Significance Support

HOW DO I ANSWER A QUESTION ABOUT SIGNIFICANCE?

                   
When you are asked a question about the SIGNIFICANCE OF something (a character, setting, plot element, theme, quotation, line of verse, action, visual element, camera angle etc....), you are being asked to explain its importance or meaning as it connects or contributes to something else in the text.

I know, it sounds confusing. . . it is confusing because this is a difficult multi-step INTEGRATE question. You are being required to take what you know about the text (locate and cycle) and then synthesize (integrate) the found elements of the text to come up with a detailed and supported response.

Let’s take a look at an example...

In the story “The Dinner Party” by Mona Gardner the setting is significant.

So.... Your question might be:

How is the setting significant to the short story

“The Dinner Party” by Mona Gardner?

The first thing you need to be able to do is identify the elements of the setting. This is a cycle activity. You are required to cycle through the text to locate evidence of the setting: at the start of the story it says: “The country is India.” (Gardner 1), later the reader is introduced to several other setting elements: dining room, dining table, evening, open windows, verandah, rafters, bowl of milk and the snake (as a natural element within the setting of India).

Then ask yourself: HOW do these elements of the text (the setting) contribute in an important or meaningful way to the story as a whole?

To answer this you will have to consider your response to the following. This is how you start to integrate your thinking with what you have found in the above locate and cycle activity.

Ask yourself:
Does it (the element you chose) . . .

❏    reveal character traits about the main character or supporting characters?
❏    reveal the change the character has experienced?
❏    help the audience understand the character’s motivation?
❏    create a plausible character in the mind of the reader?
❏    reveal or further our understanding of relationships between characters?
❏    reveal an important contrast in characters?
❏    provide insight into the character’s feelings or emotions?
❏    establish the setting (time, time period, place, props)
❏    help us understand the character’s relationship to setting?
❏    create or maintain the atmosphere of a place?
❏    contribute meaningfully to the plot?
❏    present the introduction or motivating incident of the story?
❏    create conflict or a complication for the main character?
❏    introduce the crisis of the main character?
❏    represent the climax of the story?
❏    create humour, suspense, pathos or irony?
❏    explain necessary background information?
❏    establish the theme of the text?
❏    contribute to the visual appeal of the text?
❏    provide an important contrast or comparison?
❏    provide information about what has gone on back stage?

Note: you should be able to answer the question using more than one of the above details. Once you have selected a few choices on the above list to integrate, you can start to compose your answer in a well organized, supported perfect paragraph......