Your exams and how this blog works
In your English lessons, you are studying for TWO GCSEs.
English
and English Literature.
English
60% exam (2 2-hour papers, Paper One and Paper Two)
20% speaking and listening coursework
20% written coursework (four essays: creative writing, transactional writing, Shakespeare, poems from other cultures)
English Literature
70% exam (one 2.5-hour paper consisting of three sections - one on a play, one on a novel, one on an unseen poem)
30% coursework (four essays: Shakespeare, poems from other cultures, pre-1914 poetry, pre-1914 prose)
The exam board is WJEC, the Welsh board.
This blog has been designed to help you understand and revise for all three papers. There is lots of information, tips, practice questions and links.If you look on the right, there is a list of labels. Click on these and it will direct you to all the information about that particular label. For example, click on An Inspector Calls and you will get four posts about the play, how to answer a question on it, key quotes, etc. Or, if you are worried about answering Section B type questions, click on that and you will get all the posts helping with that.
Wednesday, 13 May 2009
A View from the Bridge - past whole text questions - foundation
Either,
(b) For which character in A View From The Bridge do you have the most sympathy?
Think about:
• what happens to your chosen character in the play;
• your chosen character’s relationships with other characters;
• the way your chosen character speaks and behaves at different points in the play;
• why you feel the most sympathy for your chosen character. [20]
Or,
(c) Give advice to an actor playing Marco on how he should speak and behave at two or three
important points in the play. [20]
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Either,
(b) Imagine you are Rodolfo. At the end of the play you think back over what has happened.
Write down your thoughts and feelings.
You may wish to think about:
• your life in Italy;
• your relationship with Marco;
• your relationship with Catherine;
• your relationships with Eddie and Beatrice;
• your feelings about what happened. [20]
Or,
(c) Who or what do you blame for Eddie’s death?
Think about:
• Eddie’s behaviour at different points in the play;
• Marco’s and Rodolfo’s behaviour at different points in the play;
• the behaviour of other characters;
• anything else you think important. [20]
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Either,
(b) Write about some of the ways in which Catherine’s character changes throughout the play.
Explain the reasons for these changes. [20]
Or,
(c) Imagine you are Mr. Alfieri. At the end of the play you think back over its events. Write
down your thoughts and feelings.
You may wish to think about:
• your position in the community of Red Hook;
• the visits Eddie made to you;
• your thoughts and feelings about what Eddie told you;
• Eddie’s death;
• anything else you think important. [20]
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Either,
(b) Give advice to an actor playing Eddie about how he should speak and behave at different
points in the play.
Think about:
• his relationship with Catherine;
• his relationship with Beatrice;
• his attitude to Marco and Rodolpho;
• his visits to Alfieri. [20]
Or,
(c) Write about a part of the play that you think would be particularly gripping for an audience.
Write about:
• what happens in your chosen part;
• how the characters involved speak and behave;
• why it would grip an audience. [20]
(b) For which character in A View From The Bridge do you have the most sympathy?
Think about:
• what happens to your chosen character in the play;
• your chosen character’s relationships with other characters;
• the way your chosen character speaks and behaves at different points in the play;
• why you feel the most sympathy for your chosen character. [20]
Or,
(c) Give advice to an actor playing Marco on how he should speak and behave at two or three
important points in the play. [20]
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Either,
(b) Imagine you are Rodolfo. At the end of the play you think back over what has happened.
Write down your thoughts and feelings.
You may wish to think about:
• your life in Italy;
• your relationship with Marco;
• your relationship with Catherine;
• your relationships with Eddie and Beatrice;
• your feelings about what happened. [20]
Or,
(c) Who or what do you blame for Eddie’s death?
Think about:
• Eddie’s behaviour at different points in the play;
• Marco’s and Rodolfo’s behaviour at different points in the play;
• the behaviour of other characters;
• anything else you think important. [20]
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Either,
(b) Write about some of the ways in which Catherine’s character changes throughout the play.
Explain the reasons for these changes. [20]
Or,
(c) Imagine you are Mr. Alfieri. At the end of the play you think back over its events. Write
down your thoughts and feelings.
You may wish to think about:
• your position in the community of Red Hook;
• the visits Eddie made to you;
• your thoughts and feelings about what Eddie told you;
• Eddie’s death;
• anything else you think important. [20]
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Either,
(b) Give advice to an actor playing Eddie about how he should speak and behave at different
points in the play.
