Sample Paper from Exam Bd Either:
(a) ‘Greene presents a distorted picture of humanity’s preoccupations: “Of course there is Hell. Flames and damnation.”’
Explore this view of Greene’s presentation of morality and moral judgement.
In your response, you should focus on Brighton Rock to establish your argument and you should refer to the second text you have read to support and develop your line of argument.
Or:
(b) ‘Some novels focus exclusively on the masculine experience.’
Using Brighton Rock page 22 as your starting point, from ‘“Well?” the boy said’ to ‘He raised his voice again. “Listen. Do you hear that?”’ page 23, explore how masculinity is presented.
In your response, you should focus on Brighton Rock to establish your argument and you should refer to the second text you have read to support and develop your line of argument.
Jan 2009 Either:
(a) ‘Trust is ultimately the most important theme in the novel.’
Explore the methods which writers use to present the theme of trust.
In your response, you should focus on Brighton Rock to establish your argument and you should refer to the second text you have read to support and develop your line of argument.
Or:
(b) ‘The strength of the novel is its use of irony and ironic situations.’
Using Brighton Rock page 203 as your starting point, from ‘He said cautiously into the dark, “It’s all right. Go to sleep.”’ to the end of the chapter on page 204, explore how writers use irony and ironic situations to create interest for the reader.
In your response, you should focus on Brighton Rock to establish your argument and you should refer to the second text you have read to support and develop your line of argument.
May2009
Either:
(a) ‘Characters faced with difficult choices are the most interesting to read about.’
Explore the methods which writers use to present characters faced with difficult choices.
In your response, you should focus on Brighton Rock to establish your argument and you should refer to the second text you have read to support and develop your line of argument.
Or:
(b) ‘A book which raises interesting moral questions....’
Using Brighton Rock page 36 as your starting point, from ‘It’s the least you can do for anyone – ask questions,’ to ‘“You might have.”’ on page 37, explore the methods which writers use to raise questions, moral and otherwise.
In your response, you should focus on Brighton Rock to establish your argument and you should refer to the second text you have read to support and develop your line of argument.
Jan2010
Either:
(a) ‘Brighton Rock is a story of how the individual struggles to fit into society.’
Explore the methods which writers use to present the struggles of individuals trying to fit into society.
In your response, you should focus on Brighton Rock to establish your argument and you should refer to the second text you have read to support and develop your line of argument.
Or:
(b) ‘In Brighton Rock, it eventually seems that the whole of society is corrupt.’
Using Brighton Rock page 82 as your starting point, from ‘“I’m sorry, Mrs. Arnold.”’ to ‘“I’ve got my friends.”’ on page 83, explore the methods which writers use to present the idea that their societies are corrupt.
In your response, you should focus on Brighton Rock to establish your argument and you should refer to the second text you have read to support and develop your line of argument.
Thursday 13 May 2010
Brighton Rock (&ACO) Key Quotes
Brighton Rock (as chosen by Yr12)
p.12 Grey inhuman seventeen year old eyes.
p.14 She smelt of soap and wine
p.43 Right and wrong…
p.55 Of course there’s Hell. Flames and damnation.
p.116 He was nameless, faceless, but the Boy hated him…
p.216 It’s like those sticks of rock: bite all the way down, you’ll still read
Brighton. That’s human nature.
p.264 It was as if the flames had literally got him…
p.250 She began to pray to herself, “Holy Mary, mother of God,” but then she stopped – she was in mortal sin: it was no good praying
p.135 between the stirrup and the ground…
ACO
p.24 There has to be a leader. Discipline there has to be.
p.94 Am I just to be a clockwork orange?
p.63 Goodness is something chosen. When man cannot choose he ceases to be man.
p.71 You are to be made into a good boy… Is a man who chooses the bad perhaps in some way better than a man who has the good imposed on him?
p.125 A victim of the modern age.
p.? Youth is only being in a way like it might be an animal.
p.12 Grey inhuman seventeen year old eyes.
p.14 She smelt of soap and wine
p.43 Right and wrong…
p.55 Of course there’s Hell. Flames and damnation.
p.116 He was nameless, faceless, but the Boy hated him…
p.216 It’s like those sticks of rock: bite all the way down, you’ll still read
Brighton. That’s human nature.
p.264 It was as if the flames had literally got him…
p.250 She began to pray to herself, “Holy Mary, mother of God,” but then she stopped – she was in mortal sin: it was no good praying
p.135 between the stirrup and the ground…
ACO
p.24 There has to be a leader. Discipline there has to be.
p.94 Am I just to be a clockwork orange?
p.63 Goodness is something chosen. When man cannot choose he ceases to be man.
p.71 You are to be made into a good boy… Is a man who chooses the bad perhaps in some way better than a man who has the good imposed on him?
p.125 A victim of the modern age.
p.? Youth is only being in a way like it might be an animal.
Wednesday 31 March 2010
Thursday 18 March 2010
Questions on Bergonzi's Chapter in A Study in Greene
Get the photocopy from the Brighton Rock folder in the library.
