Sheila says to Gerald, “I don’t dislike you as I did half an hour ago, Gerald. In fact, in some odd way, I rather respect you more than I’ve ever done before.”
How does Priestley develop the relationship between Sheila and Gerald in the course of the play?
Look again at the opening of Act One until the arrival of the Inspector.
What do we learn about the character of Birling in the extract? Does his later behaviour confirm this impression?
The Inspector says: ‘There’ll be plenty of time, when I’ve gone, for you all to adjust your family relationships.’
How far would you say that the members of the Birling family are capable of adjusting their relationships?
At one point in the play Eric says to his mother “…you killed her…you turned her away…and…your own grandchild, you killed them both.”
Do you consider that Mrs Birling is portrayed in a worse, or better, light than her husband, Mr Birling, throughout the play?
One of the aims of J.B. Priestley’s play is to teach us something about society.
By referring closely to the text, what lessons do you think the play contains?
The Sign of Four
Read the following extract from Chapter 1 and then answer the question that follows. In this extract, Watson is discussing Holmes’ habit of taking cocaine three times a day.
“Which is it to-day?” I asked,—“morphine or cocaine?”
He raised his eyes languidly from the old blackletter volume which he had opened. “It is cocaine,” he said,—“a seven-per-cent solution. Would you care to try it?”
“No, indeed,” I answered, brusquely. “My constitution has not got over the Afghan campaign yet. I cannot afford to throw any extra strain upon it.”
He smiled at my vehemence. “Perhaps you are right, Watson,” he said. “I suppose that its influence is physically a bad one. I find it, however, so transcendently stimulating and clarifying to the mind that its secondary action is a matter of small moment.”
“But consider!” I said, earnestly. “Count the cost! Your brain may, as you say, be roused and excited, but it is a pathological and morbid process, which involves increased tissue-change and may at last leave a permanent weakness. You know, too, what a black reaction comes upon you. Surely the game is hardly worth the candle. Why should you, for a mere passing pleasure, risk the loss of those great powers with which you have been endowed? Remember that I speak not only as one comrade to another, but as a medical man to one for whose constitution he is to some extent answerable.”
He did not seem offended. On the contrary, he put his fingertips together and leaned his elbows on the arms of his chair, like one who has a relish for conversation.
“My mind,” he said, “rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants. But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation. That is why I have chosen my own particular profession,—or rather created it, for I am the only one in the world.”
“The only unofficial detective?” I said, raising my eyebrows.
Starting with this extract, explore how Conan Doyle presents weaknesses in Holmes’ character.
Write about:
• how Conan Doyle uses his drug habit to present weaknesses in Holmes’ character in the extract
• how Conan Doyle presents weaknesses in Holmes’ character in the novel as a whole.
[30 marks]
Read the following extract from Chapter 2 and then answer the question that follows. In this extract, Miss Morstan has come to Baker Street to discuss her case with Holmes and Watson.
Miss Morstan entered the room with a firm step and an outward composure of manner. She was a blonde young lady, small, dainty, well gloved, and dressed in the most perfect taste. There was, however, a plainness and simplicity about her costume which bore with it a suggestion of limited means. The dress was a sombre grayish beige, untrimmed and unbraided, and she wore a small turban of the same dull hue, relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side. Her face had neither regularity of feature nor beauty of complexion, but her expression was sweet and amiable, and her large blue eyes were singularly spiritual and sympathetic. In an experience of women which extends over many nations and three separate continents, I have never looked upon a face which gave a clearer promise of a refined and sensitive nature. I could not but observe that as she took the seat which Sherlock Holmes placed for her, her lip trembled, her hand quivered, and she showed every sign of intense inward agitation.
“I have come to you, Mr. Holmes,” she said, “because you once enabled my employer, Mrs. Cecil Forrester, to unravel a little domestic complication. She was much impressed by your kindness and skill.”
“Mrs. Cecil Forrester,” he repeated thoughtfully. “I believe that I was of some slight service to her. The case, however, as I remember it, was a very simple one.”
Starting with this extract, explore how Conan Doyle presents women in Victorian society.