Think about:
• his relationship with Catherine;
• his relationship with Beatrice;
• his attitude to Marco and Rodolpho;
• his visits to Alfieri. [20]
Or,
(c) Write about a part of the play that you think would be particularly gripping for an audience.
Write about:
• what happens in your chosen part;
• how the characters involved speak and behave;
• why it would grip an audience. [20]
1 A View from the Bridge Past extract questions - Foundation
10. A View From The Bridge
Answer both parts of (a) and either part (b) or part (c).
You are advised to spend about 20 minutes on part (a), and about 40 minutes on part (b) or part (c).
(a) Read the extract on the opposite page. Then answer the following questions:
(i) What do you think of the way Eddie speaks and behaves here? Give reasons for what
you say. [5]
(ii) How do you think an audience would respond to this part of the play? Give reasons
for what you say. [5]
CATHERINE Did you ever hear of jazz?
RODOLFO Oh, sure! I sing jazz.
CATHERINE (rises) You could sing jazz?
RODOLFO Oh, I sing Napolidan, jazz, bel canto – I sing ‘Paper Doll’, you like ‘Paper Doll’?
CATHERINE Oh, sure, I’m crazy for ‘Paper Doll’. Go ahead, sing it.
RODOLFO (takes his stance after getting a nod of permission from MARCO, and with a high tenor
voice begins singing:
‘I’ll tell you boys it’s tough to be alone,
And it’s tough to love a doll that’s not your own.
I’m through with all of them,
I’ll never fall again,
Hey, boy, what you gonna do?
I’m gonna buy a paper doll that I can call my own,
A doll that other fellows cannot steal.
EDDIE rises and moves upstage.
And then those flirty, flirty guys
With their flirty, flirty eyes
Will have to flirt with dollies that are real –
EDDIE Hey, kid – hey, wait a minute –
CATHERINE (enthralled) Leave him finish, it’s beautiful! (To BEATRICE)
He’s terrific! It’s terrific, Rodolfo.
EDDIE Look, kid; you don’t want to be picked up, do ya?
MARCO No – no! (He rises)
EDDIE (indicating the rest of the building) Because we never had no singers here ... and all
of a sudden there’s a singer in the house, y’know what I mean?
MARCO Yes, yes. You’ll be quiet, Rodolfo.
EDDIE (he is flushed) They got guys all over the place, Marco. I mean.
MARCO Yes. He’ll be quiet. (To RODOLFO) You’ll be quiet.
RODOLFO nods.
EDDIE has risen, with iron control, even a smile. He moves to CATHERINE.
EDDIE What’s the high heels for, Garbo?
CATHERINE I figured for tonight –
EDDIE Do me a favour, will you? Go ahead.
Embarrassed now, angered, CATHERINE goes out into the bedroom. BEATRICE watches
her go and gets up; in passing, she gives EDDIE a cold look, restrained only by the
strangers, and goes to the table to pour coffee.
EDDIE (striving to laugh, and to MARCO, but directed as much to BEATRICE) All actresses they
want to be around here.
RODOLFO (happy about it) In Italy too! All the girls.
CATHERINE emerges from the bedroom in low-heel shoes, comes to the table. RODOLFO
is lifting a cup.
EDDIE (he is sizing up RODOLFO, and there is a concealed suspicion) Yeah, heh?
RODOLFO Yes! (Laughs, indicating CATHERINE) Especially when they are so beautiful!
CATHERINE You like sugar?
RODOLFO Sugar? Yes! I like sugar very much!
EDDIE is downstage, watching as she pours a spoonful of sugar into his cup, his face
puffed with trouble, and the room dies.
Answer both parts of (a) and either part (b) or part (c).
You are advised to spend about 20 minutes on part (a), and about 40 minutes on part (b) or part (c).
(a) Read the extract on the opposite page. Then answer the following questions:
(i) What do you think of the way Eddie speaks and behaves here? Give reasons for what
you say. [5]
(ii) How do you think an audience would respond to this part of the play? Give reasons
for what you say. [5]
CATHERINE Did you ever hear of jazz?
RODOLFO Oh, sure! I sing jazz.
CATHERINE (rises) You could sing jazz?
RODOLFO Oh, I sing Napolidan, jazz, bel canto – I sing ‘Paper Doll’, you like ‘Paper Doll’?
CATHERINE Oh, sure, I’m crazy for ‘Paper Doll’. Go ahead, sing it.
