GRADE 12 EXAMINATIONS

June 2018

ADVANCED PROGRAMME ENGLISH

Examiner: M. Antrobus Moderators: G.Scott/P. Ashwell

Time: 3 hours 300 marks

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

1. This paper consists of 3 pages. Please check that your paper is complete.

2. Read all the questions carefully.

3. You are required to answer all three questions set in this paper.

Question 1: Texts studied from TWO of the following genres:

 Prose
 Drama
 Film
Question 2: TWO schools of Poetry
Question 3: Philosophical reflection on your own extended reading.

4. Number your answers exactly as the questions are numbered.

5. Begin each answer on a new page.

6. Each answer should take the form of a rigorously argued and thoroughly substantiated
essay. There is no prescribed length for the set essays, only an expectation that you argue with
accuracy and insight about the texts you have read and that you aim to bring your own voice
strongly to the fore in your essays.

7. Please note that the quality of your style of writing, the structure of your argument, and the skill
and appropriateness of your use of quotations (as well as direct references to texts) will all be
taken into account when the markers assess your responses.

8. Please write in blue or black ink.

QUESTION 1
1
 This question requires you to refer closely to TWO texts from each of the TWO genres (prose [novel],
drama, film) you have studied: i.e., four texts in total. (You may refer to more than two texts from each of the
two genres you have studied.)

“Beliefs are choices. First you choose your beliefs. Then your beliefs affect your choices.” 
― Roy T. Bennett

Consider how the texts you have read (or watched) show or explore the idea that beliefs define choices.
Remember to refer to both literary and filmic technique in your answer.

Your answer must incorporate an exploration of the theme of ‘the danger of a single story’.

[100]

QUESTION 2
This question expects you to refer to the following unseen poem, ‘I love them all’ by Louise MacNiece as a
point of departure, AND to at least THREE poems from EACH of the two schools of poetry that you have
studied: i.e., six poems in total. You must refer to at least one poem from each of the four poets you have
decided on (so, for example: 2 +1; and 1+2), but may also refer to more poems should you wish to do so.
I love them all by Louise MacNiece

I love them all.

I love that a handful, a mouthful, gets you by, a satchelful can land you a job, a
well-chosen clutch of them could get you laid, and that a solitary word can initiate
a stampede, and therefore can be formally outlawed—even by a liberal court
bent on defending a constitution guaranteeing unimpeded utterance. I love that
the Argentine gaucho has over two hundred words for the coloration of horses
and the Sami language of Scandinavia has over a thousand words for reindeer
based on age, sex, appearance—e.g., a busat has big balls or only one big ball.
More than the pristine, I love the filthy ones for their descriptive talent as well as
transgressive nature. I love the dirty ones more than the minced, in that I respect
extravagant expression more than reserved. I admire reserve, especially when
taken to an ascetic nth. I love the particular lexicons of particular occupations.
The substrate of those activities. The nomenclatures within nomenclatures. I am
of the unaccredited school that believes animals did not exist until Adam assigned
them names. My relationship to the word is anything but scientific; it is a matter
of faith on my part, that the word endows material substance, by setting the thing
named apart from all else. Horse, then, unhorses what is not horse.
 

Refer to the poem above. Carefully consider how the poems you have studied (from the two schools of
poetry you have studied)may give ‘names’ to the unnamable.
2
• Some reference to, and understanding of, MacNiece’s poem is required.
• While your answer should concentrate on the prescribed poems you have chosen to analyse, you should
use MacNiece’s poem as a starting point. Do not be concerned that Simeon’s text does not form part of the
schools of poetry you have studied.

[100]

QUESTION 3:
In answering this question, you are expected to consider and make direct reference to FOUR substantial
fictional works (novels and/or collections of short stories) that you have read independently.

“Words can be like X-rays if you use them properly -- they’ll go through anything. You read and you’re
pierced.” 
― Aldous Huxley

Consider how the texts that you have read independently have been ‘like X-rays’ – showing you a light
on the world and how they can ‘go through anything’.
[100]