Questions on Bernard Bergonzi's A Study in Greene, Ch 4 - 'Brighton'
1) Sum up some of the theories about Hale’s death. (p83-4)
2) How might Greene’s style be described as cinematic? (p.86+p.98)
3) How might the impending war be hinted at in BR?
4) How does Bergonzi view Pinkie’s character? (p.87-88)
5) In what ways does BR (and especially Pinkie’s character, link with earlier literature?(p.89-91)
6) Try to sum up the points about evil starting from the bottom of page 94. How could Pinkie be linked to Satan? How is Catholicism important in the novel? (Manichaeism is the idea that the world is all about a battle between the forces of good and evil).
7) How does John Carey criticise Greene? (p.97-98)
8) Look at Bergonzi’s last paragraph on BR on p.101. What does Bergonzi say BR’s quality depends on if not on the religious dimension?
9) How is Pinkie described in the last paragraph?
Sunday 7 March 2010
Practice Exam Question
‘Brighton Rock is a story of how the individual struggles to fit into society.’
Explore the methods which writers use to present the struggles of individuals
trying to fit into society.
In your response, you should focus on Brighton Rock to establish your argument
and you should refer to the second text you have read to support and develop
your line of argument.
Plan an answer to this question for next lesson. You will have to do this in time conditions.
Reading Journal No. 7
Part 4
The first chapter of Part 4 is long and contains some significant moments. Pinkie betrays Spicer and is in turn betrayed by Colleoni. Pinkie escapes and hides in a garage. The objects in the garage represent everything Pinkie hates about middle class conventional lifestyles. He hates the owner even though he has never met him.
Pinkie then goes to Snow's where he meets Rose. Look at how the owner refers to Pinkie when she finds the two.
On returning to Frank's Pinie discovers that Spicer is still alive. He talks to Prewitt the lawyer and arranges the marriage.
In chapter 2 Ida speaks to Rose in her room and tries to persuade her that Pinkie does not love her.
At the start of chapter 3 we learn that Pinkie has killed Spicer by throwing him down the stairs at Franks. (We have seen some foreshadowing of this when Spicer walks up the stairs and puts his hand on the shaky bannister) After blackmaling Prewitt, Pinkie goes to Snow's and finds Ida in Rose's room. There is a confrontation with the three main characters involved. When Ida leaves Pinkie announces the marriage.
Questions to consider
Look at the garage scene. Page 115 and 116. What does it say about Pinkie and his attitude to society in general?
There is a lot of military language used to describe the conflict between Pinkie and Ida. What do you think is the significance of this? (Look, for example at the start of ch2)
What does chapter 3 add to our understanding of how Ida and Pinkie represent good and evil?
Look at the last paragraph of the chapter. What does this say about Pinkie's attitude to Rose?
The first chapter of Part 4 is long and contains some significant moments. Pinkie betrays Spicer and is in turn betrayed by Colleoni. Pinkie escapes and hides in a garage. The objects in the garage represent everything Pinkie hates about middle class conventional lifestyles. He hates the owner even though he has never met him.
Pinkie then goes to Snow's where he meets Rose. Look at how the owner refers to Pinkie when she finds the two.
On returning to Frank's Pinie discovers that Spicer is still alive. He talks to Prewitt the lawyer and arranges the marriage.
In chapter 2 Ida speaks to Rose in her room and tries to persuade her that Pinkie does not love her.
At the start of chapter 3 we learn that Pinkie has killed Spicer by throwing him down the stairs at Franks. (We have seen some foreshadowing of this when Spicer walks up the stairs and puts his hand on the shaky bannister) After blackmaling Prewitt, Pinkie goes to Snow's and finds Ida in Rose's room. There is a confrontation with the three main characters involved. When Ida leaves Pinkie announces the marriage.
Questions to consider
Look at the garage scene. Page 115 and 116. What does it say about Pinkie and his attitude to society in general?
There is a lot of military language used to describe the conflict between Pinkie and Ida. What do you think is the significance of this? (Look, for example at the start of ch2)
What does chapter 3 add to our understanding of how Ida and Pinkie represent good and evil?
Look at the last paragraph of the chapter. What does this say about Pinkie's attitude to Rose?
Friday 26 February 2010
Reading Journal No. 6
Read the rest of Part 3.
Make links between ch1 and ch2. They seem to happen almost simultaneously: Ida in Snow's talking to Rose then going to the parade by the ladies where she last saw Hale in one chapter and Spicer getting the call from Rose and walking down by the seafront and walking past Ida in the next.
Consider especially the ideas of fate, luck and coincidence in these chapters.
Also, Spicer becomes an ever more desperate character. His anxiety and fears play on him. He seems to be guilty about his role in the murder and this plagues his conscience. Compare this to how Pinkie deals with it.
Towards the end of Part 3 Pinkie makes plans for Spicer.
Homework from 26th Feb
Read Part 4 of Brighton Rock
Look through newspapers/websites and find a recent news story that links to or relates in some way to the story line of Brighton Rock. (If you can't find a link to Brighton Rock, look for one to ACO) Bring in a copy of the story and be able to explain the link in class.
