2020HSCExtended responseEarth Hour — David Malouf

Q3 (b)

20 marks

Question

Aquarius II (extract) . . . Elsewhere the world kindles and quakes, women bear on their heads a hodful of it from one side to the other of the globe, children cram their belly with its mud, in a lakeside wood anemones feel their way out of the dark and the first four downward notes of K.581 take a second breath and swing companionably upward — sheer miracle or happy accident, one, like us, of many. With a quiet thankyou to the planet for snow, hoop pines, Mozart, and you of course, and you, I leave the room to its play, sacred perhaps, with salt and sun-motes. Extract from the poem ‘Aquarius II’ by David Malouf from Earth Hour published by UQP (St Lucia: 2014)

In what ways does this excerpt reflect the concerns and aesthetic qualities of Malouf’s poetry?
In your response, make close reference to the excerpt and to your prescribed text.
The prescribed poems are:

Aquarius
Radiance
Ladybird
A Recollection of Starlings: Rome ’84
Eternal Moment at Poggia Madonna
Towards Midnight
Earth Hour
Aquarius II

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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