VCE · Text Response
Text Response: “In what ways do characters respond to…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 90%: Trevor Noah’s 2016 memoir "Born a Crime" explores a diverse range of responses to adversity in the face of aparth…
Trevor Noah’s 2016 memoir "Born a Crime" explores a diverse range of responses to adversity in the face of aparth eid's oppressive regime. Noah condemns the profound impact of apartheid's racial segregation all while examining the strategic use of language and humour as tools for survival, as well as the internalisation of patriarchal norms that influence personal relationships and self-perception. Through a blend of personal anecdotes and historical context, the autobiography sheds light on the parallels between societal structures and individual agency in shaping ones identity.
Some individuals respond to adversity with unwavering defiance, refusing to let systemic or personal oppression dictate their lives. The unquestionable rule of apartheid’s systemic racial segregation fostered an environment where violence and crime were an inevitable consequence, enforcing a perpetual cycle of fear and inequality in South Africans. Yet, amidst this harsh reality, Patricia Noah defied expectations, carving out her own path through sheer resilience and an unbreakable spirit. The danger and scrutiny that followed having a child of mixed race would for some be enough to scare off the thought, but as for Patricia, “(If) she wanted to do something, she figured out a way, and then she did it”, pursuing her own life despite apartheid. Noah utilises the placement of the ‘Immorality Act, 1927’ at the beginning of his memoir to serve as a powerful framing device for this, providing realness to the situation and contextualising the irony of his birth being a ‘crime’, casting Patricia as the criminal. Her resistance followed even after Trevor’s birth, ingenuity and resourcefulness playing a crucial role in “living between the cracks in the system” allowing her to navigate the world with the freeness she craved, all while protecting herself and Trevor. This is exemplified when Patricia would act as the maid for a coloured woman who claimed to be Trevor’s mother, allowing them to navigate the public without drawing suspicion. Even in physical endangerment, Patricia’s do-or-die mindset is what ensures her family’s survival. In the harrowing scene where they find themselves in imminent danger in the minibus of a sinister man, Patricia’s sharp instinct allows her to make the split-second decision to jump out the vehicle with her children, her unwavering commitment saving the three. Her use of sharp, imperative commands, such as “Trevor, when he slows down at the next intersection, I’m going to open the door and we’re going to jump,” reinforces her ability to act under pressure, with her concise and assertive syntax showcasing both her defiance and composure. Language choices are again notable in Trevor’s deliberate verb choices—“determined,” “gave,” and “taught”—when portraying Patricia highlight her active agency in shaping his future, emphasising her refusal to succumb to oppression and her commitment to breaking the cycle of the past. Described as a “rebel” from the beginning, Noah ensures that his readers grasp that the indomitable and astute character of his mother is what allowed her to overcome the effects of these oppressive structures, her life and relations - Trevor himself, her career, her relationships - serving as a testament to the dual nature of defiance against apartheid
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: “How does Wilder explore characters’…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: In Billy Wilder’s post WW2 film noir, ‘Sunset Boulevard’, WIlder exposes that the fixation with recognition and…
In Billy Wilder’s post WW2 film noir, ‘Sunset Boulevard’, WIlder exposes that the fixation with recognition and inclusiveness within the Hollywood Industry leads to the self destruction of characters. Through Wilder’s examination of Hollywood’s changing nature, the inevitability of power imbalances between characters and the importance of validation in Hollywood, Wilder makes it clear that the journey of reaching success is a journey filled with vulnerability and greed.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: How does the play reveal that wisdom and…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: Oedipus the king (OTK) is a play presented by Sophocles. Sophocles shared his play to remind Ancient Greece of the…
Oedipus the king (OTK) is a play presented by Sophocles. Sophocles shared his play to remind Ancient Greece of the importance of having faith in the gods, during a time that Sophist beliefs were becoming more prevalent. Sophocles explores the notion that not having information causes pain, whilst finding out the truth also causes suffering. He explores whether its better to live in bliss ignorance or be destroyed by the truth, and when it is possible to decide, through his stage directions, dramatic irony and motifs woven throughout the play.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: "High Ground demonstrates that colonial…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 75%: Introduction: Stephen Maxwell Johnson's High Ground presents colonial violence as a systemic force that creates…
Introduction:
Stephen Maxwell Johnson's High Ground presents colonial violence as a systemic force that creates self-perpetuating cycles of trauma affecting all participants in the colonial project. Rather than presenting violence as a series of isolated incidents, the film traces how the initial massacre creates ripples of destruction that extend across generations, damaging the moral fabric of both Indigenous and colonial communities. Through careful characterization, symbolic imagery, and narrative structure, Johnson demonstrates that the cost of colonial violence extends far beyond physical harm to encompass psychological trauma, cultural disconnection, and the corruption of human relationships. The film's unflinching examination of this violence reveals how systems of oppression ultimately dehumanize both those who suffer from them and those who perpetrate them.
Body Paragraph 1:
The film's opening massacre sequence establishes violence as the foundational trauma that shapes all subsequent events. Johnson's decision to film this sequence with documentary realism rather than cinematic sensationalism emphasizes the systematic nature of colonial violence. The massacre is not presented as the work of individual monsters but as the logical outcome of colonial ideology. The trauma of this event reverberates through the narrative, affecting characters who were not even present at the original violence. Gutjuk's entire life is shaped by his survival of this event, while Travis's moral journey is driven by his complicity in it. The film demonstrates how violence creates a form of historical trauma that spans generations, affecting the grandchildren of both perpetrators and victims. The use of the crocodile as a recurring motif emphasizes how violence creates a predatory environment where survival requires adopting violent methods.
