VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Act 3: To what extent do characters in the…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 85%: Shakespeare highlights how fate and Elizabethan societal constraints erode the characters' autonomy. Romeo's…
Shakespeare highlights how fate and Elizabethan societal constraints erode the characters' autonomy. Romeo's despairing cry of being 'fortune's fool' encapsulates his belief that he is merely a pawn of destiny, rather than an agent of his own will. In this way, Shakespeare argues the pre-determined nature of human life, subtly introducing an element of luck in the course of events. Despite this, Shakespeare reveals Romeo's tendency to deflect personal responsibility for his impulsive actions onto an external force. Furthermore, the Friar's description of Romeo's tears as "womanish" reflects the rigid social expectations of masculinity. Shakespeare's use of this gendered term constructs a vivid image of the 'normal' man: rational, stoic, and incapable of showing weakness. In critiquing the era's hegemonic gender expectations through careful characterisation of protagonists, Shakespeare reveals that
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: 1. ‘Sophocles’ Oedipus the King provides…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 72.5%: Sophocles highlights that individuals who embody human fallibility will make unguided decisions. In “Oedipus the…
Sophocles highlights that individuals who embody human fallibility will make unguided decisions. In “Oedipus the king” Sophocles uses Oedipus’ characterisation to showcase how unbridled pride leads to the rejection of beneficial advice. During Oedipus’ conversation with Tiresias, Oedipus states that “[His] words are futile”, demonstrating his reejction of the truth. Sophocles illustrates Oedipus’ rejection of this truth as a result of his initial arrogance, foregrounding his criticism of individuals who are unable to set aside their hubris to view a situation from an objective perspective. Sophocles continues by juxtaposing Oedipus with Creon. Through their interaction during the first episode where Oedipus accuses Creon of plotting against him with no evidence with Creon urging Oedipus “to think rationally”, Sophocles uses this juxtaposition to highlight Oedipus’ emotional impulsiveness and Creon’s ability to remain objective even under pressure. Through this Sophocles exemplifies the detrimental actions of those who act irrationally through the explication of their human flaws which prompted
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Sumn about the truth i forgort
VCE Text Response essay scoring 77.5%: In 5th century BCE, humility and wisdom were two qualities that the ancient Greeks herald as of great importance,…
In 5th century BCE, humility and wisdom were two qualities that the ancient Greeks herald as of great importance, where in order for one to live a life of Eudaimonia, one must “know thyselves” - as written in the temple of delphi. This is reflected in Sophocles' Oedipus the king where the story revolves around the tragic hero Oedipus and his pursuit for truth. Whilst he initially began this journey with good intentions, it was ultimately one that propelled him to his tragic end. It is upon learning the truth of his identity where he transforms from an individual blinded by his own hubris, to one who understands the truth behind his world. His story of transformation is one which Sophocles created to illustrate how accepting the truth, regardless of how tough a pill to swallow, can reveal the bad side of one’s character that they may have been ignorant of which allows them to know more about themselves. It is also when their mistakes are known where they are able to help others in preventing such from reoccurring. Additionally, when one accepts the truth about their own limitations, especially accepting the fact that they will not be able to rival or exceed those of divine beings, where they gain wisdom by again knowing themselves.
VCE · Creative Response
Creative Response: Reist and persist; crafting text…
VCE Creative Response essay scoring 80%: The stage is set. A man, whose face is covered by an ocean of blood, is brought to a platform where the horizon…
The stage is set. A man, whose face is covered by an ocean of blood, is brought to a platform where the horizon encompasses a sea of students. Red banners dominate the stage, with the face of Mao Zedong overlooking the horror that is to follow.
