Cambridge O Level: Literature in English 2010/13
Cambridge O Level: Literature in English 2010/13
Cambridge O Level: Literature in English 2010/13
1 hour 30 minutes
INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer two questions.
● Your answers must be on two different set texts.
● Follow the instructions on the front cover of the answer booklet. If you need additional answer paper,
ask the invigilator for a continuation booklet.
INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 50.
● All questions are worth equal marks.
DC (LO) 301859/1
© UCLES 2021 [Turn over
2
BLANK PAGE
CONTENTS
Section A: Poetry
text question
numbers page[s]
Section B: Prose
text question
numbers page[s]
SECTION A: POETRY
Either 1 Read this poem, and then answer the question that follows it:
Amends
Explore the ways in which Rich vividly portrays night-time in this poem.
Plenty
(Isobel Dixon)
Either 3 Read this poem, and then answer the question that follows it:
The Kraken
Or 4 How does Keats vividly convey the power of melancholy in Ode on Melancholy?
Ode on Melancholy
I
No, no, go not to Lethe, neither twist
Wolf’s-bane, tight-rooted, for its poisonous wine;
Nor suffer thy pale forehead to be kiss’d
By nightshade, ruby grape of Proserpine;
Make not your rosary of yew-berries, 5
Nor let the beetle, nor the death-moth be
Your mournful Psyche, nor the downy owl
A partner in your sorrow’s mysteries;
For shade to shade will come too drowsily,
And drown the wakeful anguish of the soul. 10
II
But when the melancholy fit shall fall
Sudden from heaven like a weeping cloud,
That fosters the droop-headed flowers all,
And hides the green hill in an April shroud;
Then glut thy sorrow on a morning rose, 15
Or on the rainbow of the salt sand-wave,
Or on the wealth of globed peonies;
Or if thy mistress some rich anger shows,
Emprison her soft hand, and let her rave,
And feed deep, deep upon her peerless eyes. 20
III
She dwells with Beauty—Beauty that must die;
And Joy, whose hand is ever at his lips
Bidding adieu; and aching Pleasure nigh,
Turning to poison while the bee-mouth sips:
Ay, in the very temple of Delight 25
Veil’d Melancholy has her sovran shrine,
Though seen of none save him whose strenuous tongue
Can burst Joy’s grape against his palate fine;
His soul shall taste the sadness of her might,
And be among her cloudy trophies hung. 30
(John Keats)
Either 5 Read this poem, and then answer the question that follows it:
How does Duffy strikingly convey the speaker’s feelings about the letters in this poem?
Or 6 Explore the ways in which Duffy uses words and images to powerful effect in Prayer.
Prayer
SECTION B: PROSE
Either 7 Read this passage, and then answer the question that follows it:
‘All the preface, sir; the tale is yet to come. On waking, a gleam
dazzled my eyes; I thought – oh, it is daylight! But I was mistaken; it was
only candle-light. Sophie, I supposed, had come in. There was a light in
the dressing-table, and the door of the closet, where, before going to bed, I
had hung my wedding-dress and veil, stood open; I heard a rustling there. 5
I asked, “Sophie, what are you doing?” No one answered; but a form
emerged from the closet; it took the light, held it aloft, and surveyed the
garments pendent from the portmanteau. “Sophie! Sophie!” I again cried:
and still it was silent. I had risen up in bed, I bent forward: first surprise,
then bewilderment, came over me; and then my blood crept cold through 10
my veins. Mr Rochester, this was not Sophie, it was not Leah, it was not
Mrs Fairfax: it was not – no, I was sure of it, and am still – it was not even
that strange woman, Grace Poole.’
‘It must have been one of them,’ interrupted my master.
‘No, sir, I solemnly assure you to the contrary. The shape standing 15
before me had never crossed my eyes within the precincts of Thornfield
Hall before; the height, the contour were new to me.’
‘Describe it, Jane.’
‘It seemed, sir, a woman, tall and large, with thick and dark hair
hanging long down her back. I know not what dress she had on: it was 20
white and straight; but whether gown, sheet, or shroud, I cannot tell.’
‘Did you see her face?’
‘Not at first. But presently she took my veil from its place: she held it
up, gazed at it long, and then she threw it over her own head, and turned
to the mirror. At that moment I saw the reflection of the visage and features 25
quite distinctly in the dark oblong glass.’
‘And how were they?’
‘Fearful and ghastly to me – oh, sir, I never saw a face like it! It was a
discoloured face – it was a savage face. I wish I could forget the roll of the
red eyes and the fearful blackened inflation of the lineaments!’ 30
‘Ghosts are usually pale, Jane.’
