The extract question
You should aim to write around one side on the extract, and you should use about ten quotes, which you discuss within your response. You should quote both dialogue and stage directions. You do NOT need to talk about context in the extract response. The extract covers assessment objectives AO1 (50%) and AO2 (50%).
AO1
Read and understand the text; respond to the text personally, developing thoughts and opinions; use evidence to support points.
AO2
Analyse the writer’s language for effect; look at structure and form.
As you can see, you are being asked to give your own opinion about the text; build a discussion and quote directly – as well as talk about the way the writer has used language and form to create particular effects.
The question
Higher tier
Read the extract then answer the following question. How does Arthur Miller create mood and atmosphere for an audience here? Refer closely to the extract in your answer.
Foundation tier
Read the extract then answer the following question. How do you think the audience would respond to this part of the play? Give reasons for what you say, and remember to support your answer with words and phrases from the extract.
Make sure that you focus just on this extract. You are being asked to find examples to support your discussion of the way that Arthur Miller creates mood and atmosphere for the audience.
The extract
Rodolpho
[astonished] You want to be an Italian?Catherine
No, but I could live there without being an Italian. Americans live there.Rodolpho
Forever?Catherine
Yeah.Rodolpho
[crosses to rocker.] You’re fooling.Catherine
No, I mean it.Rodolpho
Where do you get such an idea?Catherine
Well, you’re always saying it’s so beautiful there, with the mountains and the ocean and all the –Rodolpho
You’re fooling me.Catherine
I mean it.Rodolpho
[goes to her slowly.] Catherine, if I ever brought you home with no money, no business, nothing, they would call the priest and the doctor and they would say Rodolpho is crazy.Catherine
I know, but I think we would be happier there.Rodolpho
Happier! What would you eat? You can’t cook the view!Catherine
Maybe you could be a singer, like in Rome or -Rodolpho
Rome! Rome is full of singers.Catherine
Well, I could work then.Rodolpho
Where?Catherine
God, there must be jobs somewhere!Rodolpho
There’s nothing! Nothing, nothing, nothing. Now tell me what you’re talking about. How can I bring you from a country to suffer in a poor country? What are you talking about? [She searches for words.] I would be a criminal stealing your face. In two years you would have an old, hungry face. When my brother’s babies cry they give them water, water that boiled a bone. Don’t you believe that?Catherine
[quietly] I’m afraid of Eddie here.Rodolpho
[steps closer to her.] We wouldn’t live here. Once I am a citizen I could work anywhere and I would find better jobs and we would have a house, Catherine. If I were not afraid to be arrested I would start to be something wonderful here!Catherine
[steeling herself.] Tell me something. I mean just tell me, Rodolpho – would you still want to do it if it turned out we had to go live in Italy? I mean just if it turned out that way.Rodolpho
This is your question or his question?Catherine
I would like to know, Rodolpho. I mean it.Rodolpho
To go there with nothing.Catherine
Yeah.Rodolpho
No. [She looks at him wide-eyed.] No.Catherine
You wouldn’t?Rodolpho
No; I will not marry you to live in Italy. I want you to be my wife, and I also want to be a citizen. Tell him that or I will. Yes. [He moves about angrily.] And tell him also, and tell yourself, please, that I am not a beggar, and you are not a horse, a gift, a favour for a poor immigrant.Catherine
Well, don’t get mad!Rodolpho
I am furious! [Goes to her.] Do you think I am so desperate? My brother is desperate, not me. You think I would carry on my back the rest of my life a woman I didn’t love just to be an American? It’s so wonderful? You think we have no tall buildings in Italy? Electric lights? No wide streets? No flags? No automobiles? Only work we don’t have. I want to be an American so I can work, that is the only wonder here – work! How can you insult me, Catherine?Catherine
I didn’t mean that –Rodolpho
My heart dies to look at you. Why are you so afraid of him?Catherine
[near tears.] I don’t know!Making a start
First of all, you need to think about the following points:
- What is happening in this passage to interest the audience?
- How do we know what Catherine feels and thinks?
- How do we know what Rodolpho feels and thinks?
- Which words and phrases describe the mood and atmosphere?
