The World of GCE O Level Type Literature Quesitons according to Mr. Rashidi

Please note:  Mr. Rashidi is now with Tampines Junior College.  He left St. Hilda's Secondary School in 2008. 

According to Mr. Rashidi, we should take note of the following ways in which the GCE O level questions are presented to us: 

                                             Don't just do a COLGATE.  Ask when in doubt.

• How does the writer vividly create a sense of  __________ / convey to you the difficulties experienced by [character/s] in [action]?
• Do you think that [character] is a [describing verb or phrase / adjective + er] person by the end of the novel?
• What do you think makes [character A] so [appealing] to [character B / you]?
• Do you think the relationship between [character A] and [character B] ever has a chance of succeeding? 
• How far and in what ways do you think [author] criticises [ any human condition] depicted in this novel?
• Why do you htink [author] calls the [a part of the novel] [sub-title]?
• How does [author] memorably introduce [character] in this passage? 
• What in your view is [character]'s importance in the rest of the book?
• Choose any two characters from the novel that you found particularly [adjective], and in each case explain by close reference how the writer makes them interesting. 
• In what ways does [author] suggest that [character/s] could have [done something / action] bettter towards [character]?
• There are several occasions in the novel when the reader [notices something that the character/s does or do or does/do not ----].  Choose any two such occasions and explain in detail how they affect you. 
• Why is this passage a particularly moving and signinficant moment in the novel?
• By close reference to [a part / the novel], show how [author] creates a satisfying ending to the novel.  / In what ways do you find this an effective and fitting opening to the novel?
• How does [author] make [character] an important character in the novel?  Support your answer by close reference. 
• What are the effects of including [types of language] at various points in the novel?  Refer closely to hte novel in your answer. 
• What do you think is the importance of [character] to [character] and to the novel.
• What ideas or themes seem to yo to be important in the novel?
• What do you find [adjective/s] about the different impressions of [character] that [character] give you in this passage?
• When and why do you think that [character] first begins to change her views about [character]?
• How far and in what ways does the writer make you feel [adjective] for [character] in the novel?