Post by hornsby on Jan 18, 2016 6:02:52 GMT -5
Many pupils dread the 8 mark question, but it's actually really simple; as long as you remember to follow the steps to answer it. Below are a couple of sample 8 mark answers.
REMEMBER THE STEPS
1. Write an overall summary of how we can see this in the extract and the play as a whole (2) (look for connection/link between the extract and the whole play)
In the whole play we see this when…
For example, in this extract we see…
2. One quote and comment taken from the extract (2)
3. Two quotes and two comments from elsewhere in the play (4)
Aim for 5 bullet points!!!!!
1. By referring to the extract and to elsewhere in the play, discuss how the dramatist explores the theme of truth. (8)
• In the whole play we see the theme of truth clearly. None of the women do not want to face the truth and try their best to avoid it. They are all forced to confront it at some point though. (1)
• In this extract we see the theme of truth in the climax of the play when Cassie eventually tells Marie the truth about her husband. Marie saw Michael as the perfect husband but Cassie reveals the truth about him being a cheat. This destroys the illusion Marie had created about him. (1)
• “Michael would no more lie to me than you would, Cassie”. (1) This quote shows that Marie does not know the truth. She trusts Cassie and Michael at this point in the play. This makes it even more shocking when she finds out the truth that Cassie was having an affair with Michael. (1)
• “If you go with someone else it’ll tear the heart out of me but tell me, just tell me the truth”. (1) Marie said this to Michael, she believed that he would tell her if he cheated. This is very naïve. She said she would want to know the truth, but despite hearing lots of stories she does not want to face up to the truth that he was cheating. (1)
• “You don’t want to know, you never did. Not even when you saw it with your own eyes”. (1) Nora says this to Cassie when talking about Sean beating her up. Cassie does not want to face the truth that the one man she truly loved was just the same as the other men in her life. She avoids facing up to the truth. (1)
2. How did Marie feel about her husband, Michael? Referring to this speech and to one other part of the play, show to what extent her attitude to her late husband is altered by events. (8)
• In the play, Marie’s memories of her late husband Michael are very important to her. She views him as saint like but this is changed when Cassie reveals that she had an affair with him. (1)
• In this extract we see Marie recount fond memories of her wedding day. She feels unworthy of Michael and feels lucky that he would even want to be with her. (1)
• “it was still a miracle to me he wanted me back” (1) Marie could not believe that Michael wanted to marry her. She feels that he is superior to her and feels very lucky to have him. (1)
• “There is a small picture of the Virgin on one wall, a large grainy blow-up photo of a smiling young man on the other“ (1) These stage directions show that at the start of the play, Marie views Michael as being like a saint. She places his picture next to the Virgin Mary showing she sees him as equal to her. She idolises and worships him. (1)
• “She wrenches the knife and the picture off the startled Deirdre and smashed and slashed Michael's picture with swift, efficient destructiveness.” (1) These stage directions show that Marie’s attitude towards Michael has changed since Cassie has told her about the affair. Her violent actions show she feels hatred and anger towards him now. She no longer sees him in a positive light and the illusion is shattered when she learns the truth. (1)
3. The play goes on to develop our understanding of how challenging life is in many respects for the “bold girls”. By referring to this extract and at least one other example from the play, discuss what these challenges are. (8)
• In the whole play, we see that life is challenging for the women because the play is set during the troubles and the men aren’t around as a result. (1)
• In this extract we can see that life is challenging for Marie as we see her trying to run a household and raise her children on her own which seems challenging. (1)
• “Marie bursts into the room with her arms laden” (1) This shows that Marie is struggling to hold the items and has nobody to help her with the shopping. (1)
• “They’re saying there’s a shooting on the main road” (1) The women are so used to violence happening on their doorstep, they do not seem fazed. It is challenging for them to live here and raise their children here. (1)
• “You’ve a job to do bringing up that family and making a decent home for you and your man, so get on with it” (1) Another challenge is that the women have different attitudes towards their role. Nora thinks Cassie should be a good housewife. Cassie doesn’t want that. (1)