2. Textual Analysis

3. Key Scene: Phil’s mother’s escape
1. with close reference to Phil’s comments in this extract, discuss how the dramatist reveals Phil’s frustration and/or anxiety on learning of his mother’s escape. 3 marks
Reference to three appropriate contributions from Phil with sensible comment on how each contributes to anxiety/frustration.
Avoid focusing on the description/word choice/imagery/ideas of Phil’s lengthy speech on his upbringing.

4. Evidence Analysis ‘You mean it really was the hospital?’
Implies disbelief/he is unwilling to accept the problem
‘Christ’
Blasphemy suggest his frustration/anger
‘Not to be alarmed?? What if she turns up here?’
Questions in quick succession suggests his mind is in turmoil
‘She’ll probably put a hatchet…to give me a showing up.’
Black humour and exaggeration indicates anxiety at potential consequences – a dread of what could happen.
‘Jeesus Christ, how come I couldn’t have a sensible maw like you guys eh?’
Repeated blasphemy and tone of regret demonstrate his frustration, self-pity and anger at his mother’s death.
Repeated use of ‘stupid’
Implies anguish when reflecting on his upbringing with his mother.
‘I bet you his isn’t/ I bet you he doesn’t!’
Parallel sentence and exclamation reveal sense of injustice at his situation
Repetition of ‘what do you know?’
Reveals Phil’s sense of isolation and alienation from Alan.
Use of Alan's correct name plus stage direction ‘with derisive emphasis’.
Phil needs a scapegoat for his anxiety and frustration

5. Key Scene: Phil’s mother’s escape
2. Discuss how language and/ or ideas are used in this extract to rouse sympathy for Phil and his mother. 4 marks
1 mark for each appropriate reference with comment. Reference only= 0
There must be a discussion of both Phil and his mother but this does not have to be an even treatment.

6. Evidence Analysis Dramatic device of the phone call.
Anti-climax as Phil’s eagerness for news from art school is deflated when he hears of his mother
Description of mother’s violent nature ‘hatchet’, ‘open wrists’, ‘bopped’, ‘razor blades’ etc.
The shocking descriptions of violence create sympathy for Phil as he has directly witnessed them
The wide range of things that worry the mother ‘money’, ‘mass’ etc.
Sympathy as the mother has high levels of anxiety and can’t cope with raising her family
Phil’s long speech about his upbringing
Harrowing long list of bizarre behaviour evoke sympathy in the reader

7. Key scene: Phil’s mother’s escape
3a Identify the tone used by Phil following Alan and Spanky’s attempts to calm him down. 1 mark
Possible answers: Bitter, resentful, mocking, ironic, derisive, scathing, vitriolic.

8. Key scene Phil’s mother’s escape
3bReferring closely to the text, discuss how this tone is created. 2 marks

9. Answering the 10 mark question
Candidates must analyse the given extract in some detail referring to at least two examples of dialogue/stage directions.
They should then relate the given extract to at least two other scenes in the play where we can see evidence of the chosen theme/relationship. Candidates should quote/refer to specific points in the play.

10. Phil’s mother’s escape 10 mark question
Phil’s description of his family circumstances and his hostility to Alan are used to highlight the theme of social inequality.
Discuss how this theme is explored in the text as a whole. 10 marks

11. Exploring the theme of social inequality
Jack/Curry’s differing attitudes to Alan and the slab boys.
Phil’s frequent use of upper class imagery and language to mock Alan
The contrast in the boy’s perception between the work in the slab room and the privileged world of university and art school.
Phil’s mother as an example of how poverty and hardship can ruin lives.
The fact that Spanky and Phil see the slab room as a dead end.
The slab boy’s precarious financial situation compared to Alan’s (Parker pen, different dress code, wallet, dad’s MG).
Alan ‘winning’ in the pursuit of Lucille.
Alan’s rapid appointment to the slab room and wages compared to the slab boys waiting for a desk.
Sadie’s problems show the negative side of a working class life.

12. The 10 mark question – What you may be asked about
Social Class
Mental Illness
Dreams and escape
Rebellion
Generation gap
Bullying
Relationship between Phil and Spanky, the slab boys and Alan, Phil and Curry
Sympathetic characters