The Hemingway Question

The Last Piece of the Puzzle

Choice of 2 Questions

Passage basedor

Whole text

Type of task

Open textClean copy35 minutes

Both questions are ‘HOW’ focused

They require an understanding of:

CharactersRelationships

ThemesHemingway’s writing style

Passage based question

200-300 word extract

Requires close study of Hemingway’s content and language

You must also connect the passage to the rest of the novella

‘How does Hemingway reveal ( ) here and in

the rest of the novel?’

‘How does Hemingway portray ( ) here and

in the rest of the novel?’

‘In what ways does Hemingway’s writing here add

to your understanding of ( )?’

‘How does the ( ) in this passage confirm what you have

learned earlier in the novel?’

June 2006

The relationship between Santiago & Manolin

January 2006The determination of the old man

June 2005

The struggle to get the fish to shore

January 2008

Manolin

June 2007Powers of endurance

January 2007

Santiago

June 2009

Respect for the sea

January 2009How effective as an ending?

June 2008

Role of the fisherman

Whole text question

Requires you to draw connections between 3 or more sections of the novel that

address the topic given

Use brief, embedded quotation to support your ideas

June 2006

What Santiago has learned from the sea & its creatures

January 2006Effects of a hard life on the old man

June 2005

Relationship between the old man and the boy

January 2008

Santiago’s solitary life at sea

June 2007The importance of Santiago’s tricks

January 2007

The sea as ‘giving great favours’

June 2009

How Manolin supports Santiago during the novel

January 2009Santiago’s thoughts and feelings about the marlin

June 2008

The past/memories & dreams help us understand characters

Characters Relationships Themes

Santiago Santiago & Manolin Endurance

Manolin Santiago & the Marlin The struggle of life

The Marlin Loneliness

The role of the fisherman

Respect for the sea

Past/memories/dreams

Santiago’s tricks

The sea and its creatures

Pitfall to avoid

Time wasted by flicking through the text to find relevant sections

Solution

Know the text better!

Use specific illustrative example from memory as well as quotation –

it’s quicker

Pitfalls to avoid

Failure to answer the question set and slip into retelling rather than

analysing the text

Solution

Annotate the question

Plan your answer briefly and stick to the plan

Remember that the examiner knows the text as well as you do or better so you

don’t need to explain the plot!

Pitfalls to avoid

Inability to offer a full answer in the limited time available

Solution

It is unlikely that you WILL be able to offer a full answer – and because

it’s the 1st of 3 questions on the paper, you are in danger of eating

into time you don’t have so use a 5 paragraph plan -

The 5 Paragraph Plan – Passage

P1 – Thesis that directly addresses the topic

P2/3 – commentary that support your thesis, illustrated by close textual reference to the language and content of the passageP4 – Commentary from other sections of the novel that also support your topic-based thesis

P5 – Conclusion that revisits the thesis and acknowledges its significance to Hemingway’s themes and interests

The 5 Paragraph Plan – Whole text

P1 – Thesis that directly addresses the topic

P2/3/4 – 3 points that support your thesis, illustrated by close textual reference from different sections of the novel

P5 – Conclusion that revisits the thesis and acknowledges its significance to Hemingway’s themes and interests

Other Preparation Strategies

Multi pass readingReview all notes

Visit Study Guide sitesQuestion prediction

Plan under timed conditions