RODOLFO (takes his stance after getting a nod of permission from MARCO, and with a high tenor
voice begins singing:
‘I’ll tell you boys it’s tough to be alone,
And it’s tough to love a doll that’s not your own.
I’m through with all of them,
I’ll never fall again,
Hey, boy, what you gonna do?
I’m gonna buy a paper doll that I can call my own,
A doll that other fellows cannot steal.
EDDIE rises and moves upstage.
And then those flirty, flirty guys
With their flirty, flirty eyes
Will have to flirt with dollies that are real –
EDDIE Hey, kid – hey, wait a minute –
CATHERINE (enthralled) Leave him finish, it’s beautiful! (To BEATRICE)
He’s terrific! It’s terrific, Rodolfo.
EDDIE Look, kid; you don’t want to be picked up, do ya?
MARCO No – no! (He rises)
EDDIE (indicating the rest of the building) Because we never had no singers here ... and all
of a sudden there’s a singer in the house, y’know what I mean?
MARCO Yes, yes. You’ll be quiet, Rodolfo.
EDDIE (he is flushed) They got guys all over the place, Marco. I mean.
MARCO Yes. He’ll be quiet. (To RODOLFO) You’ll be quiet.
RODOLFO nods.
EDDIE has risen, with iron control, even a smile. He moves to CATHERINE.
EDDIE What’s the high heels for, Garbo?
CATHERINE I figured for tonight –
EDDIE Do me a favour, will you? Go ahead.
Embarrassed now, angered, CATHERINE goes out into the bedroom. BEATRICE watches
her go and gets up; in passing, she gives EDDIE a cold look, restrained only by the
strangers, and goes to the table to pour coffee.
EDDIE (striving to laugh, and to MARCO, but directed as much to BEATRICE) All actresses they
want to be around here.
RODOLFO (happy about it) In Italy too! All the girls.
CATHERINE emerges from the bedroom in low-heel shoes, comes to the table. RODOLFO
is lifting a cup.
EDDIE (he is sizing up RODOLFO, and there is a concealed suspicion) Yeah, heh?
RODOLFO Yes! (Laughs, indicating CATHERINE) Especially when they are so beautiful!
CATHERINE You like sugar?
RODOLFO Sugar? Yes! I like sugar very much!
EDDIE is downstage, watching as she pours a spoonful of sugar into his cup, his face
puffed with trouble, and the room dies.
2 A View from the Bridge past extract questions - Foundation
10. A View From The Bridge
Answer both parts of (a) and either part (b) or part (c).
You are advised to spend about 20 minutes on part (a), and about 40 minutes on part (b) or part (c).
(a) Read the extract on the opposite page. Then answer the following questions:
(i) What do you think of the way Alfieri speaks and behaves here? Give reasons for what
you say. [5]
(ii) What do you think of the way Eddie speaks and behaves here? Give reasons for what
you say. [5]
ALFIERI On December twenty-seventh I saw him next. I normally go home well before six,
but that day I sat around looking out my window at the bay, and when I saw him
walking through my doorway, I knew why I had waited. And if I seem to tell this like
a dream, it was that way. Several moments arrived in the course of the two talks we
had when it occurred to me how – almost transfixed I had come to feel. I had lost my
strength somewhere. (EDDIE enters, removing his cap, sits in the chair, looks
thoughtfully out.) I looked in his eyes more than I listened – in fact, I can hardly
remember the conversation. But I will never forget how dark the room became when
he looked at me; his eyes were like tunnels. I kept wanting to call the police, but
nothing had happened. Nothing at all had really happened. (He breaks off and looks
down at the desk. Then he turns to EDDIE.) So in other words, he won’t leave?
EDDIE My wife is talkin’ about renting a room upstairs for them. An old lady on the top
floor is got an empty room.
ALFIERI What does Marco say?
EDDIE He just sits there. Marco don’t say much.
ALFIERI I guess they didn’t tell him, heh? What happened?
EDDIE I don’t know; Marco don’t say much.
ALFIERI What does your wife say?
EDDIE (unwilling to pursue this) Nobody’s talkin’ much in the house. So what about that?
ALFIERI But you didn’t prove anything about him. It sounds like he just wasn’t strong enough
to break your grip.
EDDIE I’m tellin’ you I know – he ain’t right. Somebody that don’t want it can break it. Even
a mouse, if you catch a teeny mouse and you hold it in your hand, that mouse can
give you the right kind of fight. He didn’t give me the right kind of fight, I know it,
Mr Alfieri, the guy ain’t right.