‘This, sir, was purple: the lips were swelled and dark; the brow
furrowed: the black eyebrows widely raised over the bloodshot eyes. Shall
I tell you of what it reminded me?’
‘You may.’ 35
‘Of the foul German spectre – the vampire.’
‘Ah! – what did it do?’
‘Sir, it removed my veil from its gaunt head, rent it in two parts, and
flinging both on the floor, trampled on them.’
‘Afterwards?’ 40
‘It drew aside the window-curtain and looked out; perhaps it saw
dawn approaching, for, taking the candle, it retreated to the door. Just at
my bedside, the figure stopped: the fiery eyes glared upon me – she thrust
up her candle close to my face, and extinguished it under my eyes. I was
aware her lurid visage flamed over mine, and I lost consciousness: for the 45
second time in my life – only the second time – I became insensible from
terror.’
(from Chapter 25)
Or 8 Explore the ways in which Brontë makes Miss Temple such an admirable character.
Either 9 Read this passage, and then answer the question that follows it:
(from Chapter 1)
Explore how Desai conveys striking impressions of Deven and Murad at this moment in
the novel.
Either 11 Read this passage, and then answer the question that follows it:
How does Hurston make this such a powerful opening to the novel?
Or 12 How far does Hurston’s writing show that Janie is treated badly?
Either 13 Read this passage, and then answer the question that follows it:
‘There is one thing you should add to them,’ said Morris; ‘the word of
a gentleman!’ 50
‘The word of a gentleman that you will always love Catherine? You
must be a very fine gentleman to be sure of that.’
‘The word of a gentleman that I am not mercenary; that my affection
for Miss Sloper is as pure and disinterested a sentiment as was ever
lodged in a human breast! I care no more for her fortune than for the ashes 55
in that grate.’
‘I take note – I take note,’ said the Doctor. ‘But having done so, I turn
to our category again. Even with that solemn vow on your lips, you take
your place in it. There is nothing against you but an accident, if you will;
but with my thirty years’ medical practice, I have seen that accidents may 60
have far-reaching consequences.’
(from Chapter 12)
How does James make this such a tense moment in the novel?
Either 15 Read this passage, and then answer the question that follows it:
How does Knowles make this such a tense moment in the novel?
Or 16 Explore the ways in which Knowles powerfully depicts the effects of the war on Gene.
Either 17 Read this passage, and then answer the question that follows it:
Down in the street the wind flapped the torn poster to and fro, and
the word INGSOC fitfully appeared and vanished. Ingsoc. The sacred
principles of Ingsoc. Newspeak, doublethink, the mutability of the past. He
felt as though he were wandering in the forests of the sea bottom, lost
in a monstrous world where he himself was the monster. He was alone. 5
The past was dead, the future was unimaginable. What certainty had he
that a single human creature now living was on his side? And what way of
knowing that the dominion of the Party would not endure for ever? Like an
answer, the three slogans on the white face of the Ministry of Truth came
back at him: 10
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.
He took a twenty-five cent piece out of his pocket. There, too, in tiny clear
lettering, the same slogans were inscribed, and on the other face of the 15
coin the head of Big Brother. Even from the coin the eyes pursued you.
On coins, on stamps, on the covers of books, on banners, on posters
and on the wrapping of a cigarette packet – everywhere. Always the eyes
watching you and the voice enveloping you. Asleep or awake, working or
eating, indoors or out of doors, in the bath or in bed – no escape. Nothing 20
was your own except the few cubic centimetres inside your skull.
The sun had shifted round, and the myriad windows of the Ministry
of Truth, with the light no longer shining on them, looked grim as the
loopholes of a fortress. His heart quailed before the enormous pyramidal
shape. It was too strong, it could not be stormed. A thousand rocket bombs 25
would not batter it down. He wondered again for whom he was writing
the diary. For the future, for the past – for an age that might be imaginary.
And in front of him there lay not death but annihilation. The diary would be
reduced to ashes and himself to vapour. Only the Thought Police would
read what he had written, before they wiped it out of existence and out 30
of memory. How could you make appeal to the future when not a trace of
you, not even an anonymous word scribbled on a piece of paper, could
physically survive?
The telescreen struck fourteen. He must leave in ten minutes. He had
to be back at work by fourteen-thirty. 35
Curiously, the chiming of the hour seemed to have put new heart into
him. He was a lonely ghost uttering a truth that nobody would ever hear.
