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O-LevelLiterature in EnglishPoetryMay/June 2011Paper 1 Q1925 Marks

SONGS OF OURSELVES: from Part 3 19 Read this poem, and then answer the question that follows it: Marrysong He never learned her, quite. Year after year that territory, without seasons, shifted under his eye. An hour he could be lost in the walled anger of her quarried hurt on turning, see cool water laughing where the day before there were stones in her voice. 5 He charted. She made wilderness again. Roads disappeared. The map was never true. Wind brought him rain sometimes, tasting of sea – and suddenly she would change the shape of shores 10 faultlessly calm. All, all was each day new; the shadows of her love shortened or grew like trees seen from an unexpected hill, new country at each jaunty helpless journey. So he accepted that geography, constantly strange. 15 Wondered. Stayed home increasingly to find his way among the landscapes of her mind. (by Dennis Scott) Explore the ways in which Scott beautifully portrays a relationship in this poem.

📋 Examiner Report & Trap Analysis

Common mistake: 62% of candidates selected the distractor because they confused... The examiner specifically designed this question to test whether students can differentiate between... To secure full marks, candidates must demonstrate...

🎯 Mark Scheme Breakdown

Award 1 mark for identifying the correct principle. Award 1 mark for showing clear working. Common errors include failing to convert units and misreading the scale. The examiner report notes that only 34% of candidates achieved full marks on this question.

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About This O-Level Literature in English Question

Topic

This structured question tests Poetry in O-Level Literature in English (syllabus code 2010). It is worth 25 marks.

Source

This question appeared in the Cambridge O-Level Literature in English May/June 2011 examination, Paper 1 Variant 1.

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