1. 2014 National 5 Critical Reading paper
‘Lucozade’
2014 National 5
Critical Reading paper

2. These are the questions on ‘Lucozade’ from the 2014 National 5 paper:
1. Look at stanzas 1 and 2 (lines 1—8). Why does the poet’s mother not want her to bring flowers or Lucozade? 2 2. Referring to lines 9—20, show how the poet gives the reader a clear impression of the mother’s character or personality Explain how the poet uses language in lines 21—29 to indicate a clear change in the girl’s feelings Identify at least one theme from this poem. Using close textual reference, show how the theme (or themes) is explored in this poem, and in at least one other poem by Jackie Kay. 8
So, how would you go about answering them?

3. Look at stanzas 1 and 2 (lines 1—8).
My mum is on a high bed next to sad chrysanthemums.
“Don’t bring flowers, they only wilt and die.”
I am scared my mum is going to die
on the bed next to the sad chrysanthemums.
She nods off and her eyes go back in her head.
Next to her bed is a bottle of Lucozade.
“Orange nostalgia, that’s what it is,” she says.
“Don’t bring Lucozade, either,” then fades.
Look at stanzas 1 and 2 (lines 1—8).
Why does the poet’s mother not want her to bring flowers or Lucozade? 2
2 points for 2 marks
This reminds her of illness / death / being in hospital (1)
Flowers wilt /die (1)
Flowers don’t make her happy / she thinks they are pointless (1)
Ref to “sad chrysanthemums” (1)
Lucozade reminds her of past (1)
This brings thoughts of possibility of death (1)

4. Ref to “doctors with their white lies”(1)
“The whole day was a blur, a swarm of eyes.
Those doctors with their white lies.
Did you think you could cheer me up with a Woman’s Own?
Don’t bring magazines, too much about size.”
My mum wakes up, groggy and low.
“What I want to know,” she says, “is this:
where’s the big brandy, the generous gin, the Bloody Mary,
the biscuit tin, the chocolate gingers, the dirty big meringue?”
I am sixteen; I’ve never tasted a Bloody Mary.
“Tell your father to bring a luxury,” says she.
“Grapes have no imagination, they’re just green.
Tell him: stop the neighbours coming.”
2. Referring to lines 9—20, show how the poet gives the reader a clear impression of the mother’s character or personality. 4
Reference (1)
Comment (1) x2
Ref to “doctors with their white lies”(1)
she doesn’t trust doctors / like being in hospital (1)
Ref to “Don’t bring magazines, too much about size”(1)
she doesn’t like media images of women / approve of diets etc (1)

5. Ref. to “groggy and low” (1)
“The whole day was a blur, a swarm of eyes.
Those doctors with their white lies.
Did you think you could cheer me up with a Woman’s Own?
Don’t bring magazines, too much about size.”
My mum wakes up, groggy and low.
“What I want to know,” she says, “is this:
where’s the big brandy, the generous gin, the Bloody Mary,
the biscuit tin, the chocolate gingers, the dirty big meringue?”
I am sixteen; I’ve never tasted a Bloody Mary.
“Tell your father to bring a luxury,” says she.
“Grapes have no imagination, they’re just green.
Tell him: stop the neighbours coming.”
2. Referring to lines 9—20, show how the poet gives the reader a clear impression of the mother’s character or personality. 4
Reference (1)
Comment (1) x2
Ref. to “groggy and low” (1)
she is down / depressed (1)
Ref to any of “Big brandy … meringue” (1)
doesn’t approve of diets / she is unconventional / not a stereotypical mother / likes to live for moment / has her own opinions etc (1)

6. “The whole day was a blur, a swarm of eyes.
Those doctors with their white lies.
Did you think you could cheer me up with a Woman’s Own?
Don’t bring magazines, too much about size.”
My mum wakes up, groggy and low.
“What I want to know,” she says, “is this:
where’s the big brandy, the generous gin, the Bloody Mary,
the biscuit tin, the chocolate gingers, the dirty big meringue?”
I am sixteen; I’ve never tasted a Bloody Mary.
“Tell your father to bring a luxury,” says she.
“Grapes have no imagination, they’re just green.
Tell him: stop the neighbours coming.”
2. Referring to lines 9—20, show how the poet gives the reader a clear impression of the mother’s character or personality. 4
Reference (1)
Comment (1) x2
Ref to “luxury” (1)
she likes indulgence (1)
Ref to “grapes” (1)
she’s not keen on conventions / healthy eating (1)
Ref to “stop the neighbours coming” (1)
she is bored / irritated by neighbours / small talk etc (1)

