Part 4

Part 4: Literature: Critical Study

Part 4 is concerned with developing the skills required for close reading of literary texts.  In Part 4, we will be looking at three works:

• The Stone Gods by Jeanette Winterson
• Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
• Othello by William Shakespeare

You will have to write at least one written task on a Part 4 work.  The main assessment, however, is the Individual Oral Commentary (IOC), which will be given in June and counts as 15% of your IB grade and 5% of your SE.

Part 4 has three primary learning outcomes.  Keep these in mind when preparing for your IOC or for your written tasks.

• Explore literary works in detail.
  Part 4 requires the close reading of works of literature. Studying passages from the works read in order to focus on how authors use literary devices, and what effects these devices are intended to have on the reader.  Understanding how authors construct works, situating passages where they do, and why they make the choices they make (how context influences the author and the reader) are key elements of this skill, as is understanding both the surface and underlying meanings of texts.

• Analyze elements such as theme and the ethical stance or moral values of literary texts.
  Writers generally have a message they want to spread.  Sometimes they are overt about it, and sometimes they may not even be aware of it themselves.  We may ask ourselves "what is the author's intention", but that answer may not always be as relevant as "what does the work mean to me"?  

• Understand and make appropriate use of literary terms.
  You must learn to recognize the devices that writers use, but to name them as well.  Furthermore, it is essential that you understand how these devices are used and to what effect on the reader.