Mother may be close, but no one is closer than the chairman.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: To what extent does Sophocles in Oedipus…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: Sophocles' pioneering tragedy “Oedipus the King”, first staged in fifth-century Athens, encapsulates the tragic…
Sophocles' pioneering tragedy “Oedipus the King”, first staged in fifth-century Athens, encapsulates the tragic futility of human defiance against the inescapable degree of fate. Ardently underscoring the satirical nature of the play, Sophocles emphasises the inevitable subversion of Oedipus’ downfall, under the authoritative decree of the gods, exposing the vulnerability of human agency. Through this, Sophocles skillfully depicts Oedipus’s distressing journey for truth as both a blessing and a curse, illuminating his quest for veracity while simultaneously sealing his tragic downfall. Initially, Sophocles forthrightly declares that Oedipus’ attempts to uncover his true identity foster a sense of ignorance, thus leading him to act irrationally. In this way, Sophocles partially denounces fervent individuals who elusively struggle to uncover the truth, revealing the immense suffering and self-destruction that lies ahead. Ultimately, however, Sophocles vehemently commends those who justly chase the truth, indicating the moral responsibility and human growth resulting from true insight into one’s identity. By staging the play during the Peloponnesian War and amid a devastating plague, Sophocles prompts Athenians to reflect on how denial of truth, whether personal or political, can worsen civic suffering, suggesting truth-seeking is vital for both moral clarity and communal survival.
From the outset, Sophocles stridently condemns Oedipus’ arrogant pursuit of truth, showcasing how his hubris blinds him to reality and isolates him from others, thus leading to irrationality. When Oedipus vows to “bring it all to light myself,” the dramatic irony of his declaration underscores his ignorance: the very “light” he seeks will expose his own guilt. In this way, Sophocles symbolises “light” as a journey of knowledge and pride, showcasing Oedipus’ actions as noble to the chorus. By stressing “myself,” Sophocles presents Oedipus’ truth-seeking as an act of pride rather than wisdom, a choice that alienates him from the collective guidance of others. Here, Sophocles vigorously critiques this relentless pursuit, implying that the ignorant search for truth leads to self-isolation and his predetermined demise, catalysed by his definite hubris. This arrogance escalates when he assures the people of Thebes that he will “grant your prayers,” elevating himself to the role of a god in a society that viewed divine power as absolute. For an Athenian audience, this blasphemous comparison would have been shocking, as a mere human levels himself to the sovereign gods, highlighting Oedipus’ hubris and foreshadowing his fall. Indeed, Sophocles crucially highlights that this blasphemous comparison creates unwavering tension as Oedipus’s god complex conflicts with the societal ideology of Greek belief, symbolising Oedipus’s excessive ignorance and irrationality. His scornful retort to Tiresias — “You dare tell me to listen to you, you who are blind?” infenstifies this irony. While Oedipus mocks physical blindness, the audience recognises his deeper, metaphorical blindness to the truth. Sophocles’ juxtaposition of sight and blindness not only anticipates Oedipus’ self-inflicted blinding, but also exposes his hamartia: an inability to accept truth from others. Through this, Sophocles warns that a stubborn, prideful pursuit of knowledge leads not to wisdom but to irrationality and destruction. Overall, Sophocles fervently highlights Oedpius’ journey of truth as one that cultivates ignorance, leading to impulsiveness.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: “For a man to help others, with all his…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 85%: Performed at the festival of Dionysia during the 5th century, Sophocles' Greek tragedy Oedipus the King serves as a…
Performed at the festival of Dionysia during the 5th century, Sophocles' Greek tragedy Oedipus the King serves as a cautionary tale warning against selfish reasons for action-taking. Set against the backdrop of a plague-ridden city state of Thebes, Sophocles probes at the notion of noble and virtuous leadership. From the prologos, individuals who act in the face to serve others are rewarded. Yet, Sophocles also warns hubris to be a driving force for the process of achievements. Ultimately, Sophocles poses humanity’s attempt to conceal the truth to be fundamental **** . Essentially, Sophocles celebrates humanity in the capacity to help others thus fuelling action, however, he also reveals the true spark for accomplishment to be excessive pride and manipulation of truth.