Body Paragraph 2:
VCE · Creative Response
Creative Response: Should AI companies restrict the…
VCE Creative Response essay scoring 60%: Imagine you wake up one day to find a humiliating video of yourself surfing through group chats and social…
Imagine you wake up one day to find a humiliating video of yourself surfing through group chats and social media. This video looks and sounds real and spreads faster than truth, but the reality is the video is fake. There is no way to prove the video is fraudulent and it looks so real that you yourself cannot disprove it. Emotions build up within you, and you fear how you will even show your face in public anymore. This is not science-fiction, it is a glimpse of the risks we face as artificial intelligence becomes more powerful and accessible.
AI is a revolutionary accomplishment in our progression of technology. Implementing AI has led to innovation in the medical, engineering as well as public administration fields. When used suitably with an intention to better society, it has been one of the greatest tools humanity has ever developed, but when found in the wrong hands, AI can be an instrument of corruption and mayhem
This poses the question, should everyone have the same access to AI?
Good morning/afternoon fellow government advisers and industry regulators. I stand before you in hopes to create a sense of urgency regarding the issue of wrongfully using AI in society. Recently artificial intelligence has shown to be more problematic than positive. We have witnessed AI being misused for identity theft, extortion, exploitation and other crimes. These topics require serious attention from policy makers and enforcers. We should push for regulations that require AI companies to limit public access to advanced features, while allowing qualified researchers and scientists full access for legitimate innovation.
VCE · Creative Response
Creative Response: Personal Journeys framework
VCE Creative Response essay scoring 80%: The Choice : A parallel memoir Part I — Success Built on Sacrifice There are places you leave, not because you…
The Choice : A parallel memoir
Part I — Success Built on Sacrifice
There are places you leave, not because you want to—but because you have to. I remember the alley where it all began: mud under our feet, a trash can for a goal, Malik laughing as I kicked the ball too hard, sending it over the fence. We dreamed of stadiums, trophies, and cheers, yet neither of us knew what leaving home would demand.
I left home at twelve. My mother didn’t cry, but her hand rested on my shoulder, the same hand that had soothed scraped knees and bruised elbows. “Go make this worth it,” she whispered. I couldn’t look back. Home was warmth, love, laughter — a place I longed to stay, yet one that needed me to go.
I came from little, and football wasn’t a choice — it was a responsibility. My family needed me. Nights were the hardest: lying on a cot in a dorm that smelled of sweat and damp, I pictured my mother folding clothes, my siblings asleep in cramped rooms, all depending on a dream I was only beginning to chase. Every early morning, every blister, every aching muscle became a promise. I wasn’t training for trophies — I was fighting for them, for my family, for their future.
The academy was relentless. Coaches barked orders that stung like lashes, friends disappeared overnight, and talent alone was worthless. I memorized formations until my mind screamed, perfected free kicks until my legs trembled, ran until the cold bit through my skin. Pain became ordinary. Hunger became routine. I learned to carry it silently, to smile when exhaustion threatened to break me.
Step by step, I rose. First-team appearances, professional debut, international call-ups. Fans chanted my name; strangers wore my number on their backs. People called me one of the best, but they never saw the empty gyms, the rain-soaked pitches, the birthdays I missed, the friends I left behind. My victories were quiet, built on persistence, sacrifice, and purpose.
Part II — Success Built on Choice
I left home too, but for different reasons. My house had gold but no warmth. My parents’ love came in sharp words
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Fate controls every aspect of Oedipus the…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 87.5%: Humanity’s perennial struggle against the forces that transcend divinity’s dominion over mankind are prevalent in…
Humanity’s perennial struggle against the forces that transcend divinity’s dominion over mankind are prevalent in Sophocles 5th century BCE tragedy Oedipus the King. Initially, Sophocles analyses the inexorable suffering that stems from prophecy, lamenting the obligation to revere the gods. Moreover, the playwright forcefully denigrates excessive pride, reaffirming the notion that humankind must concede their willful impiety in order to avoid being constricted under the whims of fate. Ultimately, Sophocles interrogates the cyclical nature of fortune, postulating that mankind is inevitably subject to intergenerational and consistent ruin at the hands of celestial forces. Fundamentally, Sophocles promulgates that while the gods’ sanction every outcome of human life on earth, mankind is ultimately free to choose their path towards their own fate.
From the prologos, Sophocles explores the unrelenting anguish onto all of society resulting from celestial wrath, pleading for the necessitating of venerating the gods. Establishing the city of Thebes as “plague [stricken],” Sophocles immediately denotes the deep-rooted corruption and suffering as a result from this very “plague.” In utilising miasmic imagery to convey the implacable punishment from divine forces, Sophocles likens Thebes’ authoritarian rulers as “corrupt,” — almost as if being sick from their irreverence. Thus, in thoroughly depicting the unyielding cataclysm as a result of disregarding prophecy, Sophocles combats sophistry, reiterating to Periclean audiences the importance of venerating the gods’ will and challenging any conceptual belief in human agency being able to dominate fate. Moreover, Sophocles analyses how impious leaders' delusionary attempts to outwit fortune ultimately sentences the entirety of mankind to inexorable punishment from the gods. Receiving plaudits from the Chorus, Oedipus, the tyrannical king himself, is regarded as a “good helmsman” who is able to “steer [Thebes]” through “the red waves of death.” Juxtaposed against the dramatic irony of Oedipus being “cursed in his origin,” Sophocles laments how the tragic king brought unavoidable ruin onto the population of Thebes. Hence, Sophocles severely warns against total compliance with blasphemous authority, illustrating how blind allegiance to Government hastens society’s destruction at the hands of divinity. Thus, the playwright ultimately postulates the need for reverence in divinity through his forceful denigration of asebeia bringing disastrous consequences onto all of humanity.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: "Sophocles depicts the gods as powerful…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 87.5%: Sophocles' play Oedipus the King is an allegory for the realities of divinely delivered justice, portrayed…
Sophocles' play Oedipus the King is an allegory for the realities of divinely delivered justice, portrayed through its titular character's quest toward a tragic truth. Composed in 429 BCE—amidst Athenian uncertainty surrounding the Peloponnesian War and growing disillusionment with Periclean leadership—Sophocles directs his moral inquiry to an audience grappling with hubristic authority and civic responsibility. He contends that the gods are powerful but benevolent, and that mortal blindness and pride make divine justice appear harsh. Mortal attempts to subvert divine order ultimately corrupt the very concept of justice they seek to control. However, Sophocles shows how ultimately an acceptance of divine justice transforms suffering into moral clarity, thus urging the Athenian audience to challenge its own democratic ideology.
