Okay so I'm really struggling with creating theses for English, we have a bunch of questions to make some for, and I can never make a good one. I can also never make topic sentences (like trying to signpost in the intro) and then have them in my essay. I'm doing Burial Rites for my external, but it's SUCH a hard book for me to understand.

Here are some questions I've been given from my teacher:

How are readers positioned to view the supernatural in Burial Rites?
How is the reader invited to view the concept of class and power in Burial Rites?
Any help would be appreciated.
Sorry for the repost btw, I am just super desperate, and my teacher genuinely can't help because she quit a few days ago and there is no sub teacher to help us. Also this is year 12 for me, and I rlly rlly need to up my game and get at least 24 or above, which I know is super hard, but I'm going to try. But yeah, please help, anyone.

omg im in year 11 and we JUST finished Burial Rites. Although I'm absolute trash at English, I might be able to help you.

Q1) Religious interpretation : The story is set in 19th-century Iceland, when there were strong beliefs in superstition. Readers may interpret the supernatural occurrences and characters' beliefs as manifestations of the characters' psychological states. The isolation, fear, and guilt experienced by the characters could lead them to perceive supernatural phenomena as a way of coping with their harsh reality. This is evident because Agnes had the stone given by her mother in her tongue the whole time. This might suggest the readers that Agnes, during the story possessed some powers which others didn't have, or in other words, she possessed supernatural powers.

Ambiguity : Hannah Kent skillfully weaves ambiguity into the narrative, leaving room for readers to question whether the supernatural elements are genuine or products of the characters' imaginations. This ambiguity allows readers to engage with the story on multiple levels, including one that acknowledges the power of belief in shaping events.

Symbolism : Readers may also see the supernatural elements as symbolic representations of the characters' internal struggles and conflicts. These elements may represent the darkness within the human psyche, the fear of the unknown, or the harshness of the natural environment. The ravens constantly occurring throughout the novel implies that something bad happening or going to happen is a possibility

Please bare with me , I'm in school right now so I will answer the other question ASAP
But here are some resources for Burial Rites

https://atarnotes.com/notes/Wrqk-burial-rites-chapter-theme-analysis

https://atarnotes.com/notes/9OZX-burial-rites-extensive-quote-bank-2

Also don't worry too much, im sure you will do good . If you practice English, you will surely get your desired score

    Ash444

    Thank you so so so much for this! I'm mentally so out of it with English it's insane, and I srsly need to do like super well. Do you mind if I send some more of the questions we were required to have a theses for (also feel free to say no! year 11 is just as hard as year 12!)?

    Btw what you came up with is srsly good stuff like no joke, year 12s in my grade can't even do that well (including me haha)!!

        wintery93
        yes pls send the questions ill do my best. ill also give the answer of the second question in a moment.

          Answer to the second question :
          Social class : The protagonist, Agnes Magnúsdóttir, is a condemned woman from a lower social class, while the officials tasked with carrying out her execution belong to the upper echelons of society. Through the portrayal of these characters, the reader can see the stark contrast in their positions and the power dynamics at play.
          Houses of lower class vs upper class : Bjorn Blondal in the novel, was "accustomed to the more spacious dwelling.... built from imported wood" as opposed to the "cramped rooms constructed of turf" that the Johnson family lived in. In other words, higher class people had better quality of living
          Legal system biases : The legal proceedings and Agnes's trial serve as a lens through which the reader can examine the class biases inherent in the justice system. The reader can see how those in power manipulate the legal system to maintain their control and suppress those considered lower in class.
          Social interaction : Kent portrays the interactions between characters from different classes, highlighting the tension and prejudice that exist. Agnes's interactions with the family she is sent to stay with before her execution and the officials tasked with her execution showcase the power dynamics at play and the prejudices people held based on social class.

          yeah that's pretty much it.
          wait lol but is year 11 actually as hard as year 12 ??

            Ash444

            Dude thank you so freaking much, you are literally a lifesaver (I am sending you millions of virtual hugs)!!! I have quotes so no need for those! But any help with the thesis and/or topic sentences is much appreciated!!

            Here are all the questions:
            How are readers positioned to view the patriarchy in Burial Rites (provide a thesis, topic sentence and quotes where possible to substantiate any claims you make)?

            How are readers positioned to view religion in Burial Rites (provide a thesis, topic sentence and quotes where possible to substantiate any claims you make)?

            How is the reader positioned to view justice through Burial Rites (provide a thesis, topic sentence and quotes where possible to substantiate any claims you make)?

            How does Kent position her readers to value the truth (provide a thesis, topic sentence and quotes where possible to substantiate any claims you make)?

