Literature: Prose, Poetry and Supplementary Reader
Literature questions come from prose lessons, poems and the supplementary reader. Marks are for content plus a close reference, so a paragraph answer must answer the question asked, not narrate the story.
Prose
His First Flight (Liam O'Flaherty) follows a young seagull afraid to leave the ledge while his brothers and sister have already flown. His mother refuses to feed him and finally holds out a scrap of fish; hunger defeats fear, he dives, and discovers his wings hold him. Use it for questions on fear versus self-reliance and on the parents' deliberately tough love.
Poetry
In Life, Henry Van Dyke asks to meet each year with a forward-looking face and a willing soul - living without dread of the future or regret for the past. When asked for the central idea, state the attitude first, then name the lines or images that carry it.
Supplementary
The Tempest supplies character and theme questions: Prospero's magic and his renunciation of it, Ariel the airy spirit, Caliban the unwilling servant, Miranda and Ferdinand, and the closing forgiveness that reconciles the shipwrecked court.
Answer craft
Two- and three-mark answers need a point plus a supporting detail. Quote only when you recall the wording exactly; otherwise paraphrase and name the character or incident.
Worked example. "How is the seagull's first flight a turning point?" Model: the flight is the moment fear gives way to instinct - the mother's withheld food forces the choice, and the dive he dreaded becomes the act that saves him, turning dependence into self-reliance. Note that the answer states an idea, then proves it from the story.
Traps
- Retelling the plot instead of answering the question.
- Confusing characters: Ariel is the spirit, Caliban the earth-bound servant.
- Writing about the poet's life when the question is about the speaker.