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O-LevelLiterature in EnglishPoetry2010/12 · May/June 2020 · Q225 Marks

Or 2 In what ways does Dobson make The Three Fates such an intriguing poem? The Three Fates At the instant of drowning he invoked the three sisters. It was a mistake, an aberration, to cry out for Life everlasting. He came up like a cork and back to the river-bank, Put on his clothes in reverse order, Returned to the house. He suffered the enormous agonies of passion Writing poems from the end backwards, Brushing away tears that had not yet fallen. Loving her wildly as the day regressed towards morning He watched her swinging in the garden, growing younger, Bare-foot, straw-hatted. And when she was gone and the house and the swing and daylight There was an instant's pause before it began all over, The reel unrolling towards the river. (Rosemary Dobson)

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [25] demonstrates knowledge by incorporating well-selected reference to the text skilfully and with flair (AO1)
  2. [25] sustains a critical understanding of the text showing individuality and insight (AO2)
  3. [25] responds sensitively and in considerable detail to the way the writer achieves her/his effects (AO3)
  4. [25] sustains personal and evaluative engagement with task and text (AO4)

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About this question

Topic
Poetry, O-Level Literature in English (syllabus 2010). Structured question, 25 marks.
Source
O-Level Literature in English, May/June 2020 Paper 1 Variant 2, question 2.

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