Some practice questions to help you revise the final 8-mark question.
- Pick one of the suggested poems as the given poem.
- Use oneof the other suggestionsfor your unseen, memorisedquotations(you may be able to think of other suitable MacCaig poems that aren’t listed).
- MacCaig’s poetry often includes very vivid impressions of people. By referring to one or two poems by him, show how he creates these vivid impressions of people. (8)
Suggested poems: Aunt Julia’, ‘Assisi’, ‘Visiting Hour’
- MacCaig’s poetry often includes very striking descriptions of places. By referring to one or two poems by him, show how he creates these striking descriptions of places. (8)
Suggested poems: ‘Assisi’, ‘Sounds of the Day’, ‘Visiting Hour’
3. MacCaig very often uses particularly strange or unusual imagery in his poetry. By referring to one or two of his poems, discuss some of his strange or unusual imagery. (8)
Suggested poems: ‘Sounds of the Day’, ‘Visiting Hour’, ‘Basking Shark’, ‘Aunt Julia’, ‘Memorial’, ‘Assisi’.
- MacCaig’s poems are often preoccupied by the theme of death or loss. By referring to one or two of MacCaig’s poems, show how he explores this theme. (8)
Suggested poems: ‘Sounds of the Day’, ‘Memorial’, ‘Visiting Hour’, ‘Aunt Julia’.
- Often, MacCaig’s poetry creates a vivid impression of the natural world. By referring to one or two poems by him, show how he creates these vivid impressions of the natural world. (8)
Suggested poems: ‘Basking Shark’, ‘Sounds of the Day’
- Contrast often features heavily in MacCaig’s poetry. By referring to one or two of his poems, show how MacCaig uses contrast in his work.
Suggested poems: ‘Assisi’, ‘Memorial’, ‘Sounds of the Day’
- The feeling of separation is an important feature of a number of MacCaig poems. By referring to one or two poems by him, show how he evokes this feeling. (8)
Suggested poems: ‘Memorial’, ‘Sounds of the Day’, ‘Visiting Hour’, ‘Aunt Julia’.
- MacCaig’s poems often include an important relationship. By referring to one or two of MacCaig’s poems, show how he explores relationships. (8)
Suggested poems: ‘Aunt Julia’, ‘Memorial’, ‘Sounds of the Day’
- Often, MacCaig elicits the reader’s sympathy for the people in his poems. By referring to one or two poems, show how he elicits the reader’s sympathy. (8)
Suggested poems: ‘Assisi’, ‘Visiting Hour’
- MacCaig often uses humour in his poetry. By referring to one or two poems by MacCaig, show how he uses humour. (8)
Suggested poems: ‘Basking Shark’, ‘Aunt Julia’