Topic 10 (session A) - Prose analysis > Bilgewater: General

Bilgewater: General

Using the prose methodology checksheet (and the other more detailed checksheets we have so far presented in this course), we are now going to analyse the opening of a novel by Jane Gardam called Bilgewater. This passage is the prologue to the rest of the novel and portrays the interview of a candidate for an undergraduate place at Cambridge University.

Although, when we analysed the passage in preparation for this topic, we went through the checksheet in order, below we will present aspects of the passage in a different order, one designed to help you come to grips with the passage. (It is a good idea to remember these two different aspects - analysis and presentation - when you write stylistic analysis essays. Try to present your analysis and argument in the best way for your reader to understand it).

The first two tasks below are general, helping you to come to an overall intuitive understanding of the passage. Then we will look at different areas of analysis in turn, in the order we think best brings out the special qualities of the passage.

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