The Test

1. The Test Angelica Gibb Prose: Short story Critical Essay Writing

2. We are learning to: • Effectively select exam questions for The Test and write an effective CEL. Use your knowledge from this whole unit of work in order to be successful!

3. Techniques we have discussed • We have examined this text looking at the following literary devices: • Setting • Characterisation • Relationships between characters • Theme • Plot • Word Choice • Dialect These are the techniques you must discuss when analysing!

4. Exam Questions • You are going to see a selection of Prose exam questions. • In your group, discuss whether or not you could answer these questions on The Test. • You must explain your reasons why!

5. Choose a novel or a short story in which you feel there is an incident of great importance to the story as a whole. • Choose a novel or a short story which has a character who affects you emotionally. • Choose a novel or a short story which gives you an insight into an aspect of human nature or behaviour. • Choose a prose work (fiction or non-fiction) in which setting is an important feature. • Choose a novel or short story which has a turning point or moment of realisation for at least one of the characters. • Choose a novel or short story in which you feel sympathy with one of the main characters because of the difficulties or injustice or hardships she or he has to face.

6. Feedback

7. Questions • Choose a novel or a short story in which you feel there is an incident of great importance to the story as a whole. • Incident: Marian stalling the car which allows the DI to fail her.

8. Choose a novel or a short story which has a character who affects you emotionally. • Emotion: We feel SYMPATHY towards Marion

9. Choose a novel or a short story which gives you an insight into an aspect of human nature or behaviour. • Aspect of human behaviour: RACISM

10. Choose a prose work (fiction or non-fiction) in which setting is an important feature. • Setting: 1940’s America where race divides the country and racism is a very prevalent thing

11. Choose a novel or short story which has a turning point or moment of realisation for at least one of the characters. • Turning point: Marian stalling the car and saying “Damn.”

12. Choose a novel or short story in which you feel sympathy with one of the main characters because of the difficulties or injustice or hardships she or he has to face. • Sympathy – towards Marion!

13. Let’s look at the question… • Choose a novel or short story in which you feel sympathy with one of the main characters because of the difficulties or injustice or hardships she or he has to face. • Describe the problems the character faces and show by what means you are made to feel sympathy for her or him.

14. Choose a novel or short story in which you feel sympathy with one of the main characters because of the difficulties or injustice or hardships she or he has to face. • Describe the problems the character faces and show by what means you are made to feel sympathy for her or him.

15. Group Task – 10 minutes • As a group, you are going to create a mind map. • In this mind-map, you are going to show what you would discuss in this essay and what evidence you would use. What crucial elements of the story should we discuss?

16. Feedback

17. Choose a novel or short story in which you feel sympathy with one of the main characters because of the difficulties or injustice or hardships she or he has to face. Describe the problems the character faces and show by what means you are made to feel sympathy for her or him. Introduction Marion’s first failure – demonstrates racial injustice Mrs. Ericson and her relationship with Marion The DI and the way he takes away Marion's dignity by misusing her name. The DI worsening racism. Marion’s stall and the DI “random” failure. Marion’s resignation and acceptance of her fate. Conclusion In this essay:

18. Introduction • Title and author (Angelica Gibb) • Genre (short story) • Refer to the key words in the question (sympathy) • Mention which features you intend to include (characterisation, dialogue, word-choice, setting etc)

19. Marion’s first failure – demonstrates racial injustice • You should discuss the fact that Marion had previously failed her test with her cousin Bill supervising. • This is unjust because she already has a driver’s license. • 'Perhaps last time your Cousin Bill made you nervous, talking too much on the way.‘ • 'They probably do like it better if a white person shows up with you.' • 'Yes, sir. I had a license for three years in Pennsylvania.'

20. Mrs. Ericson and her relationship with Marion • Mrs Ericison appears to value and respect Marian but she still treats her the way society believes she should be because of her skin colour. • This is unjust because Marian should be treated equally. • Mrs Ericson watched her dark, competent hands and wondered for the thousandth time how the house had ever managed to get along without her • 'Oh, Marian,' Mrs Ericson exclaimed, 'if I could only pay you half of what you're worth!‘ • 'Now, Mrs Ericson,' Marian said firmly. They looked at each other and smiled with affection.

21. The DI and the way he takes away Marion's dignity by misusing her name. • The Driving Inspector tries to belittle Marian by taking away her personal dignity. He continues this behaviour despite being corrected. • This is unjust because he does not know her and does not have the right to treat her in the condescending manner. • 'Don't you want to come along?' the inspector asked. 'Mandy and I don't mind company.' • Mrs Ericson was bewildered for a moment. 'No,' she said, and stepped to the curb. 'I might make Marian self-conscious. She's a fine driver, Inspector.'

22. The DI worsening racism. • The Driving Inspector continues to test Marian’s patience by inflicting worsening examples of racism upon her. • This is unjust because she has not provoked this behaviour and he is ignorantly pre-judging her using incorrect and racist stereotypes. • 'Old enough to have quite a flock of pickaninnies, eh?‘ • 'Sure you don't really want to sneak out nights to meet some young blood?' the inspector asked. • He began to whistle 'Swanee River.' 'Make you homesick?' he asked. • 'You-all ain't Southern?' he said. 'Well, dog my cats if I didn't think you-all came from down yondah.‘ • 'Stop here,' he said, wiping his eyes, 'then start 'er up again. Mandy got her degree, did she? Dog my cats!'

23. Marian’s stall and the DI “random” failure. • Marian eventually loses her patience when she stalls her car. The Driving Inspector has succeeded and he fails her. • This is unjust because Marian has done nothing to merit a fail but she has given the DI an excuse to fail her. • As she released the brake her foot slipped off the clutch pedal and the engine stalled. 'Now, Mistress Mandy,' the inspector said, 'remember your degree.' • 'Damn you!" Marian cried. She started the car with a jerk. • The inspector lost his joviality in an instant. 'Return to the starting place, please,' he said, and made four very black crosses at random in the squares on Marian's application blank.

24. Marion’s resignation and acceptance of her fate. • Marion’s sadly accepts that he has once again failed and there is nothing that she can do to prevent her fate. • This is unjust because she is a capable driver and the DI’s prejudice has prevented her from being successful. • Marian stared down at the wheel and her lip trembled. • 'Oh, Marian, again?' Mrs. Ericson said. • Marian nodded. 'In a sort of different way,' she said, and slid over to the right-hand side of the car.

25. Conclusion • In your conclusion you should: • Sum up your discussions • Give a personal opinion about the text • Refer to the question.