The Wasp Factory Overview

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The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks 1. Look at the caption on the cover (sheet 1). It says the book is ‘A Gothic horror story of quite exceptional quality … macabre, bizarre and quite impossible to put down.’ Financial Times a) Which words give a positive image of the text? b) Which words are designed to raise a potential reader’s interest? c) What information does the quotation give the reader? d) Look at the information on the back cover of the book and make a list of all the similarities and differences between each review. Then, work with a small group to come up with a possible explanation for these differences. Do you think the publishers chose the right quotation for the front cover? Why? 2. Now look at the contents page. a) Does it give any insight into the content of the novel? From the chapter titles, can you guess what the book will be about? In your group, discuss the possible content of the book, and agree the most likely theory before presenting your ideas to the rest of the class. b) Do you think the words used in each title create a specific atmosphere for the content of the book? c) Find the semantic field which the chapter titles fall into. d) What expectations does this raise? e) Below are some examples of provocative lexis. Explain the function of these words. The first example has been done for you. • • • Sacrifice is a concrete noun, but used as an adjective here. A descriptive word with connotations of death. Bomb Skull Can you add any more examples to the list? N.B. Meaning may also be cumulative, for example ‘A bunch of flowers’ takes on connotations of death because of the semantic field of the other chapter headings. f) What effect is created by the use of repetition/parallel structures in the chapter titles? 3. Graphics and typography. a) Look at sheet two, which shows the cover of The Wasp Factory and other examples of Iain Banks’

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