Sophocles demonstrates that mortals misconstrue divine justice as cruelty because their own blindness, born of hubris, prevents them from perceiving the gods' moral purpose. He indicates how an inversion of sight and truth exposes moral arrogance. Tiresias, though literally blind, embodies divine insight, warning Oedipus that he is "blind to the corruption of [his] life." In contrast, Oedipus’ desire for truth ironically renders him spiritually blind. His conviction that there’d be “no mystery” had he been “present” at the crossroads epitomises this overconfidence in mortal reason. The seamless interplay between physical and moral blindness thus mirrors Athens’ intellectual hubris—a polis priding itself on logic, debate, and autonomy, yet blind to the limits of mortal reason. The motif of sight, portrayed in both literal and figurative forms, reflects a broader Athenian anxiety about the limits of rationalism—a warning to a society priding itself on logic and political autonomy. Dramatic irony heightens this inversion, as the audience recognises that Oedipus’ search for truth fulfils rather than averts prophecy, revealing how divine wisdom cannot be outwitted by intellect. Sophocles extends this critique to Laius and Jocasta, whose infanticide represents humanity’s primal act of rebellion against divine order—an attempt to “force the gods to act against their will.” Jocasta’s dismissal of prophecy, exemplified by her claim that there is no reason to be “afraid, since fate rules us,” mirrors the religious scepticism emerging in Sophocles’ Athens, where intellectual hubris threatened the reverence that sustained civic unity. The symbol of Oedipus’ pierced ankles literalises divine branding as a “mark” for “death,” operating not merely as personal punishment but as a visceral reminder to the Athenian audience of humanity’s inescapable subordination to divine hierarchy. Sophocles thus transforms bodily suffering into a moral emblem—an unambiguous warning that impiety, corrodes both personal integrity and civic harmony. He therefore critiques his audience’s tendency toward self-reliance, warning that divine justice only appears cruel when humans deny their subordination to it.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: “DeMille didn’t have the heart to tell…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 77.5%: In his defiantly satirical film ‘Sunset Boulevard’ (1950), director Billy Wilder explores the complicated nature…
In his defiantly satirical film ‘Sunset Boulevard’ (1950), director Billy Wilder explores the complicated nature of deception in a post war Hollywood era. Wilder exposes that deception ultimately leads to catastrophic events both emotionally and physically. Wilder demonstrated this by assessing the mental strain shown by victims to a world of deceit ultimately leading to delusions and chimera. In addition, Wilder conveys the corruption of integrity as collateral to deception, whilst also spotlighting it’s self-fulfilling prophecy of doom. Ultimately, Wilder captures the consequences of deceit and misconception through the unfortunate accounts of his characters.
To begin with, Wilder illuminates the damaging effects deceit and inauthenticity can have to the mind, ultimately driving a person to a world of delusions and misconceptions of reality. This is shown in Norma Desmond’s first appearance in the film, with a wide shot of her in her mansion, obscured by blinds, and wearing sunglasses. This shot of Norma establishes both her physical and mental distance from the world around her, removing herself from an industry which has long moved on without her. As a result of those around Norma maintaining the lies Hollywood has fed her for years, this ultimately led to her disconnection with reality and forced her to create her own truth where she is still relevant and young. Norma wearing glasses indoors throughout the movie symbolizes her shield from the outside world and it’s blinding truths about her true status in society. The effect of deceit on a person’s mental state furthered analyzed when Norma believes she is to be making her comeback to the films industry and away a microphone that grazes the back of her head. However, it is revealed they only want “that car of hers. In the medium body shot, the microphone represents the talkies and sound era of Hollywood which always appears to be haunting Norma, as a sign of the world moving forward without her. She ends up pushing the microphone away, and uses her bird cage veil to partially cover her face, rejecting reality and shielding herself from the truth. Norma is made to believe she is to become the star she once was years ago, and this is sustained by those too fearful to break her pride. Wilder deepens this when Joe Gillis attempts to liberate Norma of her delusion by the end of the film, and return her to reality. In the close of Joe standing assertively over Norma, he composedly confesses to Norma that “DeMille didn’t have the heart to tell you, none of us had the heart”. Wilder exposes that deception bread from pity, allowing Norma to remain trapped in her fantasy of stardom. Ultimately Wilder suggests that protecting someone from truth can be more destructive than honesty itself.
