2020HSCExtended responseGreat Expectations — Charles Dickens

Q2 (b)

20 marks

Question

It is a most miserable thing to feel ashamed of home. There may be black ingratitude in the thing, and the punishment may be retributive and well deserved; but, that it is a miserable thing, I can testify. Home had never been a very pleasant place to me, because of my sister’s temper. But, Joe had sanctified it, and I had believed in it. I had believed in the best parlour as a most elegant saloon; I had believed in the front door, as a mysterious portal of the Temple of State whose solemn opening was attended with a sacrifice of roast fowls; I had believed in the kitchen as a chaste though not magnificent apartment; I had believed in the forge as the glowing road to manhood and independence. Within a single year, all this was changed. Now, it was all coarse and common, and I would not have had Miss Havisham and Estella see it on any account.
In what ways does this excerpt reflect the concerns and aesthetic qualities of Dickens’ novel?
In your response, make close reference to the excerpt and to your prescribed text.

Try the question before revealing the answer.

Solution

Criteria	Marks
• Explains skilfully the ways the excerpt/screenshots reflect the concerns and aesthetic qualities of the text<br>• Demonstrates a well-informed understanding of context, language, form and ideas using well-selected and detailed analysis of textual references<br>• Composes a thoughtful argument using language appropriate to audience, purpose and form	17–20
• Explains effectively the ways the excerpt/screenshots reflect the concerns and aesthetic qualities of the text<br>• Demonstrates an informed understanding of context, language, form and ideas using well-selected analysis of textual references<br>• Composes an effective response using language appropriate to audience, purpose and form	13–16
• Explains the ways the excerpt/screenshots reflect the concerns and aesthetic qualities of the text<br>• Demonstrates an understanding of context, language, form and ideas using some textual references<br>• Composes a sound response using language appropriate to audience, purpose and form	9–12
• Describes some aspects of the prescribed text<br>• Demonstrates some understanding of context, language, form and ideas with limited textual references<br>• Composes a limited response to the question	5–8
• Attempts to describe aspects of the prescribed text<br>• Attempts to compose a response to the question	1–4

Supplied marking guidance · human reviewed

Compare this with your working, not only your final sentence.

Syllabus alignment

Module B: Critical Study of Literature

Critical Study of LiteratureDevelop and support an informed personal interpretation through close analysis of a substantial literary text.

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