Ostensibly, Sophocles stipulates the desire to support others to be a significant motivator in action-taking. Indeed, this notion is particularly characterized through the headstrong leadership of the protagonist. Oedipus is instantly introduced to the Athenian spectators and modern audience as an authoritative figure whom the Thebans look up, ‘huddling at [his] altar’. His genuine concern for his citizens is projected in his statements ‘You can trust me. I am ready to help, I’ll do anything’ in tandem with ‘what preys upon you so?’ Thus the deliberate punctuation echoes his worries and readiness to aid his dying people. Further, his admirable swift action-taking is driven by his impulse to save Thebes. Through the nautical imagery personifying Thebes to be unable to ‘lift her head from the depths, the red waves of death’, the city-state is depicted to be of dire and urgent help. Oedipus ‘act[ing] at once’ after ‘groping, labouring over many paths of thoughts’ insinuates the burdens on his people have affected him similarly as he has ‘wept through the nights’. Therefore, the first episode elucidates Oedipus’ willingness as king to search for the cure that beset Thebes. Furthering this notion is through Creon’s moral righteousness as an influential figure. Although accused as a ‘traitor’ by Oedipus, his ability to maintain his reason is lauded by Sophocles and the Athenian audience, as this sophrosyne was valued to be a virtuous man during the Golden Age. His concern for the Thebans is revealed in his statement ‘Not if you rule unjustly’ therefore insinuating Oedipus’ unmoderated ruling to be unjustified, thus he acts to serve the good of his city. This notion is also mirrored by the play’s denouement as Creon exhibits mercy in face of Oedipus’ ‘former failings’. The act of sending Antigone and Ismene, Oedipus’ own ‘flesh and blood’, at his desire, champions Sophocles conception that Creon’s actions are driven by the desire to help others as he disregards Oedipus’ incestuous and parricidal acts by showing leniency. Therefore, the desire to assist others is a powerful incentive for taking action.
VCE · Creative Response
Creative Response: personal journeys
VCE Creative Response essay scoring 95%: Beginning The train rocked toward the airport, fields of rice bending beneath the autumn wind, each stalk…
Beginning
The train rocked toward the airport, fields of rice bending beneath the autumn wind, each stalk bowing in farewell. The faint clatter of wheels echoed through the carriage. My father sat beside me, silent but steady. His silence was not avoidance but discipline—the kind I had watched all my life in the store, where his hands folded paper, measured cloth, aligned every item with deliberate care. Strength, he showed me, was not loud. It was in consistency: in the calluses carved into his palms, in the quiet way he bore disappointment without complaint.
At the platform, he finally spoke. “Aiko, shikkari shinasai.” Be strong. He adjusted my collar, smoothed an invisible crease from my sleeve. No embrace. None was needed. His gaze, brief but unwavering, said what words could not: that he trusted me, even if tradition did not. I carried that look as surely as the passport in my hand.
Flight
The cabin hummed like a long prayer, a low vibration in the bones. Outside the window, night fractured into scattered stars, unfamiliar constellations that belonged to no ancestor of mine. I sat pressed between a businessman who muttered in his sleep and a young mother cradling her child, her whispers like lullabies I could not understand.
When the stewardess asked, “Chicken or beef?” my throat tightened. I pointed without speaking, afraid my English would fall clumsy, betray me.
She hesitated, then smiled. “First time?”
I nodded. “Yes.” The single word wavered in the air.
“Then let it be the first of many,” she said, her voice low, almost conspiratorial, before slipping the tray in front of me.
Above the Pacific, I thought of my father. Every evening, his shoes at the genkan perfectly aligned, as though order itself could defend us from uncertainty. He had never said he wanted to leave Japan, but sometimes I wondered. Did he see in my journey the life he could not take? Did he envy it, or fear it?
My aunt’s words stung still: onna no kuse ni. For a woman? What kind of daughter leaves? But my father had not said that. He had straightened my sleeve. That was enough.
I leaned my head against the cold window and whispered into the drone of the engines: I will not disappear.
