ftp.barnyard.co.uk/2015.02.ftp.barnyard.co.uk.tar/ftp.barnyard.co.uk/cpm/walnut-creek-CDROM/MBUG/MBUG186.ARC/CONTEXT.NTS

Text File | 1979-12-31 | 4KB | 100 lines

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The notes that follow refer specifically to the VCE Exam (Year
12) which is taken in November by Secondary students doing
Literature in English.
'Romeo and Juliet' may be examined in the future.
The notes may also be useful to candidates preparing for other
exams or for exams at a different level.

By 'Context Question' teachers and examiners refer to the type
of question which presents a short passage from the text and
then asks a series of questions based on that passage.
In the VCE exam the Context question is usually the first
question in the paper and it is usually worth 20% of the
total marks.
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This question demands a detailed knowledge of the text.
Questions usually centre on:
- understanding of words phrases imagery in the extract.
- knowledge of when and where the scene takes place.
- character attributes revealed in the extract.
- awareness of how parts of the extract relate to important
plot and theme elements in the rest of the play.

It is important to note the mark allocation for each part of
the question as this is a guide to the depth of the answer
required. It is pointless to write a paragraph to answer a
1-mark question when a few words would be enough.
In the following screens there is a sample set of questions
followed by model answers.
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Sample Context Question.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The passage on which the questions are based is the whole of
the short scene Act III scene iv.

1. The Capulet household is mourning the death of Tybalt.
a. Who killed Tybalt? (1 mark)
b. Why did he kill him?  (1 mark)

2. There is great dramatic irony in the words of Capulet and
his wife. Explain the irony by saying what Juliet is in fact
doing at the time they are speaking.  (2 marks)

3. Explain in your own words lines 23-26  (2 marks)
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4. In lines 13-14 Capulet says that he expects Juliet to
follow his wishes and marry Paris.
a. Give two reasons that Capulet had previously given to Paris
for not allowing Juliet to marry.  (2 marks)
b. Describe what actually happens when Juliet is told that she
is to marry Paris.  (3 marks)

5. Capulet also indicates that the wedding will be a small
affair and that it will be held on Thursday. Describe how and
why he later changes his mind on both points.  (4 marks)

6. Briefly describe how Juliet tries to avoid the marriage
and the results of her attempt.  (5 marks)
** TOTAL 20 MARKS **
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ANSWERS
1 a. Romeo killed Tybalt.
1 b. He killed him to revenge his friend Mercutio slain by
Tybalt moments earlier.

2. Capulet and his wife think that Juliet is grieving for
Tybalt. In fact Juliet is joyfully celebrating her marriage
to Romeo. They are spending the night together.

3. We won't have a big celebration just a few friends for
mind you since Tybalt was killed so recently people may
think we are disrespectful to our dead relative if we have a
big party.
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4. a. In Act I scene ii he says that she is too young (not
yet fourteen) and also Juliet's own wishes are very important:
My will to her consent is but a part.
4 b. Juliet refuses first her mother and then her father.
Both of them abuse her for her stubbornness and her father
threatens to throw her out onto the streets.

5. To deceive her parents Juliet agrees to marry Paris. Her
father is so delighted at her change of heart that he
immediately brings the date of the wedding forward one day.
He also forgets his earlier words about a small celebration
and organises a large feast.
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6. Juliet follows Friar Lawrence's plan. She takes a drug
which will make her appear dead for 42 hours. She will be
placed in the Capulets' vault where Romeo will come and
rescue her when she wakes.

Unfortunately Romeo is not told of the plan and thinks she
is really dead. He rushes to the tomb where he takes poison
and dies.

Waking and finding him dead Juliet also takes her own life
with Romeo's dagger.