ALFIERI What did you do that for, Eddie?
EDDIE To show her what he is! So she would see, once and for all! Her mother’ll turn over
in the grave! (He gathers himself almost peremptorily.) So what do I gotta do now?
Tell me what to do.
ALFIERI She actually said she’s marrying him?
EDDIE She told me, yeah. So what do I do?
Slight pause.
ALFIERI This is my last word, Eddie, take it or not, that’s your business. Morally and legally
you have no rights, you cannot stop it; she is a free agent.
EDDIE (angering) Didn’t you hear what I told you?
ALFIERI (with a tougher tone) I heard what you told me, and I’m telling you what the answer
is. I’m not only telling you now, I’m warning you – the law is nature. The law is only
a word for what has a right to happen. When the law is wrong it’s because it’s
unnatural, but in this case it is natural and a river will drown you if you buck it now.
Let her go. And bless her. (A phone booth begins to glow on the opposite side of the
stage; a faint, lonely blue. EDDIE stands up, jaws clenched.) Somebody had to come
for her, Eddie, sooner or later. (EDDIE starts turning to go and ALFIERI rises with new
anxiety.) You won’t have a friend in the world, Eddie! Even those who understand
will turn against you, even the ones who feel the same will despise you! (EDDIE
moves off.) Put it out of your mind! Eddie! (He follows into the darkness, calling
desperately.)
Answer both parts of (a) and either part (b) or part (c).
You are advised to spend about 20 minutes on part (a), and about 40 minutes on part (b) or part (c).
(a) Read the extract on the opposite page. Then answer the following questions:
(i) What do you think of the way Alfieri speaks and behaves here? Give reasons for what
you say. [5]
(ii) What do you think of the way Eddie speaks and behaves here? Give reasons for what
you say. [5]
ALFIERI On December twenty-seventh I saw him next. I normally go home well before six,
but that day I sat around looking out my window at the bay, and when I saw him
walking through my doorway, I knew why I had waited. And if I seem to tell this like
a dream, it was that way. Several moments arrived in the course of the two talks we
had when it occurred to me how – almost transfixed I had come to feel. I had lost my
strength somewhere. (EDDIE enters, removing his cap, sits in the chair, looks
thoughtfully out.) I looked in his eyes more than I listened – in fact, I can hardly
remember the conversation. But I will never forget how dark the room became when
he looked at me; his eyes were like tunnels. I kept wanting to call the police, but
nothing had happened. Nothing at all had really happened. (He breaks off and looks
down at the desk. Then he turns to EDDIE.) So in other words, he won’t leave?
EDDIE My wife is talkin’ about renting a room upstairs for them. An old lady on the top
floor is got an empty room.
ALFIERI What does Marco say?
EDDIE He just sits there. Marco don’t say much.
ALFIERI I guess they didn’t tell him, heh? What happened?
EDDIE I don’t know; Marco don’t say much.
ALFIERI What does your wife say?
EDDIE (unwilling to pursue this) Nobody’s talkin’ much in the house. So what about that?
ALFIERI But you didn’t prove anything about him. It sounds like he just wasn’t strong enough
to break your grip.
EDDIE I’m tellin’ you I know – he ain’t right. Somebody that don’t want it can break it. Even
a mouse, if you catch a teeny mouse and you hold it in your hand, that mouse can
give you the right kind of fight. He didn’t give me the right kind of fight, I know it,
Mr Alfieri, the guy ain’t right.
ALFIERI What did you do that for, Eddie?
EDDIE To show her what he is! So she would see, once and for all! Her mother’ll turn over
in the grave! (He gathers himself almost peremptorily.) So what do I gotta do now?
Tell me what to do.
ALFIERI She actually said she’s marrying him?
EDDIE She told me, yeah. So what do I do?
Slight pause.
ALFIERI This is my last word, Eddie, take it or not, that’s your business. Morally and legally
you have no rights, you cannot stop it; she is a free agent.
EDDIE (angering) Didn’t you hear what I told you?
ALFIERI (with a tougher tone) I heard what you told me, and I’m telling you what the answer
is. I’m not only telling you now, I’m warning you – the law is nature. The law is only
a word for what has a right to happen. When the law is wrong it’s because it’s
unnatural, but in this case it is natural and a river will drown you if you buck it now.
