This question requires a broad response, prompting students to analyze how authors manipulate or subvert established conventions within different literary forms. A strong answer will demonstrate a clear understanding of what constitutes conventions in prose, poetry, and drama, and then provide specific textual evidence to support their claims. The key is to show *how* these deviations or adherence to conventions contribute to the overall meaning and effect of the work. The student must choose a specific text and demonstrate a detailed analysis of its use of conventions.

Possible areas of focus for analysis include:

• Prose: Narrative structure (linear vs. fragmented), point of view (first person, third person limited, omniscient), use of language (formal vs. informal, dialect), genre conventions (e.g., realism, gothic).
• Poetry: Form (sonnet, ballad, free verse), rhyme scheme, rhythm, imagery, figurative language, use of traditional or experimental poetic techniques.
• Drama: Structure (act/scene divisions), dialogue, stage directions, conventions of realism vs. non-realism (e.g., soliloquies, asides), use of dramatic irony.

The answer should not simply list conventions but must explain *why* the author chooses to use them (or not) and the impact this has on the reader's understanding and emotional response.

This question explores the interplay between literary conventions and the key elements of narrative – character, setting, and plot. It asks students to analyze how the author's choices regarding form (adherence to or deviation from conventions) directly impact the reader's perception of these elements. A strong answer will provide specific examples from the text to illustrate the connection between form and narrative elements.

Consider these points:

• Character: How does the use of a particular narrative voice (e.g., unreliable narrator) shape our understanding of a character's motivations and reliability? How do conventions of dramatic monologue reveal aspects of a character's inner life?
• Setting: How does the use of descriptive language within a particular genre (e.g., gothic novel) create a specific atmosphere and influence our perception of the setting? How does the structure of a play (e.g., limited setting) impact the portrayal of a location?
• Plot: How does the use of narrative structure (e.g., flashbacks, foreshadowing) manipulate the reader's expectations and understanding of the plot's development? How does the use of dramatic irony shape our response to events?

The answer should not simply identify how conventions affect these elements, but must explain *how* the author's choices achieve specific effects on the reader. It should demonstrate a clear understanding of the relationship between form, content, and reader response.

This question focuses on the relationship between literary form and social context. It asks students to consider how writers use the established rules of a particular genre to either uphold or critique existing societal values. A successful response will identify specific conventions of the chosen form and demonstrate how their use (or deliberate avoidance) serves to comment on social, political, or cultural issues. The student must clearly articulate the connection between the literary form and the broader social context.

Possible approaches include:

• Prose: Examining how realism in novels challenged Victorian ideals, or how experimental prose forms (e.g., stream of consciousness) reflected changing perceptions of the mind.
• Poetry: Analyzing how Romantic poets used conventions of lyric poetry to express political dissent, or how confessional poets challenged social taboos through unconventional forms.
• Drama: Investigating how realist drama reflected social realities, or how absurdist drama challenged conventional notions of meaning and purpose.

The answer should not just identify the social/political/cultural norms being addressed, but must demonstrate how the literary form itself contributes to the effectiveness of the critique or reinforcement.