But so long as he uttered it, in some obscure way the continuity was not
broken. It was not by making yourself heard but by staying sane that you
carried on the human heritage. He went back to the table, dipped his pen, 40
and wrote:
To the future or to the past, to a time when thought is free, when men are
different from one another and do not live alone – to a time when truth exists
and what is done cannot be undone:
From the age of uniformity, from the age of solitude, from the age of Big 45
Brother, from the age of doublethink – greetings!
© UCLES 2021 2010/13/M/J/21
21
How does Orwell strikingly convey Winston’s thoughts and feelings at this moment in the
novel?
Or 18 Explore how Orwell memorably portrays Winston’s experience of working in the Ministry
of Truth.
Either 19 Read this passage, and then answer the question that follows it:
How does Paton make this such a moving moment in the novel?
Or 20 Explore the ways in which Paton makes John Kumalo and his son such despicable
characters.
Either 21 Read this passage from Journey (by Patricia Grace), and then answer the question that
follows it:
He was an old man going on a journey. But not really so old, only they made
him old buttoning up his coat for him and giving him money. Seventy-one
that’s all. Not a journey, not what you would really call a journey – he had
to go in and see those people about his land. Again. But he liked the word
Journey even though you didn’t quite say it. It wasn’t a word for saying 5
only for saving up in your head, and that way you could enjoy it. Even an
old man like him, but not what you would call properly old.
The coat was good and warm. It was second-hand from the jumble
and it was good and warm. Could have ghosts in it but who cares, warm
that’s the main thing. If some old pakeha died in it that’s too bad because 10
he wasn’t scared of the pakeha kehuas anyway. The pakeha kehuas they
couldn’t do anything, it was only like having a sheet over your head and
going woo-oo at someone in the lavatory…
He better go to the lavatory because he didn’t trust town lavatories,
people spewed there and wrote rude words. Last time he got something 15
stuck on his shoe. Funny people those town people.
Taxi.
It’s coming Uncle.
Taxi Uncle. They think he’s deaf. And old. Putting more money in his
pocket and wishing his coat needed buttoning, telling him it’s windy and 20
cold. Never mind, he was off. Off on his journey, he could get round town
good on his own, good as gold.
Out early today old man.
Business young fulla.
Early bird catches the early worm. 25
It’ll be a sorry worm young fulla, a sorry worm.
Like that is it?
Like that.
You could sit back and enjoy the old taxi smells of split upholstery and
cigarette, and of something else that could have been the young fulla’s 30
hair oil or his b.o. It was good. Good. Same old taxi same old stinks. Same
old shop over there, but he wouldn’t be calling in today, no. And tomorrow
they’d want to know why. No, today he was going on a journey, which was
a good word. Today he was going further afield, and there was a word no
one knew he had. A good wind today but he had a warm coat and didn’t 35
need anyone fussing.
Same old butcher and same old fruit shop, doing all right these days
not like before. Same old Post Office where you went to get your pension
money, but he always sent Minnie down to get his because he couldn’t
stand these old-age people. These old-age people got on his nerves. Yes, 40
same old place, same old shops and roads, and everything cracking up a
bit. Same old taxi. Same old young fulla.
How’s the wife?
Still growling old man.
What about the kids? 45
Costing me money.
Send them out to work that’s the story.
© UCLES 2021 2010/13/M/J/21
25
I think you’re right you might have something there old man. Well here
we are, early. Still another half hour to wait for the train.
Best to be early. Business. 50
Guess you’re right.
What’s the sting?
Ninety-five it is.
Pull out a fistful and give the young fulla full eyes. Get himself out on
to the footpath and shove the door, give it a good hard slam. Pick me up 55
later young fulla, ten past five. Might as well make a day of it, look round
town and buy a few things.
Don’t forget ten past five.
Right you are old man five ten.
People had been peeing in the subway the dirty dogs. In the old days 60
all you needed to do to get on to the station was to step over the train
tracks, there weren’t any piss holes like this to go through, it wasn’t safe.
Coming up the steps on to the platform he could feel the quick huffs of his
breathing and that annoyed him, he wanted to swipe at the huffs with his
hand. Steam engines went out years ago. 65
Or 22 Explore how Winton makes the mother such an admirable character in On Her Knees.
BLANK PAGE
BLANK PAGE
BLANK PAGE
Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity
To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment nternational Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www cambridgeinternational org after the live examination series
Cambridge Assessment nternational Education is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of
Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) which itself is a department of the University of Cambridge