Furthermore, Wilder critiques how deception and trickery can induce deprivation of morals and integrity for the characters of ‘Sunset Boulevard’. This idea is portrayed when Gordon Cole reveals his true intentions in calling Norma to Paramount Studios. Being that ‘it’s that car of hers. We want to rent it for a couple of weeks for a new movie they are
VCE · Creative Response
Creative Response: writing about protest to the title…
VCE Creative Response essay scoring 65%: The truth You all saw that. Right here, in front of everyone. His hand, on me. Not one of you said a word. Not…
The truth
You all saw that.
Right here, in front of everyone.
His hand, on me.
Not one of you said a word.
Not one of you even flinched.
Not one of you asked if I was okay.
You all just ignored it like you can't even see.
That's the thing isn't it, Women are always on display but never really seen. You make comments about how we look. You mimic our voices when we leave the room. You interupt, you diminish, you flirt just enough to make us uncomfortable but not enough to get you in trouble.
In this office, in the world women are regarded as a object. He touched me like I am a object, his to touch.
I am undermined in this workplace.
I am underestimated.
I am made to feel uncomfortable by my own boss.
But it's not just here, its all around.
Being scared to walk alone at night.
Being scared to get a uber alone.
Even being scared to live alone.
I am done living my life in fear,
I am done living my life in silence.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: In High ground, a desire for control is…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 60%: Stephen Maxwell Johnson's film 'High Ground' (2020) set in colonial Australia, explores the violent legacies of…
Stephen Maxwell Johnson's film 'High Ground' (2020) set in colonial Australia, explores the violent legacies of First Nations individuals while revealing the ongoing injustice from colonial settlers. In the film High Ground, it reveals the importance of cultural connection and the ability to have power on the decisions made by individuals. While, also exploring how wanting control is a crucial factor in decision making. He shows this through exploring the influence of culture and familial bonds, and the significance of power in society. While also highlighting that control is still important in decision making, but not the most.
Johnson explores the significant influences a connection to family and culture play in making decisions. Through exploring the contrasting lives of Aboriginal people compared to white settlers, he reveals how having a bond within their tribe, allows individuals such as Dharrpa to make choices. Dharrpa is an elder of their family which brings the responsibilities of the wise and admirable person for the family as he holds power within his family to make choices. During the confrontation with Moran he states "we must look after our own". This shows the amount of value Dharrpa holds for his family which leads the decisions he makes. As Dharrpa is an elder with an entrenched connection to the Aboriginal community as he emphasizes to Moran that it is "[his] country". Through this connection, Johnson shows that other factors and values lead to the decisions made by someone. This is further
demonstrated through Gutjuk, who is characterised as a confused and conflicted boy in the many mentors he has been given. Johnson uses costuming through the film to depict the cultural background of Gutjuk. The contrast in his clothes as "Tommy" show a restriction and limitation to express his identity compared to the freedom Gutjuk experiences in the traditional clothes, covered in ochre. Through illustrating this contrast, the audience can identify the impact of culture on decisions as Gutjuk feels more seen and accepted in his Aboriginal family. Ultimately, allowing him to make decisions. Overall, Johnson demonstrates that multiple factors are important in decision making, including cultural and family connections.
VCE · Creative Response
Creative Response: Protest and the Line through the wall
VCE Creative Response essay scoring 72.5%: The Conversation Academic Rigour, Journalistic Flair Environment + Energy Column Resist and Persist Published…
The Conversation
Academic Rigour, Journalistic Flair
Environment + Energy Column
Resist and Persist
Published 11th of June 2025 11:03 am GMT-7
As a marine scientist who has spent a lifetime researching the ocean and marine life, it hurts me to speak about the tragedy of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill caused by the company BP in 2010. During these 87 days, I watched the horrors of how “11 people and 82,000 birds, 6,165 sea turtles and around 25,900 other marine animals” suffered an early death. More than 200 million gallons of oil were spilled into the Gulf of Mexico, while BP, the oil giant responsible, scrambled to contain the catastrophe of its own making
Let me be clear, this was avoidable, BP’s negligence in safety procedures, failure to see the warning signs and the prioritisation of profits over people and the planet led to this disaster. How many more innocent lives must be lost? What followed was not just oil on water, it was oil in the lungs of dolphins, the feathers of birds and the home of countless marine animals.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: Oedipus The King suggests that truth is…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 60%: Sophocles ‘Oedipus the King’ is a tragic Greek play about a King as his true identity slowly gets revealed.…
Sophocles ‘Oedipus the King’ is a tragic Greek play about a King as his true identity slowly gets revealed. Sophocles delineated that the burden of uncovering the truth is far more dangerous than living in ignorance. He first conveys the intense pain and anguish the truth brings upon an individual. He then portrays how ignorance leads to excessive pride. However, Sophocles also demonstrates how being shielded from the truth leads to an illusion of control over others.
Sophocles exposes the immense pain and suffering brought upon an individual when the truth is uncovered. When Oedipus calls upon Tiresias to help save the sick city, Tiresias announces how truth is only ‘pain to him who sees’. Through this remark, he emphasises the pain that Tiresias experiences as a result of knowing the truth. In doing so, reality is painted as harmful and dangerous, carrying an immense burden to those who know the truth. Here Sophocles emphasises the truth as unsafe, causing immense harm to those who can truly see, warning the audience to be cautious. Oedipus, desperate to find out who his parents are, ‘must know it all’ and ‘must see the truth at last’. The repetition conveys his deep desire and obsession in finding out the truth despite all the warnings and ultimately leads to his own physical blindness. In doing so, Sophocles warns the audience of how the truth can be self destructive, causing irreversible damage to an individual.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: How does Oedipus portray women and their…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: In Sophocles’ play, “Oedipus the King,” the titular character embarks on an inquest into the death of his…
In Sophocles’ play, “Oedipus the King,” the titular character embarks on an inquest into the death of his predecessor, King Laius, revealing his own culpability and incestuous marriage with his wife and mother, Jocasta. Sophocles portrays Jocasta’s position as both wife and queen of Thebes as having a profound influence over Oedipus and the polis through her attempts to mediate the destructive impulses of masculine pride. Through her flawed position as Oedipus’ mother, Sophocles presents her failure to nurture her son as aiding the fulfilment of the prophecy. Sophocles portrays the role of women within patriarchal ancient Greek society as impotent, having little value and authority beyond marriage and motherhood, yet burdened by the consequences of male transgression.
