Questions to consider when analysing journey texts.
Key questions for EXPLORING texts about journeys
1. What type of journey is depicted? (inner, physical, imaginative, combination?)
2. What is the motivation for the journey? Does it change or become clearer as the journey progresses? Is the need to find one’s self a motivation?
3. Did an event inspire or necessitate the journey?
4. What factors influenced the traveller(s) to undertake the journey?
5. What was at stake? What was left behind?
6. Was there a ‘map’ or ‘guide’ on this journey? Or signs to point the way?
7. Where any obstacles encountered? How were they overcome?
8. Were there any factors which facilitated or enhanced the journey? Was ‘shelter’ or ‘safe haven’ provided along the way? Were any ‘short-cuts’ possible?
9. Did the traveller(s) reach any ‘crossroads’, points at which vital decisions needed to be made?
10. Did the traveller(s) encounter any ‘dead-ends’, points at which the traveller(s) needed to turn back and try again?
11. Were there any moments of self-doubt? Was the value of the journey questioned?
12. What fears did the travellers(s) need to face? How did the traveller(s) overcome these?
13. Were any significant ‘milestones’ reached?
14. Was a destination reached? Was this the destination which the traveller(s) expected to reach? Explain any shift.
15. Draw a map of the journey that was completed.
16. How did the journey affect the traveller(s)? In particular how was the thinking of the traveller(s) changed?
17. Did the traveller(s) gain new insight into the world or the self or both?
18. Was the traveller extended: physically, intellectually, emotionally?
19. Was reaching the destination or was the journey itself the most valued part of the experience?
20. Did the journey have an impact on others?
21. As the responder to the text, what impact did the journey have on you?
Key questions for ANALYSING texts about journeys
1. What is text about?
2. What is the position of the composer (purpose)? Do you agree with this point of view? Justify your response.
3. What counter argument could you present to the composer of this text?
4. How effectively do the language and structure of the texts achieve its purpose (to shape meaning about journeys)?
5. What does the text do to appeal to its intended audience?
6. What contexts surround the text and how are they represented in the text?
7. Identify the assumptions underlying this representation of journeys.
8. Does the journey presented in the text challenge your thinking about journeys? How?
9. In what way does the journey broaden your understanding of the world and yourself?
Key questions for COMPARING/CONTRASTING texts about journeys
1. What are the points of similarity in the texts?
2. How are the concepts of ‘journeys’ developed in a similar or in different ways in the texts?
3. What do the similarities/differences suggest about the context?
4. How are different perspectives related in the texts?
1. What type of journey is depicted? (inner, physical, imaginative, combination?)
2. What is the motivation for the journey? Does it change or become clearer as the journey progresses? Is the need to find one’s self a motivation?
3. Did an event inspire or necessitate the journey?
4. What factors influenced the traveller(s) to undertake the journey?
5. What was at stake? What was left behind?
6. Was there a ‘map’ or ‘guide’ on this journey? Or signs to point the way?
7. Where any obstacles encountered? How were they overcome?
8. Were there any factors which facilitated or enhanced the journey? Was ‘shelter’ or ‘safe haven’ provided along the way? Were any ‘short-cuts’ possible?
9. Did the traveller(s) reach any ‘crossroads’, points at which vital decisions needed to be made?
10. Did the traveller(s) encounter any ‘dead-ends’, points at which the traveller(s) needed to turn back and try again?
11. Were there any moments of self-doubt? Was the value of the journey questioned?
12. What fears did the travellers(s) need to face? How did the traveller(s) overcome these?
13. Were any significant ‘milestones’ reached?
14. Was a destination reached? Was this the destination which the traveller(s) expected to reach? Explain any shift.
15. Draw a map of the journey that was completed.
16. How did the journey affect the traveller(s)? In particular how was the thinking of the traveller(s) changed?
17. Did the traveller(s) gain new insight into the world or the self or both?
18. Was the traveller extended: physically, intellectually, emotionally?
19. Was reaching the destination or was the journey itself the most valued part of the experience?
20. Did the journey have an impact on others?
21. As the responder to the text, what impact did the journey have on you?
Key questions for ANALYSING texts about journeys
1. What is text about?
2. What is the position of the composer (purpose)? Do you agree with this point of view? Justify your response.
3. What counter argument could you present to the composer of this text?
4. How effectively do the language and structure of the texts achieve its purpose (to shape meaning about journeys)?
5. What does the text do to appeal to its intended audience?
6. What contexts surround the text and how are they represented in the text?
7. Identify the assumptions underlying this representation of journeys.
8. Does the journey presented in the text challenge your thinking about journeys? How?
9. In what way does the journey broaden your understanding of the world and yourself?
Key questions for COMPARING/CONTRASTING texts about journeys
1. What are the points of similarity in the texts?
2. How are the concepts of ‘journeys’ developed in a similar or in different ways in the texts?
3. What do the similarities/differences suggest about the context?
4. How are different perspectives related in the texts?