Must a story tell us what is right?
Original practice source: a commentary about moral lessons in fiction.
A story can make a consequence visible. Readers follow a choice through another person’s experience rather than receive only a rule about what should be done. A clear moral may give that sequence a memorable shape.
The same clarity can close a question which the story has made worth considering. A character may have mixed motives, or a reasonable choice may still hurt someone. An unresolved judgement need not mean the writer has no values. It may ask readers to examine how they reached their own conclusion instead of simply repeating a lesson placed at the end.
A national newspaper is running an essay competition on the statement: “Every story should teach a clear moral lesson.”
Write an essay for the competition arguing your view. You may use ideas from the source and your own ideas.
60 exam-style questions on Oxford AQA IGCSE English Language 2.2.1 Writing for audience and purpose. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.