Initially, Sophocles presents male discourse rooted in prideful authority as requiring female mediation and input. The prophet Tiresias’ accusation that Oedipus is “the land’s pollution” is met with scorn from Oedipus, who claims that he is a “pious fraud” and a “traitor.” Sophocles presents this clash as highly emotional, suggesting it stems from “anger… not any firm conviction.” The argument escalates, extending to Creon, whom Oedipus names as a conspirator, which requires intervention from the queen. Jocasta’s dual role as wife and queen of Thebes is sought to resolve the disputes between the men, with the Leader of the Chorus stating, “With her help, you must put this fighting of yours to rest.” In this moment, Sophocles portrays Jocasta as the centre of rationality and maturity, juxtaposed with the “Poor misguided men.” Through her critique, “Why this rage? You’re so unbending,” she is shown as having authority over Oedipus. Throughout this discourse, “The Chorus turns to Jocasta,” highlighting her influence. This, in addition to her later display of reverence, with “branch in hand and incense too,” portrays her adherence to civic duty. By divulging to the Chorus that Oedipus is “no longer a man of sense,” requiring that they “turn to.. Apollo,” Sophocles demonstrates the extent of the rapport between Jocasta and the Theban populace, backed by her lengthy rule and age. As Oedipus grows increasingly troubled by questions of his heritage and the prophecy, Jocasta seeks to calm and reason with him, asking, “What haunts you so?” and when Oedipus inquires further, asking, “...why look to the Prophet’s hearth, the fires of the future?” These exchanges demonstrate both Jocasta's concern for him and Oedipus’ reliance on her. As Oedipus begins to discover the truth, he still turns to Jocasta, lamenting, “Wasn’t I born for torment?” revealing both his emotional volatility and the limited capacity of her counsel to restrain him. Sophocles portrays the esteem held for women like Jocasta as confidants and arbitrators, whose influence over men and the populace is acknowledged but holds limited value in ancient Greek society.
Sophocles presents Jocasta as a tragic figure, highlighting both her fated moral culpability and her marginalised position in ancient Greek society. Her flawed maternal care is evident in her disregard for her firstborn son after it was prophesied that he would kill his father and marry his mother. After sanctioning his death, she believes the workings of fate have absolved her responsibility, and she later blames the prophecy when stating, “[The god’s] destroyed him first.” Through her attempt to murder her son to avert fate, Sophocles condemns her indifference as the
VCE · Creative Response
Creative Response: The Truth - Freedom lies in being bold
VCE Creative Response essay scoring 72.5%: The Truth: For centuries, they told us to be quiet, but the world was built from the echoes of women who…
The Truth:
For centuries, they told us to be quiet, but the world was built from the echoes of women who refused to oppose the truth. From the streets where suffragettes marched, to the screens where #MeToo ignited, every whisper of resistance has become a roar demanding changed.
Today, I speak not just to women but to the mothers who carry history in the palm of their hands, to those raising the next generation to be freer, louder, and bolder than we were ever allowed to be.
True empowerment begins with belief of our own worth, our own voices, and our shared power to dismantle the systems that were never built for us, yet tremble under our united front. So, to write our own story, we must first acknowledge the women who laid the foundation, who made us believe in our own power to stand together, empower each other through unity, and finally reflect, so that neither woman nor children be obliged to rebuild the same walls of inequality again.
Every step towards equality stands on the shoulders of women whose defiance transformed oppression into opportunity. Emmeline Pankhurst and the suffragettes in the early 1900s weren’t just fighting for votes but they were building the stepping stones for womanhood. Their protests against an empire defined by male dominance weren’t acts of rebellion, but declarations of their existence and the truth.
We are here and we will not wait for permission.
Over a century later, the #MeToo movement reignited that same fire. What began as a hashtag on the internet, became a reckoning. Where millions of women shared their trauma not for sympathy, but for solidarity and in doing so, they turned silence into a weapon that shattered institutions built on dominance and fear.
These women didn’t just speak, but they made the world listen. Their courage carved a lineage of resistance that we inherit every time we raise our voices. And to the mothers listening, we owe it to our daughters not only to remember their fight, but to continue it. Because freedom lies in being bold, once we honour their strength, we must find that same belief within ourselves.
However, to believe in ourselves is to rebel against generations that promoted doubt. Despite decades of progress, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency’s (WGEA) 2024 report shows
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: "she told the police it was all her fault"…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 77.5%: Truth in the human experience is rarely direct or absolute, as presented in Shirley Jackson's We Have Always…
Truth in the human experience is rarely direct or absolute, as presented in Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived In The Castle. Set in mid 20th century America, the novella explores the complexities of unique perspective on deception as well as a source of understanding. By situating her narrative within an isolated mansion "steady against the world", the text discerns that individual viewpoints can obscure reality. Shrouded in a macabre atmosphere, the novella exemplifies how ambiguity can provide a more profound understanding; however when coupled with collective opinion, deception can perpetuate illusion and social exclusion. Despite its ability to unveil hidden factuality, Jackson insinuates that individual and communal deception can breed instability and illusion.