Write about:
• how Conan Doyle uses Miss Morstan to present women in Victorian society in the extract
• how Conan Doyle presents women in society in the novel as a whole.
[30 marks]
Romeo and Juliet
Read the following extract from Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet and then answer the question that follows. The prologue opens the play
PROLOGUE
Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
Starting with the prologue, explain why you think Shakespeare presents the themes and ideas at the beginning of the play
Write about:
how Shakespeare presents themes and ideas in the prologue
how Shakespeare presents themes and ideas in the play as a whole
[30 marks] AO4[4 marks]
Read the following extract from Act 1 scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet and then answer the question that follows. Act 1 scene 1 opens with a fight between the Montague and Capulet servants
BENVOLIO
Part, fools!
Put up your swords; you know not what you do. (Beats down their swords)
Enter TYBALT
TYBALT
What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?
Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death.
BENVOLIO
I do but keep the peace: put up thy sword,
Or manage it to part these men with me.
TYBALT
What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word,
As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee:
Have at thee, coward!
They fight
Enter, several of both houses, who join the fray; then enter Citizens, with clubs
First Citizen Clubs, bills, and partisans! strike! beat them down! Down with the Capulets! down with the Montagues!
Starting with the extract, explain how far you think Shakespeare presents Tybalt’s aggression as a result of the feud between the families Write about:
how Shakespeare presents Tybalt’s language and actions in the extract
how Shakespeare presents Tybalt in the play as a whole
[30 marks] AO4[4 marks]
Read the following extract from Act 1 scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet and then answer the question that follows. This conversation between Romeo and Juliet takes place when they first meet at the Capulet party
ROMEO
[To JULIET] If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
JULIET
Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.
ROMEO
Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
JULIET
Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
ROMEO
O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.
JULIET
Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake.
ROMEO
Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.
Starting with this conversation, explain how Shakespeare presents the love and connection between Romeo & Juliet
Write about:
how Shakespeare presents the connection between Romeo and Juliet in the extract
how Shakespeare presents love in the play as a whole
[30 marks] AO4[4 marks]
Read the following extract from Act 3 scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet and then answer the question that follows. In the extract the Prince tries to find out what happened during the fight between Tybalt, Mercutio and Romeo
LADY CAPULET He is a kinsman to the Montague;
Affection makes him false; he speaks not true:
Some twenty of them fought in this black strife,
And all those twenty could but kill one life.
I beg for justice, which thou, prince, must give;
Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not live.
PRINCE Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio;
Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?
MONTAGUE Not Romeo, prince, he was Mercutio's friend;
His fault concludes but what the law should end,
The life of Tybalt.
PRINCE And for that offence
Immediately we do exile him hence:
I have an interest in your hate's proceeding,
My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding;
But I'll amerce you with so strong a fine
That you shall all repent the loss of mine:
I will be deaf to pleading and excuses;
Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses:
Therefore use none: let Romeo hence in haste,
Else, when he's found, that hour is his last.
Starting with the extract, explain how far you think Shakespeare presents the importance of family loyalty in the play
Write about:
how Shakespeare presents the importance of family loyalty in the extract how Shakespeare presents the importance of family loyalty in the play as a whole
[30 marks] AO4[4 marks]
Read the following extract from Act 5 scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet and then answer the question that follows. During this scene the families agree to end the feud
CAPULET
O brother Montague, give me thy hand:
This is my daughter's jointure, for no more
Can I demand.
MONTAGUE
But I can give thee more:
For I will raise her statue in pure gold;
That while Verona by that name is known,
There shall no figure at such rate be set
As that of true and faithful Juliet.
CAPULET
As rich shall Romeo's by his lady's lie;
Poor sacrifices of our enmity!
PRINCE
A glooming peace this morning with it brings;
The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head:
Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things;
Some shall be pardon'd, and some punished:
For never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.
Starting with the extract, explain how Shakespeare presents forgiveness Write about:
how Shakespeare presents forgiveness in the extract
how Shakespeare presents forgiveness in the play as a whole
[30 marks] AO4[4 marks]
Literature Texts: GCSE questions 2017/18