With the HSC only weeks away, Boldtutor presents a blueprint that should hopefully ease student concerns surrounding essay writing in the English HSC examination, particularly for the Discovery section of the paper.
Below are several samples of English essay writing answering questions from the 2015 English HSC examination, part 1.
You will find examples of introductions, body paragraphs and conclusions for English HSC questions on Discovery texts such as The Tempest and Rosemary Dobson’s poetry.
Discovery –2015 HSC English introduction for The Tempest (no related text)
The discovery process features multiple aspects. A key element of the discovery course includes unearthing concealed truths that help one re-evaluate their present understanding of the world and other people. William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest portrays various revelations that inspire the rejuvenation of suppressed emotions and intellect that was concealed because of certain experiences. With this in mind, the characterisation of Miranda and Prospero allows Shakespeare to explore the process of discovery. Both characters undergo an emotional and intellectual metamorphosis that allows them to reflect on previous perceptions of their world and values.
Discovery – 2015 HSC English Introduction for Rosemary Dobson poetry (no related text)
The poetry of Rosemary Dobson presents a narrative where characters and readers alike are encouraged to reflect on, and uncover new knowledge about themselves and the world. Poems such as ‘Cock Crow’ and ‘The Tiger’ each present perspectives on family and poetry that challenges the protagonist and reader to reform their outlook on the preceding themes by uncovering hidden truths within these poems. In addition, the related text (name the text along with the author and add one sentence summary discussing the discovery that is made by the character and how this discovery affects him/her). The analysis of the preceding texts help shed light on the importance of uncovering concealed messages in the development of discovery on an emotional and intellectual level.
Body paragraph sample – Discovery The Tempest 2015 English HSC response
By witnessing specific events, Prospero also undergoes a significant emotional and intellectual transformation that reveals a newfound appreciation for loyalty and love. Prior to witnessing Miranda and Ferdinand’s love for one another, Prospero’s character was enveloped by a desire for revenge against those who removed him from Milan and exiled him to the island where he conducts his sorcery. Prospero’s emotionally aggressive nature is evident in the opening of the play when he musters a tempest with Ariel’s assistance, in a bid to rain turmoil down on the individuals responsible for his current predicament. Prospero’s anger and vengeful nature is evident when he states “Let them be hunted soundly, at this hour lies at my mercy all mine enemies.” This violent perspective juxtaposes Prospero’s more reasonable nature as the narrative evolves. His recognition of the idealistic love that Miranda and Ferdinand share with one another (which ends in marriage), allows Prospero to undergo an emotional reformation. Furthermore, Prospero also develops a mature intellectual insight that allows him to grasp the reasons for his overthrow. Prospero begins to fathom that he created the conditions that saw him relinquish his title as Duke of Milan. His inability to govern Milan because of self-interests fostered an environment where Prospero’s deceptive brother Antonio was able to seize power. Prospero’s inability to comprehend such a plot is evident in the lines ‘And to my state grew stranger, being transported/And rapt in secret studies.’ The personification of the state as growing ‘stranger’ sheds light on Prospero’s disconnection with the state of Milan – similar to a disconnection experienced by a father when he fails to tend to his son. The result is alienation. Thus, by exposing himself to new events, Prospero undergoes the same emotional transformation that Miranda experiences. While Miranda uncovers a passionate appreciation for idealised love, Prospero also develops respect and admiration for love, forgiveness and hindsight that leads to intellectual enlightenment. By reflecting on his previous behaviour, Prospero strives to reclaim his position as duke of Milan and re-establish himself as a competent and responsible ruler “I’ll break my staff, / Bury it certain fathoms in the earth, / And deeper than did ever plummet sound/ I’ll drown my book.” Such hyperbolic reaction is testament to Prospero’s eagerness to shed the ignorant and vengeful mindset of the past and use his newly discovered wisdom to lead a new life. Prospero’s process of discovery thus portrays the crucial role that reflection and revelation play in providing people with a genuine emotional and intellectual refinement.
Body Paragraph sample – Rosemary Dobson 2015 English HSC response
Dobson’s ‘The Tiger’ also sheds light on how the process of discovery involves uncovering what is hidden and re-evaluating what one knows about the world. The poem presents an inspiring outlook on the enlightening effects that poetry can have on individuals who manage to make sense of the concealed messages within the text. Dobson uses metaphor and rhyme in ‘The Tiger’ to emphasise the importance of literature in developing a person’s intellect. By encouraging the reader to ‘unlock the lines’, Dobson is advocating readers to embrace poetic literature given that its words possess the potential to liberate the mind from discourse considered status quo. The central metaphor throughout this poem is the Tiger who symbolises the poet’s creativity, and the power of words. Similar to a tiger that is hunting, the words of poetry are silent yet filled with anger and passion. This reveals how poetic literature also serves as a predator of sorts, hunting down established ideas in society by critiquing them through poetic usage of words. Even though the poet is ‘furious’ with the status quo and ‘wishes to hunt the darkness down’, the message inherent in his poetry remains incognito for many readers who are unable to grasp the complex nature of his work. With this in mind, Dobson’s use of rhyme (His was the world to roam, who now is captive to the black-barred page. Reader, unlock the lines and face The splendid danger of his rage!), encourages readers to examine poetry more astutely and discover its hidden messages – messages that serve to enlighten the minds of those who unlock the meaning of poetry’s often complex verse. The usage of the exclamation mark at the end of the poem reveals Dobson’s impassioned plea for readers to improve their literacy by reading more poetry. By doing so, readers will be able to discover hidden messages; perspectives and ideas that will help them challenge established conventions in society. In short, Dobson believes that an examination of poetry leads to the discovery of wisdom that will help individuals re-examine the dominant discourses on politics or culture that shape our world.
Conclusion – 2015 English HSC response The Tempest (no related text)
The Tempest is a text that encompasses aspects of discovery that are vital to one’s ability to undergo an intellectual and emotional metamorphosis. Miranda and Prospero each experience transformation as a result of experiencing occurrences that allowed them to uncover realities that served to reshape their interpretation of the world and certain characters. The portrayal of these two texts thus illustrates the importance of one’s need to uncover truths that encourage you to reflect on life in a way that leads to a profound emotional and intellectual conversion.
While these excerpts should help students improve their writing, the key to writing a great response come the HSC is comprehension. English students really need to understand their texts and all the themes, issues and perspectives prevalent in such texts in order to give themselves the best chance of succeeding in the HSC.
Boldtutor exclusively compiled the samples of work above. If you wish to attain more resources and guidance for the English HSC examination, just contact us or request a quote for a tuition lesson that will improve your capacity to succeed in the HSC.
