Practice work on paper two
Beryl Clarke, Contributor

Welcome to today's lesson! We turn our attention now to paper two. Work will continue later on The Chrysalids. As you know, it is the knowledge that you gain from your work on the texts that you will use in answering the questions set on this paper. Remember, too, that you have to answer ALL the questions. In the external examination, you will be given one and a half hours, plus 15 minutes for reading through the paper.

I feel sure that, like me, you are sorry that I cannot ask you to do this entire paper in one sitting while timing yourselves, as time will not allow for me to give you more than two questions this week. You can, however, give yourselves 35 minutes to answer each section.

SECTION 1 - DRAMA

1. Read the following extract carefully and answer ALL the questions that follow.

Daybreak. The hut. The Mother and her son asleep. Gros-Jean rises, packs a bundle. His MOTHER stirs and watches. He opens the door.

Mother: You will leave me just so, my eldest son?

Gros Jean: Is best you didn't know.

Mother: Woman life is so. Watching and waiting.

Gros Jean: Woman, the time obliged to come I was to leave the house, go down the tall forest, come out on the high road, and find what is man work. Is big man I reach now, not no little boy again. Look this arm, but to split trees is nothing. A have an arm of iron, and have nothing I fraid.

Mother: The arm which digs a grave is the strongest arm of all. Your father, your grandfather, their muscles like brown rivers rolling over rocks. Now, they bury in small grass, Just the jaws of the ant stronger than them now.

Gros Jean: I not even fraid that. You see, is best you still was sleeping? I don't want you to wake my brothers. Ti-Jean love me and will frighten.

Mi-Jean will argue and make me remain. The sun tapping me on my shoulder.

Mother: When you go down the tall forest, Gros Jean, Praise God who make all things: ask direction of the bird, and the insects, imitate them; But be careful of the hidden nets of the devil, Beware of a wise man called father of the Forest, The devil can hide in several features. A woman, a white gentleman, even a bishop. Strength, ca pas tout, there is patience besides; There always is something stronger than you. If is not man, animal, is God or demon.

Gros Jean: The world not the same it was in your time. Tell my brothers I gone. A man have to go.

- Ti-Jean and His Brothers

by Derek Walcott (1970).

(a) The mother had three sons. What are their names? (1 mark)

(b) What three MAIN functions do the stage directions serve in this extract? (3 marks)

(c) Explain in your own words what you understand by the following expression in the extract:

The arm which digs a grave is the strongest arm of all. (3 marks)

(d) Write THREE adjectives or phrases which BEST describe Gros Jean as he is presented in the extract. (3 marks)

(e) From this scene, what can you tell about the relationship among the three brothers? (5 marks)

Total: 15 marks

SECTION 2- POETRY

Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow.

Jamaican Fisherman

Across the sand I saw a black man stride

To fetch his fishing gear and broken things.

And silently that splendid body cried

Its proud descent from ancient chiefs and kings.

Across the sand I saw him naked stride;

Sang his black body in the sun's white light

The velvet coolness of dark forests wide,

The blackness of the jungle's starless night.

He stood beside the old canoe which lay

Upon the beach; swept up within his arms

The broken nets and careless lounged away

Towards his hut beneath the ragged palms...

Nor knew how fiercely spoke his body then

Of fabled wealth and regal freeborn men.

- Philip Sherlock

(a) What is the theme of the poem? (3 marks)

(b) To whom do the words ancient kings and chiefs refer? (2 marks)

(c) What features of the fisherman does the poet emphasise most? (2 marks)

(d) Consider the line Sang his black body in the sun's white light:

(i) Identify the figure of speech used. (1 mark)

(ii Explain the meaning of the line (3 marks)

(e) (i) What is the poet's general attitude to the fisherman? (2 marks)

(ii) Quote a phrase that supports your answer. (2 marks)

Total: 15 marks

Have fun now. I will set the section three question in our next lesson. Until then, be the best you can be and God bless!

The Rising Star band heads the symbolic walk by teachers and students of St Hugh's High School. The walk was in remembrance of where the school, now at Leinster Road, was first located at 95 Hanover Street, Kingston. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

Beryl Clarke teaches at Glenmuir High School.