gce model questions vol1 2018 literature_in_english | Essay

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Question 1 View Details
The novel and the drama are two of the major literary genres studied in the GCE Literature in English syllabus.
Question Parts
(a)
Outline the distinctive structural features of the novel and the drama.
(b)
Discuss how the purposes of the two genres differ with reference to audience engagement and thematic development.
(c)
Evaluate which genre you consider more effective for exploring complex social issues, giving reasons.
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Question 2 View Details
Consider the following original excerpt: "The river whispered secrets to the moon, / While shadows danced upon the silent dunes."
Question Parts
(a)
Identify two literary devices used in the excerpt and explain their effect.
(b)
Explain how the use of imagery and personification contributes to the overall mood of the passage.
(c)
Suggest how a writer could extend the excerpt into a longer poem, indicating which additional literary devices could be employed to deepen meaning.
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Question 3 View Details
Read the following excerpt from an original poem titled *Echoes of the River*: *The river sings at dawn, a silver thread Winding through the valley’s sleepy hush; Its murmurs weave a tapestry of light, Reflecting hopes that rise and fall like tide. Beneath the willow’s whispering veil, A lone fisherman casts his quiet dream, While clouds drift slow, like thoughts upon the wind, And time, a gentle tide, slips soft away.* Answer the questions that follow.
Question Parts
(a)
Identify the central theme of the poem and explain how the poet develops this theme throughout the excerpt.
(b)
Analyse the use of visual and auditory imagery in the excerpt and discuss its effect on the reader’s perception of the setting.
(c)
Discuss the poet’s structural choices (stanza length, rhyme scheme, line breaks) and evaluate how they contribute to the overall meaning of the poem.
(d)
Evaluate the relevance of the poem’s ideas to contemporary society, giving specific examples of how its message might be applied today.
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Question 4 View Details
Read the following original prose excerpt titled *The Market’s Whisper*: "The market awoke before the sun, stalls already half‑laden with the day’s first harvest. Amma, the elderly vendor, arranged her mangoes in a perfect arc, each fruit gleaming like a tiny lantern. A sudden gust lifted the scent of fresh coriander, weaving through the crowd and drawing a young boy, Kele, toward her stall. He lingered, eyes fixed on a single mango that seemed to pulse with promise. Amma smiled, her wrinkles deepening, and said, ‘Every mango carries a story; choose the one that speaks to yours.’ Kele hesitated, then reached out, his fingers trembling as if the mango might vanish. The market hummed around them, a chorus of barter and laughter, while the sun finally brushed the rooftops, turning the whole scene a shade of amber." Answer the following questions:
Question Parts
(a)
Provide a concise summary of the passage, highlighting the main events and characters.
(b)
Analyse how the author characterises Amma and Kele, using at least two textual techniques for each character.
(c)
Discuss the narrative technique employed in the passage (e.g., use of sensory imagery, focalisation) and evaluate its impact on the reader’s engagement.
(d)
Evaluate the author’s perspective on tradition versus modernity as reflected in the interaction between Amma and Kele.
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Question 5 View Details
The following excerpt is taken from an original contemporary play titled *Shadows of the Market*: "The market stalls creak under the weight of unsold fruits, and the air is thick with the bitter scent of regret. A lone vendor, Madu, wipes his brow, his eyes scanning the empty aisles as if searching for a hope that has long since fled. He mutters, ‘Tomorrow will bring a better price,’ yet his voice trembles, betraying a fear that no sunrise can cure. The crowd moves past, indifferent, their shadows merging with the dusk." Using this excerpt, answer the questions below.
Question Parts
(a)
Identify two dramatic techniques employed in the excerpt and explain how each technique contributes to the atmosphere of the scene.
(b)
Discuss how the playwright uses these techniques to develop the central theme of economic hardship and human resilience.
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Question 6 View Details
Read the following passage extracted from an original novel *River’s Edge*: "Ada stood at the riverbank, her hands clenched around the frayed rope of the old fishing net. The sun caught the silver of her hair, but her eyes were fixed on the water, unblinking. She never spoke of the night the flood took her brother, yet the way she tightened her grip each time the current swelled spoke louder than any words. Neighbours whispered that she was haunted, but those who watched her mend the nets saw a quiet determination, a resolve forged in loss." Answer the questions that follow.
Question Parts
(a)
Identify examples of direct and indirect characterization used in the passage and explain how each example contributes to the reader’s understanding of Ada.
(b)
Evaluate the effectiveness of these characterization methods in portraying Ada’s inner conflict and resilience.
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Question 7 View Details
The short story “The Whispering Tree” tells the tale of Aisha, a village girl who discovers a hidden grove where a mysterious tree seems to echo the thoughts of those who touch its bark. She confides the secret to her friend, and rumors spread, prompting the village elders to forbid any interaction with the tree. In the climax, Aisha must choose between protecting the tree and saving her friend from punishment. The story ends with the tree’s silence and Aisha’s exile.
Question Parts
(a)
Outline the main plot structure, identifying the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.
(b)
Discuss how the author uses pacing and sequencing to build tension leading up to the climax.
(c)
Evaluate the effectiveness of the plot twist – the tree’s sudden silence – in reinforcing the story’s central theme.
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Question 8 View Details
In the novel “Shadows over Lagos”, the author sets the narrative in Lagos during the mid‑1970s, a period marked by rapid urbanisation, bustling markets, oppressive humidity, and political unrest following a military coup. The protagonist, Chinedu, navigates the crowded streets, the noisy Lagos Island ferry, and the oppressive heat while dealing with family pressures and the looming threat of curfew enforcement.
Question Parts
(a)
Describe how the physical setting – the city’s geography, climate and urban bustle – influences the characters’ behaviour and choices.
(b)
Analyse how the author employs sensory details (sight, sound, smell, touch) to create a vivid atmosphere of Lagos in the 1970s.
(c)
Critically assess the role of the historical context – the military coup and curfew – in shaping the novel’s central themes of freedom and identity.
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Question 9 View Details
In Chinua Achebe's novel *Things Fall Apart*, the clash between traditional Igbo culture and the forces of colonialism creates a profound sense of cultural dislocation. Discuss the central theme of cultural alienation in the novel, analysing how Acheke develops this theme through the portrayal of characters, the setting, and key events. In your answer, consider the author's purpose and the impact of this theme on the reader's understanding of the novel's wider social commentary.
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Question 10 View Details
The short story *The Midnight Visitor* employs a shifting narrative perspective, moving from a third‑person omniscient voice to a first‑person account in the climax. Examine how this change in narrative technique influences the reader’s perception of the protagonist’s psychological state and the overall tension of the story. In your response, discuss the effect of focalisation, temporal sequencing, and the reliability of the narrator.
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