Belong
VCE · Creative Response
Creative Response: nothing strengthens authority as much…
VCE Creative Response essay scoring 77.5%: Travis Yoong, Herald Sun, 7 May 2025 8 years ago, Colin Kaepernick began protesting against racial…
Travis Yoong, Herald Sun, 7 May 2025
8 years ago, Colin Kaepernick began protesting against racial discrimination and police brutality against black people by kneeling during the national anthem before NFL games. And with that one knee, he stood taller than ever before, embodying resistance against conformity.
The athletes' act of objection started a powerful global conversation about racial oppression and resistance, starting a chain effect in sports players who began to kneel during the national anthem across different sports.
Colin Kaepernick's knee said what mouths were afraid to say in society. It said, 'A badge is not a license to kill'. It spoke for the names of those victims, the ones who never got to speak for themselves, the ones whose skin were seen as a threat.
It was September 1 2016 when the 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, decided to protest against the national anthem before a preseason game in the NFL. Standing shoulder to shoulder with his teammates, the athlete suddenly decided to kneel during the national anthem in objection of racial injustice. Teammates, coaches and the crowd watched in stunned silence as Colin made his protest. While some saw the quiet but powerful protest as disrespectful and unpatriotic, some of his teammates viewed it as a peaceful protest that spoke further than sports.
After the game, Colin Kaepernick addressed to social media arguing, 'I'm not going to stand up for a country who racially discriminates people of colour'. It seemed that the former NFL player had pushed the matter beyond the playing field, challenging the silence that so strengthens authority and advocating for justice from the public and ones watching on television.
From sidelines to headlines
Following the incident, Colin Kaepernick sparked intense controversy amongst fans, politicians and athletes, some praising him for his courageous act against racism, while some criticizing him for what they thought as a disrespectful act towards the country.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: In Sunset Boulevard .Wilder shows us…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: Betrayal is examined in Billy Wilder’s 1950s Sunset Boulevard through the actions of characters driven by…
Betrayal is examined in Billy Wilder’s 1950s Sunset Boulevard through the actions of characters driven by controlling desires. Wilder critiques the selfish intentions behind these self-destructive behaviours, showing how they harm both the individual and those around them. He condemns the self-delusion his characters live in, demonstrating how their desires and illusions ultimately result in tragic consequences.
Wilder demonstrates the extent to which characters go in order to obtain control and power over others. Norma Desmond is presented as a domineering woman who exploits Joe’s weakness for his car to entrap him in a romantic relationship. Her repeated dismissal of his financial concerns—“don’t worry about the money”—symbolises her control, as she substitutes his independence with her gifts, including the “camel hair coat.” Wilder emphasises this imbalance through mise-en-scène: Joe is frequently shown in Norma’s grand, decaying mansion, framed against lavish décor that highlights how suffocatingly she surrounds him with wealth. Norma’s insistence on using “we” and “us” illustrates her psychological manipulation, reinforced visually by close-up shots of her clinging to Joe, positioning them as one entity. Even in her seemingly affectionate remarks—“must you chew gum”—her control mirrors that of a partner dictating behaviour. Similarly, Max exerts control, but Wilder distinguishes his loyalty through softer lighting and low, steady camera angles when he tends to Norma, which contrast with the harsher shots of Joe’s reluctant compliance. Meanwhile, DeMille is framed in powerful, authoritative lighting at Paramount Studios, where his command—“forget about the car”—demonstrates Hollywood’s power structures. Through these contrasts, Wilder critiques not just personal control, but the way Hollywood itself manipulates and shapes its participants.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: 'We Have Always Lived In The Castle is…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 82.5%: Shirley Jackson’s ‘We have always lived in the Castle’ is a gothic novel which explores gender roles and societal…
Shirley Jackson’s ‘We have always lived in the Castle’ is a gothic novel which explores gender roles and societal norms in late 1950’s America. Whilst in the face of adversity, women within the text continuously rise above their hardships to establish their strength and power in the world. By establishing an ongoing legacy, both the past and present women form stable foundations for future generations to build off through their preserved spirit. Whilst following traditional roles, the women in the text complete their tasks with their own purposes, rather than following the patriarchal ideology, to prevent extreme breakdowns. Additionally, despite the social norms of the time, oppressed women within the text still retain a level of control over men in the household.