Jackson illuminates that individual perspective can distort reality and conceal truth, especially through an unreliable narrative. Her characterisation of Merricat as an "eccentric" and emotionally immature eighteen year old establishes an environment steeped in ambiguity and confusion. As Merricat lays "listening to [Jonas'] stories", the text portrays her as behaving like a younger child when listening to her pet as though he is a real person and can respond to human interaction. Thus Jackson foregrounds Merricat's detachment from reality, conveying her distrust and distortion of the human world. Moreover, her omission of her guilt surrounding the poisoning exemplifies how Jackson uses limited perspective to manipulate understandings. Mrs. Wright questions the poisoning, asking "why did [Constance]" commit such an act as Constance "told the police it was all her fault", while Merricat stays quiet, reflecting a childlike denial of guilt rooted in her psychological instability. This idea is further developed through Merricat's act of setting fire to the family home as her narration shifts to surreal imagery. She asserts that her left eye saw "everything golden and yellow and orange". Thus, rather than describing the blaze directly, Merricat filters it through fragmented sensory impressions, as Jackson uses disjointed description to reveal how Merricat's mind refuses to confront her own violence, exemplifying how objective truth can be replaced with psychological distortion. Thus, Jackson posits that self-deception has the potential to conceal both literal and moral reality.
VCE · Creative Response
Creative Response: Title - When the shadows speak Stimuli…
VCE Creative Response essay scoring 67.5%: Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury— The first rule of law is “Do not speak what can’t be proven.” For 12 long…
Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury—
The first rule of law is “Do not speak what can’t be proven.” For 12 long years I have conducted my speech to remain within the confines of this rule. I have complied to a higher power entity who wields the power to derail my career within their heavy wooden gavel. But there comes a point in which facts, laws and outdated statutes cannot even begin to comprehend the emotional turmoil that resides within a case like this. And it is at this point in which complicity becomes complacency. And as I stand here today, defending a woman who was punished and ostracized for simply speaking—with your patience I am ready to break this rule.
VCE · Creative Response
Creative Response: Protest Title: 'At what cost?'
VCE Creative Response essay scoring 70%: Protest Practice piece Using Stimulus 2: picture of graffiti - Setting: police Station - Point of view from…
Protest Practice piece
Using Stimulus 2: picture of graffiti
- Setting: police Station
- Point of view from police officer leader
- Black lives Matter protest
Men who were killed:
- Tamon Robinson
- Oscar grant
- Micheal Brown
- Paul O'neal
Signs:
- Black lives matter
- Say their names
- "I can't breathe"
- Justice
- Am I next?
Story:
Dear Diary,
"Call coming in... Emergency, police, ambulance, fire!"
"A man has been killed! Right in the middle of the CBD! Please help! Ambulance, Ambulance!" A woman screamed.
"Miss, did you see who the perpetrator was and the ambulance is on their way."
There was a pause but with puffed out voice. "Yes!" I waited. "A police officer."
My stomach sank. But I had to spring back into control. I was the one in this position now.
"Okay Miss what happened what is your name and do you know the person who has been killed?"
"MY SON!" she bursts into tears, grasping for air. Someone else takes the phone. A deep male voice.
"His name is Eric Timmons, he's 17 years old, he was standing in the middle of Fed Square trying to protect his little sister from the police
Protest Practice piece
Using Stimulus 2: picture of graffiti
- Setting: police Station
- Point of view from police officer leader
- Black lives Matter protest
Men who were killed:
- Tamon Robinson
- Oscar grant
- Micheal Brown
- Paul O'neal
Signs:
- Black lives matter
- Say their names
- "I can't breathe"
- Justice
- Am I next?
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: This play shows that when faced with…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 77.5%: This play shows that when faced with impossible circumstances, we can still show dignity and courage. Sophocles…
This play shows that when faced with impossible circumstances, we can still show dignity and courage.
Sophocles Oedipus the King retells the legend of Oedipus, presenting him as the quintessential tragic hero who elicits profound pity and fear from the Athenian audience through his eventual self-inflicted downfall. Sophocles contrasts how, when faced with difficult circumstances, some characters respond with courage and dignity, while others act in a less than noble manner. Thus, the play suggests that the qualities of an individual are underscored in times of hardship. Even when individuals act with honour and bravery to subvert fate, the playwright suggests that the will of the Gods will always outweigh human efforts, as is seen through the miasma that challenges the leaders of Thebes. Furthermore, he explores how they respond to the confronting truth thus harming the city's order.
Even when acting with dignity and courage to subvert fate, Sophocles suggests that the power of the Gods will always surpass the acts of humans. In his opening stage directions Sophocles sets the scene by explaining that "Oedipus solved the riddle of the Sphinx" and "now a plague has struck to city". By immediately connecting Oedipus' triumph with the city of Thebes' present suffering, Sophocles inks to caution his Athenian audience against celebrating human intellegence, warning them that the will of the Gods will always prevail over acts of courage to deny fate. Likewise, Jocasta's dramatically ironic statement that "the land (is) so sick" speaks to the playwrights determination to signal to his audience that the loimos is as a result of the wrongdoing of the citizens of Thebes who hadn't sought justice for the previous king Laius' regicide ultimately intensifying the cities suffering. Furthermore the length to which Socasta and Laius went to avoid the prophecy is seen when Jocasta reveals that their infant son was abandoned on a barren trackless mountain" when he "wasn't three days old". This depiction failure of parental duty underscores their courage and hubris as they believe they can outwit the gods and prevent the fulfillment of the prophecy that their son "must make love with (his) own mother" and "shed (his) father's blood with (his) own hands." Here, their courageous attempt to outwit the gods to protect their family exposes their abandonment of moral responsibility as parents. Through this, the playwright causes this audience that attempts to resist divine will despite courageous intentions only leads to greater devastation, reinforcing the necessity of reverence towards the gods.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: In the play, the desire to behave…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 77.5%: In the play, the desire to behave honnorably causes suffering. To what extent do you agree? Sophocles Oedipus the…
In the play, the desire to behave honnorably causes suffering.
