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Question One:!
Whale Talk (30)!
Mark globally!
1. In a discussion of between 150 and 170 words, discuss how Chris Crutcher uses
the novel, Whale Talk to highlight some of the serious issues facing society
today. Mention at least 3 of these issues in your discussion and support your
opinions by referring to the novel (15 Marks).!
2. "There comes a point in your life when you realise who really
matters, who never did, and who always will." - Unknown. In three
well structured paragraphs, comment on how this quote might relate to the
characters in Whale Talk (15 Marks).!
Question Two:!
Poetry (30)!
Seen Poetry!
Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow:!
"On His Blindness" - John Milton!
When I consider how my light is spent!
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,!
And that one talent which is death to hide!
Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bent!
To serve therewith my Maker, and present!
My true account, lest he returning chide,!
"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"!
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent!
That murmur, soon replies: "God doth not need!
Either man's work or his own gifts: who best!
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state!
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed!
And post o'er land and ocean without rest:!
They also serve who only stand and wait." !
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2.1
What form does this poem take?!
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(2)!
Petrarchan/Italian sonnet
2.2
Explain in detail (with reference to the content of the poem) how
the form of this poem contributes to the reader's understanding of
its content.!
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(4)!
In the octave, Milton laments the loss of his sight and
wrestles with God about whether or not he will be
punished for being unable to use the one talent with
which he can serve God.!
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In the sestet, he reflects on what it really means to serve
God. Serving God is not just about doing things for him
but also waiting on him and patiently bearing his "mild
yoke".
2.3!
"And that one talent which is death to hide!
Lodg'd with me useless . . ."
2.3.1! To what does the poet refer in the words, "one talent"?!
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Writing poetry!
2.3.2 Why does he say that it is "Lodg'd with me useless"?!
(2)!
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(2)!
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He still possesses the talent but can't use it at all.
2.4
Name and explain the effectiveness of the figure of speech used by
Milton in the following line:!
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"But Patience, to prevent / That murmur, soon replies:"!
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(3)!
Patience is personified. It is effective because it creates
the image of someone else giving the poet an objective
opinion and encouraging him to see another side of the
coin.
2.5
To what Biblical parable does Milton allude and why is that
important for our understanding of the poem?!
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The parable of the talents + a good explanation.
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(3)!
2.5
In your own words, explain the poet's argument in the closing 6
lines of the poem, starting with, "God doth not need . . ."!
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(4)
Any good explanation, in the candidates own words.
Mark globally.
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SUB-TOTAL 20
Unseen Poetry!
Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow:!
Mending Wall - Robert Frost!
Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,!
That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it!
And spills the upper boulders in the sun,!
And makes gaps even two can pass abreast.!
The work of hunters is another thing: 5 !
I have come after them and made repair!
Where they have left not one stone on a stone,!
But they would have the rabbit out of hiding,!
To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean,!
No one has seen them made or heard them made, 10 !
But at spring mending-time we find them there.!
I let my neighbor know beyond the hill;!
And on a day we meet to walk the line!
And set the wall between us once again.!
We keep the wall between us as we go.! 15 !
To each the boulders that have fallen to each.!
And some are loaves and some so nearly balls!
We have to use a spell to make them balance:!
“Stay where you are until our backs are turned!”!
We wear our fingers rough with handling them.!
Oh, just another kind of outdoor game,!
One on a side. It comes to little more:!
There where it is we do not need the wall:!
He is all pine and I am apple orchard.!
My apple trees will never get across!
25 !
20 !
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.!
He only says, “Good fences make good neighbors.”!
Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder!
If I could put a notion in his head:!
“Why do they make good neighbors? Isn’t it!
30 !
Where there are cows? But here there are no cows.!
Before I built a wall I’d ask to know!
What I was walling in or walling out,!
And to whom I was like to give offense.!
Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,!
35 !
That wants it down.” I could say “Elves” to him,!
But it’s not elves exactly, and I’d rather!
He said it for himself. I see him there,!
Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top !
In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed.! 40 !
He moves in darkness as it seems to me,!
Not of woods only and the shade of trees.!
He will not go behind his father’s saying,!
And he likes having thought of it so well!
He says again, “Good fences make good neighbors.”! 45!
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2.5
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The speaker of this poem would have us believe that there are two
types of people in the world. What are these two types, according to
the poet?!
(4)!
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There are those who actively seek relationship and those
who avoid relationship actively keep people out. !
2.6
Mention 3 of the reasons the poet gives for the destruction of this
wall that stands between him and his neighbour!
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Frozen ground swell!
Hunters!
1 bonus mark!
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(3)!
2.7
Explain what the neighbour means when he says, "Good fences
make good neighbors."!
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(3)!
If people don't have to interact with each other, they will
not have to deal with the messiness of relationship and
hence, will remain on good terms. USE DISCRETION
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SUB-TOTAL 10
Question Three:!
Transactional Writing (20)!
Answer either 3.1 OR 3.2!
3.1
You encounter a sudden rise of racism in your house at College,
similar to the events TJ encounters in Whale Talk. !
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Write an email to the entire house, condemning these racist acts
and suggesting steps to prevent a similar event.!
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(20)
Write 200-250 Words - please provide a word count!
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OR!
3.2
You firmly believe that a good friend of yours has not been
sufficiently recognised for his remarkable sporting achievements
by the honours and colours committee of the College.!
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Write a respectful, yet strong, letter in which you motivate to Mr
Hamilton why your friend should be given due recognition for his
efforts.!
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(20)
Write 200-250 Words - please provide a word count!
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GRAND TOTAL: 80!