RI Prelim 2018 Paper 1 QP

[Turn over RAFFLES INSTITUTION 2018 YEAR 6 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION HIGHER 2 LITERATURE IN ENGLISH 9509/01 Paper 1 Reading Literature Tuesday 11 September 2018 3 hours 1330 – 1630 Additional Materials: Answer Paper Set texts may be taken into the examination room. They may bear underlining or highlighting. Any kind of folding or flagging of papers in texts (e.g. use of post -its, tape flags or paper clips) is not permitted. READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST Write your name and CT group on all the work you hand in. Write in dark blue or black pen on both sides of the paper. Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid. Answer three questions, one from each of Sections A, B and C. You are reminded of the need for good English and clear presentation in your answers. At the end of the examination tie your answer sheets to each section securely. Hand in your answers separately. All questions in this paper carry equal marks. This document consists of 11 printed pages and 1 blank page.

2 ©RI 2018 H2 P1 RI LIT PRELIM 9509/01/18 Section A 1 Either (a) Write a critical comparison of the following poems, considering in detail ways in which language, style and form contribute to each poet’s portrayal of isolation. A THE CLOWN Others are noble and admired – The ones who walk the tightrope without nets, The one who goes inside the lion’s cage, And all the grave, audacious acrobats. Away from fear and rage He simply is the interval for tired 5 People who cannot bear Too much excitement. They can see in him Their own lost innocence or else their fear (For him no metal bars or broken limb). Have they forgotten that it takes as much Boldness to tumble, entertain and jest When loneliness walks tightropes in your breast And every joke is like a wild beast’s touch? 10 Elizabeth Jennings (1926 – 2001) B NOT WAVING BUT DROWNING Nobody heard him, the dead man, But still he lay moaning: I was much further out than you thought And not waving but drowning. Poor chap, he always loved larking And now he’s dead It must have been too cold for him his heart gave way, They said. 5 Oh, no no no, it was too cold always (Still the dead one lay moaning) I was much too far out all my life And not waving but drowning. 10 Stevie Smith (1902 – 1971)

3 ©RI 2018 H2 P1 RI LIT PRELIM 9509/01/18 Or (b) Write a critical comparison of the following poems, considering in detail ways in which language, style and form contribute to each poet’s portrayal of the rain. A AFTER THE RAIN Bright is the air now, someone has hung diamonds on the trees; the leaves lie wetly furled where the wind has hurled them earthward and the rain crumpled them to obedience; this is the time the oriole turns anxious for its flimsy nest, but still its throat is sweet above the fluttering in its breast. The pools that divided the lawn in miniature padifields are dwindled to a winking milky way, and there, beneath the fig tree heavy with fruit the ripe figs bloat, like scarlet pincushions on the pond. Even the fish flash a more silvery scale in the lucent water. To the gate down the road a schoolboy comes, drenched to the skin, but with a gleam in his eye, and whistling, not knowing why. 5 10 15 20 25 Lee Tzu Pheng (1946 – ) B AFTER LONG DROUGHT After long drought, commotion in the sky; After dead silence, thunder. Then it comes, The rain. It slashes leaves, and doubly drums On tin and shingle; beats and bends awry The flower heads; puddles dust, and with a sigh Like love sinks into grasses, where it hums As bees did once, among chrysanthemums And asters when the summer thought to die. The whole world dreamed of this, and has it now. Nor was the waking easy. The dull root Is jealous of its death; the sleepy brow Smiles in its slumber; and a heart can fear The very flood it longed for, roaring near. The spirit best remembers being mute. 5 10 Mark Van Doren (1894 – 1972) [Turn over

4 ©RI 2018 H2 P1 RI LIT PRELIM 9509/01/18 Section B JANE AUSTEN: Pride and Prejudice 2 Either (a) ‘Austen distrusts the superficial while recognising its social necessity.’ Discuss. Or (b) Write a critical commentary on the following passage , relating it to the presentation of the relationship between Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Elizabeth Bennet, here and elsewhere in the novel. “Miss Bennet, there seemed to be a prettyish kind of a little wilderness on one side of your lawn. I should be glad to take a turn in it, if you will favour me with your company.” “Go, my d ear,” cried her mother, “and she w her ladyship about the different walks. I think she will be pleased with the hermitage.” Elizabeth obeyed, and running into her own room for her parasol, attended her noble guest down stairs. As they passed through the hall, Lady Catherine opened the doors into the dining-parlour and drawing-room, and pronouncing them, after a short survey, to be decent looking rooms, walked on. Her carriage remained at the door, and Elizabeth saw that her waiting -woman was in it. They proceeded in silence along the gravel walk that led to the copse; Elizabeth was determined to make no effort for conversation with a woman who was now more than usually insolent and disagreeable. “How could I ever think her like her nephew?” said she, as she looked in her face. As soon as they entered the copse, Lady Catherine began in the following manner:— “You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the reason of my journey hither. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I come.” Elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment. “Indeed, you are mistaken, Madam. I have not been at all able to account for the honour of seeing you here.” “Miss Bennet,” replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, “you ought to know, that I am not to be trifled with. But however insincere you may choose to be, you shall not find me so. My character has ever been celebrated for its sincerity and frankness, and in a cause of such moment as this, I shall certainly not depart from it. A report of a most alarming nature reached me two d ays ago. I was told, that not only your sister was on the point of being most advantageously married, but that you, that Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would, in all likelihood, be soon afterwards united to my nephew, my own nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I know it must be a scandalous falsehood, though I would not injure him so much as to suppose the truth of it possible, I instantly resolved on setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments known to you.” “If you believed it impossible to be true,” said Elizabeth, colouring with astonishment and disdain, “I wonder you took the trouble of coming so far. What could your ladyship propose by it?” “At once to insist upon having such a report universally contradicted.”