Insert
The source that follows is:
- Source A: 19th-century prose fiction
- David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
An extract from a work first published in 1850.
This extract is from David Copperfield, where young David faces the stern authority of his stepfather, Mr Murdstone, who prepares the cane and punishes him after a failed lesson. Told in David’s first-person voice, it conveys fear, guilt, and an oppressive household atmosphere.
Source A
1 I felt apprehensive that I was personally interested in this dialogue, and sought Mr. Murdstone’s eye as it lighted on mine. ‘Now, David,’ he said--and I saw that cast again as he said it--‘you must be
6 far more careful today than usual.’ He gave the cane another poise, and another switch; and having finished his preparation of it, laid it down beside him, with an impressive look, and took up his book.
11 This was a good freshener to my presence of mind, as a beginning. I felt the words of my lessons slipping off, not one by one, or line by line, but by the
16 entire page; I tried to lay hold of them; but they seemed, if I may so express it, to have put skates on, and to skim away from me with a smoothness there was no checking.
21 We began badly, and went on worse. I had come in with an idea of distinguishing myself rather, conceiving that I was very well prepared; but it turned out to be quite a mistake. Book after book was added to
26 the heap of failures, Miss Murdstone being firmly watchful of us all the time. And when we came at last to the five thousand cheeses (canes he made it that day, I
31 remember), my mother burst out crying. ‘Clara!’ said Miss Murdstone, in her warning voice. ‘I am not quite well, my dear Jane, I think,’ said my mother.
36 I saw him wink, solemnly, at his sister, as he rose and said, taking up the cane:
41 ‘Why, Jane, we can hardly expect Clara to bear, with perfect firmness, the worry and torment that David has occasioned her today. That would be stoical. Clara is greatly strengthened and improved, but we can hardly
46 expect so much from her. David, you and I will go upstairs, boy.’ As he took me out at the door, my mother ran towards us. Miss Murdstone said,
51 ‘Clara! are you a perfect fool?’ and interfered. I saw my mother stop her ears then, and I heard her crying. He walked me up to my room slowly and gravely--I am certain he had a
56 delight in that formal parade of executing justice--and when we got there, suddenly twisted my head under his arm.
61 ‘Mr. Murdstone! Sir!’ I cried to him. ‘Don’t! Pray don’t beat me! I have tried to learn, sir, but I can’t learn while you and Miss Murdstone are by. I can’t indeed!’
66 ‘Can’t you, indeed, David?’ he said. ‘We’ll try that.’ He had my head as in a vice, but I twined round him somehow, and stopped him
71 for a moment, entreating him not to beat me. It was only a moment that I stopped him, for he cut me heavily an instant afterwards, and in the same instant I caught the hand with which he held me in my mouth,
76 between my teeth, and bit it through. It sets my teeth on edge to think of it. He beat me then, as if he would have beaten me to death. Above all the
81 noise we made, I heard them running up the stairs, and crying out--I heard my mother crying out--and Peggotty. Then he was gone; and the door was locked outside;
86 and I was lying, fevered and hot, and torn, and sore, and raging in my puny way, upon the floor. How well I recollect, when I became quiet, what an unnatural stillness
91 seemed to reign through the whole house! How well I remember, when my smart and passion began to cool, how wicked I began to feel!
96 I sat listening for a long while, but there was not a sound. I crawled up from the floor, and saw my face in the glass, so swollen, red, and ugly that it almost frightened me. My stripes were sore and stiff, and
101 made me cry afresh, when I moved; but they were nothing to the guilt I felt. It lay heavier on my breast than if I had been a most atrocious criminal, I dare say.
106 It had begun to grow dark, and I had shut the window (I had been lying, for the most part, with my head upon the sill, by turns crying, dozing, and
111 looking listlessly out), when the key was turned, and Miss Murdstone came in with some bread and meat, and milk. These she put down upon the table without a word, glaring at me the while with exemplary firmness,
116 and then retired, locking the door after her. Long after it was dark I sat there, wondering whether anybody else would come.
