The Cone Gatherers
Exemplification and Explanation of Standards (Higher)
31.
Here the task is to find a quotation from which you can make a straightforward comment (1 mark)
but a more detailed response will gain 2 marks. In general the answer will show how something
peaceful (natural) in man’s hands can become something menacing.
“safe from the hawk scouting above” – the word choice of ‘hawk’ suggests a bird of prey which
creates a sense of menace and danger and that there was nowhere safe in a time of war
OR
“toppled down” suggests a cutting down of the great trees which shows that even the wood which
was mighty and old was in danger from mankind cutting it down for the purposes of war
OR
“ammunition” suggests a weapon of war which shows that there was danger in the wood and that
mankind could take something nature had created and make dangerous weapons from it.
32.
At least two examples of word choice need to be analysed for the full 4 marks. The analysis must
be relevant to the idea of how the Cone Gatherers feel threatened by Duror. A basic comment gets
1 mark a more detailed comment (see the third bullet point as an example) will get 2.
-
“shadow” suggests that Duror was a dark presence in the wood this shows that he was a
menacing presence
-
“His three glossy dogs” suggests that they were hunting dogs looking for prey and that they
would chase or hunt into the ground any other animals they might come across. The dogs
always did their master’s bidding and the cone gatherers were nervous of them.
-
“trained (his binoculars) on top of the larch” the word choice “trained” suggests a
deliberate looking out for a target this shows that Duror was purposefully looking for the
Cone Gatherers. It also suggests a military precision which shows that Duror was targeting
the brothers and so they would feel threatened in his presemce.
33.
The key to this answer is that both sides of a contrasting reaction need to be found and described.
I’ve used imagery to suggest Calum is all emotion and sentence structure techniques to suggest
that Neil is rational and reassuring. Both sides could be treated as word choice answers and 4
marks can be gained that way as long as a genuine contrast is formed and the answers are
sufficiently detailed.
Calum
“… like an animal in danger..” just as an animal in danger with no way of escape would feel
threatened and nervous and perhaps retreat into a corner so too Calum was afraid and wanted to
hide away from Duror.
Neil
In contrast to Calum’s emotional reaction Neil is more rational. The repetition of the word “Maybe”
shows that Neil is thinking through logical reasons for Duror’s presence and is saying them out loud
to reassure Calum. The rhetorical question “Where’s the harm in that?” shows that Neil thinks there
may be a plausible explanation for Duror being there and that there is no need to panic.
34
Two contrasting characters in this novel are the hunchback Calum McPhie who symbolises
goodness and innocence and the gamekeeper Duror who symbolises evil. The two of them
are brought into conflict in the novel when Calum is brought into the wood to gather cones
and Duror’s state of mind is disturbed. Nature is used to describe these characters and to
explain how they develop: Calum is in harmony with nature but the metaphor of a rotting
tree is used to describe Duror’s mental disintegration. (2)
In this extract Calum’s closeness with nature is explained: “In the tree here was Calum’s
happiness” suggesting that there is a strong connection between Calum’s happiness and
being in the trees. (1) This idea is continued in “here were his friends the finches, safe from
the hawk scouting above.” On the ground Calum had a different experience: “the ground of
snares and stumbles was far below”. It is clear that in the novel Calum found the ground a
dangerous place but high in the trees amongst nature Calum felt safe and welcomed. (1)
This is developed froms with the beginning of the novel where “chaffinches fluttered
around him” suggesting that Calum was a saint like St Francis of Assisi showing him to be an
innocent character (1). He is also described as being “indigenous” suggesting that he
belonged in the word. All of this sets Calum up to be the innocent character in harmony
with nature and the animal world which lived in the wood. (1)
In contrast Duror brings “shadow” into the woods – the word choice of “shadow” suggesting
he is a menancing, malevolent character whose very presence will in time attempt to
destroy light and goodness. (1) In this extract he is accompanied by his dogs which suggests
that he hunts down prey within the wood: his unreasonable hatred of Calum will lead Duror
in time to shoot Calum out of the trees where he once ironically felt so safe (1). Unlike
Calum who looks to make friends with the creatures of the wood Duror comes in “looking
for deer or foxes or weasels to shoot” which suggests a character out of harmony with the
natural worldf, one who is filled with violence and finally foreshadows Calum being hunted
down by the Gamekeeper. (1)
This is described as ” Duror was stalking away towards the point.” “It was as if the rotting
tree itself had moved”. Thus like a hunter deliberately chasing its prey Duror “stalks” after
Calum. Importantly Duror is described once again as “the rotting tree” suggesting his total
corruption and mental disintegration. The roots of his madness once found in his revulsion
at deformity have now led him to murder the innocent, Calum. (1)