Gentlemen, Your Verdict
“Gentlemen, Your Verdict”
Michael Bruce
1. From what perspective is the story told? (1 mark)
This story is told in limited omniscient third person perspective. This is because the narrating voice enters the minds of most characters, excluding the radio telephone scenes. You can only hear Lieutenant Commander Oram’s voice, not the character on the other end of the radio.
2. Through which literary device does Michael Bruce tell his story? (1 mark) The literary device used was flashback with a cliff hanger ending. Michael Bruce started the setting in a courtroom, where the five surviving characters recalled the details of the past event. This is where the flashback took place to present the actual event. Once we see the events in the submarine, we are taken back to the present to view the court hearing. The final scene in the story is a cliff hanger, as the gentlemen are left to decide a verdict, of which we do not learn.
B) What effect does this sequence have on the reader? (1 mark)
I believe this sequence had a very positive effect on the reader. The flashback device invites the reader to view what happened, placing us in the situation. It allows us to feel the emotions of the Lieutenant, and understand why he chose between life and death for so many others. Regardless if a reader agrees or disagrees with the Lieutenants actions, we do not learn if the courtroom does. We are made aware that a verdict is going to happen, but by not informing us of the final say, it leaves us wanting more.
3. Define allusion. (1 mark)
Allusion is a reference to something in history, mythology or literature.
B) Find an example of an allusion in the text. (1 mark) An example of allusion in this story would be Torpedoman Preece recalling the events on the submarine.
4. What happened to the submarine? (2 marks)
Twenty men were taking the submarine for a trial cruise, when suddenly they hit a magnetic mine causing the sub to spiral out of
Michael Bruce
1. From what perspective is the story told? (1 mark)
This story is told in limited omniscient third person perspective. This is because the narrating voice enters the minds of most characters, excluding the radio telephone scenes. You can only hear Lieutenant Commander Oram’s voice, not the character on the other end of the radio.
2. Through which literary device does Michael Bruce tell his story? (1 mark) The literary device used was flashback with a cliff hanger ending. Michael Bruce started the setting in a courtroom, where the five surviving characters recalled the details of the past event. This is where the flashback took place to present the actual event. Once we see the events in the submarine, we are taken back to the present to view the court hearing. The final scene in the story is a cliff hanger, as the gentlemen are left to decide a verdict, of which we do not learn.
B) What effect does this sequence have on the reader? (1 mark)
I believe this sequence had a very positive effect on the reader. The flashback device invites the reader to view what happened, placing us in the situation. It allows us to feel the emotions of the Lieutenant, and understand why he chose between life and death for so many others. Regardless if a reader agrees or disagrees with the Lieutenants actions, we do not learn if the courtroom does. We are made aware that a verdict is going to happen, but by not informing us of the final say, it leaves us wanting more.
3. Define allusion. (1 mark)
Allusion is a reference to something in history, mythology or literature.
B) Find an example of an allusion in the text. (1 mark) An example of allusion in this story would be Torpedoman Preece recalling the events on the submarine.
4. What happened to the submarine? (2 marks)
Twenty men were taking the submarine for a trial cruise, when suddenly they hit a magnetic mine causing the sub to spiral out of