Essay Questions

Why is it difficult to catalog the genre of the book Dictee?

The cataloging of the book Dictee is an elephant in literature rooms because literary academicians disagree with readers when deciding the genre to which the text belongs. Most sources classify the book as a life story, while others consider it fiction. Similarly, some believe Dictee is an antique book because it mainly captures past significant events. The author intentionally wrote the book arbitrarily because that was the best way to include everything he intended. Consequently, the author did not consider literary rules when writing his book because he wanted to exploit his ideas extensively.

How is gender policymaking emerging as one of the major themes?

The author does not directly present the story's heroic character, but he puts across various women who are actively shaping the politics and policy decisions despite their age. For instance, Yu Guan is presented as a young, fearless female who participates in a revolution to save his people from slavery. Yu Guan is an example of historical women who defies the laid down cultural rules that limit women from exploiting their potential. Consequently, both men and women should be allowed to take part in political decision-making to ensure equity.

How significant is the dialect in the book Dictee?

Readers can appreciate the fact that the book 'Dictee' is written using a complex language that at some point needs interpretation. For instance, some sections of the book contain both English and French words lacking proper punctuation. Consequently, significant parts of the book do not follow English rules making it harder for the reader to understand the book's flow. Language is vital in communication, and it has to be well punctuated and organized to promote comprehension.