Literature Paper 1 Sample A cat 1

Text A
In this extract, Column McCann follows a man who is training for a walk across a tight-rope.
McCann displays the fact that the man’s drive for improvement is his imagination, which
characterises him in a different setting as a different individual. This allows McCann to
control tension by presenting settings which both break and create multiple climaxes.
Specifically, McCann utilizes language techniques and the speaker to construct a different
setting in each paragraph, thus building and breaking tension.
McCann’s use of rich diction and jargon throughout the extract allows him to systematically
build and break tension. In the first paragraph, which takes place in a meadow, rich and
descriptive diction are used. McCann describes a ‘nest of three red-tailed hawks’ in a ‘thick
inter-twine of twigs’. By having a micro focus on the nest of the hawks, we can see that they
are young and developing, and posess an element of innocence. This micro-focus and
setting is further developed as an ‘inter-twine of twigs’. The use of inter-twine makes the
nest seem like a robust and complex maze. However, by focussing on the ‘twigs’ that
construct this maze, McCann is able to convey it’s fragility, which in turn heightens the
tension. However, the tension is lowered as McCann describes the mother-hawk feeding
the chicks, which breaks their visage of fragility. Through the in-depth description of the ‘red
hunks of flesh’, the innocent lens through which the chicks were viewed is removed, and
instead the predatory instincts of the bird are revealed. The description of the experience
creates a surreal and enchanting setting which juxtaposes with the gruesome process at
hand. McCann then breaks the natural setting in the next paragraph by introducing the man
practising for his competition. The use of jargon assists in this process. Diction such as
‘cavallettis’ and ‘guy-lines’ introduce the technicalities of the associated setting and how the
man escapes these through his free imagination, which once again introduces the idea of
innocence. Thus, through an array of diction, McCann can create multiple ideas and areas
of tension, which assist in the development of both setting and character.
McCann utilizes techniques such as metaphors, in order to create a detailed setting while
also fluctuating levels of tension. In paragraph 4, the narrator describes the man’s
experience of ‘riding the wire’ during a thunderstorm, an experience which is apparently akin
to ‘riding a surfboard’. This is clearly a dangerous and high-stakes activity, though the man
is able to use the lens of his imagination to turn the high stakes of his practice into an
enjoyable experience. The metaphor is extended as the wrath of the storm are compared to
‘waves’ which batter him ‘brutally’ and ‘erratically’. The use of this harsh and unlikely
comparison creates large amounts of tension, as ‘brutal’ is often used with negative
connotations to describe a messy or accidental event. Thus, it is almost as if an accident is
inevitable, though the man is oblivious to this due to his coil of his imagination. The addition
use of ‘erratic’ emphasises the fact that the outcome of this practice is unpredictable, like the
nature of the waves. This raises tension levels, though they are reduced as the man’s
balancing pole only ever ‘touched the tip of the grass’. This demonstrates the fact that the
man is living life literally on the edge, though his fate is created by his imagination and his
natural ability, which demonstrates the fact that the tension is only superficial, as the man is
confident and chilled enough to avoid the inevitable. Therefore, McCann’s use of metaphor
is not only descriptive, but also acts as an extended source of tension.
The use of speaker within the extract also creates tension, as it demonstrates the fact that
the man is unaware of the dangers of his activity. The extract is written in third person
omniscient speaker, meaning we are limited to the perspective of the narrator, who
describes both the superficial dangers and the way in which the man perceives these
dangers. In the first paragraph, we are limited to witnessing the activity of the hawks, and
the finesse of their actions. This is done to captivate the audience, while also introducing us
to the systematic nature of the hawk. Subsequently, the focus switches to the man, who has
a systematic train of thought similar to the hawk. However, we are only able to witness the
superficial danger due to the limitations of narration, such as the ‘cable swaying side to
side’. The narration then focusses on the man’s imagination by constructing both the
perceived dangers and the imaginary circumstances of the man. By contradicting these two
perspectives, McCann can both create and alleviate tension by presenting from either the
imaginary lens of the man, or unaltered reality. Consequently, McCann is controlling tension
while also developing descriptions of the various environments.
It is clear that McCann uses language, techniques and speaker to create various
descriptions, while also controlling levels of tension. McCann presents the idea that the
perceived danger can be twisted through the lens of imagination to create an organic and
enjoyable experience, that can allow individuals to experience the extraordinary.
