Insert
The source that follows is:
- Source A: 19th-century prose fiction
- Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë
An extract from a work first published in 1847.
This extract is taken from Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë, as the young narrator spends her last night at home and sets off at dawn; it explores tender family bonds, parting rituals, and mixed feelings of hope and grief as she begins a new life.
Source A
1 But there was a feeling of bitterness mingling with the latter occupation too; and when it was done—when all was ready for my departure on the morrow, and the last night at home approached—a sudden anguish seemed to swell my heart. My dear friends looked so sad, and spoke so very kindly, that I could scarcely keep my eyes from overflowing: but I still affected to be gay. I had taken my
6 last ramble with Mary on the moors, my last walk in the garden, and round the house; I had fed, with her, our pet pigeons for the last time—the pretty creatures that we had tamed to peck their food from our hands: I had given a farewell stroke to all their silky backs as they crowded in my lap. I had tenderly kissed my own peculiar favourites, the pair of snow-white fantails; I
11 had played my last tune on the old familiar piano, and sung my last song to papa: not the last, I hoped, but the last for what appeared to me a very long time. And, perhaps, when I did these things again it would be with different feelings: circumstances might be changed, and this house might never be my settled home again. My dear little friend, the kitten, would certainly be
16 changed: she was already growing a fine cat; and when I returned, even for a hasty visit at Christmas, would, most likely, have forgotten both her playmate and her merry pranks. I had romped with her for the last time; and when I stroked her soft bright fur, while she lay purring herself to sleep in my lap, it was with a feeling of sadness I could not easily disguise. Then at bed-
21 time, when I retired with Mary to our quiet little chamber, where already my drawers were cleared out and my share of the bookcase was empty—and where, hereafter, she would have to sleep alone, in dreary solitude, as she expressed it—my heart sank more than ever: I felt as if I had been selfish and wrong to persist in leaving her; and when I knelt once more beside our little bed, I
26 prayed for a blessing on her and on my parents more fervently than ever I had done before. To conceal my emotion, I buried my face in my hands, and they were presently bathed in tears. I perceived, on rising, that she had been crying too: but neither of us spoke; and in silence we betook ourselves to our repose, creeping more closely together from the consciousness that we were to
31 part so soon. But the morning brought a renewal of hope and spirits. I was to depart early; that the conveyance which took me (a gig, hired from Mr. Smith, the draper, grocer, and tea-dealer of the village) might return the same day. I rose,
36 washed, dressed, swallowed a hasty breakfast, received the fond embraces of my father, mother, and sister, kissed the cat—to the great scandal of Sally, the maid—shook hands with her, mounted the gig, drew my veil over my face, and then, but not till then, burst into a flood of tears. The gig rolled on; I looked back; my dear mother and sister were still standing at the door,
41 looking after me, and waving their adieux. I returned their salute, and prayed God to bless them from my heart: we descended the hill, and I could see them no more. “It’s a coldish mornin’ for you, Miss Agnes,” observed Smith; “and a darksome
46 ’un too; but we’s happen get to yon spot afore there come much rain to signify.” “Yes, I hope so,” replied I, as calmly as I could.
51 “It’s comed a good sup last night too.” “Yes.” “But this cold wind will happen keep it off.”
56 “Perhaps it will.” Here ended our colloquy. We crossed the valley, and began to ascend the opposite hill. As we were toiling up, I looked back again; there was the
61 village spire, and the old grey parsonage beyond it, basking in a slanting beam of sunshine—it was but a sickly ray, but the village and surrounding hills were all in sombre shade, and I hailed the wandering beam as a propitious omen to my home. With clasped hands I fervently implored a blessing on its inhabitants, and hastily turned away; for I saw the sunshine was
66 departing; and I carefully avoided another glance, lest I should see it in gloomy shadow, like the rest of the landscape.
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 does the narrator respond to the sadness and kind words of the narrator's friends as the last night at home approaches?
- The narrator pretends to be cheerful despite being close to tears.
- The narrator rebukes the narrator's friends for looking gloomy.
- The narrator cries openly in front of the narrator's friends.
[1 mark]
1.2 What approached?
- the last night at home
- a sudden evening storm
- an unexpected visitor
[1 mark]
1.3 What seemed to swell the narrator’s heart?
- a sudden anguish
- a gentle pleasure
- a growing pride
[1 mark]
1.4 What did the narrator still affect to be?
- gay
- ill
- sad
[1 mark]
Question 2
Look in detail at this extract, from lines 1 to 15 of the source:
1 But there was a feeling of bitterness mingling with the latter occupation too; and when it was done—when all was ready for my departure on the morrow, and the last night at home approached—a sudden anguish seemed to swell my heart. My dear friends looked so sad, and spoke so very kindly, that I could scarcely keep my eyes from overflowing: but I still affected to be gay. I had taken my
6 last ramble with Mary on the moors, my last walk in the garden, and round the house; I had fed, with her, our pet pigeons for the last time—the pretty creatures that we had tamed to peck their food from our hands: I had given a farewell stroke to all their silky backs as they crowded in my lap. I had tenderly kissed my own peculiar favourites, the pair of snow-white fantails; I
11 had played my last tune on the old familiar piano, and sung my last song to papa: not the last, I hoped, but the last for what appeared to me a very long time. And, perhaps, when I did these things again it would be with different feelings: circumstances might be changed, and this house might never be my settled home again. My dear little friend, the kitten, would certainly be
How does the writer use language here to show the narrator’s feelings about saying goodbye to home? 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 beginning of a novel.
How has the writer structured the text to create a sense of yearning?
You could write about:
- how yearning deepens 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 31 to the end.
In this part of the source, when Agnes sees the beam of sunshine on her house, it isn't simply a moment of hope. The writer suggests her hope is very fragile and she is still deeply worried about leaving home.
To what extent do you agree and/or disagree with this statement?
In your response, you could:
- consider your impressions of Agnes's reaction to the beam of sunshine
- comment on the methods the writer uses to suggest Agnes's fragile sense of hope
- support your response with references to the text.
[20 marks]
Question 5
For a local sports club’s awards evening, you will read a short creative piece.
Choose one of the options below for your entry.
-
Option A: Describe a moment of focus high above a swimming pool from your imagination. You may choose to use the picture provided for ideas:
-
Option B: Write the opening of a story about facing up to a big challenge.
(24 marks for content and organisation, 16 marks for technical accuracy)
[40 marks]