‘A Picture of Zoe’ Liam Stewart

‘A Picture of Zoe’Liam Stewart

You must refer to the story’s theme or central concerns in your essay. Dialect or Standard English? Imagery? Descriptive language? Humour? Who tells the story? Style Language Narrative Style Formal or informal? Theme Structure What happens? How is the story put together? Plot Characterisation How do they develop / change? What are the characters like? Setting Where does it take place? When does it take place? How do they interact with other characters? How are they presented?

In pairs: Discuss and fill in the A3 sheet you have been given in as much detail as possible to analyse the elements of the story. You should each fill in a sheet.

Narrative Style – who tells the story? The story is narrated by Gerry in the first person. The narrative viewpoint is crucial to the story as it allows the reader to see events through Gerry’s eyes only, thus we share in Gerry’s twisted, one-sided notion of Zoe’s character and are, along with Gerry, shocked by the turnaround at the end of the story.

Plot – what happens? Boy meets girl, boy misjudges girl. What else can you add?

Setting Glasgow City Centre – mention of actual places (such as Lauders, The South Pacific, Dumbarton Road, Bearsden, Odeon) gives a sense of reality to the story as do the dialect words used, particularly by Gerry. The action of the story, which is typical of the modern, everyday world of dating, adds to this sense of reality.

Characterisation What are the characters like? Gerry – insensitive, prejudiced, inverted snobbery, seems a victim but turns out to be in the wrong, ignorant Zoe – caring, compassionate, non-judgemental, hurt by Gerry’s sentiments

Characterisation How are they presented? Gerry – victim, paranoid Zoe – snob, looking down on Gerry, treating him as a charity case

Characterisation How do they interact with other characters? Different perception i.e. man in restaurant, his mother, Dr Nochecky

Characterisation How do they develop / change? He comes to realise his mistake. She realises what he’s really like.

Structure Most of the story is a flashback. Cyclical - The fact that he is still in The South Pacific a year on creates a cyclical structure which reflects the fact that he cannot move on as a result of his actions. The fact that Gerry is watching the artist sketching a man who treats him with disdain further reminds Gerry of his mistake and how he has “thrown away a pearl”. Climax - occurs outside the Odeon cinema and is where Gerry finally realises the truth – that he couldn’t have been more wrong about Zoe. The reader is surprised to find that the story is not, in fact, about Zoe looking down on the unemployed Gerry, but it is actually a story of how Gerry has misjudged Zoe based on his own prejudices regarding people of her class.

Language Narrated by Gerry – dialect / informal means that it sounds conversational, as if he is talking directly to the reader. Gerry – Dialect / Scots Zoe – Standard English

Style Symbolism – the picture of Zoe, rain at climax. Imagery – exploration – into schemes Humour – man in restaurant, his expressions

Theme? Boy meets girl Snobbery False pride Prejudice Relationships

‘A Picture of Zoe’ Liam Stewart