STPM Sample Practice Writing with Comments

Year 2005 Paper 1 Question 8a
In what ways can Ophelia be considered a victim? Discuss with close reference to the play Hamlet.

Student's Answer
The play ‘Hamlet’ is filled with tragic figures, but none are quite as tragic as the character of Ophelia. She is used and manipulated by her father, forced to spurn her lover, and later, mocked and insulted by that same lover who then kills her father. She ends up drowning in a stream, alone and insane. She is a victim in every sense of the word, in that all that she suffers is directly or indirectly caused by someone else.
Firstly, Ophelia can be considered a victim in terms of circumstances[N1] . She became embroiled in Hamlet’s plot for revenge through no fault of her own. Her love for Hamlet, innocent in itself, led to her being involved in the other events happening around her. For example, if she hadn’t loved Hamlet, she would not have[N2] reacted so violently to his appearance [N3] the first time he saw her after meeting the ghost. Then, Polonius and the King might not have been alerted to his ‘madness’. Her concern for Hamlet and the knowledge that he murdered her father eventually drove her mad, but none of what happened was her fault in itself.
Ophelia could also be considered a victim of her father’s manipulation[N4] . His orders to her to stop seeing Hamlet are shortly after followed by Hamlet’s ‘madness’. To her mind, the two events are connected, and she feels to blame for Hamlet’s state of mind. Hamlet may indeed be rather unstable, but a large part of his madness is false, ‘put on’ to fool the king into thinking him harmless. Ophelia’s guilt over having caused Hamlet to go mad can be traced back to her father’s meddling. Even his death at the hands of Hamlet, which finally sends Ophelia over the edge, was caused by Polonius’s attempt to overhear Hamlet’s conversation with the Queen.
Hamlet’s plan of revenge also has an innocent victim, that is, Ophelia. If he had not pretended to be mad, affecting Ophelia’s feelings and making her feel guilty, she might not have gone mad and drowned herself. Her love for Hamlet can clearly be seen when she reacts violently to his strange behaviour when he sees her, and later with her replies to his crude and mocking words. This love makes her feel intensely unhappy when Hamlet behaves in such a manner toward her, and these feelings of unhappiness contribute to her madness and death later.
Finally, Ophelia is a victim of the social conditions [N5] of the time. As a woman, she is expected to be subordinate at all times to men, like her brother and father. The way both Laertes and Polonius talk to her, and command her, in the case of Polonius, is proof of this. Polonius can tell her to break off her relationship to her lover, and she has no choice but to obey, because she is subordinate to him. As a result of her ‘inferiority’, she must obey her father’s commands to deceive Hamlet, and only succeeds in arousing Hamlet’s ire instead. As a woman at that time, she must have a male protector, and since Hamlet has rejected her after what she did to him, there is nothing happy left in life for her. This may have been what led to her madness.

Comments
Yr points sound the same... they r mostly about hamlet’s antic disposition....perhaps u might want to consider the following structure and expand on d support, especially d 3rd paragraph

first, she is denied d freedom to be who she wants to be or do. She has to be obedient to her father and brother whether she likes it or not. Remember, she can match Hamlet’s wit too (during d play within the play). So she isn’t exactly dumb and complacent to take orders. Due to this, she is forbidden to be happy by forgoing her lover which makes her heartbroken. She is instructed to deny Hamlet which she obeys obediently which leads to her sadness. (u can quote the scenes in which Polonius eavesdrop on their conversation)

Secondly, she is a victim of Hamlet’s antic disposition to expose the king. She thinks that she is the cause of his madness as she has denied Hamlet a relationship. (dun use d react violently phrase... explain better by quoting if u can) Thus, she feels deeply responsible because she does not have the information of the antic disposition or has reason to belief that it is just an act.

Besides learning that her lover has gone mad because of her, her father, blood father, is killed by her mad lover. So, she may feel that she is also the cause of her father’s death. And when her father dies, does she want her lover, Hamlet to be responsible and have him killed or thrown in the dungeons? But he murdered her father! So, what is she to do? What is she to feel? (u missed this crucial point)

[N1]U put dis as yr thesis statement of this paragraph, doesn’t this apply to d whole essay / play?

[N2]By using ‘if this didn’t happen, it wouldn’t lead to’ kind of writing does not make yr argument strong. Avoid this style.

[N3]Huh? Reacted violently? Anyways, even so, perhaps u want to mention it is bcoz she feels dat she is d cause of his madness? She feels guilty?

[N4]D following support does not support dis statement... u mention on hamlet’s madness rather than polonias' manipulation

[N5]Arguable... other heroines of shakespeare’s r pretty strong characters ... more like she happen to haf men in her life who expects her to be obedient, like her father n brother

Holes by Louis Sachar for SPM Literature in English 2008-10

Splendid, splendid story! I enjoyed this book thoroughly eventhough I am no longer a kid. Perhaps because I am a kid at heart (rolled eyes). There is just no putting that book down till I was done!

