AQA GCSE The Woman in Black 2016 *official thread*

What did everyone write?

I did the Spider question, so I wrote about how we grow to trust Spider's reactions (basically the point I made on the other page about Kipps being an unreliable narrator), and as a result, whenever she is scared, it creates tension in the chapter. Did loads of close analysis on when the dog is "whimpering from one corner" (or something) in the nursery. Also wrote about how Spider's reactions (as a result of our trust in her) create climaxes of terror yet quickly diffuse any tension in the book. Then wrote about when she's growling in the night, yet there appears to be nothing there, which hints that she has some sort of sixth sense and adds to the sense of a supernatural presence in the house (Gothic convention!) The dog's physical reaction shows how the Woman in Black and her movements are real and not something just created in Arthur's mind. Finally, how she adds to our fear of the Woman in Black as even though Spider appears less susceptible to her than Arthur is, she simply needs to whistle for the dog to do her bidding without suspicion. Shows her power over all of nature and creates fear in the reader!

I only wrote 8 sides [4 for WIB], how'd you write so much! Which other text did you study?

Really excellent ideas above. Well done - you should be proud yourself. I have absolutely no idea why I was able to write so much. I do not have gargantuan handwriting and I was not exactly 'on top of' my time. My other text was To Kill a Mockingbird. What about you?

Thank you! Think it goes without saying your ideas were wonderful and insightful, too. "Delightful with flair", to quote the language mark scheme. What did you write about the Oedipus complex? I didn't pick up on it as a theme when reading the book, but with Hill's obsession with including every feature of the Gothic ever, I have no doubt it's in there.

How were your other questions? I did Of Mice and Men, and am so glad I checked TSR last night, as it was about - as predicted - the American Dream and Lennie's death (which should have been obvious, really, considering it's the last year and all.) I almost didn't include an effects on the reader sentence, I didn't realise until the invigilators were saying "finish your last sentence," so I ended up writing some bs about how heartbreaking it was to see George killing both Lennie and his dream. Think I might have dropped a few bands on that one! :'

Thank you! Think it goes without saying your ideas were wonderful and insightful, too. "Delightful with flair", to quote the language mark scheme. What did you write about the Oedipus complex? I didn't pick up on it as a theme when reading the book, but with Hill's obsession with including every feature of the Gothic ever, I have no doubt it's in there.

How were your other questions? I did Of Mice and Men, and am so glad I checked TSR last night, as it was about - as predicted - the American Dream and Lennie's death (which should have been obvious, really, considering it's the last year and all.) I almost didn't include an effects on the reader sentence, I didn't realise until the invigilators were saying "finish your last sentence," so I ended up writing some bs about how heartbreaking it was to see George killing both Lennie and his dream. Think I might have dropped a few bands on that one! :'

Let me first applaud the careless abandon with which you chose random digits to create a large number (12321). I wrote about the Woman in Black first where I analysed the sibilance in "stretched and strained" and the plosive in "blue white sheen". I spoke about the seduction of Kipps, Hill presents the supernatural as initially admirable - I linked this to the sublime. I then made a passing comment on the Oedipus Complex and repetitive compulsion.

I then explained how Hill presents the supernatural as malicious through the affect it has on Kipps. I analysed the sound of the pony and trap. He describes his nerves as "jangled" where the the metal connotations suggest the dehumanising of Kipps. I then spoke of Jerome's reaction and what this suggests about the supernatural. I then looked at the mere mention of the supernatural and its effect on the Landlord. The idea that his "face flickered" is intriguing as flickered connotates to a candle being blown out. However the fricatives in "face flickered" causes an exhale of breath in reading showing how the reader is almost blowing out the candle of the Landlord's life. This shows how the supernatural is so powerful that it can almost seep through the pages and affect the reader, possessing them almost.

I wrote 5 sides if I remember correctly (for the whole exam I wrote 11 sides). How much did you write?

I did Of Mice and Men as well, the thing is - we didn't need to talk about the death of the dream in the second part because I'm sure you already referred to it in part a, so don't worry about dropping bands I don't think you will. I talked about George and Lennie's dream, included Candy partly to show it's 'magnetic' quality and then went on to talk about Crooks' marginalisation etc.. what did you write about?

I am flattered by your compliments. I thank you greatly. I only wrote one sentence about the Oedipus sentence where I explained how the Woman in Black and her supernatural disposition were commanded by the loose Oedipus complex in the relationship that she had with her son. She is incredibly possessive over him (a natural oedipus complex trait) and so exercises repetitive compulsion in killing other children.

The passage for the TKAM question was not at all what people predicted but I found it quite easy. The part B question was a gift from God (no offence to atheists) - ridiculously open and with lots to talk about.

I see! That's a good little point you've got there. c;

I feel like the questions were rather kind to everyone - hoping that doesn't mean that the poetry on Friday will be ultra difficult? Which cluster are you doing?

Character and Voice. What about you?

For supernatural did anyone consider:-
Spider to show supernatural through the use of the dog and the 6th sense.
Maybe even the description of wind and the banshee as it shows her expression almost, whilst also creating foreshadowing

For supernatural did anyone consider:-
Spider to show supernatural through the use of the dog and the 6th sense.
Maybe even the description of wind and the banshee as it shows her expression almost, whilst also creating foreshadowing