truly free. From your first read, this
would have seemed highly unlikely.
Thus, the correct definition of freedom
should clearly be defined in your
introduction.
Remember, if you do not thoroughly
apply and know your text, you may
end up with the wrong interpretation.
Step six: Using literary terminology
in your assignment is of the utmost
importance. Without proper knowledge
of the various devices (stage
directions, dialogue, monologue,
conflict, symbolism, etc.) incorporated
in literary work, you will not be able
to provide a comprehensive analysis
as expected by the syllabus. Do not
merely identify the literary devices;
rather explain the role of the literary
devices. Let us look at an example.
The playwright already presents
Miss Helen directly as this “frail,
bird-like little woman” (p. 15), which
immediately makes us believe that
she must be weak. Elsa, on the other
hand, is indirectly presented as an
outspoken character, which deceives
us into believing that she is a strong
and free character.
Step seven: Note that an assignment
without quotes from the text is merely
an opinion. You will have to prove to
your examiner that you can justify
everything you say. Thus, quote from
the text properly. It is very important,
though, to remember that quotes
should be used as evidence for what
you are saying and not the other way
around.
Step eight: Write your conclusion by
linking it to the introduction.
Step nine: Edit your work. The
importance of this step is often
overlooked. From experience, editing
improves the mark with an average of
10 •
• June/July 2014
10%.
In general: All essays, as you are
probably already aware, should be well
structured. (Your teacher will already
have taught you how to do this.)
The last and very important point to
remember is that you may never lose
focus, keep the thread of your topic
and let your essay flow naturally.
Remember, if you play fast and
loose, you cannot win. Take your time
with this analysis.
Themes must be detected early
on in the literary text. When you
have read the play once, you should
already ask yourself what the main
idea behind it was. Your teacher will
most probably challenge you with
more topics to be discussed. The first
thing you should do is to research the
general topic or theme and investigate
how it is in general dealt with in
literature.
Let us take the use of stage
directions in a play. This is often
overlooked in the analysis. Dialogue
is equally important, but do not think
that the stage directions are the
underdog here. Stage directions move
the story forward and create character.
Let us look at the change in Miss Helen
when Fugard prepares her for the
monologue.
Fugard masterfully transforms
Miss Helen from a woman whose
“emotional state has deteriorated
steadily” (p.61) followed by the
desperate cry, “Why don’t you stop
me, Elsa! I’m going to sign it!” (p.
61) and who eventually pleads,
“Don’t abandon me, Elsa!” (p. 64)
to a woman who laughs ecstatically
and who makes the ever-confident
and dignified Marius make “a helpless
gesture” (p. 73) and struggle to
“maintain his dignity” (p.73). Through
the stage directions the transformation
becomes abundantly clear. However,