I am glad that it is a book of study for the SPM Literature in English elective paper, cycle 2008-2010 eventhough I feel that it is more appropriate for PMR, mainly because, SPM kids should tackle more mature stuff. Nonetheless, it is a lighthearted book which discusses some pretty serious issues. So, you've guessed it. I chose to teach this text. Wonder what returns I get from this gamble...lesser groans perhaps...?

And if you get the chance to watch the movie, by Disney (http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/liveaction/holes/main.html), it is a great way to reaffirm the power of your imagination (not that you get to watch it at the above url). The main character Stanley Yelnets is actually acted by Shia LeBeouf, who got famous from acting in Transformers (motivation enough?). But surely you should only watch it after you've read the book because the story is sure to differ from the movie. Needless to say, I enjoyed the movie as well (and so did my students). I even introduced this book to students who aren't taking the elective paper, even younger ones, and teased them with a preview of the movie with the promise of the real thing after they were done reading. Worked like a charm!! Managed to transform some bookworms (am such a witch!) ...

So what is the point of this entry? I dunno really, I've just come to upgrade the technological incompetent brain server of mine to understanding how not to make this blog obsolete and place the information (blog content) appropriately... I do want to discuss Holes further but realise this thing archives not by subject... so now, I've got to rewire my thought and writing circuits when it comes to blogging exam stuff so that there is no continuation of subject matter... hrm...

SPM Literature in English 2008, 2205/1 Trials

TIDAK SULIT 2205/1
2205/1
Literature
In English
Okt./Nov.
2008
2 ½ jam

LEMBAGA PEPERIKSAAN OLOK OLOK
KEMENTERIAN PELAJARAN OLOK OLOK




CONTOH SIJIL PELAJARAN MALAYSIA 2008





LITERATURE IN ENGLISH


Dua jam tiga puluh minit





JANGAN BUKA KERTAS SOALAN INI SEHINGGA DIBERITAHU

Maklumat untuk calon

Kertas soalan ini mengandungi empat bahagian: Bahagian A, Bahagian B, Bahagian C dan Bahagian D.
Jawab empat soalan sahaja.
Anda mesti menjawab satu soalan daripada tiap-tiap Bahagian A, Bahagian B, Bahagian C dan Bahagian D.
Anda dinasihati supaya mengambil masa 35 minit untuk tiap-tiap soalan.

Information for candidates

1. This questions paper consists of four sections: Section A, Section B, Section C and Section D.

2. Answer four questions only.

3. You must answer one question from Section A, Section B, Section C and Section D.

4. You are advised to spend 35 minutes on each question.


Kertas soalan ini mengandungi beberapa halaman bercetak dan 4 halaman tidak bercetak

2205/1 © Hak Cipta Tiada Orang [Lihat sebelah
TIDAK SULIT

TIDAK SULIT 2205/1

SECTION A: SHORT STORIES

Answer one question only from this section

[25 marks]



1 VIVIEN ALCOCK: Cinderella Girl

He shouldn’t have said that last line. It wasn’t true, was it? What about Bella? Besides, he couldn’t date Meg. His mother would have a fit and everybody at school would tease him. He looked at her anxiously, hoping she wouldn’t take it seriously, but she only laughed and told him it was a splendid poem, far better than any one of Kevin’s.
‘Don’t worry,’ she said. ‘I won’t tell Bella.’

(a) In the above extract, what was it that Edward could not admit to himself? [5 marks]

(b) What is Edward’s dilemma? Discuss the change in Edward as he recognises his personal preferences and makes a stand. [8marks]

(c) As human beings, we are given the free will to choose, think and feel, yet we choose to conform.
With close reference to the story, do you agree with the statement?
[12 marks]



2 ANYA SITARAM: Naukar

Nilkant spluttered in his gin and tonic. Sometimes he felt there was an invisible wall between himself and his wife, in spite of all the barriers they had leapt to cement their relationship. She knew very well that the cook, an old retainer from his mother’s house in Alipur, was responsible for selecting servants. How could an inexperienced girl from England be any kind of judge? Her pig-headedness baffled him

(a) What is the disagreement about? [5 marks]

(b) Nilkant and Julia see poverty differently. What are the differences in the perception of poverty portrayed by the characters in the story? Support your answer from the text. [8 marks]

(c) In the face of extreme poverty versus animal cruelty. Humans tend to choose elevating human suffering rather than saving an animal from cruelty. What are your views pertaining to the subject matter? [12 marks]





2205/1 © 2008 Hak Cipta Tiada Orang TIDAK SULIT

TIDAK SULIT 2205/1

3 HARRISON BERGERON: Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
It was then that Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General, came into the studio with a double-barrelled ten-gauge shotgun. She fired twice, and the Emperor and the Empress were dead before they hit the floor.