Let her go. And bless her. (A phone booth begins to glow on the opposite side of the
stage; a faint, lonely blue. EDDIE stands up, jaws clenched.) Somebody had to come
for her, Eddie, sooner or later. (EDDIE starts turning to go and ALFIERI rises with new
anxiety.) You won’t have a friend in the world, Eddie! Even those who understand
will turn against you, even the ones who feel the same will despise you! (EDDIE
moves off.) Put it out of your mind! Eddie! (He follows into the darkness, calling
desperately.)
3 A View from the Bridge past extract questions - Foundation
10. A View From The Bridge
Answer both parts of (a) and either part (b) or part (c).
You are advised to spend about 20 minutes on part (a), and about 40 minutes on part (b) or part (c).
(a) Read the extract on the opposite page. Then answer the following questions:
(i) What do you think of the way Eddie speaks and behaves here? Give reasons for what
you say. [5]
(ii) What do you think of the way Catherine speaks and behaves here? Give reasons for
what you say. [5]
CATHERINE: What happens, Eddie, when that ship pulls out and they ain’t on it, though? Don’t the
captain say nothin’?
EDDIE: (slicing an apple with his pocket knife) Captain’s pieced off, what do you mean?
CATHERINE: Even the captain?
EDDIE: What’s the matter, the captain don’t have to live? Captain gets a piece, maybe one of
the mates, piece for the guy in Italy who fixed the papers for them, Tony here’ll get a
little bite ....
BEATRICE: I just hope they get work here, that’s all I hope.
EDDIE: Oh, the syndicate’ll fix jobs for them; till they pay ’em off they’ll get them work
every day. It’s after the pay-off, then they’ll have to scramble like the rest of us.
BEATRICE: Well, it be better than they got there.
EDDIE: Oh sure, well, listen. So you gonna start Monday, heh, Madonna?
CATHERINE: (embarrassed) I’m supposed to, yeah.
EDDIE is standing facing the two seated women. First BEATRICE smiles, then
CATHERINE, for a powerful emotion is on him, a childish one and a knowing fear, and
the tears show in his eyes – and they are shy before the avowal.
EDDIE: (sadly smiling, yet somehow proud of her) Well ... I hope you have good luck. I wish
you the best. You know that, kid.
CATHERINE: (rising, trying to laugh) You sound like I’m goin’ a million miles!
EDDIE: I know. I guess I just never figured on one thing.
CATHERINE: (smiling) What?
EDDIE: That you would ever grow up. (He utters a soundless laugh at himself, feeling the
breast pocket of his shirt.) I left a cigar in my other coat, I think. (He starts for the
bedroom.)
CATHERINE: Stay there! I’ll get it for you.
She hurries out. There is a slight pause, and EDDIE turns to BEATRICE, who has been
avoiding his gaze.
EDDIE: What are you mad at me lately?
BEATRICE: Who’s mad? (She gets up, clearing the dishes.) I’m not mad. (She picks up the dishes
and turns to him.) You’re the one is mad. (She turns and goes into the kitchen as
CATHERINE enters from the bedroom with a cigar and a pack of matches.)
CATHERINE: Here! I’ll light it for you! (She strikes a match and holds it to his cigar. He puffs.
Quietly) Don’t worry about me, Eddie, heh?
EDDIE: Don’t burn yourself. (Just in time she blows out the match.) You better go in help her
with the dishes.
CATHERINE: (turns quickly to the table, and, seeing the table cleared, she says, almost guiltily)
Oh! (She hurries into the kitchen, and as she exits there) I’ll do the dishes, B.!
Alone, EDDIE stands looking toward the kitchen for a moment. Then he takes out his
watch, glances at it, replaces it in his pocket, sits in the armchair, and stares at the
smoke flowing out of his mouth.
Answer both parts of (a) and either part (b) or part (c).
You are advised to spend about 20 minutes on part (a), and about 40 minutes on part (b) or part (c).
(a) Read the extract on the opposite page. Then answer the following questions:
(i) What do you think of the way Eddie speaks and behaves here? Give reasons for what
you say. [5]
(ii) What do you think of the way Catherine speaks and behaves here? Give reasons for
what you say. [5]
CATHERINE: What happens, Eddie, when that ship pulls out and they ain’t on it, though? Don’t the
captain say nothin’?
EDDIE: (slicing an apple with his pocket knife) Captain’s pieced off, what do you mean?
CATHERINE: Even the captain?
EDDIE: What’s the matter, the captain don’t have to live? Captain gets a piece, maybe one of
the mates, piece for the guy in Italy who fixed the papers for them, Tony here’ll get a
little bite ....
