An example of how to anwser the higher-level English exam

Leaving Certificate English 2001 (Higher Level) Paper 2

Section 2 Question 2

General comments

In answering questions on the Comparative Study it is not necessary to display an exhaustive knowledge of the texts you are using. Reference to key moments, or to particular aspects of the texts you are using, will suffice. Highlighting your own responses as a reader of the texts is encouraged. When asked to compare texts, you may discuss similarities and/or differences between them.

(Source: Department of Education and Science "Assessment advice for students")

(a) Expect candidates to make a clear link between a moment from the chosen text and an explicitly nominated theme or issue. Candidates may focus on content and/or style.

(b) Expect the candidates to make comparative links between the text and theme/issue discussed in part (a) and at least two other texts from the list prescribed for comparative study.

Allow that candidates might devote most of their attention to comparative observations about the second and third texts in relation to one another.

Areas from which comparisons might be drawn:

•the theme/issue is dealt with in a similar/dissimilar manner;

•the second/third texts define the theme or issue differently;

•the impact on the reader is similar/different etc.

(Source: Department of Education and Science "Marking Scheme 2001")

The Question

"A key moment in a text can illustrate a theme/issue very powerfully."

a) Choose one of the texts you studied as part of your comparative course and show how an important moment from it illustrates a theme or issue. (30)

b) Write a short comparative commentary on one key moment from each of the other texts you have studied in the light of the discussion in part (a) above. (40)

PART A

The opening paragraph states clearly the theme/issue that is being discussed and mentions the text.

The relationship between parents and their children is a central one that is treated in very different ways in the texts on the comparative course. In the play Philadelphia Here I Come, the relationship between parents and children is central. In this particular case the situation revolves around a young man called Gar O'Donnell who wishes to escape from the stifling atmosphere of his hometown, Ballybeg, and prove himself by going to Philadelphia.

This paragraph explains in more detail how the theme is developed in general in the play.

He has never come to terms with his past or his failures, emotionally or in any other way. The root of much of his problems lies in the failure to communicate that exists between himself and his father. Son and father are alike, each afraid to show his real self. Both are locked behind a barrier of silence and inability to express themselves.

The answer proceeds to draw the reader into one of key situations that expose this theme more forcibly.

The play is divided into three Episodes which span a period of a few hours before he departs. In Part II of Episode three, which takes place in the early hours of the morning before Gar departs, we see S.B. O'Donnell, Gar's father, wandering around the house because he cannot sleep. Gar arrives on the scene.

This explains in detail how this key situation illustrates the theme or issue more clearly.

Gar wishes to prove to himself that he can redeem the situation and break down the barriers that exist between himself and his father. Through the medium of Private (Gar's hidden self) he decides to broach the subject of the incident long ago with the blue boat on Lough Na Cloch Gar.

This incident carries very special memories for Gar. These were magical moments where he experienced a real intimacy between himself and his father. He hopes to prove to himself that somehow or other these memories are also precious to his father. However, this attempt backfires for Gar - his father fails to recollect anything about the boat, the incident, or the song they sang, and fails to make use of this one opportunity in the play to truly bond with his son. Gar leaves the room in frustration at his failed attempt, condemning himself for even trying.

The answer proceeds to draw to a contrast between S.B.'s reactions and Gar's.

Yet, ironically, a few minutes later, we listen to S.B.'s attempts to recall his own memories about the past with Gar, which are equally precious to him. We hear how he recounts to Madge Gar's first day at school and his stress on the fact that he wore a sailor suit. He remembers vividly every detail of that day and it is clear from the tone of these remembrances that he truly loves his son. Like Gar, S.B. has his memories of the past, and, like Gar, he is unable to communicate these clearly to his son.

The concluding paragraph here restates the question.

This tragic failure of two members of one family to communicate on a basic level is a central feature of the play and is powerfully illustrated in this, the concluding section of the play.

