Insert
The source that follows is:
- Source A: 19th-century prose fiction
- Désirée's Baby by Kate Chopin
An extract from a work first published in 1893.
This extract is taken from The Awakening by Kate Chopin, in which Edna Pontellier, after many failed attempts, suddenly learns to swim at night, exulting in new freedom and power before confronting fear and exhaustion, signaling her emerging independence and distance from those around her.
Source A
1 Most of them walked into the water as though into a native element. The sea was quiet now, and swelled lazily in broad billows that melted into one another and did not break except upon the beach in little foamy crests that coiled back like slow, white serpents.
6 Edna had attempted all summer to learn to swim. She had received instructions from both the men and women; in some instances from the children. Robert had pursued a system of lessons almost daily; and he was nearly at the point of discouragement in realizing the futility of his efforts. A certain ungovernable dread hung about her when in the water, unless there was a hand
11 near by that might reach out and reassure her. But that night she was like the little tottering, stumbling, clutching child, who of a sudden realizes its powers, and walks for the first time alone, boldly and with over-confidence. She could have shouted for joy. She did shout
16 for joy, as with a sweeping stroke or two she lifted her body to the surface of the water. A feeling of exultation overtook her, as if some power of significant import had been given her to control the working of her body and her soul. She grew
21 daring and reckless, overestimating her strength. She wanted to swim far out, where no woman had swum before. Her unlooked-for achievement was the subject of wonder, applause, and admiration. Each one congratulated himself that his special teachings had
26 accomplished this desired end. “How easy it is!” she thought. “It is nothing,” she said aloud; “why did I not discover before that it was nothing. Think of the time I have lost splashing about like a baby!” She would not join the groups in their sports and bouts,
31 but intoxicated with her newly conquered power, she swam out alone. She turned her face seaward to gather in an impression of space and solitude, which the vast expanse of water, meeting and melting with the moonlit sky, conveyed to her excited fancy. As she swam she seemed to be reaching out for
36 the unlimited in which to lose herself. Once she turned and looked toward the shore, toward the people she had left there. She had not gone any great distance—that is, what would have been a great distance for an experienced swimmer. But to her unaccustomed vision the
41 stretch of water behind her assumed the aspect of a barrier which her unaided strength would never be able to overcome. A quick vision of death smote her soul, and for a second of time appalled and enfeebled her senses. But by an effort she rallied her staggering faculties
46 and managed to regain the land. She made no mention of her encounter with death and her flash of terror, except to say to her husband, “I thought I should have perished out there alone.”
51 “You were not so very far, my dear; I was watching you,” he told her. Edna went at once to the bath-house, and she had put on her dry clothes and was ready to return home before the others had left the water. She started to
56 walk away alone. They all called to her and shouted to her. She waved a dissenting hand, and went on, paying no further heed to their renewed cries which sought to detain her. “Sometimes I am tempted to think that Mrs. Pontellier is capricious,” said
61 Madame Lebrun, who was amusing herself immensely and feared that Edna’s abrupt departure might put an end to the pleasure. “I know she is,” assented Mr. Pontellier; “sometimes, not often.”
66 Edna had not traversed a quarter of the distance on her way home before she was overtaken by Robert. “Did you think I was afraid?” she asked him, without a shade of annoyance.
71 “No; I knew you weren’t afraid.” “Then why did you come? Why didn’t you stay out there with the others?” “I never thought of it.”
76 “Thought of what?” “Of anything. What difference does it make?”
81 “I’m very tired,” she uttered, complainingly. “I know you are.” “You don’t know anything about it. Why should you know? I never was so
86 exhausted in my life. But it isn’t unpleasant. A thousand emotions have swept through me to-night. I don’t comprehend half of them. Don’t mind what I’m saying; I am just thinking aloud. I wonder if I shall ever be stirred again as Mademoiselle Reisz’s playing moved me to-night. I wonder if any night on earth will ever again be like this one. It is like a night in a dream. The people
91 about me are like some uncanny, half-human beings. There must be spirits abroad to-night.”
Questions
Instructions
- Answer all questions.
- Use black ink or black ball point pen.
- Fill in the boxes on this page.
- You must answer the questions in the spaces provided.
- Do not write outside the box around each page or on blank pages.
- Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked.
- You must refer to the insert booklet provided.
- You must not use a dictionary.
Information
- The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
- Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
- The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
- There are 40 marks for Section A and 40 marks for Section B.
- You are reminded of the need for good English and clear presentation in your answers.
- You will be assessed on the quality of your reading in Section A.
- You will be assessed on the quality of your writing in Section B.
Advice
- You are advised to spend about 15 minutes reading through the source and all five questions you have to answer.
- You should make sure you leave sufficient time to check your answers.
Section A: Reading
Answer all questions in this section. You are advised to spend about 45 minutes on this section.
Question 1
Read again the first part of the source, from lines 1 to 5.
Answer all parts of this question.
Choose one answer for each question.
1.1 How did most of the people go into the water?
- Dived into the water
- Walked into the water
- Jumped from a boat
[1 mark]
1.2 What was the sea like now?
- Choppy
- Rough
- Quiet
[1 mark]
1.3 Where did the billows break?
- Upon the beach
- Against the pier
- Along the reef
[1 mark]
1.4 According to the narrator, how does the group approach the water?
- The group walks in confidently, as if the sea is a familiar environment.
- The group hangs back nervously, avoiding the water's edge.
- The group is forced into the sea by others despite reluctance.
[1 mark]
Question 2
Look in detail at this extract, from lines 6 to 15 of the source:
6 Edna had attempted all summer to learn to swim. She had received instructions from both the men and women; in some instances from the children. Robert had pursued a system of lessons almost daily; and he was nearly at the point of discouragement in realizing the futility of his efforts. A certain ungovernable dread hung about her when in the water, unless there was a hand
11 near by that might reach out and reassure her. But that night she was like the little tottering, stumbling, clutching child, who of a sudden realizes its powers, and walks for the first time alone, boldly and with over-confidence. She could have shouted for joy. She did shout
How does the writer use language to present Edna’s difficulty and her moment of success in learning to swim? You could include the writer’s choice of:
- words and phrases
- language features and techniques
- sentence forms.
[8 marks]
Question 3
You now need to think about the structure of the source as a whole. This text is from the middle of a novel.
How has the writer structured the text to create a sense of wonder?
You could write about:
- how wonder intensifies by the end of the source
- how the writer uses structure to create an effect
- the writer's use of any other structural features, such as changes in mood, tone or perspective.
[8 marks]
Question 4
For this question focus on the second part of the source, from line 16 to the end.
In this part of the source, when Edna swims out alone, she feels a new sense of power and achievement. The writer suggests that this exciting moment of freedom can also be terrifying and dangerous.
To what extent do you agree and/or disagree with this statement?
In your response, you could:
- consider your impressions of Edna's experience swimming out alone
- comment on the methods the writer uses to portray her feelings of triumph and terror
- support your response with references to the text.
[20 marks]
Question 5
At a neighbourhood charity bake sale, you will read a short creative piece aloud.
Choose one of the options below for your entry.
-
Option A: Describe a charity bake sale table from your imagination. You may choose to use the picture provided for ideas:
-
Option B: Write the opening of a story about a last-minute substitution.
(24 marks for content and organisation, 16 marks for technical accuracy)
[40 marks]