YEAR 13 LESSON FIFTY-THREE [9th May 14]: Homework

The aim of this session was to confront two AQA past questions from the June 2013 exam. Below are the two questions that were considered by a fine group of intellectually engaged East Yorkshire teenagers:

1. 'ALTHOUGH FAUSTUS IS EVENTUALLY PUNISHED, THE PLAY IS ESSENTIALLY A CELEBRATION OF SIN RATHER THAN A MORALITY TALE.' HOW FAR DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS VIEW OF THE PLAY?

This question seemed to strike some Faustian fear but the question allows students to construct an argument that suggests that this play is a shocking and powerful didactic Christian Fable rather than a 'celebration of sin'. The Chorus, the reference to Icarus, the symbolic significance of the Old Man, and the terrifying nature of the final soliloquy were all referenced as moments from the play that could be used to construct the argument that Marlowe's aim was to construct a work of art that deals with sin and punishment. The area of the question that caused some interesting comments was the idea that this play is a 'celebration of sin'. I think that a more sophisticated response would consider how Mephistophilis is the source of comedy within the play [slapping the Pope, transforming R and R into a dog and a monkey, the Horse Courser moment] and the audience may find themselves entertained by this devilish character. The audience may forget that they are being entertained by a demon. Marlowe's aim here may have been to amplify the deceptive nature of evil. Mephistophilis is presented to the audience as a playful and engaging character before his vile devilish nature is powerfully revealed  in the final two scenes as he engineers the murder of the Old Man, encourages Faustus to kill himself, and mocks Faustus as he is dragged to Hell. The comedy may be perceived as being 'a celebration of sin' as Mephistophilis is used by Marlowe to generate laughter but this a dramatic devise to criticise the deceptive and seductive nature of evil rather than a celebration of sin. This idea of sin being seductive and deceptive could be linked to the Helen of Troy moment which reinforces the idea that Faustus has been seduced or 'ravished' by evil to the extent that he now views evil as being beautiful and is incapable of recognising its true nature.
We also discussed how the conclusion of this play subverts the traditional narrative conclusion of a morality play to add even more dramatic power to the terrifying dramatic conclusion. One student suggested that Marlowe's refusal to conform to the conventional structure of the morality play could be compared with the shocking and original representation of Mephistophilis who is not presented by Marlowe as simplistic 'biblical' representation of evil.

I think that you lot are perfectly capable of producing an argument that supports the idea that this is a didactic fable but the 'celebration of sin' argument will need a more thoughtful and sophisticated level of evaluation. I would urge all students to attempt this essay as a 60 minute timed response.

I gave you the SECTION A mark Scheme yesterday. I gave you ALL the mark schemes before Christmas but I just want to make sure you are all armed with the mark scheme. Here it is again:

  

2. HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THE VIEW THAT GOTHIC WRITING EXPLORES  

    POTENTIAL THREATS TO NORMAL VALUES?

The general view from the class was that this is a question that would be perceived as a 'gift'? So go on then...prove it. I would urge students to attempt this as a timed response and drop the essay in my email.

I gave students the mark scheme yesterday but just in case you have misplaced this important document, here is the SECTION B Mark Scheme:

HOMEWORK: READ THE TEXTS, CONSIDER SOME OF THE ISSUES EXPLORED IN CLASS DISCUSSION AND ATTEMPT TO ANSWER SOME PAST QUESTIONS. ALL STUDENTS SHOULD BE ATTEMPTING PAST QUESTIONS. YOU ALL HAVE THE PAST EXAM QUESTIONS. YOU NEED TO START ATTEMPTING SOME TIMED ESSAYS. DON'T WAIT FOR ME TO DIRECT YOUR HOMEWORK AS I EXPECT ALL STUDENTS TO PROVIDE ME WITH EVIDENCE OF LEARNING THROUGH WRITTEN WORK.

IT'S ALL ABOUT ESSAY WRITING NOW FOLKS. THE CONTENT OF MY FINAL LESSONS WILL BE DICTATED BY ISSUES IDENTIFIED WHEN EXAMINING THE CONTENT OF YOUR TIMED ESSAYS.