CSEC ENGLISH

Hello there!

We understand that the Caribbean Exams Council has postponed this year’s exams but we propose going ahead with our decision to turn our attention to those of you preparing to write the exam in 2023, using the new English B syllabus. Of course, we offer help to all of you as you prepare to write the English A exam, too. Read on now, and enjoy your CSEC English page.

ENGLISH B—POETRY

N.B. Today’s poem is on the new syllabus for students writing exams in 2023 and beyond.

Here’s the poem. We have given you a ‘translation’ in italics at right to help you understand what the speaker is saying.

John Donne was born when Shakespeare was just six years old, so the two men were contemporaries. In this sonnet, Donne expresses his Christian belief that death is not the end, but is actually the beginning of eternal life with God.

Here are three clever devices that Donne uses.

PERSONIFICATION: The speaker talks to Death as if Death is a boastful enemy on the battlefield. Death is like a person who is ‘proud’ because people think he is ‘mighty and dreadful’ and so are scared of him. In fact, though, Death is like a ‘slave’ who has to ‘dwell’ with low-standard companions, and yet boasts a lot (‘swell’st). This technique is EFFECTIVE because Death is reduced in size to someone we can fight with AND beat! TONE: Because Death is personified (turned into a person), the speaker is able to insult him. The tone adopted by the speaker is very rational (notice how he argues his case step by step), and also very mocking and scornful. He is so confident that he can even afford to be playful. The tone is EFFECTIVE because, again, Death is reduced in size and becomes an enemy who is stupid, fooling himself, and ultimately powerless.

USE OF SONNET FORM: Sonnets are usually reserved for the theme of love, so we are surprised to see victory over Death as the theme. Donne uses each of the three quatrains rather like a lawyer bringing one argument after another to win his case. And then, in the final couplet, he triumphantly comes to his stunning conclusion: ‘Death, thou shalt die’! The victor has become the victim!

BEING YOUR OWN EDITOR

See if you can spot the mistakes in these sentences: 1. Opening the door carefully, a really funny sight confronted him.

2. Despite he couldn’t swim well, Ravi jumped into the pool to help the girl.

3. She said she rather a gold chain than earrings, but I didn’t able to afford it.

4. When you are finished with the nail clippers, please return it back to the drawer.

5. My uncle has a lot of old books all bounded in leather on events that took place while Queen Victoria was reining in England.

6. Dogs make excellent pets as they are friendly. Whereas cats are too independent to make good pets.

7. I will be greatful if you could assist me in this matter.

8. Her arm was broken in the accident, she had to keep it in a sling.

9. There were quite a lot of people at the concert, but certainly less than last year.

10. We don’t want too much guests at the party, so admission will be by invitation only.

SPELLING

Here are 15 words that are frequently misspelt. Ask someone to test you and see if you can spell all of them correctly. Write out any words that you couldn’t spell, and make sure they will never catch you again!

Address, committee, bicycle, definitely, eccentric, grateful, exhibition, portray, manageable, occasion, accidentally, opportunity, poise, punctually, handkerchief.

FAULTY COMPARISONS

It is not possible to compare, let’s say, a bicycle with a mango, or tiredness with a pencil. In order to compare, you need items that similar in some way: a mango and a peach, a tricycle and a scooter, tiredness and laziness. In grammar, too, you need to compare similar things. Look at this incorrect sentence:

A Unlike his brother, his room was very untidy.

It looks as if the speaker is comparing “his brother” with “his room”. How do we correct that sentence? We ensure that the items on either side of that comma are indeed the items we wish to compare. Look at this corrected version:

B Unlike his brother, Kevin had an untidy room. (“his brother” is now being compared with “Kevin”.

Using sentence B to guide you, correct the following sentences: 1. Like cherries, there is lots of vitamin C in oranges.

2. Unlike Martin Carter, Derek Walcott’s poems are easy to understand.

3. Like New Amsterdam, wooden buildings outnumber concrete ones in Rose Hall.