Examples of evidence from the primary text being used more effectively to support interpretations

Sample essay 1: 'Dr. Faustus is a morality play without a moral.' Discuss.

This is an extract from the essay:

'[Faustus] is different to a typical Everyman because his character is seen to develop throughout the play. For example, we see a somewhat naive and immature Faustus in the comic scenes; the pranks played on the Pope and the minor characters. However, after these childish pranks we receive a sense of Faustus having matured and aged somewhat. For example when Faustus is telling the scholars of his fate, and they offer their help Faustus says, 'Talk not of me but save yourselves and depart.' (V.ii.75). This selfless comment is of great contrast to the Faustus of before who is greatly concerned with himself only. It also implies that he is more resigned to his fate than before and realises no-one can help him. This is reinforced a little later in the same scene when Faustus says, 'Ay, Faustus now thou hast no hope of heaven. Therefore despair!' (V.ii.86). Nevertheless it is this maturity in thought, the acceptance of his fate, which leads to his definite downfall as he despairs and cannot repent and look to God for salvation.'

Sample Essay 2: "Metaphysical poetry values intellect above emotion". To what extent have you found this to be the case?

This is an extract from the essay:

'Marvell [in 'To His Coy Mistress'] uses the simple description of 'like amorous birds of prey' to deliberately change the intellectual tone of the poem from love as a delicate thing, to one of sexual desire, with the image of the two devouring each other. It is in developing this idea that Marvell embarks upon one of the true images of metaphysical poetry. He uses the image of a ball to signify the two people coming together;

Let us roll all our strength and all
Our sweetness up into one ball (l.41-2)

The image of two separate people coming together and joining as one is what Marvell uses, the 'strength' being his and the 'sweetness' hers. This then will form a ball, which is the conventional image of perfection, the potent sphere.

It is also an image of a pomander, a ball of spices and herbs normally kept in the pocket or in a drawer to ward off disease. So the poet is saying, let us join in this manner and we will be a therapeutic, all powerful element.'

Q. Why are both these examples effective?

TUTOR'S REPLY

A combination of direct quotation from the primary text and indirect reference to specific sections of it is used in our first example to support a general point about the development of Faustus' character throughout the play (a feature of Dr. Faustus which distinguishes it from traditional morality plays).

In our second example the essayist reproduces a section of the poem and then offers some short commentary on it. It is clear as to why this section of the text has been quoted.