English Teachers Association

Students

How to do English

Area of Study - The Journey

Studying for the Examination

Physical Journeys

Key headings could be

How texts depict physical journeys through
- Different types of obstacles
- Movement to new places
How texts depict the impact of physical journeys through
- physical, intellectual and emotional challenge
- development of self knowledge and development of knowledge of the world
The assumptions behind these depictions.

These could be summarised into a table for study in this way.

Note Not every text will provide information to fill each of the categories.

Text is Stimulus Booklet: "The Wind in the Willows"
Elements of the Journey	Interpretation of the Text	How elements are depicted
Assumptions underlying depiction Physical journeys are: exciting, enlightening, to be enjoyed. Travellers are: open to experience, adventurous Those who do not journey are: narrow, rigid
Movement from-to	Home to the open road - no particular destination.	Brightly coloured gipsy caravan symbol of free, untamed spirit. Breathless accumulation of descriptive phrases "the open road, the dusty highway, the heath, the common, the hedgerows, the rolling downs!" conveys the excitement of such and adventure.
Obstacle	The Rat's refusal to budge	In contrast to Toad's enthusiasm and Mole's "eagerly" following, Rat 'snorted 'remaining where he was'
Challenges	To influence Rat to come as he was necessary for the pleasure of the journey.	Description of the comforts of home in the food and games that have been prepared home as a 'dull fusty old river'
Knowledge	Move from the narrowness of the 'hole in a bank' to knowledge of the world.	The Toad's claim that he will 'make an animal of' Rat foregrounds the anthropomorphism in the text, a source of its humour and charm. The comment refers to the conventional wisdom that journeys are mind expanding and develop maturity and wisdom.