Angels and Demons - Dan Brown

English Literature Homework
Analyse the author's technique on how to draw the reader's attention based on the first page of a book of your choice.

This fictional novel starts off with a one-page prologue, which establishes a sense of curiosity before the readers find out the story, the characters or anything to do with the book's narrative. An opening can decide a lot about whether or not the reader is going to find the book worth reading and in my opinion, Dan Brown succeeded in drawing me in simply through the prologue of his book 'Angels and Demons'.

He uses various techniques. First of all, the prologue contains a single event, the incident that triggers the whole adventure that makes this book. This incident is of a murder, a rather gruesome start but will most immediately be of interest as the book is a thriller. It certainly gives a sense of mystery, making you want to read on just like I did.

Brown describes the murder but also describes the victim's thoughts, giving the readers an insight to why the murder is taking place without giving the story away. 'His only solace was in knowing that his attacker would never obtain what he had come for' - This quote raises questions. What did the attacker come for? The readers would want to read on, and find out the answer to this.

Dan Brown also uses effective adjectives and verbs like 'looming', 'burning' and many more, adding to the thrill of the murder. He uses different senses to describe the scene, putting the readers in the victim's position and submerging us into the story, making it seem more real. He uses phrases such as 'the darkness was closing in', 'he stared up in terror' and 'smelled burning flesh'.

He also varies his sentences. He uses long sentences when there is progression and action and meanwhile uses short sentences when he wants the readers to take it all in slowly and feel the tension, thrill and excitement mounting with every word. For example - 'The blade hovered. Carefully. Surgically.'

Overall, the opening doesn't disappoint when you want to be immediately drawn in. From just one page, the readers can tell that the book is going to be an interesting read. Dan Brown's techniques succeeded in establishing a sense of what the narrative is going to be like but also giving the readers enough to be curious about to want to read on.

Cinderella - New Version

I once knew of this girl who lived a happy childhood with her loving father. She was content with the life that she had, blessed with wealth, a decent status and most of all, love. Some would say it was almost perfect.

It wasn't long until her father remarried to a woman who already had two daughters of her own. Cinderella was extremely happy for him, happy that he had found love again. But, what she didn't know was that her new stepmother would be the reason for her future misery.

Cinderella's perfect life came crumbling down the day her father passed away. She lost her only real family that day, her best friend. She was left with her stepmother and her stepsisters who didn't treat her the way they should.

I watched over her and witnessed all the suffering she went through after her father died. She stayed humble and patient and carried on being the same nice, young girl that she was despite all of this, taking on responsibilities that she didn't deserve. She was no longer considered part of the family and was treated more like a slave. That was until there came a time when I could grant her a wish that would change her life forever.

-Fairy Godmother

Cinderella's Diary

It's the same everyday. I wake up at the crack of dawn and cook my stepmother and sisters a hearty breakfast. I clean the kitchen and the entire house and I live entirely on what they expect of me. Their orders, no matter how difficult, I still carry out just to please them.

I feel like I don't exist as a member of this family. I only exist to serve them and keep them happy. How long am I supposed to live like this? Until when am I going to stop suffering for them?

At times like these, I wish my father is still here with me. I remember when my life used to be a lot easier. Looking back, that seems like that was a different lifetime, a different me. When my father was around, I was his princess and he was the perfect dad.

Today, things weren't the same. I woke up to the sound of trumpets and galloping horses. I looked out of the tiny window of my bedroom, which I share with all the other maids in the house and saw royal messengers stood outside. As I listened, a formal announcement was made. A ball. All women from every household who are eligible to marry the prince have to attend.

A dance with the prince would be a dream come true. My dream was shattered not long after when my stepmother confronted me and told me I would not be going. Now, I'm lost on what to do. I wish I could go. If only...

Little did Cinderella know that I was on my way. On my way to make her wish come true.

The story is unfinished but shown below is the plan showing our different ideas as to what the next chapters would contain. We decided to make each chapter different, telling the story from several different characters' points of view.

- Ugly Sisters (a conversation about how excited they are about the ball and laughing about locking Cinderella up so that she can't go)

- Cinderella's Diary (transformation with her fairy godmother)

- Prince (account of what happened at the ball)

- Fairy Godmother (conclusion of story)

by: Olivia, Chloe and Clarisse

National Gallery Homework

Pick a painting from the National Gallery website (collections of paintings) and write a paragraph - a brief analysis of a painting of your choice.




I chose this painting because the story of Christ's baptism is widely popular and therefore, so is the painting, which was made around the 1450's by PIERRO della Francesca. This painting has many symbolic figures and deliberate meanings and even though this painting was made quite a long time ago, as a Catholic, it is still quite interesting for me to analyse the symbols and deduce the reasons why they are put where they are.

The dove symbolises the holy spirit that Christ received on the day of his baptism and this is why it is placed directly above him. The dove however, looks like it was painted to blend in and look a bit like a cloud similar to the others in the background. I think this might have been done to portray the holy spirit as not just something that everyone sees or believes in. You have to look closely at the painting to distinguish it just like you have to be pure and baptised to receive the holy spirit.

Christ, in the painting, is also sheltered by a tree and he has both his feet placed firmly on the ground. This shows that he is of importance. His clothing, which is traditional for any other person who was to be baptised (purely just white garment), shows that he is also still down-to-earth despite his importance and his status. The tree not only shelters him but also separates him from people whispering and they represent all the people and religious authorities who doubted Christ and spread rumours about his alleged lies and blasphemy. The separation shows how Christ did not let this get to him or even force them to believe him. It shows how he was forgiving, letting them be and letting them choose for themselves what to believe in and what side to choose.