Diana Moon Glampers loaded the gun again. She aimed it at the musicians and told them they had ten seconds to get their handicaps back on.

(a) Why did the Handicapper General shoot the Emperor and Empress? [5 marks]

(b) Harrison Bergeron is a fugitive only to break into the TV studio to declare himself an Emperor before being shot by the Handicapper General. Why do you think, a person of high intelligence would opt to take such measure? Support your answer from the text. [8 marks]

(c) A society that puts equality before freedom will end up with neither. Discuss with close reference to the text. [12 marks]


4 THE LANDLADY: Roald Dahl

The old girl was slightly dotty, Billy told himself. But at five and sixpence a night, who gives a damn about that? “I should’ve thought you’d be simply swamped with applicants,” he said politely.
“Oh, I am, my dear, I am, of course I am. But the trouble is that I’m inclined to be just a teeny weeny bit choosy and particular – if you see what I mean.”


(a) From the above extract, what does the landlady mean? [5 marks]

(b) Why do you think Billy ignored the many warning signs until it was too late?

Discuss with close reference to the novel. [8 marks]

(c) Short stories usually end with a twist in the end.

How does the cliff-hanger affect your enjoyment of the story? [12 marks]




[Lihat sebelah

2205/1 © 2008 Hak Cipta Tiada Orang TIDAK SULIT
TIDAK SULIT 2205/1

SECTION B: NOVEL

Answer one question only from this section

[25 marks]

5 LOUIS SACHAR : Holes

“I want you to carry me up the mountain. I want to drink from the stream, and I want you to sing the song to me.”

Elya promised he would.

Madame Zeroni warned that if he failed to do this, he and his descendants would be doomed for all the eternity.


(a) From the extract above state what has happened to the descendants of Elya Yelnats? [5 marks]


(b) Why do you think the boys have nicknames for each other?

Explain with reference to the text. [8 marks]

(c) Satire present in literature is in purpose to critique society’s follies and to instigate
change.

Show how this element is used in the story. [12 marks]




2205/1 © 2008 Hak Cipta Tiada Orang TIDAK SULIT

TIDAK SULIT 2205/1

SECTION C: DRAMA

Answer one question only from this section

[25 marks]

6 JB PRIESTLEY : An Inspector Calls

Sheila (passionately) : You’re pretending everything’s just as it was before.
Eric : I’m not!
Sheila : No, but these others are.
Birling : Well, isn’t it? We’ve been had, that’s all.
Sheila : So nothing really happened. So there’s nothing to be sorry
for, nothing to learn. We can all go on behaving just as we did.
MRS BIRLING : Well, why shouldn’t we?
Act 3



(a) From the above extract, state what the younger characters have learned. [5 marks]

(b) How did Inspector Goole’s visit bring about a change in Sheila Birling’s character?
[8 marks]

(c) Literature helps us understand attitudes and values of society.

What have you learnt about the social attitudes and values presented in the play?
Support your answer with close reference to the play. [12 marks]




[Lihat sebelah
2205/1 © 2008 Hak Cipta Tiada Orang TIDAK SULIT

TIDAK SULIT 2205/1

SECTION D: POETRY

Answer one question only from this section

[25 marks]

7 Theme : CONFLICTS

“Yes; quaint and curious war is!
You shoot a fellow down
You’d treat, if met where any bar is,
Or help to half-a-crown.”


The Man He Killed, Thomas Hardy


(a) In the above lines, what is the persona’s perception towards war? [5 marks]

(b) In the poem Death of a Rainforest by Cecil Rajendra, what words have escaped the
persona? [8 marks]

(c) In the poem The War against the Trees by Stanley Kunitz, the persona describes humans disregard towards the destruction of nature.

How are you affected by his description? Discuss with close reference to the poem.
[12 marks]


KERTAS SOALAN TAMAT




2205/1 © 2008 Hak Cipta Tiada Orang TIDAK SULIT

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

Wide Sargasso Sea is a prequel to the story of Charlotte Bronte's, Jane Eyre. It is about the story of Mrs Rochester, the mad woman in the attic who burned down Thornfield Hall. In Wide Sargasso Sea, Mrs. Rochester was given a name, a story which was denied to her in Jane Eyre. It is quite appropriate, since Jane Eyre is an autobiography, never knew Mrs Rochester personally. However in Wide Sargasso Sea, the mad woman, Antoinette was not always mad. She had a story.

Before readers begin to read the novel, they should familiar themselves with the Emancipation Act 1833 and the consequences of that Act in Jamaica.

Pay close attention to the relationship between the locals and the creoles. Get the definition of Creoles and patois.