PEARLING for success:Approaching Analysis in year

10Thursday 4 May 2023

Jonathan Peel JLS 2015

P Make a POINTE Support it with EVIDENCE (a quotation)

A ANALYSE the evidenceRRESPOND to it personally/ as an audience

AND RELATE back to the questionL Link forward to next paragraph to be written.

Essay: How does Shakespeare present the character of Benedick in 1:1?

PEARLS are made from GRIT – it takes time and does not always work. GRIT is a synonym for hard work!

Jonathan Peel JLS 2015

Point

• Write a thesis statement that you go on to evidence with a quotation. (This statement can be lifted directly from your introduction, or re-phrased.)

e.g. “In the opening scene, Beatrice discusses

Benedick before he appears on stage and sets the audience against him”

Jonathan Peel JLS 2015

Evidence

• Your evidence must support the point you are making!

E.g. “She uses the metaphor of Benedick as an illness

when she says: “if he hath caught the Benedick…”.

Jonathan Peel JLS 2015

AnalysisYou have a quotation. Analyse it by doing one or more

of the following:• Comment on the vocabulary used• Comment on imagery• Use of punctuation?• Is there a literary technique being used?The idea of catching a serious disease would be very

powerful in the 16th Century, when plague was a regular killer and this metaphor is further extended to suggest that “it will cost him a thousand pound ‘ere he be cured” suggesting that Benedick is a truly bad influence on Claudio.

Jonathan Peel JLS 2015

Let’s check that:• In the opening scene, Beatrice discusses Benedick

before he appears on stage and sets the audience against him. She uses the metaphor of Benedick as an illness when she says: “if he hath caught the Benedick…”. The idea of catching a serious disease would be very powerful in the 16th Century, when plague was a regular killer and this metaphor is further extended to suggest that “it will cost him a thousand pound ‘ere he be cured” suggesting that Benedick is a truly bad influence on Claudio.

Zooms in to discuss key word

Discussion of the word, shows understanding

Links to point by establishing meaning and connotation

Q.E.D. Jonathan Peel JLS 2015

Response/Relation to title?• What is the audience’s (or your) emotional response?Here, it might be:• Feeling that Benedick is not to be trusted• Feeling that Beatrice and Benedick are old “friends”• How can we relate to the question?• Shakespeare builds prejudice against Benedick before

he enters to increase the comic possibilities of the characterisation once he is on stage.

Jonathan Peel JLS 2015

P+E+A+R+__

How would you link this to another paragraph? Show me where you are going…

In the opening scene, Beatrice discusses Benedick before he appears on stage and sets the audience against him. She uses the metaphor of Benedick as an illness when she says: “if he hath caught the Benedick…”. The idea of catching a serious disease would be very powerful in the 16th Century, when plague was a regular killer and this metaphor is further extended to suggest that “it will cost him a thousand pound ‘ere he be cured” suggesting that Benedick is a truly bad influence on Claudio. Thus, Shakespeare builds prejudice against Benedick before he enters to increase the comic possibilities of the characterisation once he is on stage.

Another feature…Whilst Benedick is seen as untrustworthy at the start of the act, once he appears, he

is seen differently…

Jonathan Peel JLS 2015

Another idea:

• Look at this passage and the comment made:• Ben: “were you in doubt , Sir, that you asked her?• Leo: Signor Benedick, no, for then you were a child.”

• What do these lines tell us about Benedick?• Who does he remind you of?• What sort of relationship does he have with

Leonato?• Remember to ZOOM IN!

Jonathan Peel JLS 2015

Don’t forget your PEARLs,

girls!But, boys: other forms of analysis

are available, such as Peeing or

Peeling.Jonathan Peel JLS 2015