Explore the ways in which Hardy portrays hopeless love in The Pine Planters.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2014). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [AO1] show detailed knowledge of the content of literary texts
2. [AO2] understand the meanings of literary texts and their context, and explore texts beyond surface meaning to show deeper awareness of ideas and attitudes
3. [AO3] recognise and appreciate ways in which writers use language, structure, and form to create and shape meanings and effects
4. [AO4] communicate a sensitive and informed personal response
5. [25-23] (Band 1) Answers in this band have all the qualities of Band 2 work, with further insight, sensitivity, individuality and flair. They show sustained engagement with both text and task.
6. [22-20] (Band 2) Sustains a perceptive, convincing and relevant personal response; shows a clear critical understanding of the text; responds sensitively and in detail to the way the writer achieves her/his effects (sustaining a convincing voice in an empathic task); integrates much well-selected reference to the text.
7. [19-17] (Band 3) Makes a well-developed, detailed and relevant personal response; shows a clear understanding of the text and some of its deeper implications; makes a developed response to the way the writer achieves her/his effects (sustaining an appropriate voice in an empathic task); supports with careful and relevant reference to the text.
8. [16-14] (Band 4) Makes a reasonably developed relevant personal response; shows understanding of the text and some of its deeper implications; makes some response to the way the writer uses language (using suitable features of expression in an empathic task); shows some thoroughness in the use of supporting evidence from the text.
9. [13-11] (Band 5) Begins to develop a relevant personal response; shows some understanding of meaning; makes a little reference to the language of the text (beginning to assume a voice in an empathic task); uses some supporting textual detail.
10. [10-8] (Band 6) Attempts to communicate a basic personal response to the task; makes some relevant comments; shows a basic understanding of surface meaning of the text (of character in an empathic task); makes a little supporting reference to the text.
11. [7-5] (Band 7) Some evidence of simple personal response; makes a few straightforward comments; shows a few signs of understanding the surface meaning of the text (of character in an empathic task); makes a little reference to the text.
12. [4-2] (Band 8) Limited attempt to respond; shows some limited understanding of simple/literal meaning.