AQA GCSE English Literature Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry June 2017 question paper 8702/2

How far does Priestley present Mrs Birling as an unlikeable character?

Write about:

• what Mrs Birling says and does in the play

• how Priestley presents her by the ways he writes.

How does Priestley use the character of the Inspector to suggest ways that society could be improved?

Write about:

• what society is shown to be like in the play and how it might be improved

• how Priestley presents society through what the Inspector says and does.

How does Russell explore the effects of Mickey’s and Edward’s different upbringings?

Write about:

• how the boys’ upbringings have different effects on their lives

• how Russell presents these effects by the ways he writes.

What kind of mother does Russell show Mrs Johnstone to be in Blood Brothers

Write about:

• what Mrs Johnstone says and does in the play

• how Russell presents Mrs Johnstone by the ways he writes.

‘Dakin is presented as the most confident of the boys in the Oxbridge class.’

How far do you agree with this view of Dakin?

Write about:

• what Dakin says and does and what others say about him in the play

• how Bennett presents Dakin by the ways he writes.

Bennett has said about The History Boys, ‘It seemed to me to be about two sorts of teaching – or two teachers, anyway’.

How does Bennett present Hector and Irwin as different kinds of teacher?

Write about:

• what Hector and Irwin say and do in their work

• how Bennett presents their differences by the ways he writes.

How far does Kelly present Leah as a morally good character in DNA ?

Write about:

• what Leah says and does in the play

• how Kelly presents Leah throughout the play.

What ideas about society is Kelly suggesting by calling the play DNA ?

Write about:

• some of the different ideas about DNA in the play

• how Kelly presents these ideas by the ways he writes.

How does Stephens present Judy as a mother?

Write about:

• what Judy says and does in the play

• how Stephens presents Judy as a mother by the ways he writes.

How does Stephens present Christopher facing up to new challenges in the play?

Write about:

• what Christopher says and does when he faces a new challenge

• how Stephens presents Christopher in these situations.

‘I’m an extraordinary person’ says Jo.

How far does Delaney present Jo as an extraordinary young woman?

Write about:

• what Jo says and does that could be considered extraordinary

• how Delaney presents Jo by the ways she writes.

What ideas about happiness does Delaney explore in the play A Taste of Honey

Write about:

• how Delaney uses different characters and their ideas about happiness

• how Delaney presents these ideas by the ways she writes.

How does Golding present Ralph as a leader in Lord of the Flies ?

Write about:

• what Ralph says and does as a leader

• how Golding uses Ralph to explore ideas about leadership.

‘Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart…’.

What does Golding have to say about human nature in Lord of the Flies ?

Write about:

• how the boys behave on the island

• how Golding uses the boys’ behaviour to explore ideas about human nature.

How do writers present difficult relationships in ‘Korea’ and in one other story from Telling Tales ?

Write about:

• the difficult relationships in the two stories

• how the writers present these relationships by the ways they write.

How do writers present unpleasant childhood experiences in ‘The Darkness Out There’ and in one other story from Telling Tales ?

Write about:

• the details of the unpleasant childhood experiences in the two stories

• how the writers present these experiences.

‘Orwell creates a shocking and unexpected ending to Animal Farm. ’

How far do you agree with this statement?

Write about:

• what happens towards the end of the novel

• how Orwell presents the ending.

How does Orwell use the character of Snowball to explore ideas about leadership in Animal Farm ?

Write about:

• what Snowball says and does and what happens to him

• how Orwell presents Snowball.

How far does Ishiguro present Ruth as a selfish character in Never Let Me Go ?

Write about:

• what Ruth says and does that could be seen as selfish

• how Ishiguro presents Ruth by the ways he writes.

How far do you agree that Ishiguro creates ‘a nightmarish vision of society’ in Never Let Me Go ?

Write about:

• what kind of society Ishiguro presents in the novel

• how Ishiguro presents this society by the ways he writes.

How does Syal present Meena’s relationship with her mother?

Write about:

• Meena’s feelings for her mother and how Meena behaves with her

• how Syal presents this relationship by the ways she writes.

How does Syal show that their Punjabi heritage is important to Meena’s family?

Write about:

• Meena’s family, their traditions, and their behaviour

• how Syal presents the family’s heritage by the ways she writes.

How does Kelman present London as a violent place for young people in Pigeon English ?

Write about:

• some of the violence featured in the novel

• how Kelman presents London as a violent place for young people.

How does Kelman present Harrison’s relationships with other teenagers in Pigeon English ?

Write about:

• the different relationships Harrison has with other teenagers

• how Kelman presents these relationships by the ways he writes.

Compare how poets present growing up in ‘Mother, any distance’ and in one other poem from ‘Love and relationships’.

Compare how poets present the effects of war in ‘Bayonet Charge’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and conflict’.

In ‘Autumn’, how does the poet present the effects of the season of autumn?

2 7. In both ‘Today’ and ‘Autumn’ the speakers describe attitudes towards the

What are the similarities and/or differences between the ways the poets present these attitudes?