You are Father Gilligan just after having heard confessions, including Jimmy's. Write your thoughts.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2010). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [25] Father Gilligan is one example in the novel of the self-important, ineffectual, largely well meaning and amiable Roman Catholic clergy.
2. [25] He has not detected that there is anything seriously wrong with Jimmy's life and one wonders whether he would have done anything about had he.
3. [25] He will probably remember with laughter the sins that Jimmy has made up in order to grab his attention.
4. [25] His bland advice at the end of confession is of no use to a young boy like Jimmy and, whilst kindly meant, only indicates his inability to engage with the young and indeed understand family life, celibate that he is.
5. [25] Avoid giving much reward to assumptions which show him deeply concerned about Jimmy's situation, though he might turn it over briefly in his mind.
6. [25] Such things as his good humoured relief at having got confessions over for another period show candidates to be nearer to the real man.
7. [25] Refer to the band descriptors in arriving at your mark.