poem ‘The Patriot’?

Assessment Objectives: AO1 – Use of appropriate critical vocabulary in the process of creating an argument, which is accurately written and sharply focussed on task/question.

AO3 – Clear consideration of different interpretations of the text with evaluation of strengths and weaknesses of these views (who may and who may not have these views).

Examples of critical vocabulary and words that create a sense of interpretations: ‘On the one hand’, ‘Some may view this as’, ‘Furthermore’, ‘However’ ‘In Contrast’.

Huddersfield New College, New Hey Road, Huddersfield, HD3 4GL Telephone: 01484 652341 email: info@huddnewcoll.ac.uk www.huddnewcoll.ac.uk

This poem is about a man (The Patriot). The character was once recognized as a hero by his public and was cherished; accomplishing anything that he set out to do. However he is later misunderstood by those who once adored him and is rejected by them then sentenced to death.

The Patriot by Robert Browning AN OLD STORY

I. It was roses, roses, all the way, With myrtle mixed in my path like mad: The house-roofs seemed to heave and sway, The church-spires flamed, such flags they had, A year ago on this very day.

II. The air broke into a mist with bells, The old walls rocked with the crowd and cries.

Had I said, ``Good folk, mere noise repels--But give me your sun from yonder skies!''

They had answered, ``And afterward, what else?''

III. Alack, it was I who leaped at the sun To give it my loving friends to keep!

Nought man could do, have I left undone: And you see my harvest, what I reap This very day, now a year is run.

IV. There's nobody on the house-tops now--Just a palsied few at the windows set; For the best of the sight is, all allow, At the Shambles' Gate---or, better yet, By the very scaffold's foot, I trow.

V. I go in the rain, and, more than needs, A rope cuts both my wrists behind; And I think, by the feel, my forehead bleeds, For they fling, whoever has a mind, Stones at me for my year's misdeeds.

VI. Thus I entered, and thus I go!

In triumphs, people have dropped down dead. ``Paid by the world, what dost thou owe ``Me?''---God might question; now instead, 'Tis God shall repay: I am safer so.

For help with this text, why not have a look at: www.sparknotes.com/poetry/browning If you do use this or another website to help you with the meaning of the poem, make sure that you reference to it as a direct quotation or put a ‘references’ section at the end of your essay.

Huddersfield New College, New Hey Road, Huddersfield, HD3 4GL Telephone: 01484 652341 email: info@huddnewcoll.ac.uk www.huddnewcoll.ac.uk