A Model Alienation Essay

(You cannot refer to these texts in

your exam)
 First paragraph key points
• Title sentence
• Definition in your own words that fits in with
the contents of the essay.
• Mentions both texts you will discuss, plus the
key issue.
• Tying both text together in terms of alienation.
 First Paragraph Sample
This essay will explore the concept of alienation in two
literary texts. Alienation is the state of being on the
outside of a community. Alienation can be social
separation of minority group, or it can be a more
personal sense of not being part of a smaller group. This
essay will look at the combating of alienation in the
courtroom movie 12 Angry Men and alienation of
individuals in the wider society in The Beatles song
“Eleanor Rigby”. Both texts show how individuals are
alienated in modern life.
 Paragraph 2 Features
• An introductory sentence to the first text.
Explains clearly the kind of alienation in this
text.
• Use of quotes to support statements.
• Notes on imagery on both ‘characters’
• Final sentence tying thoughts together in a
more profound manner.
 Second Paragraph Sample
The song is about alienated individuals in society. The song in a not subtle
response in the way that it treats its subject manner, it is about “lonely
people”. The song starts with the image of the central protagonist Eleanor
Rigby picking up rice in after a wedding service. It is significant that she
does not take part directly in the bonding ceremony, rather, alone, she
“waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in the jar at the
door”. In other words she smiles around other people, but is still basically
an outsider. She is separated from the whole ceremony. Like her, Father
McKenzie, lives an isolated life as he writes “words / of a sermon that no
one will hear”. Like her, he is living a lonely solitary life where he is by
himself for a great detail of the time. This alienated experience is
underlined by the image of him “darning his socks/in the night when
nobody’s there”. Both these figures are seen as desperately sad people
who live life in the bubble of their own existence.
 Third Paragraph Key Points
• This is the topic sentence of the text. It
mentions key concept.
• Summarises key thoughts on these issues
relating them strongly to the ideas of
alienation
• Looks at how other techniques like rhetorical
questions, pace, tone are used.
 Third Paragraph Sample
This song is notable for its use of poetic devices to reinforced the
idea of alienation. Repetition is a powerful device in this poem. 
The word "lonely" appears 10 times in this short song to
underline the feelings of alienation.  The use of the rhetorical
question, “Where do they all come from?”, is also strong.  It
suggests that the Beatles don't have all the answers, just
observations on alienation in day to day life. These questions
involves the responder in the song, making us think of the idea
of alienation in our society. Adding to the poetic techniques of
the song is the reflective tone and slow pace of the production
which creates a feeling of alienation. The voice is low and quiet,
drawing the responder into the song, so we can identify with the
alienated people.
 Fourth paragraph Key Points

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7CBKT0PWFA
• Relates central plot to the idea of alienation.
• Shows the relationship of the film techniques
of close ups and direct address to the idea of
alienation.
• The reference to the audience & how film
techniques guide the responders response.
 Fourth Paragraph Sample
• Another text that displays the concept of alienation is the movie “12 Angry
Men” that shows an individual standing against a group. It shows what
happens when 12 jurors are asked to convict an 18 year old man for
murder (and with that the death sentence). In the initial vote for
conviction, the jurors vote 11 to one to convict. The objecting juror (played
by Henry Fonda) is straight away alienated from group. The objecting,
alienated, juror is confident, but the other jurors try to convince him. This
was highlighted through the slow zooming close ups of the other jurors
when he decides not to convict. At one stage dissenting juror looks directly
at the camera, inviting the responder (movie viewer) to join him in this
case. As the story develops other jurors join him in his seeking to set the
charged man free. Individuals that join him are sometimes abused by men
who want a conviction. Also we see shots of the more aggressive
characters from below to make them seem more powerful. This shows
that how an individual who deviates from the majorities view can be
isolated and abused.
 Key Points on Film and alienation
• Topic sentence on dehumanisation and
alienation.
• A summary of how dehumanisation is shown
in this movie.
• Discussion of the technique of camera shots.
• The process of characterisation & alienation
shown.
 Fifth Paragraph Sample
• Another key issue in this gritty black and white film 12 Angry
Men is how people are dehumanized in the alienation process.
The characters in the film are not referred to by names, they are
more like character types (e.g. the old man, the showman or
juror number one). At the end of the film old man and the Henry
Fonda character finally out each other’s names, thus now, out of
the jury room, becoming really human for the first time. The
jurors are many scenes shown in their own universe. When not
talking we often see the characters thinking, going over the
issues. Close up two shots highlight this aspect of self imposed
alienation. Overall, we see how people collectively live in their
own universe in such situations.
 Conclusion Key Point

• Summarise key issues in both texts

 Conclusion Sample
• Both texts have displayed to the responder
that society and groups can alienate people.
The song “Eleanor Rigby” shows how people
are alienated. In the “12 Angry Men” we see a
group of men who sometimes alienate
themselves to consider the arguments of the
case. In both texts we see how alienation has
affected individuals.