AP ENGLISH: QUESTION 3 NOTES
o A WOMEN OF WAR – Mandy Robotham
o BEN IN THE WORLD – Dorris Lessing
o THE SCARLETT LETTER – Nathaniel Hawthorne
o WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN -
A WOMEN OF WAR
First person narration, experience her accounts of the story first hand. Naturally inclined to side with her.
The novel, A Women of War by Mandy Robotham is about a young woman named Anke Hoff who is taken
from the concentration camps to work as mid-wife for Eva Braun. The novel educates one about the harsh
conditions of war and the holocaust. However, this novel gives the reader a new perspective due to it
being set at the Berghof. This teaches us that those who we deem as our enemy are not necessarily as
cruel as we think. This is shown by the relationships Anke builds while at the Berghof. Anke even describes
her enemy as having “no monster on show, no devilish glint in his eye.” The novel challenges us to look
beyond the stereotype of, ‘hate your enemy.’ We are shown that they are merely doing what needs to be
done to survive. The novel taught me that people can be pure of heart no matter their background or what
they are associated with. Additionally, it taught me to refrain all judgement until I have gotten to know
someone.
BEN IN THE WORLD
This novel is about an eighteen-year-old, societal outcast named Ben and how he attempts to find his way
in our cruel world. Throughout reading this novel, the reader is left to feel highly uncomfortable. This is
done in numerous ways, including the use of simple, staccato like sentences to create a sense of
detachment between Ben and the reader. Furthermore, throughout the novel Ben is often dehumanized.
This is done by Lessing’s constant use of animal imagery to describe Ben. This forces the reader to consider
the evolution of human nature and how society treats those who are ‘different’. This novel is applicable to
my life as I live in an environment where people are susceptible to being excluded. The novel taught me to
view people with an open mind and get to know them before I judge or exclude them. Furthermore, this
novel forced me to consider tough questions about society and allowed me to consider what can happen
to an innocent soul who is ostracized and taken advantage of.
v “She knew he was not human: ‘not one of us’ as she put it”.”
v His otherness, inhuman deliberately makes us feel uncomfortable. Plays on how we treat people
who are different in society, Ben also has similarities with someone who’s autistic (lacks social cues)
v Single story: is Ben actually inherently bad or has just been used by society and people to get what
they want eg. Theresa
v “And in the end ben was dead and we were glad it” directly talking to us, we realise that Ben’s
otherness made us feel so uncomfortable
o A WOMEN OF WAR – Mandy Robotham
o BEN IN THE WORLD – Dorris Lessing
o THE SCARLETT LETTER – Nathaniel Hawthorne
o WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN -
A WOMEN OF WAR
First person narration, experience her accounts of the story first hand. Naturally inclined to side with her.
The novel, A Women of War by Mandy Robotham is about a young woman named Anke Hoff who is taken
from the concentration camps to work as mid-wife for Eva Braun. The novel educates one about the harsh
conditions of war and the holocaust. However, this novel gives the reader a new perspective due to it
being set at the Berghof. This teaches us that those who we deem as our enemy are not necessarily as
cruel as we think. This is shown by the relationships Anke builds while at the Berghof. Anke even describes
her enemy as having “no monster on show, no devilish glint in his eye.” The novel challenges us to look
beyond the stereotype of, ‘hate your enemy.’ We are shown that they are merely doing what needs to be
done to survive. The novel taught me that people can be pure of heart no matter their background or what
they are associated with. Additionally, it taught me to refrain all judgement until I have gotten to know
someone.
BEN IN THE WORLD
This novel is about an eighteen-year-old, societal outcast named Ben and how he attempts to find his way
in our cruel world. Throughout reading this novel, the reader is left to feel highly uncomfortable. This is
done in numerous ways, including the use of simple, staccato like sentences to create a sense of
detachment between Ben and the reader. Furthermore, throughout the novel Ben is often dehumanized.
This is done by Lessing’s constant use of animal imagery to describe Ben. This forces the reader to consider
the evolution of human nature and how society treats those who are ‘different’. This novel is applicable to
my life as I live in an environment where people are susceptible to being excluded. The novel taught me to
view people with an open mind and get to know them before I judge or exclude them. Furthermore, this
novel forced me to consider tough questions about society and allowed me to consider what can happen
to an innocent soul who is ostracized and taken advantage of.
v “She knew he was not human: ‘not one of us’ as she put it”.”
v His otherness, inhuman deliberately makes us feel uncomfortable. Plays on how we treat people
who are different in society, Ben also has similarities with someone who’s autistic (lacks social cues)
v Single story: is Ben actually inherently bad or has just been used by society and people to get what
they want eg. Theresa
v “And in the end ben was dead and we were glad it” directly talking to us, we realise that Ben’s
otherness made us feel so uncomfortable