Through the preserved resilience of their ancestors, the Blackwood’s legacy after experiencing intense hardships continues throughout the novel. The cellar of the Blackwood ‘castle’ is a symbol of resilience within the novel, as it contains the ‘rarebits’ of the women who lived in the mansion before Merricat and Constance. These rarebits represent feminine power hidden within a bigger picture, such as women within a society ran by patriarchal men. Jackson intentionally includes this to criticize the patriarchy, reflecting on how women are often the foundation of larger concepts such as the house itself, however they go unacknowledged, leaving their impact buried underground and left unnoticed. This concept is supported in the destruction of the house, as the villagers rampage and destroy the interior of the house, whilst leaving cellar untouched, showing how the legacy of past Blackwood women could not be broken, even during savage attacks. Constance treasures the food in the cellar, depicting the jams and pickles as ‘poem[s] by the Blackwood women’, showing the significance they hold, as during the time the novel was set, poems were ways people eternalised memories for future generations to appreciate. Thus, Jackson highlight’s women’s ability to remain strong against the overarching dominance of the villagers and men in their lives.
Gender roles are also explored throughout the text, which allows for a contrasting view from Jackson, who advocates for the freedom of choice. Constance cooks and cleans the house whilst taking care of Merricat and Uncle Julian, which is the traditional role of a women in the 1950’s. Yet Constance does this for
VCE · Creative Response
Creative Response: Voices Rising
VCE Creative Response essay scoring 85%: Good afternoon: My name is Austin Reaves, and I am grateful for the opportunity to speak at the Housing Policy…
Good afternoon:
My name is Austin Reaves, and I am grateful for the opportunity to speak at the Housing Policy Forum 2025.
I am currently a second-year student at Monash University, undertaking a Bachelor’s Dega in Architecture, majoring in Urban Planning.
However, that’s not a sole reflection of who I am as a person. Since I was little, I've always had a burning desire to speak out on any and every injustice I witnessed, no matter the scale. I was six years old when on a school excursion to the city, I saw a homeless person with a jar of coins on the cold pavement beside him. I gave that man every last cent of my pocket money. If you couldn’t tell by now, I am not the type of person to just sit around when I believe something is wrong. I will speak up.
And that is why I am standing here before you today.
I am a firm believer that "raising your voice in protest is the comerstone of change”. Victoria’s youth housing crisis is at an extent where it is impossible to ignore. Being a uni student, I've seen it all. My friends sleeping in cars. Skipping meals to pay rent.
You claim that Melbourne is one of the most liveable cities in the world.
How could you possibly say that when these injustices are so visible to everyone?
I know what you're thinking. Why is someone my age speaking on problems that are probably far too complicated for me to understand? See, this is why it is rare to see a Z0 year-old speak up these days. We're too afraid of being judged and looked down upon. But are we wrong to think like this? Because that’s the unfortunate reality for us.
However, I’ve had enough with the lack of and unaffordability of housing for us, the youth of Victoria. I will not consent to being silenced, especially when I am personally affected by this issue.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: To what extent does ‘The Memory Police’…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: Yoko Ogawa’s post-war dystopian allegory The Memory Police explores the unsettling atmosphere of a society governed…
Yoko Ogawa’s post-war dystopian allegory The Memory Police explores the unsettling atmosphere of a society governed by authoritarianism and the gradual erasure of both individual and collective memories. Despite the willingness of individuals to resist totalitarian systems, Ogawa recognises that the relentless attempt to exert control limits their overall ability to overcome these forces. Foremost, Ogawa critiques the unyielding power a government may hold to overpower those under it, where resilience is seen as unattainable. Furthermore, she criticises individuals who demonstrate no effort to challenge oppression, thereby avoiding disruption of authority. However, while Ogawa acknowledges that power can attempt to decay one’s purpose, there are still opportunities for people to act in defiance.
