Selection of Exam Questions

Poetry Exam Questions
1. In what way do the poets of 'Recruiting' and 'Joining The Colours' suggest that the soldiers being sent off to war were being deceived by the authorities? What imagery do they use to suggest this?
2. In what way do the poets of 'The Target' and 'Spring Offensive' convey the horror of being in battle? Discuss their use of imagery, rhyme and rhythm, structure and theme.
3. In what way does Wilfred Owen in 'The Send Off' and Sassoon in 'The Hero' suggest that the reality of war is very different from the way it is presented to the general public who do not fight in the war?
4. In what way does Gurney in 'The Bohemians' and Sassoon in 'Lamentations' inform us about the different emotions of the people who fought in the war?
5. Compare and contrast 'The Deserter' with 'The Hero' and explain how the poets try to make the reader feel angry about the lies that happened then.
6. How do the attitudes of Cole in 'Falling Leaves' and McCrae in 'In Flanders Fields' differ in their attitudes towards the countless deaths that happened during the war?
7. Compare and contrast the ways in which the poets of 'The Seed-Merchant's Son' and 'The Parable of the Old Man and the Young' use religious imagery to suggest the horror of war.
8. In what way do the poets of 'Perhaps' and 'Spring in War-Time' explore the theme of grief?
9. Compare 'Reported Missing' with 'The Send Off'. In what ways do the poets suggest that it is the living who have to endure the worst agonies?

Death of a Salesman Questions
1. Re-read the flashback scene from page 22 where Biff says, “Gee, how’d you know we wanted a punching bag?” to page 25 where Happy says, “Let’s box, Bernard!” How does Miller’s creation of this flashback scene contribute to the dramatic impact of the play?
2. Re-read the play’s opening from page 8 to the bottom of page 10. In what ways does Miller capture the audience’s interest and attention in this opening scene, and introduce some of the main issues in the play?
3. Re-read the scene in Stanley’s bar from the top of page 84 to the bottom of page 85. How does Miller create dramatic tension in this scene and bring to light some of the main issues of the play?
4. Re-read the scene in Howard’s office from the top of page 62 to the bottom of page 64. How does Miller’s creation of the conflict in this scene contribute to your understanding of the play?
5. Re-read the Requiem scene. How does Miller’s creation of Willy’s funeral contribute to the dramatic impact of the play and to your understanding of its concerns?

1. Does the way Miller presents Happy encourage you to feel sympathy for him? Remember to support your ideas with details from the play.
2. What does Miller’s portrayal of Uncle Ben add to the dramatic impact of the play? Remember to support your ideas with detail from the play.
3. How does Miller’s portrayal of Bernard add to your understanding of Willy in the play? Remember to support your ideas with detail from the play.
4. Biff says of Willy, “He’s got no character” (p. 44). Is this an accurate assessment of Willy Loman? Remember to support your ideas with detail from the play.
5. Biff says to Willy, “I’m a dime a dozen, and so are you!” Is this an adequate assessment of their lives? Remember to support your ideas with detail from the play.

Empire of the Sun

1. Apart from Jim, for which character do you feel most sympathy in Empire of the Sun? Remember to refer closely to the novel in your answer.
2. Re-read pp. 339-340, from “The pilot’s mouth opened …” to “… each of the impatient dead.” How does Ballard’s writing here reveal Jim’s reactions to death in Empire of the Sun?
3. Dr Ransome calls Jim ‘a free spirit’. Why do you think he does so? Remember to refer closely to details from the novel in your answer.
4. Re-read pp. 348-350, from “The hospital and the camp…” to “they seemed older and far away.” In the light of previous events, what makes this a particularly effective piece of writing?
5. How does the novel show that war can bring out both the best and the worst in people? Refer closely to relevant parts of the novel in support of your answer.
6. What do you find interesting about the way in which Ballard creates the character of Mr Maxted? Remember to refer closely to the novel in support of your answer.
7. Re-read the passage on pp13 – 15 from “The commentator’s voice” to “It was not the anger of the Japanese that most disturbed Jim, but their patience”. How does this passage effectively set the scene for later events in the novel?
8. What do you find interesting about the way in which Ballard portrays the character of Basie. Remember to refer closely to the novel in your answer.
9. Re-read passage pp83-86 from “One afternoon …” to “…counted for nothing” How does Ballard’s writing in this passage show Jim’s relationship with the Japanese in Empire of the Sun?
10. Explore the ways in which Ballard vividly portrays the places Jim stays in. Remember to support your ideas with details from the writing

Short Stories
1. How do the writers portray the impact of education in two of the stories?
2. Read the extract starting from “Always somewhat confused” (77) to “with Naraian and herself trapped in the middle of them” (79) from the Young Couple. How do the writers show the ways people change and their reasons for doing so, in this extract and one other story?
3. How do the writers explore the idea of tradition and convention in two of the stories?
4. Read the extract “The path along which” (101) to Light shadows darted rapidly over the marble surface.” (102) from the Winter Oak , explore the ways the writer establishes the pathos (mood) within this extract and in one other story.
5. How do the writers of 'Games at Twilight' and 'The Young Couple' show us the conflict that certain cultures can cause between people?
6. Read the last two pages of Leela’s Friend. How does the writer present injustice in this and one other story.
7. How do the writers explore the feeling of isolation in two of the stories?
8. How do the writers capture the impact of place on an individual in this (Young Couple) and in one other story?
9. How do the writers show the effects of poverty in two of the stories?