Choose two or three extracts to explore in detail,
In your answer you should consider:
- Frayn's language choices
- narrative viewpoint
From the Examiner's Report
There were some sound responses to this question with appropriate episodes selected on which to base their discussion, although it was clear that some students were not entirely sure what naivety means. Many equated naivety with childhood, which led to some not-quite-focused responses. Extracts chosen tended to include Barbara and hiding in the den but most did not include anything about the more complex issues, such as the relationship between Mrs Hayward and Peter. The challenge for many students was to draw out sufficient linguistic details to explain how Stephen's naivety is conveyed. Most showed a good awareness of narrative voice and better responses thoughtfully explored how the older and younger narrative viewpoints conveyed a sense of Stephen's naivety through the contrast between Stephen as a child and the more knowing sophistication of the grown-up narrator.
The student's response should:- from the exam board
Stephen's 1st person narrative as an adult - aware of his own childish naivety
• his lack of understanding of adults' lives - his response to Aunty Dee living nearby: Aunts don't live in the same street as you!
• his willingness to believe that Keith's mother could be a spy
• the games he plays - hiding in the den
• his lack of knowledge about sex and girls - taunted by Barbara: 'You mean you don't know what privet is?'
•Stephen's direct speech with Barbara: 'They kiss each other,' she whispers.....'I know, I know,' I say, though I didn't.
• Stephen's tragic lack of understanding of what is going on between Mrs Hayward and Peter.
General feedback on this question - from me
- Define clearly what you understand by the term 'naivety.' It means, having or showing unaffected simplicity of nature or absence of artificiality; unsophisticated; ingenuous. Having or showing a lack of experience, judgment, or information; credulous:
- Comment on the older Stephen commenting on the younger Stephen's thoughts and behaviour during the war episode
- Comment on Stephen's mostly unquestioning loyality to Keith and their friendship
- and Stephen's complete trust and belief in Keith and his judgements
- Comment on Keith's natural role as leader and Stephen's accepted role as follower
- Comment on Stephen's almost complete lack of knowledge and understanding of women and girls
- Comment on Stephen's partial knowledge of the neighbourhood, his limited and general lack of knowledge about the world at large and the war - incredibly simplistic
- Comment on Stephen's almost complete obedience towards adults
- Comment on Stephen's ability to be manipulated and exploited by Barbara and Mrs Hayward
- Comment on the power of Stephen's extraordinary imagination - he hid his face when Peter came to the box by the railway line - page 117-118
- It is vital that you respond in your answer to two or three episodes.
- It is vital that you analyse the quotations you use in this question drawing on language and literary terms. If you don't do this you will be losing marks.
- Don't spend time writing detailed introductions or conclusions. You will get marks for writing relevant, concise analytical paragraphs using a brief and direct overview to begin and a concluding statement to end.
