Rorschach Test
Some of you may have seen the meme above - it's kind of classic for English teachers. I've thought about it a lot over the years, and there's definitely some truth to it. I've analysed things that Shakespeare has said and been damn clear that it wasn't what Shakespeare meant. That's not to say that Shakespeare didn't mean it, it's just that it's not what was going through his head when he wrote that line.
Some of you may have seen the meme above - it's kind of classic for English teachers. I've thought about it a lot over the years, and there's definitely some truth to it. I've analysed things that Shakespeare has said and been damn clear that it wasn't what Shakespeare meant. That's not to say that Shakespeare didn't mean it, it's just that it's not what was going through his head when he wrote that line.
But that's ok - because this is English and the reality is that there's something more complicated going on.
But that's ok - because this is English and the reality is that there's something more complicated going on.
The Joy of English
The Joy of English
English is like looking into a magical pool - like staring straight into Galadriel's mirror.
English is like looking into a magical pool - like staring straight into Galadriel's mirror.
Some of what you'll see is put there by the writer...
Some of what you'll see is put there by the writer...
but a good writer also builds a whole load of new stuff into the image, and what you see there is more like a mirror.
but a good writer also builds a whole load of new stuff into the image, and what you see there is more like a mirror.
What you see in a piece of literature often says more about you than it does the author.
What you see in a piece of literature often says more about you than it does the author.
The Rorschach Test
The Rorschach Test
This is one of the most important lessons I ever do in English. It's like the holy grail of the subject.
This is one of the most important lessons I ever do in English. It's like the holy grail of the subject.
The truth is that, in English, you're being asked what you see in something.
The truth is that, in English, you're being asked what you see in something.
The trick is in understanding that this doesn't mean thinking about the author's intentions, it means looking at your response.
The trick is in understanding that this doesn't mean thinking about the author's intentions, it means looking at your response.
Below there is a photo gallery of what are called Rorschach Tests. They're made from a splash of ink being folded to produce a random images. Have a look over them and then read the commentary below...
Below there is a photo gallery of what are called Rorschach Tests. They're made from a splash of ink being folded to produce a random images. Have a look over them and then read the commentary below...
So the idea of them is that you can see what you want in them. And you can - to a degree.
So the idea of them is that you can see what you want in them. And you can - to a degree.
One of them is definitely two people sitting with their hands held together, in a kind of prayer.
One of them is definitely two people sitting with their hands held together, in a kind of prayer.
BUT although everyone would know which picture I was taking about, the idea of their hands being held together in prayer was my own doing. The idea of prayer was something I brought into it - they could have been fighting, after all.
BUT although everyone would know which picture I was taking about, the idea of their hands being held together in prayer was my own doing. The idea of prayer was something I brought into it - they could have been fighting, after all.
So a big part of English is just saying what you see in a piece of writing.
So a big part of English is just saying what you see in a piece of writing.
The Importance of Evidence
The Importance of Evidence
But you can't just say what you see and expect everyone to see it in the same way.
But you can't just say what you see and expect everyone to see it in the same way.
For example, in the first image of the carousel I see a member of the Beatles (a la Sgt Pepper) but with two lions sitting on his head.
For example, in the first image of the carousel I see a member of the Beatles (a la Sgt Pepper) but with two lions sitting on his head.
But although I can see this, other people might not be able to - or I might have to prove that I've actually seen this thing. In order to do this, I'd have to point at the image and say - look, there's his moustache; there's the big eyebrows; there are the lions on his head.
But although I can see this, other people might not be able to - or I might have to prove that I've actually seen this thing. In order to do this, I'd have to point at the image and say - look, there's his moustache; there's the big eyebrows; there are the lions on his head.
This is how we use evidence in English - we just ask you to point to the bit of the text where you've seen something and say what you've seen there.
This is how we use evidence in English - we just ask you to point to the bit of the text where you've seen something and say what you've seen there.
This is why we ask you to reference the text using quotes.
This is why we ask you to reference the text using quotes.
You can see anything you want as long as you can find the right quotes.
You can see anything you want as long as you can find the right quotes.