121 When this appeared improbable for that night, I undressed, and went to bed; and, there, I began to wonder fearfully what would be done to me. Whether it was a criminal act that I had committed? Whether I
126 should be taken into custody, and sent to prison? Whether I was at all in danger of being hanged?
Questions
Instructions
- Answer all questions.
- Use black ink or black ball point pen.
- Fill in the boxes on this page.
- You must answer the questions in the spaces provided.
- Do not write outside the box around each page or on blank pages.
- Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked.
- You must refer to the insert booklet provided.
- You must not use a dictionary.
Information
- The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
- Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
- The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
- There are 40 marks for Section A and 40 marks for Section B.
- You are reminded of the need for good English and clear presentation in your answers.
- You will be assessed on the quality of your reading in Section A.
- You will be assessed on the quality of your writing in Section B.
Advice
- You are advised to spend about 15 minutes reading through the source and all five questions you have to answer.
- You should make sure you leave sufficient time to check your answers.
Section A: Reading
Answer all questions in this section. You are advised to spend about 45 minutes on this section.
Question 1
Read again the first part of the source, from lines 1 to 5.
Answer all parts of this question.
Choose one answer for each question.
1.1 What item does Mr Murdstone lay down before Mr Murdstone picks up the book?
- a cane
- a ruler
- a slate
[1 mark]
1.2 Which item does Mr Murdstone place beside him before taking up his book?
- The cane
- A ruler
- His spectacles
[1 mark]
1.3 After finishing the preparation of the cane, what did Mr. Murdstone do next?
- laid it down beside him
- gave the cane another poise
- gave the cane another switch
[1 mark]
1.4 After Mr Murdstone finishes getting the cane ready, what does Mr Murdstone do next?
- Mr Murdstone sets the cane down and picks up a book
- Mr Murdstone immediately strikes the narrator with the cane
- Mr Murdstone gives the cane to Miss Murdstone and leaves the room
[1 mark]
Question 2
Look in detail at this extract, from lines 11 to 25 of the source:
11 This was a good freshener to my presence of mind, as a beginning. I felt the words of my lessons slipping off, not one by one, or line by line, but by the
16 entire page; I tried to lay hold of them; but they seemed, if I may so express it, to have put skates on, and to skim away from me with a smoothness there was no checking.
21 We began badly, and went on worse. I had come in with an idea of distinguishing myself rather, conceiving that I was very well prepared; but it turned out to be quite a mistake. Book after book was added to
How does the writer use language here to show David’s struggle to remember his lessons? You could include the writer’s choice of:
- words and phrases
- language features and techniques
- sentence forms.
[8 marks]
Question 3
You now need to think about the structure of the source as a whole. This text is from the start of a novel.
How has the writer structured the text to create a sense of isolation?
You could write about:
- how isolation deepens by the end of the source
- how the writer uses structure to create an effect
- the writer's use of any other structural features, such as changes in mood, tone or perspective.
[8 marks]
Question 4
For this question focus on the second part of the source, from line 51 to the end.
In this part of the source, where David is locked in his room, his feeling of guilt is shown to be even worse than his physical pain. The writer suggests that the Murdstones’ real cruelty is making David believe that he is the one who has done wrong.
To what extent do you agree and/or disagree with this statement?
In your response, you could:
- consider your impressions of David and his feelings of guilt
- comment on the methods the writer uses to portray the cruelty of the Murdstones
- support your response with references to the text.
[20 marks]
Question 5
A magazine that specialises in remote and challenging travel is seeking creative entries.
Choose one of the options below for your entry.
-
Option A: Describe an isolated airstrip from your imagination. You may choose to use the picture provided for ideas:
-
Option B: Write the opening of a story about a journey to a remote destination.
(24 marks for content and organisation, 16 marks for technical accuracy)
[40 marks]