Tricking ChatGPT
A simple approach to avoid being fooled by essays written by ChatGPT in literary studies might be not to ask the questions everyone asks about the texts everyone reads.
Compare:
Bierce
Question:
Explain the difference between narrated time and narration time with reference to “An occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce.
Answer:
“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce employs a narrative technique in which the distinction between narrated time and narration time is central to the story's impact.
Narrated time refers to the amount of time that elapses within the story's plot. In “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” the narrated time spans from the moment the protagonist, Peyton Farquhar, is hanging from the titular bridge to his death.
Narration time, on the other hand, refers to the amount of time that it takes for the story to be told, or the amount of time that elapses between the beginning and end of the narrative itself. In this case, the narration time is much shorter than the narrated time, as the story's twist ending reveals that Farquhar's experiences were all a hallucination that occurred in the brief moments between his hanging and his death.
The manipulation of narrated time and narration time in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” serves to build tension and create a sense of surrealism, as Farquhar's experiences seem to unfold in slow motion while the story itself is told rapidly.
Jackson
Question:
Elaborate on the relationship between Natalie Waite and her father in Shirley Jackson's Hangsaman.
Answer:
In Shirley Jackson's novel “Hangsaman,” the relationship between Natalie Waite and her father is complex and somewhat strained. Natalie feels neglected and disregarded by her father, who is portrayed as a wealthy and successful businessman who is preoccupied with his own affairs. Natalie feels that her father does not understand or appreciate her, and she often seeks affection and attention from other people, including her mother and a young man named Toby. At the same time, Natalie also seems to be somewhat intimidated by her father and is wary of his reactions to her actions. Throughout the novel, their relationship remains a source of tension and conflict, contributing to the overall sense of unease and instability that characterizes the narrative.
Crowley
Question:
Why does Magdalene Blair try to commit suicide by blowing herself up in Aleister Crowley's “The Testament of Magdalene Blair”?
Answer:
In Aleister Crowley's “The Testament of Magdalene Blair,” Magdalene Blair tries to commit suicide by blowing herself up as a result of her mental and emotional turmoil caused by her difficult life experiences. These experiences include being repeatedly subjected to physical and sexual abuse, struggling with addiction, and feeling a sense of hopelessness and despair. The act of suicide is meant to be a final escape from her suffering.
Ligotti
Question:
What is the role of the Red Tower in Thomas Ligotti's eponymous story.
Answer:
The Red Tower in Thomas Ligotti's eponymous story “The Red Tower” represents a symbol of authority, power and fear. The tower serves as a central point of control, where the ruling forces manipulate the thoughts and perceptions of the people living in the surrounding area. The tower exerts a malevolent influence, causing hallucinations and madness, and serving as a metaphor for the power of totalitarian regimes to control the minds of their subjects.
Kavan
Question:
Elaborate on the distinction between Night and Day in Anna Kavan's “Sleep Has His House”. Which side does the narrator feel drawn to?
Answer:
In Anna Kavan's novel “Sleep Has His House,” the distinction between night and day serves as a metaphor for the main character's internal struggle between the forces of sleep and wakefulness. The narrator is drawn towards the seductive pull of sleep, symbolized by the night, and is repeatedly tempted to succumb to its allure. The day represents the state of wakefulness and consciousness, but the narrator finds it oppressive and unfulfilling. Throughout the novel, the narrator's desire to escape into sleep becomes stronger, ultimately leading to a final surrender to the night. This distinction between night and day reflects the narrator's inner turmoil and highlights the central theme of the novel, which is the struggle between the desire for escape and the need for clarity and understanding.
Comparison
The text about “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” gets the basic facts right, only confusing the two concepts once in what could also be human error. The text about “Sleep Has His House” is a valid interpretation. The remaining texts have the style and quality of shots in the dark.
The most surprising one, to me, is the one about “Sleep Has His House” about which our AI Overlord seems to know more than I expected. An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is probably the go-to text for the question asked and I expect there to be a lot of material to learn from. That's not true, I suppose, of the others.
After reading this you'll naturally want to tell me how wrong I am. You can do so on the Fediverse, if you have an account at some instance of Misskey, Mastodon, Pleroma or other service that uses ActivityPub to connect to the Fediverse. Just use it to open the link to this article and you'll be able to reply.