Language analysis: A Haunted House by Virginia Woolf

Language analysis: A Haunted House by Virginia Woolf

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In this lesson, we will focus on language analysis and practise the process of exploring the effects of the writer's choices in a short story: 'A Haunted House' by Virginia Woolf.

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7 Questions

Q1.
Virginia Woolf was a _________________ writer who tried to experiment with different styles of writing.
communist
male
Correct answer: modernist
Q2.
What is structure?
Correct answer: structure is the sequence of ideas and how they are presented
structure is what the text looks like
Q3.
True or false: The story is set in a house at night
false
Correct answer: true
Q4.
True or false? The key characterds in the story are a ghostly couple and a woman who lives alone
false
Correct answer: true
Q5.
True or false? The story is narrated by a ghostly woman
Correct answer: false
true
Q6.
True or false: The house in the story seems to speak
false
Correct answer: true
Q7.
Which group of words best describes the structure of the story?
linear, spoken word, literal, religious
Correct answer: non-linear, fluid, dream-like, state of consciousness

5 Questions

Q1.
Which word best describes the ghostly couple?
hilarious
Correct answer: loving
terrifying
Q2.
Which of the statements below is true:
Virginia Woolf was a modernist writer who followed traditional literary forms and conventions.
Correct answer: Virginia Woolf was a modernist writer who tried to experiment with and subvert literary forms and conventions.
Q3.
What does the narrator hear the house whispering?
"help, help, help"
"love, love, love"
Correct answer: "safe, safe, safe"
Q4.
What is the analysis of the verbs "wandering and whispering"?
Correct answer: The ghosts seem content and comfortable together. They are non-threatening: always mindful of the couple sleeping in the house.
The ghosts’ words flow into one another suggesting their intimate connection as they remember their life together. There is a poetic rhythm to their speech.
Q5.
What is the analysis of the fragmented dialogue "kisses without number"?
The ghosts seem content and comfortable together. They are non-threatening: always mindful of the couple sleeping in the house.
Correct answer: The ghosts’ words flow into one another suggesting their intimate connection as they remember their life together. There is a poetic rhythm to their speech.

Lesson appears in

UnitEnglish / The Short Story

English