Foremost, Ogawa stresses that power can be overbearing to the point where people struggle to find any possibility of standing against it. On an unnamed island, a place controlled by men ‘determined to see things disappear’, Ogawa establishes a setting where the vanishings of flowers and birds occur ‘beyond [the citizens’] control’. Through this construction, Ogawa distorts the boundary between the existence of human agency and the necessary submission towards hidden forces. This emphasises the uncertainty individuals face in recognising the extent of power imposed upon them. Thus, Ogawa underscores the inability of individuals to withstand insidious forces that appear to distort the natural order. This is strengthened through Ogawa’s use of the Memory Police’s coats, even after searching ‘every clothing store on the island’, the jackets are positioned beyond reach for the inhabitants. The coats symbolise the authority’s ability to adapt under suppressive conditions, leaving citizens helpless and reinforcing the dominance of the regime. Therefore, Ogawa insinuates that a system holding onto too much authority may physically inhibit those around it from evading such power. Overall, Ogawa recognises that control can be employed so coercively that individuals are stripped of the capacity to resist.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Theme: Belonging, Creative Expression…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 90%: In this scene, Waititi conveys how creativity and shared experiences foster a sense of belonging in an individual.…
In this scene, Waititi conveys how creativity and shared experiences foster a sense of belonging in an individual. From the outset, he establishes Ricky's displacement through costuming: the vibrant yellow of Ricky’s jersey is visually isolated against a dark background, symbolising his difficulty integrating into the family. This visual juxtaposition, which renders Ricky the focal point, draws attention to his bright clothes and, in turn, elicits a corresponding sense of displacement in the viewer. Yet this same technique also foreshadows the emotional transformation he is poised to undergo as he becomes part of the family dynamic. Waititi reinforces this narrative shift through the diegetic sound of Ricky joining Bella’s birthday song—an act of shared creativity that signals his growing emotional connection. Through this, the director explores the idea that artistic expression can become a bridge to emotional intimacy, allowing Ricky to connect with others and reclaim a sense of individuality previously stripped away by institutional structures. Connection, in this context, is shown to go beyond physical presence;
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: “King Oedipus suggests destiny is a direct…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 82.5%: The Greek tragedy 'Oedipus Rex', written by Sophocles and originally presented in 429 BCE in Athens, explores the…
The Greek tragedy 'Oedipus Rex', written by Sophocles and originally presented in 429 BCE in Athens, explores the tensions between fate and human agency in a society influenced by rationalist and Sophist thoughts. During this time of intellectual and political change, Sophocles critiques the Athenian faith in reason by presenting Oedipus' relentless quest for truth, a pursuit driven by pride, which paradoxically leads to his downfall. Using tragic structure, dramatic irony, and invocation of Greek religious values, Sophocles asserts the inevitability of fate, while simultaneously highlighting how Oedipus’ own choices accelerate his destruction. Thus, while human decisions shape the path to ruin, Sophocles ultimately suggests that destiny triumphs over free will, demonstrating that Oedipus’ downfall is both self-inflicted and divinely ordained.