7. My mother, on her high hospital bed, waves back.
I clear her cupboard in Ward 10B, Stobhill Hospital. I leave, bags full, Lucozade, grapes, oranges, sad chrysanthemums under my arms, weighted down. I turn round, wave with her flowers.
My mother, on her high hospital bed, waves back.
Her face is light and radiant, dandelion hours.
Her sheets billow and whirl. She is beautiful.
Next to her the empty table is divine.
I carry the orange nostalgia home singing an old song.
3. Explain how the poet uses language in lines 21—29 to indicate a clear change in the girl’s feelings. 6
To be awarded full marks, candidates should identify through references and comments some change – eg sadness to celebration, negative to positive.
Any 3 references plus acceptable comments for 6 marks.
To gain 6 marks, both sides of change must be dealt with.
“sad (chrysanthemums)” (1)
she is upset (1)
“weighted (down)” (1)
she is burdened / full of negative thoughts (1)
CHANGES TO…

8. My mother, on her high hospital bed, waves back.
I clear her cupboard in Ward 10B, Stobhill Hospital. I leave, bags full, Lucozade, grapes, oranges, sad chrysanthemums under my arms, weighted down. I turn round, wave with her flowers.
My mother, on her high hospital bed, waves back.
Her face is light and radiant, dandelion hours.
Her sheets billow and whirl. She is beautiful.
Next to her the empty table is divine.
I carry the orange nostalgia home singing an old song.
3. Explain how the poet uses language in lines 21—29 to indicate a clear change in the girl’s feelings. 6
To be awarded full marks, candidates should identify through references and comments some change – eg sadness to celebration, negative to positive.
Any 3 references plus acceptable comments for 6 marks.
To gain 6 marks, both sides of change must be dealt with.
“high hospital bed” (1)
girl sees that mother is raised up / not low (connotations of being elevated) (1)
“light”/ ”radiant” (1)
positive connotations /optimistic (1)
“billow and whirl” (1)
full of life / energy (1)

9. My mother, on her high hospital bed, waves back.
I clear her cupboard in Ward 10B, Stobhill Hospital. I leave, bags full, Lucozade, grapes, oranges, sad chrysanthemums under my arms, weighted down. I turn round, wave with her flowers.
My mother, on her high hospital bed, waves back.
Her face is light and radiant, dandelion hours.
Her sheets billow and whirl. She is beautiful.
Next to her the empty table is divine.
I carry the orange nostalgia home singing an old song.
3. Explain how the poet uses language in lines 21—29 to indicate a clear change in the girl’s feelings. 6
To be awarded full marks, candidates should identify through references and comments some change – eg sadness to celebration, negative to positive.
Any 3 references plus acceptable comments for 6 marks.
To gain 6 marks, both sides of change must be dealt with.
“beautiful“ (1)
admiration, pleasure (1)
“divine” (1)
elevated etc (1)
“(singing) an old song” (1)
good memories of the past (1)

10. 4. Identify at least one theme from this poem
4. Identify at least one theme from this poem. Using close textual reference, show how the theme (or themes) is explored in this poem, and in at least one other poem by Jackie Kay
Candidates should identify a theme or themes from the poetry of Kay, and be able to show how it is explored in this poem and in at least one other poem by Kay.
Candidates are probably likely to identify one of the following themes:
Illness / death, Family Relationships, Parent / Child relationships
Possible references:
“Bed” - themes of illness / infirmity / impending death AND/OR mother – daughter relationships
“Gap Year” – Closeness of parent / child bond.
Candidates may also make reference to the CONTRAST between the obvious bond between the mother and daughter in “Lucozade” with the very different exploration of the parent / child relationships considered in “Divorce”, “Keeping Orchids” and to a lesser extent also in “Bed”

11. 4. Identify at least one theme from this poem
4. Identify at least one theme from this poem. Using close textual reference, show how the theme (or themes) is explored in this poem, and in at least one other poem by Jackie Kay
Candidates may choose to answer in bullet points in this final question, or write a number of linked statements. There is no requirement to write a ‘mini essay’.
Up to 2 marks can be achieved for identifying elements of commonality as identified in the question.
A further 2 marks can be achieved for reference to the extract given.
4 additional marks can be awarded for similar references to at least one other poem by the writer.

12. 4. Identify at least one theme from this poem
4. Identify at least one theme from this poem. Using close textual reference, show how the theme (or themes) is explored in this poem, and in at least one other poem by Jackie Kay
In practice this means:
Identification of commonality (2) (eg: theme, central relationship, importance of setting, use of imagery, development in characterisation, use of personal experience, use of narrative style, or any other key element...)
from the extract:
1 x relevant reference to technique / idea / feature / text (1) 1 x appropriate comment (1) (maximum of 2 marks only for discussion of extract)
from at least one other poem by the writer:
as above (x 2) for up to 4 marks