Higher - From September 2013 - Specimen - OCR

A664/02 Mark Scheme SPECIMEN
Question Answer Marks Guidance
9 (a) Wendy Cope
16
The situation itself is entertaining. The inspectors’ report apparently finds the
school “OK”, its only constructive criticism being to “see to the dead
stickleback”. This is a puzzle to the teachers, who have been approved of
(“we shan’t get the sack”), as, although there is apparently plenty of wildlife in
the classroom, “We haven’t a quick or a dead stickleback”. The poem
speculates that the inspector saw a spectre (the play on words deserves
comment) and that sightings of the dead stickleback are symptoms of
inspectorial over-work. The dead stickleback becomes fearsome and teachers
are advised to “take off” should they encounter it. The elevation of the dead
stickleback to such a terrifying monster is entertaining. The strong rhythm and
rhyme and chatty conversational style help to make the poem so enjoyable.
Basic responses will make some relevant
comments on the poem, with some
textual reference. They will move through
the bands as understanding of what is so
entertaining about the poem becomes
clearer and more strongly supported.
The best will offer a detailed and
insightful analysis of how Cope’s
language and its effects make the poem
so entertaining.
9 (b) Wendy Cope
16
On Finding an Old Photograph reveals quite complex feelings about the
relationship with the father. The first two verses establish the period in some
detail. The third and fourth verses reflect on the relationship, noting the
father’s happiness in the picture and his later sadness, in some unspecified
way caused by his daughter.
Basic responses will make some relevant
comments on the poem, with some
textual reference. They will move through
the bands as understanding of what
makes the depiction of the past so
moving becomes clearer and more
strongly supported. The best will offer a
detailed and insightful analysis of how
Cope’s language and its effects makes
the depiction of the past so moving.
18