Literary Commentary Descriptors

ENG3UE TESTLaura Esquivel’s Like Water For Chocolate

PART A: Examining Magic(al) Realism

An Example of Magic(al) Realism: “Tita was literally washed into this world on a great tide of tears that spilled over the edge of the table and flooded across the kitchen floor” (7).

Significance: This quotation describes Tita’s birth. Esquivel has combined the reality of childbirth – with its attendant spilling of amniotic fluid – with the fantasy of a baby being washed into the world on a large body of water. Significantly, Tita is born prematurely due to sensitivity to onions. Her sobs within the womb bring on labour and she cries so much in utero that she is transported by her very own tears into the world. This episode foreshadows a whole life of tears: Her existence is one of pain and constant disappointments at the hands of her tyrannical mother who controls almost all aspects of her life, including forbidding her to marry. The fact that Tita is born in the kitchen is also relevant as it will be her future place of comfort and refuge; her character is defined by serving and cooking for other people as Tita is relegated by her mother to working with Nacha, the cook, who acts as a mother-figure. Most of the other episodes of magical realism in the novel also involve the kitchen as Tita’s emotions are supernaturally evoked in others who eat her food and feel her passions at the time of its preparation. (199 words)

This passage and analysis will appear as an exemplar on the test.

Your task:

i)Choose one example of magic(al) realism from Chapters 4-12 of Esquivel’s Like Water for Chocolate. (Please write out the first and last part of the quotation, citing page number.)

ii)THEN: In a paragraph of not more than 200 words, briefly indicate the textual context of the quotation (situate the episode within the novel) AND discuss the significance of the quotation, making sure to discuss any imagery employed. Consider if the episode helps to develop a theme or reveal a character.

PART B: Short Essay

Write a short essay of 600 words on a given topic. The choices will be based on discussion in your LWFC groups.

Paper 1: Literary Commentary Descriptors (HL)

Descriptor

/ 0 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

A. Understanding

& Interpretation
How well does the student’s interpretation reveal understanding of the thought & feeling of the passage?
How well are ideas supported by references to the passage? / The work does not reach a standard described by the following descriptors. / Basic understanding of the passage
-basic under-
standing of the passage; but virtually no attempt at interpretation and few references to the passage / Some understanding of the passage
-some understanding of the passage with a superficial attempt at interpretation and some appropriate references to the passage / Adequate understanding of the passage
-adequate understanding of the passage, demonstrated by an interpretation that is supported by appropriate references to the passage / Very Good understanding of the passage
-very good understanding of the passage, demonstrated by sustained interpretation supported by well-chosen references to the passage / Excellent understanding of the passage
-excellent understanding of the passage, demonstrated by persuasive interpretation supported by effective references to the passage
B. Appreciation of the writer’s choices
To what extent does the analysis show appreciation of how the writer’s choices of language, structure, technique and style shape meaning? / The work does not reach a standard described by the following descriptors / Few references, no analysis or appreciation
-few references to, and no analysis or appreciation of, the ways in which language, structure, technique and style shape meaning / Some mention, little analysis or appreciation
-some mention, but little analysis or appreciation, of the ways in which language, structure, technique and style shape meaning / Adequate analysis and appreciation
-adequate analysis and appreciation of the ways in which
language, structure, technique and style shape meaning / Very Good analysis and appreciation
-very good analysis and appreciation of the ways in which
language, structure, technique and style shape meaning / Excellent analysis and interpretation
-excellent analysis and appreciation of the ways in which
language, structure, technique and style shape meaning
C. Organization and development
How well organized, coherent and developed is the presentation of ideas? / The work does not reach a standard described by the following descriptors / Little organization, superficial structure
-ideas have little organization;
-may be a superficial structure, but coherence and development are lacking / Some organization & a recognizable structure
-ideas have some organization, with a recognizable structure
-coherence and development are often lacking / Adequate organization, suitable structure
-ideas are adequately organized, with a suitable structure
-some attention is paid to coherence and development / Effective organization and very good structure
-ideas are effectively organized, with very good structure, coherence and development / Persuasive organization & excellent structure
-ideas are persuasively organized, with excellent structure, coherence and development
D. Language
How clear, varied and accurate is the language?
How appropriate is the choice of register, style, and terminology. (Register refers, in this context, to the student’s use of elements such as vocabulary, tone, sentence structure and terminology appropriate to the task.) / The work does not reach a standard described by the following descriptors / Language is rarely clear & appropriate
-language is rarely clear and appropriate
-many errors in grammar, vocabulary and sentence construction, and little sense of register and style / Language is sometimes clear & carefully chosen
-language is sometimes clear and carefully chosen
-grammar, vocabulary & sentence construction are fairly accurate, although errors & inconsistencies are apparent; the register style are to some extent appropri- ate to the task / Language is clear & carefully chosenwith an adequate degree of accuracy
-language is clear carefully chosen with an adequate degree of accuracy in grammar, vocabulary sentence construction despite some lapses
-registerstyle are mostly appro-priate to thetask / Language is clear & carefully chosenwith a good degree of accuracy
-language is clear and carefully chosen with a good degree of accuracy in grammar, vocabulary and sentence construction
-register and style are consistently appropriate to thetask / Language is very clear, effectivecarefully chosen & precisewith a high degree of accuracy
-language is very clear, effective, carefully chosen & precise, with a high degree of accuracy in grammar, vocabulary and sentence construction
-register and style are effective & appropriate to thetask