            How are readers positioned to view the supernatural in Burial Rites (provide a thesis, topic sentence and quotes where possible to substantiate any claims you make)?

            How is the reader invited to view the concept of class and power in Burial Rites (provide a thesis, topic sentence and quotes where possible to substantiate any claims you make)?

            To me year 11 was, just because from year 10, they just kinda throw you in the deep end and expect a lot of things. I don't know could just be me haha. Cause in year 11 I got rlly bad grades in subjects like for psych I got 17s for both assignments and 44 or 45 out of 50 for the exam, but when it came to year 12 I got 20s for both assignments and 10 for the data test. And for physics I barely passed with only 45% in the entire subject last year, but this year I got it up to 89%, so I think for me definitely just because I'd never encountered such assessment before, year 11 was harder. But year 12 is hard in terms of how much you learn and how little teachers will help (particularly if they're not good).

                ok for the first one :
                Thesis : The novel "Burial Rites" depicts the oppression of the patriarchy through the experiences of its female characters, who are subjected to societal expectations, gender roles, and the control of male figures, highlighting patriarchy as a pervasive force the shapes the life of women

                Topic sentence 1 could be : Societal expectation place on women in the novel emphasis the subordination of women to men

                Topic sentence 2 :The patriarchal society's rigid gender roles are evident in the female characters' domestic roles and the male characters' control over their lives

                Topic sentence 3 :The male characters in the novel wield significant power over the female characters, as illustrated by the officials' judgments and decisions regarding Agnes's fate

                  sorry I am taking that long, I just have to go somewhere now but I will surely answer this asap.

                    Ash444

                    Don't apologise, literally no rush! What you're doing is already a lot, and I am extremely grateful.

                      Also @"Ash444"

                      I wrote a thesis for this character question!

                      How does the author position the reader to view the character of Agnes?

                      Readers are positioned to initially view Agnes as a criminal who has committed vile acts to Christianity, however, as the novel progresses, Agnes is revealed to be much more than just a criminal, through the concept of truth in the novel.

                      No idea what the topic sentences would be, but it was also too long a thesis...

                        wintery93 The thesis is good, and if you want to shorten it you can write something like "Originally depicted as a criminal defying Christianity, Agnes's character progresses along the novel as the notion of truth discloses her complexity"
                        Some topic sentences could be :

                        1. The rumours spread by individuals in the society portrays Agnes as a criminal
                        2. The narrator being Agnes helps the readers to sympathise with Agnes and understand the truth
                        3. Kent aims to create ambiguity in the novel, aiming the readers to find out about the real, possible 'mystery' of Agnes' character

                            Ash444

                            I know (it sucks so much). All the English teachers at my school were behind in teaching the book and actually marking any essays, so they gave us a few to do over the past two weeks (but they never marked them, which sucks)...

                            Also I'm sorry if this is a big ask (and please don't feel obliged to do it, I would appreciate anything, even any notes or dotpoints would be great), but if you don't mind would you be able to help with these other questions as well? Also have you written any essays that you perhaps don't mind sharing, because I would appreciate it so much if I could see a couple of different essays. My teacher was supposed to show us top-level exemplars but ofc being an evil English teacher, she proceeded to take a holiday right before our mock period began so no one in my class was shown a damn example.

                            How are readers positioned to view the patriarchy in Burial Rites (provide a thesis, topic sentence and quotes where possible to substantiate any claims you make)?

                            How are readers positioned to view religion in Burial Rites (provide a thesis, topic sentence and quotes where possible to substantiate any claims you make)?

                            How is the reader positioned to view justice through Burial Rites (provide a thesis, topic sentence and quotes where possible to substantiate any claims you make)?

                            How does Kent position her readers to value the truth (provide a thesis, topic sentence and quotes where possible to substantiate any claims you make)?

                            How are readers positioned to view the supernatural in Burial Rites (provide a thesis, topic sentence and quotes where possible to substantiate any claims you make)?

                            How is the reader invited to view the concept of class and power in Burial Rites (provide a thesis, topic sentence and quotes where possible to substantiate any claims you make)?

                            How is the reader invited to view the character of Agnes?

                            How is the reader invited to view the character of Toti?

                            How is the reader invited to view the character of Margret?

                            How is the reader invited to view the character of Natan?

                            How is the reader invited to view the character of Blondal?

                            How is the reader invited to view the character of Sigga?

                            P.S. so sorry for not replying sooner, I've literally had a bunch of homework just dumped on me from all my subjects because we're having external mocks, and because most of my teachers either didn't teach things properly, or stopped teaching altogether, we basically had to relearn a bunch of things ourselves.