In exploring the tension between fate and free will, Sophocles utilises the theatrical conventions of tragedy to affirm the inevitability of Oedipus's destined downfall while exposing how his hubris hastens this fate. In doing so, Sophocles discloses Oedipus' inherent flaw of hubris in which he resists the divine decrees of fate, nullifying his evasion from preordained misfortune. Oedipus' perilous duality as the "best of men" threatened by unchecked arrogance in his sovereignty is highlighted in the Prologos. By echoing the first-person pronouns "mine" and "myself", Sophocles highlights Oedipus’ arrogant egoism as he patronisingly asserts himself as the sole "saviour" of Thebes. The boastful style of dialogue reflects his self-perception as the "man of experience." However, for the Athenian audience, aware of his tragic destiny, his self-proclaimed "triumph" elicits dramatic irony since he is, in fact , the "murderer that he hunts". In this way, Sophocles critiques Oedipus' "blind [ness] to misery" as both the "father murderer" and one "coupling with [his] mother." Although regarded as the "first of men", his hamartia of intemperate pride negates his ability to comprehend "how far [he has] gone in guilt", compelling him to pursue the truths behind his life and ultimately gravitating towards calamity. In a stichomythic dialogue, Oedipus's adherence to his fatal flaw deteriorates into blasphemous conceit, as he dismisses Tiresias, Apollo's prophet, as "a pious fraud" and derides the blind prophet's vision as "lost in the night" rather than metaphorically "see[ing] the light." Resounding the dramatic irony of Oedipus' eventual blindness, the metaphor reveals his delusion of equating sight with truth and how his excessive pride in "stopping the Sphinx" has paradoxically blinded his capability to recognise the veracity of destiny. By defying divine prophecy and mocking the Gods’ moral decrees, Oedipus attempts to assert free will, yet Sophocles shows that such defiance only hastens his submission to fate. The frenetic verbal combat jarringly highlights that Oedipus' childish "rage" is powerless against divine knowledge and is ultimately governed by forces beyond his control. In this way, Sophocles reinforces the tension between human choice and predetermined outcome, demonstrating that Oedipus’ downfall is both a product of his decisions and the inescapability of fate.
VCE · Creative Response
Creative Response: Framework 2: Writing about protest •…
VCE Creative Response essay scoring 82.5%: Right to Rebel Rebellion and dissent are fundamental attributes of a democracy, acting as a sharp antidote to…
Right to Rebel
Rebellion and dissent are fundamental attributes of a democracy, acting as a sharp antidote to oppression and power imbalances. Think of the most important and influential moments in history such as The civil rights movement, the vietnam war protests, and even as far back as the french revolution. All of these are moments of rebellion. Rebellion is a democratic right which holds powerful figures account able, providing a meaningful voice for citizens. In my younger years, like many others, rebellion and protest was merely an annoyance. I could never understand the passion and desperation that is involved in these movements. However, the sacred moral obligation that protest once was is now under attack, as more and more rallies and marches are being hijacked by the most extreme groups on either side of the political spectrum. It is imperitive that those of you who want to see change in this world remember what made the great campaigns of the past so effective so that our generation continues the legacy of those before us.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: How does Sophocles use Oedipus the King to…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 87.5%: During 5th century Athens, Greeks are known to be a part of a society that regularly practises honouring…
During 5th century Athens, Greeks are known to be a part of a society that regularly practises honouring ceremonies to the gods of their polytheistic religion, praying for their empathy in hopes that their fateful futures bear happiness. However, this became a time when the rise of epistemological questioning threatened the belief of predetermined natures, suggesting there is more freedom in human choice. During this heated debate, Sophocles introduced ‘Oedipus the King’ to explore the deep ends of each side of the dichotomy – is fate or free will the right answer? Although destiny is believed to control the outcomes of those who lived in ancient Greece, Sophocles underscores the complex relationship between human choice and fate. He initially asserts that selective believers who attempt to escape fate will always be unsuccessful. Furthermore, he indicates that consciously aligning with the foretold outcomes of the prophecy will be favoured by the gods. Additionally, Sophocles illuminates how external forces of fate spark a cascade of fatal symptoms, such as guilt. Sophocles utilises the play’s tragedy to exemplify the importance of being conservative to the Greeks’ polytheistic religion, as he warns his audience about the destructive nature of epistemological tension.
VCE · Creative Response
Creative Response: Turning points
VCE Creative Response essay scoring 80%: The truck groaned as it jolted through the mountain paths. Each jolt made my nerves shiver. The darkness…
The truck groaned as it jolted through the mountain paths. Each jolt made my nerves shiver. The darkness surrounded us unable to see anything but the moon's dim light. My mum held onto me trembling despite the warmth of my tiny body against hers. I was just seven years old too young to understand the fear in her eyes or the weight of the weary journey ahead of us. My siblings held together their faces hidden under scarves. We were leaving everything our home, our memories, our family. It began with my father’s whisper: “We can’t stay”. That impossible decision. That was the moment our journey began. The moment we were no longer willing to live in a place with no bread in shops, no power in homes and a place where even silence could get you killed.