BEATRICE: I just hope they get work here, that’s all I hope.
EDDIE: Oh, the syndicate’ll fix jobs for them; till they pay ’em off they’ll get them work
every day. It’s after the pay-off, then they’ll have to scramble like the rest of us.
BEATRICE: Well, it be better than they got there.
EDDIE: Oh sure, well, listen. So you gonna start Monday, heh, Madonna?
CATHERINE: (embarrassed) I’m supposed to, yeah.
EDDIE is standing facing the two seated women. First BEATRICE smiles, then
CATHERINE, for a powerful emotion is on him, a childish one and a knowing fear, and
the tears show in his eyes – and they are shy before the avowal.
EDDIE: (sadly smiling, yet somehow proud of her) Well ... I hope you have good luck. I wish
you the best. You know that, kid.
CATHERINE: (rising, trying to laugh) You sound like I’m goin’ a million miles!
EDDIE: I know. I guess I just never figured on one thing.
CATHERINE: (smiling) What?
EDDIE: That you would ever grow up. (He utters a soundless laugh at himself, feeling the
breast pocket of his shirt.) I left a cigar in my other coat, I think. (He starts for the
bedroom.)
CATHERINE: Stay there! I’ll get it for you.
She hurries out. There is a slight pause, and EDDIE turns to BEATRICE, who has been
avoiding his gaze.
EDDIE: What are you mad at me lately?
BEATRICE: Who’s mad? (She gets up, clearing the dishes.) I’m not mad. (She picks up the dishes
and turns to him.) You’re the one is mad. (She turns and goes into the kitchen as
CATHERINE enters from the bedroom with a cigar and a pack of matches.)
CATHERINE: Here! I’ll light it for you! (She strikes a match and holds it to his cigar. He puffs.
Quietly) Don’t worry about me, Eddie, heh?
EDDIE: Don’t burn yourself. (Just in time she blows out the match.) You better go in help her
with the dishes.
CATHERINE: (turns quickly to the table, and, seeing the table cleared, she says, almost guiltily)
Oh! (She hurries into the kitchen, and as she exits there) I’ll do the dishes, B.!
Alone, EDDIE stands looking toward the kitchen for a moment. Then he takes out his
watch, glances at it, replaces it in his pocket, sits in the armchair, and stares at the
smoke flowing out of his mouth.
4 A View from the Bridge past extract questions - Foundation
10. A View From The Bridge
Answer both parts of (a) and either part (b) or part (c).
You are advised to spend about 20 minutes on part (a), and about 40 minutes on part (b) or part (c).
(a) Read the extract on the opposite page. Then answer the following questions:
(i) What do you think of the way Eddie speaks and behaves here? [5]
(ii) What do you think of the way Beatrice speaks and behaves here? [5]
EDDIE: Where is everybody? (BEATRICE does not answer.) I says where is everybody?
BEATRICE: (looking up at him, wearied with it, and concealing a fear of him) I decided to move
them upstairs with Mrs Dondero.
EDDIE: Oh, they’re all moved up there already?
BEATRICE: Yeah.
EDDIE: Where’s Catherine? She up there?
BEATRICE: Only to bring pillow cases.
EDDIE: She ain’t movin’ in with them.
BEATRICE: Look, I’m sick and tired of it. I’m sick and tired of it!
EDDIE: All right, all right, take it easy.
BEATRICE: I don’t wanna hear no more about it, you understand? Nothin’!
EDDIE: What’re you blowin’ off about? Who brought them in here?
BEATRICE: All right, I’m sorry; I wish I’d a drop dead before I told them to come. In the ground I
wish I was.
EDDIE: Don’t drop dead, just keep in mind who brought them in here, that’s all. (He moves
about restlessly.) I mean I got a couple of rights here. (He moves, wanting to beat
down her evident disapproval of him.) This is my house here not their house.
BEATRICE: What do you want from me? They’re moved out; what do you want now?
EDDIE: I want my respect!
BEATRICE: So I moved them out, what more do you want? You got your house now, you got your
respect.
EDDIE: (he moves about biting his lip) I don’t like the way you talk to me, Beatrice.
BEATRICE: I’m just tellin’ you I done what you want!
EDDIE: I don’t like it! The way you talk to me and the way you look at me. This is my house.
And she is my niece and I’m responsible for her.
BEATRICE: So that’s why you done that to him?
EDDIE: I done what to him?