                                Ash444 I think I already provided with answer on the first one

                                2) How are readers positioned to view religion in Burial Rites (provide a thesis, topic sentence and quotes where possible to substantiate any claims you make)?

                                Religion is a multifaceted and influential aspect in the novel Burial Rites. Religion is depicted to possess the capacity to provide consolation and hope to characters, while simultaneously being a source of judgement and division.

                                Topic sentence 1 : Religion helps people navigate their life, by providing them consolation and hope.

                                Evidence 1 : Agnes seeks consolation in religion when she says, "God, if You save me, I will devote my life to You." This reflects her desire for redemption and her belief in the transformative power of faith.

                                Evidence 2: The bond between Margrét and Agnes strengthens through shared prayer, as Margrét prays for Agnes's soul: "She clasped my hand and prayed. Her prayers felt like a thread, binding me to this life."

                                Topic sentence 2 : Religion also serves as a source of judgment and division in the community

                                Evidence 1 : When the district commissioner Reverend Toti arrives, he is initially met with skepticism and suspicion due to his religious authority. Agnes notes, "Reverend Toti was not a man who had ever been welcomed. He was a man to be feared and judged, to be saved from or, at least, shielded from the gaze of."

                                Evidence 2 : The community's strong adherence to religious doctrine leads to judgment and condemnation of Agnes, who is seen as a sinful woman deserving of punishment. This is evident in the way the townspeople view her: "A murderer in my house. A murderer at my table. Eating my food."

                                Topic sentence 3 : Burial Rites illustrates the complex interplay between faith and power in the characters' lives and the broader society

                                Evidence 1 : As Agnes faces her impending execution, she takes solace in the rituals of her faith, praying and seeking spiritual guidance: "The small gestures of prayer lent a form to the formless."

                                Evidence 2 : However, religion is also used as a means of control by those in power. The authorities use Agnes's confession and her relationship with religion to maintain their grip on her fate, as evidenced by Reverend Toti's visit: "He will teach me and tell me how to die, and then I will be in the hands of the law."

                                you can play with synonyms and words to make your thesis better, but this is what I could think of for this one.
                                also sorry for the late responses

                                    wintery93

                                    How is the reader positioned to view justice through Burial Rites (provide a thesis, topic sentence and quotes where possible to substantiate any claims you make)?

                                    Thesis : In "Burial Rites" by Hannah Kent, readers are positioned to view justice as a flawed and sometimes elusive concept, shaped by societal prejudices, personal biases, and the pursuit of political or social interests.

                                    Topic Sentence 1: The novel portrays a complex and often unjust criminal justice system, where societal biases and political motivations can eclipse the search for true justice.

                                    Evidence 1: Agnes's trial is marked by prejudice and preconceived notions of her guilt due to her gender and social status. As she reflects, "They will see the blackened meat of my heart and my ruined soul, not the wounds I have suffered."

                                    Evidence 2: The authorities' haste to resolve the case for political reasons, as they seek to demonstrate their competence and maintain social order, undermines the pursuit of justice. Agnes is caught in the crossfire of these political interests.

                                    Topic Sentence 2: The novel challenges readers to question the morality and fairness of the death penalty, forcing them to confront the ethical implications of capital punishment.

                                    Evidence 1: As Agnes faces her impending execution, readers are presented with the moral dilemma of whether taking a life in the name of justice is ever truly just. Agnes herself grapples with this as she says, "It is no less than I deserve. It is what the law demands. And I know, more than anyone, that the law is what matters."

                                    Evidence 2: The portrayal of Agnes's humanity and her life story prompts readers to empathize with her, raising questions about the justice of executing someone who has endured such hardship and suffering.

                                    Topic Sentence 3: Through the character of Reverend Toti, the novel explores the tension between religious justice and earthly justice, highlighting the complexities of moral judgment.

                                    Evidence 1: Reverend Toti's inner conflict and struggle to reconcile his religious beliefs with his role in Agnes's impending execution illustrate the moral ambiguities surrounding the concept of justice. He questions, "Is it my place to condemn her? Is it any man's place?"

                                    Evidence 2: The novel ultimately leaves readers questioning whether justice can ever be truly served in a world where human judgment and societal prejudices so often shape its course. Agnes's fate serves as a poignant example of the limitations of earthly justice.

                                      just wait like 2 hours I will reply asap. I am currently doing something sorry for keeping you up. Also can you tell me when those questions are due ?

                                        Ash444

                                        No worries, thank you so much for all your help btw it was much appreciated!