Read the following poem carefully. **'The Street'** The street was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor, And the highwayman came riding – Riding – riding – The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door. (lines 1-4) The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees, The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas, The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor, And the highwayman came riding – riding – riding – (lines 5-8) ... (poem continues for 20 more lines) ... Explore how the writer presents the setting in the extract above. You should support your answer with close reference to the extract.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme. The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. Candidates are rewarded for their ability to analyse how the writer uses language, imagery, and structure to create the setting.
2. Responses should demonstrate an understanding of the impact of the setting on the reader and its contribution to the overall atmosphere.
3. Atmosphere of mystery/romance/foreboding: The setting is immediately established as mysterious and perhaps dangerous.
4. Imagery of moonlight and darkness: 'ribbon of moonlight', 'purple moor', 'torrent of darkness', 'ghostly galleon' – creating contrast and vivid sensory details.
5. Metaphorical language: 'ribbon of moonlight' (suggests beauty, but also narrowness/isolation), 'torrent of darkness' (emphasises overwhelming, powerful nature of the night), 'ghostly galleon' (personifies the moon, adds to the eerie, supernatural feel, suggests a journey).
6. Pathetic fallacy: The wind as a 'torrent of darkness' mirrors a sense of impending action or danger.
7. Repetition: 'Riding – riding – riding –' contributes to the sense of relentless movement and presence of the highwayman within this setting, making the setting active rather than static.
8. Word choice: 'purple moor' (evokes wildness, remoteness), 'gusty trees' (suggests motion, perhaps danger), 'old inn-door' (suggests a destination, but also age and potential isolation).
9. Structure: The anaphoric repetition of 'The street was a ribbon of moonlight' and 'The road was a ribbon of moonlight' (with subtle changes) reinforces the centrality of the road and the atmospheric quality of the moonlight.
10. Contextual link (if made relevant): Gothic elements or traditional ballad structures often feature wild, isolated settings.
11. Reward answers that demonstrate a sustained and detailed engagement with the text, analysing specific effects of the writer’s choices.