BEATRICE: What you done to him in front of her, you know what I’m talkin’ about. She goes
around shakin’ all the time, she can’t go to sleep! That’s what you call responsible for
her?
EDDIE: (quietly) The guy ain’t right, Beatrice. (She is silent.) Did you hear what I said?
BEATRICE: Look, I’m finished with it. That’s all. (She resumes her work.)
EDDIE: (helping her to pack the tinsel) I’m gonna have it out with you one of these days,
Beatrice.
BEATRICE: Nothin’ to have out with me, it’s all settled. Now we gonna be like it never happened,
that’s all.
EDDIE: I want my respect, Beatrice, and you know what I’m talkin’ about.
BEATRICE: What?
Pause
EDDIE: (finally his resolution hardens) What I feel like doin’ in the bed and what I don’t feel
like doin’. I don’t want no –
BEATRICE: When’d I say anything about that?
EDDIE: You said, you said, I ain’t deaf. I don’t want no more conversations about that,
Beatrice. I do what I feel like doin’ or what I don’t feel like doin’.
BEATRICE: Okay.
Pause
EDDIE: You used to be different, Beatrice. You had a whole different way.
BEATRICE: I’m no different.
EDDIE: You didn’t used to jump me all the time about everything. The last year or two I come in the house I don’t know what’s gonna hit me. It’s a shootin’ gallery in here
and I’m the pigeon.
Answer both parts of (a) and either part (b) or part (c).
You are advised to spend about 20 minutes on part (a), and about 40 minutes on part (b) or part (c).
(a) Read the extract on the opposite page. Then answer the following questions:
(i) What do you think of the way Eddie speaks and behaves here? [5]
(ii) What do you think of the way Beatrice speaks and behaves here? [5]
EDDIE: Where is everybody? (BEATRICE does not answer.) I says where is everybody?
BEATRICE: (looking up at him, wearied with it, and concealing a fear of him) I decided to move
them upstairs with Mrs Dondero.
EDDIE: Oh, they’re all moved up there already?
BEATRICE: Yeah.
EDDIE: Where’s Catherine? She up there?
BEATRICE: Only to bring pillow cases.
EDDIE: She ain’t movin’ in with them.
BEATRICE: Look, I’m sick and tired of it. I’m sick and tired of it!
EDDIE: All right, all right, take it easy.
BEATRICE: I don’t wanna hear no more about it, you understand? Nothin’!
EDDIE: What’re you blowin’ off about? Who brought them in here?
BEATRICE: All right, I’m sorry; I wish I’d a drop dead before I told them to come. In the ground I
wish I was.
EDDIE: Don’t drop dead, just keep in mind who brought them in here, that’s all. (He moves
about restlessly.) I mean I got a couple of rights here. (He moves, wanting to beat
down her evident disapproval of him.) This is my house here not their house.
BEATRICE: What do you want from me? They’re moved out; what do you want now?
EDDIE: I want my respect!
BEATRICE: So I moved them out, what more do you want? You got your house now, you got your
respect.
EDDIE: (he moves about biting his lip) I don’t like the way you talk to me, Beatrice.
BEATRICE: I’m just tellin’ you I done what you want!
EDDIE: I don’t like it! The way you talk to me and the way you look at me. This is my house.
And she is my niece and I’m responsible for her.
BEATRICE: So that’s why you done that to him?
EDDIE: I done what to him?
BEATRICE: What you done to him in front of her, you know what I’m talkin’ about. She goes
around shakin’ all the time, she can’t go to sleep! That’s what you call responsible for
her?
EDDIE: (quietly) The guy ain’t right, Beatrice. (She is silent.) Did you hear what I said?
BEATRICE: Look, I’m finished with it. That’s all. (She resumes her work.)
EDDIE: (helping her to pack the tinsel) I’m gonna have it out with you one of these days,
Beatrice.
BEATRICE: Nothin’ to have out with me, it’s all settled. Now we gonna be like it never happened,
that’s all.
EDDIE: I want my respect, Beatrice, and you know what I’m talkin’ about.
BEATRICE: What?
Pause
EDDIE: (finally his resolution hardens) What I feel like doin’ in the bed and what I don’t feel
like doin’. I don’t want no –
BEATRICE: When’d I say anything about that?
EDDIE: You said, you said, I ain’t deaf. I don’t want no more conversations about that,
Beatrice. I do what I feel like doin’ or what I don’t feel like doin’.
BEATRICE: Okay.
Pause
EDDIE: You used to be different, Beatrice. You had a whole different way.
