Critical Essays Using the PEE rule

Do NOT just say what happens  You HAVE to answer the question and make clear points about the text. These points must be backed up with EVIDENCE.  A quote  A reference to something that happened.

PEE  Point  - the thing you want to say about the text  Evidence  -the way you’re going to back this up  Explanation  - some kind of comment – either on style or on your personal reaction

Examples of points:  The old man is made to seem very feeble.  Another way that we see he is feeble is when we’re told about his disabilities.  We sense that the snack bar is crowded.  Near the end of the stanza we see that he is lacking in confidence.  This idea is continued later in the stanza when we see more examples of his strangeness.

Setting out quotes:  1. We get a sense that no one notices him, “A few heads turn in the crowded evening snack bar.”  2. We get the sense that he is isolated: “A few heads turn in the crowded evening snack bar.”  3. We get the sense that he is isolated when it says, “A few heads turn in the crowded evening snack bar.”  4. We get the sense that he is isolated:  “A few heads turn in the crowded evening snack bar.”

Setting out quotes  These should be indented, or used as part of your sentence.  Indenting:  He seems strange and scary: “like a monstrous animal caught in a tent in some story.”  ****  Using in your sentence:  He seems strange and scary when it says he is “like a monstrous animal caught in a tent in some story.” *******

Find evidence for the following: The man’s true identity seems to be hidden The man is placed in humiliating situations The man finds everyday tasks difficult The man’s disabilities control every part of him.

After the quote – what then?  PE – Explanation / Expansion  This is NOT explaining what it means.  You can:  Comment on language / word choice, imagery etc.  Explain the impact it has on you.

Example: The man is shown as being almost not human: “like a monstrous animal caught in a tent in some story.” This simile suggests that he is something strange and scary. The word “caught” reinforces the idea that he has no control over his life. We see that he is nervous and afraid when he says, “I want – to go to the – toilet.” The dashes here show how he has difficulty speaking and might feel embarrassed. This makes me feel very sympathetic towards him as it must be really difficult to do this.

Think what you might say after the following examples: The man seems to find it difficult to look after himself: “his stick, once painted white but scuffed and muddy, hanging from his right arm.” Explanation: No one pays him any attention: “A few heads turn in the crowded evening snack bar.” Explanation: The man is shown to be clumsy in the first lines of the poem, when “A cup capsizes along the formica, slithering with a dull clatter.” Explanation:

How it looks in the essay: The man is hidden from view: “the face not seen, bent down in shadow under his cap.” It’s as if no one is able to see his real self as the face is the mirror of the personality. This must be very difficult for him. We see just how difficult things are when Morgan goes on to tell us he is “Long blind, hunchback born, half paralysed.” Listing the things that are wrong with him makes it all seem much worse and makes us feel sympathy.

What do you learn about the old man in the first verse? Use the PEE rule (mostly) Link points together – e.g. Another thing we learn about him is..... Try to include lots of you own personal opinion and comment on anything