SHORT STORY ESSAY QUESTIONS From November, 2010 exam papers

‘The short story-writer’s task’ is to describe things using ‘clear and specific language … so as to bring to life the details that will light up the story for the reader.’ Write about two stories from your selection, showing how far the authors have made them effective for you. November

Comment closely on the following passage, paying particular attention to the portrayal of the relationship between the narrator’s family and the Maori. The People Before Then the old man woke. He seemed to shiver, his eyes opened wide, and he said something in Maori. ‘He wonders where he is,’ Tom explained. He turned back to the old man and spoke in Maori. …………… ……………. ‘All right,’ Jim answered, clutching the adzes. He seemed much happier. ‘I promise if I find any more, I’ll send them to you.’ ‘Fair enough,’ Tom smiled, his face jolly. Yet I could see that he too really wanted the greenstone. Maurice Shadbolt

Discuss the presentation of conflicting ideals in two stories you have studied. November 2010 (3.2)

(b) Comment closely on the following passage, considering in particular ways in which Wells presents the fantasy world of the garden. ‘All I remember is the happiness and two dear playfellows who were most with me … Then presently came a sombre dark woman, with a grave, pale face and dreamy eyes, a sombre woman, wearing a soft long robe of pale purple, who carried a book, and beckoned and took me aside with her into a gallery above a hall –……….. He halted again, and remained for a time staring into the fire. ‘Oh! the woefulness of that return!’ he murmured. ‘Well?’ I said, after a minute or so. ‘Poor little wretch I was! – brought back to this grey world again! As I realised the fullness of what had happened to me, I gave way to quite ungovernable grief. And the shame and humiliation of that public weeping and my disgraceful home-coming remain with me still. I see again the benevolent-looking old gentleman in gold spectacles who stopped and spoke to me – prodding me first with his umbrella. …………… “Poor little chap,” said he; “and are you lost then?” – and me a London boy of five and more! And he must needs bring in a kindly young policeman and make a crowd of me, and so march me home. Sobbing, conspicuous, and frightened, I came back from the enchanted garden to the steps of my father’s house.’ The Door in the Wall

(a) ‘… whether he himself was the possessor of an inestimable privilege or the victim of a fantastic dream, I cannot pretend to guess.’ Discuss ways in which two stories deal with strange or unusual events. November 2010 (3.3)

Planning pointers Make your structuring clear so you know which general topics (or sides of the argument) you are covering in each paragraph. Before you begin writing you should have decided on how many paragraphs you are going to write. Which order is most effective in paragraphing? Weakest building up to strongest? Or strongest to weakest ideas, leading to the conclusion? Make sure you compare & contrast the two stories, you are not just writing about one story at a time. Build your argument around main points which compare the way writer’s present their ideas. EG. “Both writers….” or “While one writer… the other…” or “The writers use different approaches to….” or “The writers use a similar approach to …. with varying effects…” Don’t lose sight of the essay topic – if it’s about “strange or unusual events” make sure you refer to this constantly, or your definition of this topic.

Both Patricia Grace and Paule Marshall employ vivid descriptions of setting to convey conflicting ideals between characters in their stories.

(b) Comment closely on the following passage, considering in particular ways in which Mistry establishes the significance of the narrator’s discovery. I waved again to Viraf and gave our private signal, ‘OO ooo OO ooo,’ which was like a yodel. He waved back, then took the doctor’s bag and accompanied him into A Block. His polite demeanour made me smile. ………………. Viraf’s mother was talking softly to the neighbours in the dining- room. ‘… in his chest got worse when he came home last night. So many times I’ve told him, three floors to climb is not easy at your age with your big body, climb one, take rest for a few minutes, then climb again. But he won’t listen, does not want people to think it is too much for him. Now this is the result, and what I will do I don’t know. Poor little Viraf, being so brave when the doctor …’ Of White Hairs and Cricket