BEATRICE: I’m no different.
EDDIE: You didn’t used to jump me all the time about everything. The last year or two I come in the house I don’t know what’s gonna hit me. It’s a shootin’ gallery in here
and I’m the pigeon.
Literature - play - A View from the Bridge
Section B of the English Literature GCSE is on a play. You should do the one you have studied - either a View from the Bridge or An Inspector Calls. This post will look at A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE.
You will have to answer TWO questions on A View from the Bridge. The first is an EXTRACT question. An extract from the play will be reprinted, and you will be asked a question on it. In your answer, you should quote a lot from the extract and track how the play and characters change throughout it. You must answer on the WHOLE extract, not just the beginning or end.
The other question will be based on the WHOLE PLAY. This is the question where it would be handy to have memorised some quotes. If you look through this website, I have put together some of the key quotes for each character. Don't try and rewrite long quotations in the exam, or get too bothered about memorising. Short, one or two word quotations are best, as they prove you have a deep understanding of the play. For example, saying something like 'Rodolfo looks at Catherine like a "lost boy"', or 'Eddie and Rodolfo fight brutally, "like animals."'
As ever, try and focus on EXPLAINING, not describing. Don't fall in to the trap of just retelling the play. Instead of saying "Eddie is married to Beatrice, Beatrice's niece is Catherine", you could say "Eddie is jealous of Catherine and doesn't like it when she dances with Rodolfo."
Sunday, 10 May 2009
English Literature - novel - Stone Cold
Section A of the English Literature GCSE is on a novel. You should do the one you have studied - either Of Mice and Men or Stone Cold. This post will look at STONE COLD. There are not a lot of internet resources on Stone Cold, so take a look at what I’ve added to this blog and your own notes.
You will have to answer TWO questions on Stone Cold. The first is an EXTRACT question. An extract from the play will be reprinted, and you will be asked a question on it. In your answer, you should quote a lot from the extract and track how the play and characters change throughout it. You must answer on the WHOLE extract, not just the beginning or end.
The other question will be based on the WHOLE PLAY. This is the question where it would be handy to have memorised some quotes. If you look through this website, I have put together some of the key quotes for each character. Don't try and rewrite long quotations in the exam, or get too bothered about memorising. Short, one or two word quotations are best, as they prove you have a deep understanding of the play. For example, saying something like 'Shelter calls the people he has killed “recruits”, which shows how crazy he is', or 'Link talks about how homeless people become “invisible people.”'
As ever, try and focus on EXPLAINING, not describing. Don't fall in to the trap of just retelling the play. Instead of saying "Link leaves home and goes to London where he meets another homeless man called Ginger", say "Link is naïve and gullible when he first arrives on the streets, but he meets Ginger who gives him valuable tips on how to survive being homeless."
Stone Cold - Gail
Gail turns up after Ginger is killed. Link falls in love with her, but it turns out she isn't homeless after all - she is an undercover journalist trying to get a story for her paper.
- She ‘was the best looking dosser’ Link had ever seen. Her hair is ‘chestnut, spilling from under her green knitted cap like fire’
- Link and Gail ‘hit it off from the word go’ (93) and Link is ‘well in love’, which means he doesn’t question some of the odder things she does.
- She is ‘terminally curious…about life on the streets’ (96) and very often rushes off to the phone box to ring her sister.
- At the end, it turns out she is an undercover reporter and was only pretending to be in love with Link. Her real name is Louise and her real boyfriend is a photographer called Gavin. However, when she has to leave Link, she is ‘in tears’ (131) and she gives him some money before she leaves.
Stone Cold - Ginger
GINGER - Ginger is a good friend Link makes after he becomes homeless. He helps Link survive on the streets, but he is killed by Shelter.
- He is friendly, humorous and good natured. ‘He sounded laid-back, amiable.’ (41).
- He shows Link how to survive – he helps him beg, he introduces him to places where you can get ‘an outstanding cheese roll’ (49), starts him smoking ‘you’ll not see sixty anyway, dossing in doorways’ (54) and takes him to ‘Captain Hook’s foetid hulk’ (77).
- He makes jokes to keep their spirits up – he turns up wearing a bin bag and says it cost ‘Four hundred quid. Burlington Arcade.’ (60)
- He is a loyal friend, and it is his loyalty and kindness that gets him killed. When Shelter tells him Link has been injured, he lets his guard down and says ‘have you killed my mate, you bastard…you better take me to him then’ (83).
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