With the help of my Uncle Reza, a truck driver who knew the hidden roads, we escaped under the cover of night. Cramped in the back of an open utility truck ten silent men surrounded us, surrounded us, strangers all gloomy. The journey to Pakistan stretched on for five brutal days. The wind slapped my face as we sped through dusty roads. The sun burned my head during the day, and the cold numbed our bones during the night. We could not speak, we could not cry, we could not even move. It was a rule that was not spoken of but just known for our survival. The warlords who patrolled the roads would not hesitate to shoot if they discovered us. The only sounds were the wind howling through the mountains, the distant echoes of gunfire, and my tiny stomach growling from hunger. At night the truck's headlights went off to not draw attention or we would get shot without question. The driver navigating only by the dim glow of the moon. I wanted to sleep but I could sense the fear around me, hearts trembling every time we stopped. Where we rested, we were given nothing more than a piece of bread, and a sip of tea. My mother, still weak from giving birth, held onto her prayers with what little strength she had left. My elder sister whispered eleven prayers into her burka.
By the grace of God, we made it. Five days and give nights of fear, and exhaustion ended when we reached Peshawar in Pakistan. My father, who had escaped before us, had spent every moment praying for our safe arrival. When he saw he stumbled backwards like he was struck by lightning. He stared in disbelief at our dust covered clothes, our eyes red with exhaustion as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. His mouth opened wide trembling, but no sound came out until he couldn’t handle it anymore. He collapsed onto his knees, tears dripping down his eyes, and wept just grateful we were alive. My parents held onto each other and wept by the kindness of my father's friend who
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: 'Shakespeare presents marriage as…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 85%: Whether it is Beatrice's ascetic disdain of saccharin romance, Claudio's fickle romantic affections or even Don…
Whether it is Beatrice's ascetic disdain of saccharin romance, Claudio's fickle romantic affections or even Don John's brazen malevolence, Shakespeare's 16th century tragicomedy, Much Ado About Nothing illuminates the importance of marriage within Elizabethan society and explores the profundity that all characters see within it. Regardless of their initial view, be it of arrogant aversion or gracious acceptance, the cast all come to see the value that it can provide, for some are 'too wise to woo peaceably' and others who simply 'suffer love'. Accepted as almost a universal truth, marriage is seen as the natural end goal within the progression of a person's life. Marriage is often linked directly to one's social status, as marrying another binds their image with one's own. One can even use marriage as a tool to further one's own ideals, by feeding ones hubris or destroying another's reputation, asserting the influence that it holds upon social acceptance.
In spite of initial reluctance to participate in marriage due to various matters of pride, all characters eventually come to accept the value and inevitability of it. By the conclusion of the all play, Benedict and Beatrice overcome different obstacles in order to reach the happy ending, looking 'pale with love.' Don Pedro's predication that, 'the savage bull doth bear the yoke,' demonstrates Shakespeare's use of foreshadowing to allude to the merry conclusion. Benedick does eventually 'think upon the savage bull,' with Claudio to 'to tip thy (Benedick's) horns with gold', manifesting this augury in a way which completely undermines his initial assertion that 'if ever the sensible Benedick bear it, pluck off the bull's horns and set them in my forehead.' Don Pedro's declaration that 'I shall thee, 'ere I die, look pale with love,' denoting that he wishes nothing more than to see Benedick fall in love, overtly illustrates the effect of being in love to the people around oneself, as Don Pedro believes that marriage would greatly add to his image of Benedick, and that it is all but guaranteed to happen. In doing so, Shakespeare intends to portray the notion of marriage as one that's consistent with every man and women, regardless of their hubris and stubbornness. The two marriages conclude the play on a positive, upbeat note where Don John is 'ta'en in flight' and that they 'have a dance 'ere we are married.' Unequivocally, a successful marriage is displayed as being synonymous to achieving true happiness and receiving social praise and an event that is emblematic of the final stages of a person's development.
Despite marriage being