You are Trotter. You are on duty with Raleigh on his first night in the trenches. Write your thoughts.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2011). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. Candidates should adopt the persona of Trotter, on duty with Raleigh during his first night in the trenches.
2. Good answers will reflect Trotter’s pragmatic, down-to-earth nature, his coping mechanisms (e.g., counting minutes, talking about food), and his experience of trench life.
3. He might be amused by Raleigh’s naivety or earnestness, or feel a grudging sympathy.
4. Consider his attempts to lighten the mood or his observations about Raleigh’s reaction to the conditions.
5. Look for Trotter’s distinctive voice, perhaps blunt, humorous, but also implicitly aware of the dangers.