To what extent do you agree?
Sophocles Oedipus the king retells the legend of Oedipus, presenting him as the quintessential tragic hero who elicits profound pity and fear from his Athenian audience through his eventual self inflicted downfall. Sophocles contends that even while some individuals attempted to act with noble intentions, their failure to accept the limits of human control results in inevitable suffering. The playwright explores that attempts to preserve honnour acting out of pride ultimatley leads to pain and suffering. Moreover, the insistent pursuit of the truth, though seemingly honnorable causes great destruction while true clarity only comes through acceptance.
Sophocles demonstrates that attempts to act can lead to suffering when individuals are driven by pride. In the Prologue, Thebes is plagued by a miasma where the city is 'Thebes is dying'. Here, the emotive language used by the Chorus reflects the depth of their despair as they refer to their home as the 'city of death' and speak of how 'black death luxuriates in the raw wailing misery'. By personifying death via vivid imagry, the playwright sets the tone of the city of Thebes suffering and consumed by darkness due to divine will. This suffering symbolises the moral corruption caused by human pride as those who attempted to act honorably defied the gods. Likewise, Jocasta's dramatically ironic statement that 'the land (is) so sick' speaks to the playwrights determination to signal to his audience that the loimos is as a result of the wrongdoing of Oedipus and the citizens of Thebes who hadn't sought justice for the previous king Laius' regicide which ultimately intensifys the city's suffering. Furthermore, the length to which Jocasta and Laius went to avoid the prophecy is seen when Jocasta reveals that their infant son was abandoned on a 'barren trackless mountain' when he 'wasn't three days old'. Their decision to abandon their son which can be viewed as one to protect their family from ultimately lead to their downfall. This highlights Jocasta and Laius' hubris in thinking they could outwit the gods and prevent the completion of the prophecy that their son "must make love with (his) own mother" and "shed (his) fathers blood with (his) own hands." Meanwhile their arrogance in believing they could outwit the gods ultimately led to the fufilment of the prophecy. Through this, Sophocles intends to remind his audience that attempts to resist divine will and manipulate fate through acting with pride only leads to greater devastation, reinforcing the necessity of humility and reverence towards the gods.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: In We Have Always Lived in the Castle,…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 87.5%: At the heart of Shirley Jackson's gothic novella 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' (1962) , she presents an…
At the heart of Shirley Jackson's gothic novella 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' (1962) , she presents an external world capable of undermining all spectres of isolation. Indeed, Jackson's construction of the Blackwood's isolation is one that is stemmed by external society, and is proliferated through Merricat’s need for control. Initially, Jackson strips any sense of choice in isolation by undermining it with external society’s perpetual and unsolicited oppression. However, Jackson subverts isolation with a sense of liberation, in the process deeming their retreat as a matter of choice. Ultimately, Jackson depicts this liberation as shortlived, and steeps their retreat into isolation as a mean for Merricat to garner absolute control.
Jackson at first glance presents a forced retreat into isolation caused by external society. Indeed, Jackson depicts the sister's retreat into isolation as a method of control by the villagers. Jackson mirrors the historical branding of non-conforming women as "witches" - refusing to submit to the social order and unbound by society's control– through the Blackwood sisters, whos very existence unsettles the villagers. The "horrified laughs" at the mutter of "sugar" reveal that mockery masks paranoia, a fear that inevitably festers into perpetual and sadistic violence guised as religious righteousness. This is substantiated as Jim Donell, the head chief who physically calms the fire, is the first to "throw the stone". Not only does Jackson exposes the hypocrisy of the villager hatred as they condemn the sisters' supposed sins while enacting violence themselves, but exemplifies their unsolicited desire to weaken the Blackwoods embodied in destroying the Blackwood manor. By diminishing the Blackwood mannor, the sisters are stripped of their wealth and socioeconomic power, indirectly forced into isolation to obtain some sense of power and control. Moreover, with the villager’s wish to "start the fire all over again", Jackson alludes to the villager's hatred perpetuating a cycle of oppression. From the authorital figures, to the marginalized women who "stand on the porch and laugh", and even the children, Jackson depicts a hatred endemic to the status quo that is inherited from generation to generation. Through this perpetuation, Jackson creates an endless cycle of oppression, where the Blackwood's seemingly are forced away from external society and into isolation indefinitely. Thus, the readers are reminded that external society dissipates a sense of choice in isolation, reflecting external society's fear-driven desire to control and oppress non-conformers.
