For each of the essay topics you will be asked the following three questions.
1. Which of these basic themes is closest to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
For question 1 you have to assess the relationship of the question to one of the Basic themes. This question is important as it is an estimation of overall substance of the essay topic. If there is an obvious relationship to one theme, that theme will probably be removed from the item, and the relationship of the topic to the other themes may be indirect. Our estimations of the closest theme may be arguable, but following our reasoning for our answer will involve valuable thinking for you.
Questions 2 and 3 are about the crucial issue of relevance to a topic. In the BBE Study Guide we have emphasise the fundamental importance of relevant discussion of a set question. As much as possible you want to make specific and relevant comments about a set topic in your exam responses. In these questions you have to be selective about what facts and quotes are most relevant to a specific topic. Again there is valuable thinking to be done in following the reasoning that gives us our answer to these questions.
7. We can have a both a kind of sympathy and a kind of distaste for Norma Desmond and Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
7. We can have a both a kind of sympathy and a kind of distaste for Norma Desmond and Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
8. 'My nerves are being torn apart. All I ask is for you to be a little patient and a little kind.'
Sunset Boulevard shows that the pursuit of fame is a difficult and painful journey.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
8. 'My nerves are being torn apart. All I ask is for you to be a little patient and a little kind.'
Sunset Boulevard shows that the pursuit of fame is a difficult and painful journey.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
9. 'Salome – what a woman! … They’ll love it in Pemona.'
There are elements of glamour, comedy and creepy ghoulishness in Sunset Boulevard.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
9. 'Salome – what a woman! … They’ll love it in Pemona.'
There are elements of glamour, comedy and creepy ghoulishness in Sunset Boulevard.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
10. Does sympathy for one or other character is Sunset Boulevard cancel out sympathy for other characters?
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
10. Does sympathy for one or other character is Sunset Boulevard cancel out sympathy for other characters?
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
11. How does Joe Gillis’s narration shape the audience perceptions of reality and morality in Sunset Boulevard?
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
11. How does Joe Gillis’s narration shape the audience perceptions of reality and morality in Sunset Boulevard?
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
12. Joe takes the comfortable course, but there is a generosity about his response to Norma’s neediness and a nobility is his response to Betty’s love.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
12. Joe takes the comfortable course, but there is a generosity about his response to Norma’s neediness and a nobility is his response to Betty’s love.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
13. 'Norma is examining her face in the mirror of her vanity, Max, while driving, sees her in the rear view mirror.'
Sunset Boulevard is about the tension between illusion and reality in the lives of the characters.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
13. 'Norma is examining her face in the mirror of her vanity, Max, while driving, sees her in the rear view mirror.'
Sunset Boulevard is about the tension between illusion and reality in the lives of the characters.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
14. How does Sunset Boulevard use film noir techniques to enhance its examination on Hollywood and fame?
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
14. How does Sunset Boulevard use film noir techniques to enhance its examination on Hollywood and fame?
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
15. Even though they cause their own disasters, we can feel pity for both Norma and Joe in Sunset Boulevard.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
15. Even though they cause their own disasters, we can feel pity for both Norma and Joe in Sunset Boulevard.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
16. To what extent does Joe’s comment that it is "Funny how gentle people get with you once you're dead" reflect the view of Hollywood presented in the Sunset Boulevard?
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
16. To what extent does Joe’s comment that it is "Funny how gentle people get with you once you're dead" reflect the view of Hollywood presented in the Sunset Boulevard?
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
17. 'I just think pictures
should say a little something.'
Compare the views of Joe, Norma, Betty and
Sheldrake of the movies.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
17. 'I just think pictures
should say a little something.'
Compare the views of Joe, Norma, Betty and
Sheldrake of the movies.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
20. Sunset Boulevard luxuriates in the extravagance and excess it seems to mock and reject.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
20. Sunset Boulevard luxuriates in the extravagance and excess it seems to mock and reject.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
21. Bitter humour, irony and cynicism are the strongest feelings is Sunset Boulevard.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
21. Bitter humour, irony and cynicism are the strongest feelings is Sunset Boulevard.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
22. The impact of Sunset Boulevard as a film is much more than the situation and the storyline.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
22. The impact of Sunset Boulevard as a film is much more than the situation and the storyline.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
23. Although he has the best of intentions and we pity him, Max is in effect the director of Norma’s tragedy.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
23. Although he has the best of intentions and we pity him, Max is in effect the director of Norma’s tragedy.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
24. Although Nora’s story ends in disaster, she is treated with concern and consideration by other characters rather than exploited.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
24. Although Nora’s story ends in disaster, she is treated with concern and consideration by other characters rather than exploited.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
25. How the story is presented is a crucial part of the impact of Sunset Boulevard.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
25. How the story is presented is a crucial part of the impact of Sunset Boulevard.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
26. There is much generosity, love and kindness in Sunset Boulevard as well as manipulation and exploitation.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
26. There is much generosity, love and kindness in Sunset Boulevard as well as manipulation and exploitation.
1. Which of these Basic themes is closest to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
2. Which of these Basic facts is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?
3. Which of these Basic quotes is most relevant to this question?