GCSE English Language 2.0 – Halloween – Paper 2
Section A – Reading
Read Text 1 (fiction) below and then answer Questions 1–2.
This extract is adapted from an early ghost story detailing a country house, a witch trial and an ominous tree.
As you looked at it from the park, you saw on the right a great old ash-tree growing within half a dozen yards of the wall, and almost or quite touching the building with its branches. I suppose it had stood there ever since Castringham Hall ceased to be a fortified place, and since the moat was filled in and the Elizabethan dwelling-house built. At any rate, it had well-nigh attained its full dimensions in the year 1690.
In that year the district in which the Hall is situated was the scene of a number of witch-trials. It will be long, I think, before we arrive at a just estimate of the amount of solid reason—if there was any—which lay at the root of the universal fear of witches in old times. Whether the persons accused of this offence really did imagine that they were possessed of unusual power of any kind; or whether they had the will at least, if not the power, of doing mischief to their neighbours; or whether all the confessions, of which there are so many, were extorted by the mere cruelty of the witch-finders—these are questions which are not, I fancy, yet solved.
Castringham contributed a victim to the auto-da-fè. Mrs. Mothersole was her name, and she differed from the ordinary run of village witches only in being rather better off and in a more influential position.
But what seems to have been fatal to the woman was the evidence of the then proprietor of Castringham Hall—Sir Matthew Fell. He deposed to having watched her on three different occasions from his window, at the full of the moon, gathering branches ‘from the ash-tree near my house.’ She had climbed into the branches, clad only in her shift, and was cutting off small twigs with a peculiarly curved knife, and as she did so she seemed to be talking to herself. On each occasion Sir Matthew had done his best to capture the woman, but she had always taken alarm at some accidental noise he had made, and all he could see when he got down to the garden was a hare running across the path in the direction of the village.
Mrs. Mothersole was found guilty and condemned to die. The other victims were apathetic or broken down with misery; but Mrs. Mothersole offered no resistance. Only she looked upon those that laid hands upon her with so direful and venomous an aspect. All that she is reported to have said was the seemingly meaningless words: ‘There will be guests at the Hall.’
Read Text 2 (non‑fiction) below and answer Questions 3–4.
This is an edited extract from a book published in 1919 which describes the customs, colours, food, and pranks associated with Hallowe’en in America.
In Colonial days Hallowe’en was not celebrated much in America. Some English still kept the customs of the old world, such as apple-ducking and snapping, and girls tried the apple-paring charm to reveal their lovers’ initials, and the comb-and-mirror test to see their faces. Ballads were sung and ghost-stories told, for the dead were thought to return on Hallowe’en.
The prevailing colors are yellow and black: a deep yellow is the color of most ripe grain and fruit; black stands for black magic and demoniac influence. Ghosts and skulls and cross-bones, symbols of death, startle the beholder. Since Hallowe’en is a time for lovers to learn their fate, hearts and other sentimental tokens are used to good effect.
Having marched to the dining-room to the time of a dirge, the guests find before them plain, hearty fare; doughnuts, gingerbread, cider, popcorn, apples, and nuts honored by time. The Hallowe’en cake has held the place of honor since the beginning here in America. A ring, key, thimble, penny, and button baked in it foretell respectively speedy marriage, a journey, spinsterhood, wealth, and bachelorhood.
Bags filled with flour sprinkle the passers-by. Door-bells are rung and mysterious raps sounded on doors, things thrown into halls, and knobs stolen. Such sports mean no more at Hallowe’en than the tricks played the night before the Fourth of July have to do with the Declaration of Independence: we see manifested on all such occasions the spirit of ‘Free-night.
SECTION A – Reading
You should spend about 1 hour 10 minutes on this section.
Read Text 1 and answer Questions 1–2.
Q1. From paragraph four, identify one way that Mrs. Mothersole is seen interacting with the ash-tree. (1 Mark)
Q2. Read this extract.
Mrs. Mothersole was found guilty and condemned to die. The other victims were apathetic or broken down with misery; but Mrs. Mothersole offered no resistance. Only she looked upon those that laid hands upon her with so direful and venomous an aspect. All that she is reported to have said was the seemingly meaningless words: ‘There will be guests at the Hall.’
In the extract, how does the writer use language to show how Mrs Mothersole feels about her situation? Use examples from the extract and relevant subject terminology. (6 marks)
Read Text 2 in the Source Booklet provided and answer Questions 3–4.
Q3. Read this extract.
The prevailing colors are yellow and black: a deep yellow is the color of most ripe grain and fruit; black stands for black magic and demoniac influence. Ghosts and skulls and cross-bones, symbols of death, startle the beholder. Since Hallowe’en is a time for lovers to learn their fate, hearts and other sentimental tokens are used to good effect.
From the extract, identify one thing that shows how decorations are used to symbolise Hallowe’en themes. (1 Mark)
Q4. The writer presents Hallowe’en as a blend of tradition, symbolism, and playful mischief. How does the writer try to interest and engage the reader? You should include:
- the writer’s use of language
- the writer’s use of structure
- the effect on the reader.
Use examples from the whole text and relevant subject terminology. (10 Marks)
Questions 5–6 are on both Text 1 and Text 2.
Remember to refer to both texts in your answers.
Q5. Text 1 and Text 2 both show rituals surrounding Hallowe’en-like events. The experiences are different, but they share similarities. Write a summary giving three separate ways the experiences are similar. Support each separate similarity with evidence from both texts. (6 Marks)
Q6. Compare the writers’ ideas and perspectives about Hallowe’en and supernatural events. You should compare:
- the main ideas
- the points of view
- the presentation of these ideas and views
Use examples from both texts to support your comparison. (16 marks)
SECTION B – Writing
Answer ONE question in this section. You should spend about 45 minutes on this section.
EITHER
*7 Write an imaginative piece that starts with the line: ‘On Hallowe’en, the town agreed to keep the lights low’
*Your response will be marked for the accurate and appropriate use of vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar. (40 marks)
OR
*8 Write about a time when you, or someone you know, mistook a prank for something supernatural. Your response could be real or imagined.
*Your response will be marked for the accurate and appropriate use of vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Sources:
Text One: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Ghost_Stories_of_an_Antiquary/The_Ash-tree
Text Two: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/20644/20644-h/20644-h.htm