VCE · Text Response
Text Response: How does sunset Boulevard explore the…
VCE Text Response essay scoring 80%: Billy Wilder’s film noir Sunset Boulevard exposes how individuals are deceived by the false promises of Hollywood’s…
Billy Wilder’s film noir Sunset Boulevard exposes how individuals are deceived by the false promises of Hollywood’s dream factory, a world that seduces with fame but ultimately destroys those who chase its illusions. Wilder explores the impacts of decline and decay through powerful physical symbols, such as the decaying mansion as well as through the emotional deterioration of his characters. Furthermore, Wilder demonstrates the downfall and consequences of the Hollywood machine, leaving individuals to rot in their cycle of fantasy
Wilder highlights the physical decay throughout the film through the physical symbols demonstrating nothing lasts forever. The decaying Hollywood landscape, embodied through the “abandoned” mansion described by Joe Gillis, becomes a symbolic reflection of a once glamorous industry that has lost its vitality and purpose. Once “the talk of the town,” both Norma and her mansion now exist in isolation, consumed by darkness and decay. The mansion’s overgrown garden and empty pool reflect Norma’s detachment from reality and her inability to accept change. Wilder suggests how Normas already declined career has impacted on her separation from the outside world using “Miss havisham” as a reference to further explain the outcomes of decline and decay. This comparison deepens the understanding of Norma's desperate refusal to accept her new reality. The pool, another significant physical symbol, reinforces the idea of decay beneath illusion. Once a symbol of wealth and luxury, it becomes a grim setting for Joe’s death, turning a place of glamour into one of tragedy. Wilder transforms the pool into a visual metaphor for the corruption that lies beneath Hollywood’s surface, suggesting that what once represented success now signifies destruction. Furthermore, the recurring focus on aging throughout the film particularly in dialogue surrounding fading beauty and lost fame emphasises the industry’s cruel rejection of time. Wilder uses the physical effects of aging to expose Hollywood’s obsession with youth, revealing how decline becomes inevitable in a world that worships perfection. Through these physical symbols, Wilder portrays decay not as sudden but as a gradual process that consumes everything built on illusion.
VCE · Language Analysis
Language Analysis: Is Chess Cool? There has certainly…
VCE Language Analysis essay scoring 90%: Amid a worldwide surge in interest in chess, sparked by pop culture phenomena like The Queen’s Gambit and…
Amid a worldwide surge in interest in chess, sparked by pop culture phenomena like The Queen’s Gambit and online gaming platforms, the university Chess Club’s article “Is Chess Cool?” addresses readers within its campus community to redefine what makes the game enduringly relevant. Through an informative yet persuasive tone, the writer contends that chess is far more than a fleeting social trend; it is a timeless exercise in intellect, discipline and beauty. Initially adopting an authoritative and reflective tone before shifting towards warm encouragement, the writer appeals to both new students and nostalgic veterans. By combining factual evidence, logical reasoning and aesthetic appreciation, the article aims to transform momentary fascination into long-term commitment, urging readers to view chess not as fashionable recreation, but as a lasting pursuit of strategic mastery and shared community.
From the outset, the writer of “Is Chess Cool?” seeks to construct a voice of authority and authenticity, grounding their credibility in both lived experience and empirical reasoning before attempting to persuade. The writer opens with factual statistics, “From October 2020 to April 2022, Chess.com saw more than a 100 percent increase in registrations”, to legitimise the claim that chess is experiencing an unprecedented revival. By relying on quantifiable data rather than abstract opinion, the writer projects an image of reason and intellectual rigour, appealing to a tertiary audience that values evidence and research-based argument. This calculated precision immediately distinguishes the piece from casual opinion and positions the speaker as a rational observer within an emotional debate. Simultaneously, the inclusive pronoun “we traditional chess lovers” cultivates solidarity between the author and long-term enthusiasts. The nostalgic modifier “traditional” elevates the writer to the role of custodian of the game’s heritage, while the collective “we” dismantles hierarchical distance, signalling camaraderie rather than condescension. Such language invites both veteran and novice players to engage on equal footing, transforming potential defensiveness into receptiveness. Further credibility is built through the tonal juxtaposition of “delighted by the new interest” and “a bit uncomfortable about it.” This subtle admission of uncertainty functions as a concession, demonstrating reflective honesty rather than blind advocacy. By conceding potential flaws in the newfound enthusiasm, the writer deepens ethos, depicting the Chess Club as reasoned guardians of authenticity rather than elitist purists. Collectively, these strategies, factual validation, shared identity, and tempered self-awareness, enable the author to establish a persuasive foundation of measured credibility, ensuring that subsequent appeals to logic and emotion are received with trust and respect by their educated, intellectually curious audience.
VCE · Creative Response
Creative Response: Transformation
VCE Creative Response essay scoring 87.5%: My country is a living canvas of transformation. Layers of ochre and dust, of green and gold, painted and…
My country is a living canvas of transformation. Layers of ochre and dust, of green and gold, painted and repainted across centuries. The land changes its colours with the seasons — a dry whisper in summer, a soft hum after the rains. Mountains rise from the earth like old bones, and rivers snake through them, carving new paths as if to remind us that nothing ever stays the same.
But not all change brings beauty. Some leaves stains that will not wash away.
Before my people came to this land, it moved with the rhythm of those who understood it. The First People lived as part of its breath, walking lightly across soil that knew their names. Their stories were not written on paper, but sung through trees, carved into stone, whispered by firelight. Each sunrise was sacred, each step a promise to care for the land that gave them life.
Then came the breaking.
My people arrived with iron and greed, with maps that claimed what was never theirs to take. They looked upon this land and saw only opportunity — something to own, something to change. Forests were felled, rivers redirected, and the deep connection between people and Country was torn apart.
And with that tearing came silence.
The old songs faded beneath the weight of new tongues. The ancient harmony between land and people was fractured, replaced by the hollow sound of progress. Entire cultures were stripped from the soil, as if by taking the land, one could take its soul too. The dispossession ran deeper than borders — it carved into hearts, splitting what was once whole into scattered fragments.
The land grieved.
It burned beneath the sun, its rivers wept mud and salt, its creatures retreated into shrinking pockets of safety. The people who had cared for it since time immemorial were forced away, watching as the balance they had kept for thousands of years was undone in a few short generations.
And still, we called it growth.