Literature Specimen Paper 1 Sample A
Text B
The poem ‘Late Love’ by Jackie Kay describes how love can act to change even the most
plain and boring individuals. This transformation is detailed through Kay’s use of imagery,
which contrasts the elegance of individuals who are in love , with the drab individuals who
do not experience love.

Kay’s use of imagery in the first and second stanzas details the spell-like nature, and how it
can vitalise any individual. The extravagant nature of those in love is developed by Kay, as
she describes their ‘strutting’. Through the diction choice of ‘strutting’, Kay conveys the fact
that being in love is like being on a runway, as individuals may believe themselves to be of
value if they are loved. The use of the word ‘strutting’ connotes feelings of confidence and
vitality, things anyone can feel if they are loved. The transformations and impacts of love
are further detailed as the appearance of individuals who are loved are described: ’hair,
glossy, skin shining’. These descriptions entail the idea of beauty, and how feelings of
beauty can be intertwined with love. ‘Glossy hair’ and ‘shiny skin’ also carry with them ideas
of health, which goes hand-in-hand with vitality and rejuvenation. Thus, love is described as
some sort of miracle drug or medicine, as it can give an individual the most desirable traits
that cannot be developed through pedestrian means. The psychological effects of love are
also described, as individuals who have association with the concepts of love ignore the
‘dreary mundane’ and instead focus on more exciting aspects of life, such as ‘church bells
ringing’. Kay describes the fact that ordinary individuals only have the ability to comprehend
ordinary objects, while love heightens the senses, and allows individuals to physically and
metaphorically perceive the extraordinary, such as ‘church bells ringing’. This specific
description is metaphorical, as marriage is often the result of love. Thus, individuals in love
see the prospect of marriage in their everyday life, which creates an exciting and meaningful
experience. Therefore, it is clear that vivid imagery is used by Kay to describe the
miraculous effects of love.
Kay enhances the effects of love on individuals by switching to individuals who lack the
feelings of love, and how such a deficit impacts their livelihood. While individuals with
feelings of love are described as vitalized and enhanced, those who lack it are drab and
plain. The lot that are not in love are ‘dull’ with ‘shabby’ clothing and ‘lustreless skin’. This
juxtaposes with the previous descriptions and instead, has negative connotations. The use
of the diction ‘dull’ conveys with it feelings of lifelessness and melancholy, both of which are
not desirable feelings or characteristics to posess. Additionally, ‘shabby clothing’
demonstrates a lack of hygiene and wealth, as clothing which is shabby is either unwashed
or tattered from usage and poor quality. This is different to the star-like traits which
characterise those in love. ‘Lustreless’ skin conveys a lack of general health, and a lifeless
pallid individual. This is due to the fact that skin usually loses its lustre and colour as a
result of poor health or illness. Unlike the medicinal properties of love which vitalise
individuals, a lack of love is like a plague or illness which causes individuals to lose their
desirability and individuality. The psychological effect of such feelings are developed as
individuals who lack love are ‘clueless’ and ‘trudge’ as they walk. This conveys a lack of
humanity by emphasising the zombie-like nature possessed by those who are not in love.
Consequently, the poem is almost persuasive in nature, as it presents the benefits of love,
which are far more desirable to an individual the nature of those who are not in love. This
demonstrates how Kay effectively utilizes imagery to show the impacts of both love and a
lack of love on an individual’s life.
Kay also describes the fleeting nature of love, and how it’s effects are short-term in the final
stanza. The impacts of a lack of love are shown by Kay to be developed in an extremely
short period of time. The individuals who develop unsavoury traits are said to be
‘remembering one kiss’. Kay represents the fact that love is like time, while it may feel
eternal while we are under its effects, it is in reality a fleeting creation that hardly ever lasts.
The individuals who are out of tune from reality are like this as a consequence of
remembering their feelings of love. This is reflected in the statement: ‘the past with its rush
of velvet’ is symbolic of the feelings of love. By personifying love as a sort of individual, Kay
is able to represent the fact that as time passes, love also physically parts from an
individual. This represents the fact that as time passes and we age, it is with an increasing
difficulty that individuals are able to develop and identify their internal feelings of love and
thus love should be raised in a single opportunity. Without the ability to do this, we will
inevitably develop the unsavoury traits of those who lack love.
Therefore, it is clear that Kay effectively uses imagery to describe the various impacts that
both love and a lack of love can have on an individual. Ultimately, Kay conveys the fact that
love is similar to a medicine with its beneficial aspects. However, love is a fleeting moment
and is therefore difficult to grasp. If we miss the opportunity, we will instead face the
plaguelike consequences of a lack of love.