PART B

The film My Left Foot is the text that is chosen here for the purposes of comparison. The relationship between Christianity and his mother is discussed.

The relationship between parents and children is also important in the film My Left Foot and Jennifer Johnston's novel, How Many Miles to Babylon? In the film, we are given a striking example of the whole power of the relationship between the different members of the family and how this consolidates Christy's growth as an artist. The strength of the relationship between Christy and his mother is a constant theme throughout this film.

The key section identified involves Christy falling into depression and his mother's efforts at helping him.

Following the scene in the restaurant, where Christy realises that the therapist does not love him, he falls into a deep depression. Christy's mother begins to plead with him to forget himself, telling him how he becomes more like his father each day - "harder on the outside and like putty on the inside" (not unlike Gar and S.B, who, as Madge tells us, "are as like as two peas"). She pleads with him in vain as he lies covered with a blanket having attempted to commit suicide from self-pity. In desperation she struggles to show her love for him by grabbing a pick and shovel and beginning to dig. She wants to build him a room so that he can start to paint again. Christy reacts by moving out from under his blanket and apologises to her.

The relationship between Christy and the other members of his family also play a vital part  in contributing to his struggle and subsequent growth.

Christy's father and two brothers arrive home from work. Immediately, in a brave show of manhood, Christy's father takes on the task of building the room with the two boys. Christy is once again encouraged to overcome the limitations involved in his disability and transcend these barriers and fight. He surmounts obstacles along the way and, as a result of the strong and undoubted support of his family, ends up as a celebrated artist hosting a charity event. There is no doubt that his family contributes in a great degree to his undoubted success.

The novel How Many Miles to Babylon? is now chosen for comparison with the two preceding texts. The relationship between Alex, the central character, and his mother is taken as one of the key situations.

One of the key situations that highlight this theme of the relation between parents and children occurs in the novel How Many Miles to Babylon? Alex, the only child of rich Anglo-Irish parents, is urged by his mother to go to fight in the war. He refuses on the grounds that he simply does not want to die, and that his father needs him. He feels it is his duty to stay at home.

This outlines the particular nature of the relationship  between Alex and his mother and shows how this relationship affects him for the rest of the story.

In this novel the relationship between a son and his mother is also central. However, in contrast to Christy's love-filled relationship with his mother, Alex's mother clearly hates her husband and reminds Alex that she has only stayed with her husband on Alex's account. She then announces that her husband is not Alex's father. She is casual and flippant about the whole situation and clearly shocks Alex. She had a casual affair years ago when she was young, and now the man who happens to be Alex's real father is dead. Alex is horrified. He feels totally dispossessed. Shortly after this incident Alex goes to war. He sustains his friendship with Jerry, a young man who comes from a working-class background and is a Republican, even though his mother has forbidden him. Alex renounces his links with home and only writes occasionally to his father.

In this paragraph the development of the story is shown, outlining all the time how Alex relates to his parents, his mother in particular, as the novel concludes.

The story culminates in Alex facing the death sentence for disobeying an order to shoot Jerry by firing squad. Instead, Alex decides to relieve Jerry of the humiliation involved and shoots him quietly in the cell. He is sentenced to death. As the novel opens, Alex is awaiting death. It is clear from his dispositions and sentiments that there is no one in life whom he cares about. He feels nothing for his mother and merely sympathy for his poor father. Life has robbed him of all joy and possibility of love. A lot of his dispositions are due to his background, and the peculiar nature of the relationship he had with his parents.

This restates the question and relates it to this particular key situation.

There is no doubt that this particular theme has a striking impact on the story and plot and is undoubtedly revealed in a very salient manner in this particular situation.

This last section sums up what has been stated throughout the answer and refers back to the question asked.

It is evident from all three texts how a key situation is used in each to illustrate the theme of the relation between parents and children in a highly powerful manner. As has been outlined in each case this is shown in some very different ways through the different texts.