The Wall: Setting and Societal Structure

"The Wall" presents a dystopian society with several key features:

• A nation entirely surrounded by water, threatened by climate change
• An enormous wall built to keep out rising seas and "Others" (refugees)
• Global conflict over basic resources
• Mandatory wall defense service for young adults
• A privileged elite class that escapes draft duty

Highlight: The novel's setting emphasizes the consequences of present ecological developments, particularly climate change and rising sea levels.

Key societal groups:

1. Defenders: Those who guard the wall
2. Breeders: People who choose to have children, receiving privileges
3. Elites: The world's most privileged, exempt from wall duty

Vocabulary: NCDS (National Coastal Defence Structure) is the official name for the wall, highlighting its purported protective function.

Exam Structure and Literary Analysis Techniques

This section outlines the structure for analyzing "The Wall" in an exam context, focusing on summary writing and literary analysis techniques.

Summary writing guidelines:

• Begin with an introductory sentence identifying the work, author, and year
• Remain objective, avoiding interpretation
• Present key information chronologically
• Use present tense

Analysis components:

1. Setting and atmosphere
2. Character analysis (inner and outer perspectives)

Definition: Setting in literature refers not only to the physical location but also to the conditions under which characters act. It often reflects characters' emotions and can serve multiple functions in the narrative.

Character analysis techniques:

• External characteristics: appearance, size, clothing, voice, posture
• Social characteristics: status, origin, profession, family circumstances, relationships
• Internal characteristics: views, opinions, emotional state, personality traits

Example: In "The Wall," Joseph Kavanagh's fascination with the lives of the "elites" and his moral questioning of the wall's purpose provide insight into his character development.