English Literature Higher Paper Unit 1 Exploring Modern Texts Questions. (updated March 2016)

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1 English Literature Higher Paper Unit 1 Exploring Modern Texts Questions An Inspector Calls June 2011 (updated March 2016) An Inspector Calls has been called a play of contrasts. Write about how Priestley presents some of the contrasts in the play How does Priestley present the change in Sheila during the course of the play An Inspector Calls? How do you think this change reflects some of Priestley s ideas? January 2012 Arthur Birling says, If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we d had anything to do with, it would be very awkward, wouldn t it? How does Priestley present ideas about responsibility in An Inspector Calls? How do you respond to Gerald in An Inspector Calls? How does Priestley make you respond as you do by the way he writes? June 2012 What do you think is the importance of Inspector Goole how does Priestley present him? You are given an extract on stage directions In the rest of the play, how does Priestley present develop some of the ideas here?

2 January 2013 In Act 2 of An Inspector Calls, Sheila says to her mother, Mrs. Birling, But we really must stop these pretences How does Priestley show, in his presentation of Mrs. Birling, that she often pretends to be something she is not? How important do you think social class is in An Inspector Calls how does Priestley present ideas about social class? June 2013 Remind yourself of the ending of the play from The telephone rings sharply to..the curtain falls. How do you respond to this as an ending to An Inspector Calls how does Priestley make you respond as you do by the way he write? In the opening stage directions, Priestley refers to Eric as not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive. How does Priestley present these other ideas about Eric in An Inspector Calls? June 2014 How does Priestley present ideas about gender in An Inspector Calls? What do you think is the importance of Eva Smith in An Inspector Calls how does Priestley present her? June 2015 Arthur Birling describes himself as a hard-headed, practical man of business. How does Priestley present this other views of Arthur Birling in An Inspector Calls? How does Priestley present ideas about inequality in An Inspector Call?

3 Advice on An Inspector Calls Predicting theme or character questions is a dangerous game but knowing what has been asked about previously what hasn t, it does allow for a focussing of revision. None of the themes/characters in 2014 will be covered again in June 2015, however you may need to refer to them in reference to another theme or character. Characters Covered by Questions so far: Arthur Birling June 2015 (Exceptionally unlikely) Eva Smith June 2014 (Very unlikely) Eric Birling June 2013 (Unlikely) Mrs Birling January 2013 (Maybe but more likely Unlikely) Inspector Goole June 2012 (Maybe) Gerald Croft January 2012 (Definitely Maybe) Sheila Birling June 2011 (Definite Maybe) Has been some time since Sheila Gerald were asked about so might be worth a closer look for 2016 Themes Covered by Questions so far: Inequality June 2015 (Exceptionally unlikely) Gender June 2014 (Very unlikely) Play Ending June 2013 (Very Unlikely) Social Class January 2013 (Maybe but in a different way) Stage Directions June 2012 (Possible but looking at different ones in the play) Responsibility January 2012 (more likely but not using the same word) Contrasts June 2011 ( Think differences attitudes there is a strong potential) More problematic to predict a focus but attitudes between young old is a possibility for a theme. The beginning of the play as an opening is a potential as are any other lengthy stage directions. This is a useful site to refer to: follow the link then download the PDF, you have to insert an address but 12 pages of themes, characters quotes on each theme! Also the PDF is on the School Website revision website.

4 Of Mice Men June 11 Answer A B - You are given an extract Part A - How do the details in this passage add to your understing of George his relationship with Lennie? Part B - How does Steinbeck use their relationship in the novel as a whole to convey ideas about America in the 1930s? January 2012 Answer A B - You are given an extract Part A - How does Steinbeck use details in this passage to present the bunkhouse its inhabitants? Part B In the rest of the novel, how does Steinbeck present the lives of ranch workers at that time? June 2012 Answer A B - You are given an extract Part A - In this passage, what methods does Steinbeck use to present Curley s wife the attitudes of others to her? Refer closely to the passage in your answer. How does Steinbeck present attitudes to women in the society in which the novel is set? January 2013 Answer A B you are given an extract Part A in this passage, how does Steinbeck present Crooks? Refer closely to the passage in your answer.

5 In the rest of the novel how does Steinbeck use Crooks to present attitudes to black people at the time the novel is set? June 2013 Answer A B You are given an extract Part A In this passage, how does Steinbeck present Slim? Refer closely to the passage in your answer Part B In the rest of the novel, how does Steinbeck show that some people on the ranch are considered more important than others? How does this reflect the society in which the novel is set? June 2014 Answer A B You are given an extract Part A In this passage, how does Steinbeck introduce the relationship between George Lennie? Refer closely to details from the passage in your response. In the rest of the novel, how does Steinbeck present ideas about relationships on a ranch at the time the novel is set? June 2015 Answer A B You are given an extract from Lennie s big fingers fell to stroking her hair to..he pawed up the hay until partly covered her Part A - In this passage, how does Steinbeck present the death of Curly s wife? Refer closely to the passage in your answer. In the rest of the novel, how does Steinbeck present the brutality of life on a ranch at the time the novel is set?

6 Advice Remember you have to answer Parts A AND B!!!! Predicting theme or character questions is a dangerous game but knowing what has been asked about previously what hasn t, it does allow for a focussing of revision. None of the themes/characters in 2014 will be covered again in June 2015, however you may need to refer to them in reference to another theme or character. Characters Covered by Questions so far: No single character June 2015 No single character June 2014 Slim June 2013 (Very Unlikely) Crooks January 2013 (Unlikely) Curly s Wife - June 2012 (Maybe but more likely Unlikely) No specific character January 2012 No single character June 2011 In 2014, a question was asked about George Lennie s relationship but not about their individual characters so each one might be worth an individual focus for revision. Cy Curly have not been asked about at all so far. There are minor characters such as Carlson Whit but they would only ever be included in a general thematic question. Themes Covered by Questions so far: Brutality of ranch life (B) June 2015 (exceptionally unlikely) Relationships on the ranch (B) June 2014 (Very unlikely) Importance of some people on ranch over others (B) June 2013 ( Unlikely) Attitudes to black people (B) January 2013 (unlikely) Attitudes to women (B) June 2012 (maybe) Presentation of bunkhouse inhabitants (A) lives of ranchers (B) January 2012 Relationship between George Lennie (A) relationship use to convey ideas about America in 1930s (B) June 2011 The odds are against any question on George Lennie s relationship as it has been asked twice ( ). The issue of the American Dream has not been asked directly (reference in 2011) so Dreams what they mean to the main characters has potential. Prejudice as a general theme has yet to appear would include racism (crooks), sexism (Curly s Wife) Ageism (Cy). Strong Weak characters again has potential. An old favourite is the description of the glade at the beginning end of the book as is the

7 description of Crooks room. The killing of Lennie /or Cy s dog the symbolism throughout the novel has been done on different syllabus covered Curly s wife s death obviously there are links elsewhere on this question in terms of the dead mouse at the beginning of the novel. This will not come again in 2016 but the reverse could with the dead mouse section but the odds are against. This is a useful site to refer to: follow the link then download the PDF, you have to insert an address but 7 pages of themes, characters quotes on each theme! Also the PDF is on the School Website revision website.