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O-LevelLiterature in EnglishProse2010/12 · Oct/Nov 2021 · Q1325 Marks

HENRY JAMES: Washington Square Remember to support your ideas with details from the writing. Either 13 Read this passage, and then answer the question that follows it: 'You told me that if I should have anything more to say about Mr Townsend you would be glad to listen to it.' 'Exactly, my dear,' said the Doctor, not turning round, but stopping his pen. Catherine wished it would go on, but she herself continued. 'I thought I would tell you that I have not seen him again, but that I should like to do so.' 'To bid him good-bye?' asked the Doctor. The girl hesitated a moment. 'He is not going away.' The Doctor wheeled slowly round in his chair, with a smile that seemed to accuse her of an epigram; but extremes meet, and Catherine had not intended one. 'It is not to bid him good-bye, then?' her father said. 'No, father, not that; at least, not for ever. I have not seen him again, but I should like to see him,' Catherine repeated. The Doctor slowly rubbed his under lip with the feather of his quill. 'Have you written to him?' 'Yes, four times.' 'You have not dismissed him, then. Once would have done that.' 'No,' said Catherine; 'I have asked him – asked him to wait.' Her father sat looking at her, and she was afraid he was going to break out into wrath; his eyes were so fine and cold. 'You are a dear, faithful child,' he said at last. 'Come here to your father.' And he got up, holding out his hands toward her. The words were a surprise, and they gave her an exquisite joy. She went to him, and he put his arm round her tenderly, soothingly; and then he kissed her. After this he said – 'Do you wish to make me very happy?' 'I should like to – but I am afraid I can't,' Catherine answered. 'You can if you will. It all depends on your will.' 'Is it to give him up?' said Catherine. 'Yes, it is to give him up.' And he held her still, with the same tenderness, looking into her face and resting his eyes on her averted eyes. There was a long silence; she wished he would release her. 'You are happier than I, father,' she said, at last. 'I have no doubt you are unhappy just now. But it is better to be unhappy for three months and get over it, than for many years and never get over it.' 'Yes, if that were so,' said Catherine. 'It would be so; I am sure of that.' She answered nothing, and he went on. 'Have you no faith in my wisdom, in my tenderness, in my solicitude for your future?' 'Oh, father!' murmured the girl. 'Don't you suppose that I know something of men: their vices, their follies, their falsities?' She detached herself, and turned upon him. 'He is not vicious – he is not false!' Her father kept looking at her with his sharp, pure eye. 'You make nothing of my judgment, then?' 'I can't believe that!' 'I don't ask you to believe it, but to take it on trust.' Catherine was far from saying to herself that this was an ingenious sophism; but she met the appeal none the less squarely. 'What has he done – what do you know?' 'He has never done anything – he is a selfish idler.' 'Oh, father, don't abuse him!' she exclaimed, pleadingly. 'I don't mean to abuse him; it would be a great mistake. You may do as you choose,' he added, turning away. 'I may see him again?' 'Just as you choose.' 'Will you forgive me?' 'By no means.' (from Chapter 18)

  1. How does James make this conversation so memorable and significant?[25]

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. Marking for this paper is based on generic level descriptors, not specific point-based criteria. Questions are assessed holistically across a mark range (0-25). The following criteria describe a top-level (Level 8) response:
  2. [25] demonstrates knowledge by incorporating well-selected reference to the text skilfully and with flair (AO1).
  3. [25] sustains a critical understanding of the text showing individuality and insight (AO2).
  4. [25] responds sensitively and in considerable detail to the way the writer achieves her/his effects (AO3).
  5. [25] sustains personal and evaluative engagement with task and text (AO4).

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About this question

Topic
Prose, O-Level Literature in English (syllabus 2010). Structured question, 25 marks.
Source
O-Level Literature in English, Oct/Nov 2021 Paper 1 Variant 2, question 13.

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