Friday 12 February 2010
Assessment Objectives for Unit 1 Section C (Prose) (BR and ACO)
In the exam you will be assessed on two AOs only:
AO1
Articulate creative, informed and relevant responses to
literary texts, using appropriate terminology and concepts,
and coherent, accurate written expression (15 marks)
AO2
Demonstrate detailed critical understanding in analysing
ways in which structure, form and language shape meanings
in literary texts (25 marks)
The first thing you might notice is that there is no requirement for comparison. (AO3 is missing - this is assessed in the poetry section). This means firstly that BR has to be the main, core text and the one you focus on throughout. ACO is then brought in to back up your points. As the exam board say, 'You should focus on your core text to establish an argument and refer to your further text to develop your line of argument.'
Obviously we will look at ways of doing this over the next 2 months.
So, as you read BR keep in mind 3 important things:
- You must analyse the language, structure (how it is organised) and form (it's a novel, a novel of action but also of ideas and at the same time a thriller! - how does all this affect the reader)...
- Keep making links to ACO
- Consider the themes and possible exam questions (you've seen some already so you can have an idea what might come up).
AO1
Articulate creative, informed and relevant responses to
literary texts, using appropriate terminology and concepts,
and coherent, accurate written expression (15 marks)
AO2
Demonstrate detailed critical understanding in analysing
ways in which structure, form and language shape meanings
in literary texts (25 marks)
The first thing you might notice is that there is no requirement for comparison. (AO3 is missing - this is assessed in the poetry section). This means firstly that BR has to be the main, core text and the one you focus on throughout. ACO is then brought in to back up your points. As the exam board say, 'You should focus on your core text to establish an argument and refer to your further text to develop your line of argument.'
Obviously we will look at ways of doing this over the next 2 months.
So, as you read BR keep in mind 3 important things:
- You must analyse the language, structure (how it is organised) and form (it's a novel, a novel of action but also of ideas and at the same time a thriller! - how does all this affect the reader)...
- Keep making links to ACO
- Consider the themes and possible exam questions (you've seen some already so you can have an idea what might come up).
Comparing the openings of Brighton Rock and ACO (homework from Fri 12th Feb)
Look again at Part One of both books. You should already have notes on the language of the start of BR and of course you will know ACO in some detail at this stage.
Now compare how both books begin: ACO (first 54pages) and BR (first 40 pages).
You should see this as a mini essay and whilst it won't be graded it will be marked. Divide your
Now compare how both books begin: ACO (first 54pages) and BR (first 40 pages).
You should see this as a mini essay and whilst it won't be graded it will be marked. Divide your
essay into 3 parts (don't write an intro).
1 - The language of both books (you might want to use P-E-E-L)
2 - The central characters, Pinkie and Alex.
3 - The themes that are raised e.g. Morality and Violence.
1 - The language of both books (you might want to use P-E-E-L)
2 - The central characters, Pinkie and Alex.
3 - The themes that are raised e.g. Morality and Violence.
Thursday 4 February 2010
Homework for Friday 5th Feb
Based on your reading of the first two parts of Brighton Rock, make notes and answer the following questions. The 200 words and the comparison grid are what I will expect to see next Thursday!
Read the following and make brief notes:
How does Greene present Brighton to the reader? Does it seem, already, to have any close or necessary association with the events narrated? (We know the novel is called Brighton but do not yet know if this has any significance other than what is obvious, i.e. that Brighton, as a famous seaside resort, is associated with sticks of rock in the popular imagination.) The rock has the words Brighton Rock running the whole way through, so that where you bite into it the name is still there. The significance of this is hinted at later in the novel. Can you think why this might be important? Might this have a symbolic meaning?
What have we learned about the characters of Pinkie and of Ida in this part of the novel?
The novel is narrated in the third person but the narrative viewpoint is not neutral or objective; we see things usually as they appear to Pinkie or Ida, although the first chapter is narrated very much as events appear to Hale. In what ways does Greene achieve this?
A more general idea to consider is the novelist's choice of subject; given that any story could be told, why this one? Behind this question (impossible to answer certainly) lie many other questions: is the novelist merely documenting typical events naturalistically (what you mean when you say realistically) or is he trying to interpret/ make sense of the world by means of fiction? Is the novel written for a didactic purpose (that is to teach some moral or philosophical view)? On the surface, Brighton Rock looks like a fast-paced crime thriller, and it was a best-selling novel when it first appeared, so why is it considered a "modern classic" and worthy of close study by people like yourselves? What is the relationship between places in fiction and real places? Brighton, here, is, arguably, as much a state of mind as a real place with streets and houses, even though Greene makes several precise references to the topography (layout) of the real town. Compare how Brighton is presented with the setting of A Clockwork Orange.
Write 200 words on the following:
Consider the character of Pinkie. When discussing A Clockwork Orange, it might be possible to argue that Alex is a product of the society that he lives in. To what extent can this be said of Pinkie in Brighton Rock?
Create a comparison grid (split the page down the middle with book on one side and film on the other) on the following:
Compare the opening of Brighton Rock (the book) with the film. You can find the first 10 minutes in a previous post. Search for it on the side bar to the right. It is in Blog Archive under November 2009.
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