Exam advice

There are several things to keep in mind when answering the extract
based question

1. Read the extract more than once to make sure you have fully understood it.

2. When you are reading the extract you should highlight the key words and
phrases that will help you to answer the question.

3. Make sure that any quotes you include in your answer are brief and to the point.
Quotes should support your answer but should not be too long.

4. Your answer to the extract based question should only focus on the actual
extract. Do not comment on other parts of the novel as you will not receive any
marks for doing so.
Analysing the extract

The question
Higher tier
Read the extract then answer the following question. How does Harper Lee create tension
in this extract?

Foundation tier
Read the extract then answer the following question. How do we know there is a lot of
tension in this extract? Give reasons for what you say and remember to support your
answer with words and phrases from the extract.

Remember to only focus on this particular passage.

Look for and comment on the writing techniques that Harper Lee has used.

The extract
In ones and twos, men got out of the cars. Shadows became substance as light revealed solid
shapes moving towards the jail door. Atticus remained where he was. The men hid him from
view.

He in there, Mr Finch? a man said.

He is, we heard Atticus answer, and he’s asleep. Don’t wake him up.
 In obedience to my father, there followed what I later realized was a sickeningly comic aspect of
an unfunny situation: the men talked in near-whispers.

You know what we want, another man said. Get aside from the door, Mr Finch.

You can turn around and go home again, Walter, Atticus said pleasantly. Heck Tate’s around
somewhere.

The hell he is, said another man. Heck’s bunch’s so deep in the woods they won’t get out till
morning.

Indeed? Why so?

Called ‘em off on a snipe hunt, was the succinct answer. Didn’t you think a’that, Mr Finch?

Thought about it, but didn’t believe it. Well, then, my father’s voice was still the same, that
changes things, doesn’t it?

It do, another deep voice said. Its owner was a shadow.

Do you really think so?

This was the second time I heard Atticus ask that question in two days, and it meant somebody’s
man would get jumped. This was too good to miss. I broke away from Jem and ran as fast as I
could to Atticus.

Jem shrieked and tried to catch me, but I had a lead on him and Dill. I pushed my way through
dark smelly bodies and burst into the circle of light.

H-ey, Atticus?

I thought he would have a fine surprise, but his face killed my joy. A flash of plain fear was
going out of his eyes, but returned when Dill and Jem wriggled into the light.

From Chapter 15 of To Kill a Mockingbird

Making a start
Before you go to the next page, make some initial notes on the extract. Use the following points
to help you:

 What is going on in this passage?

 Which words or phrases reveal how Atticus feels?

 Which words or phrases reveal how the other men feel?

 Which words or phrases suggest there is a tense atmosphere?

Planning your answer

The question
Higher tier
Read the extract then answer the following question. How does Harper Lee create tension
in this extract?

Foundation tier
Read the extract and answer the following question. How do we know there is a lot of
tension in this extract? Give reasons for what you say and remember to support your
answer with words and phrases from the extract.

Remember, your key priority should be to analyse and comment on the language that Harper Lee
has used in this extract only.

Look once again at the extract below and pay particular attention to the highlighted points. Think
about how they help Harper Lee to create tension in this extract.

The extract
In ones and twos, men got out of the cars. (1) Shadows became substance as light revealed solid
shapes moving towards the jail door. Atticus remained where he was. (2) The men hid him from
view.

(3) “He in there, Mr Finch?” a man said.

“He is,” we heard Atticus answer, “and he’s asleep. Don’t wake him up.”

In obedience to my father, there followed what I later realized was a sickeningly comic aspect of
an unfunny situation: the men talked in near-whispers.

(4) “You know what we want,” another man said. “Get aside from the door, Mr Finch.”

(5) “You can turn around and go home again, Walter,” Atticus said pleasantly. “Heck Tate’s
around somewhere.”

(6) “The hell he is,” said another man. “Heck’s bunch’s so deep in the woods they won’t get
out till morning.”

“Indeed? Why so?”

“Called ‘em off on a snipe hunt,” was the succinct answer. “Didn’t you think a’that, Mr Finch?”
“Thought about it, but didn’t believe it. (7) Well, then,” my father’s voice was still the same,
“that changes things, doesn’t it?”

“It do,” another deep voice said. Its owner was a shadow.

“Do you really think so?”

This was the second time I heard time Atticus ask that question in two days, and it meant
somebody’s man would get jumped. This was too good to miss. (8) I broke away from Jem and
ran as fast as I could to Atticus.

(9) Jem shrieked and tried to catch me, but I had a lead on him and Dill. I pushed my way
through dark smelly bodies and burst into the circle of light.

“H-ey, Atticus?”

I thought he would have a fine surprise, but his face killed my joy. (10) A flash of plain fear was
going out of his eyes, but returned when Dill and Jem wriggled into the light.

1. The word shadows adds tension because it suggests that in the dim light no one is very visible.
This adds a sense of confusion over who is there and sets a creepy atmosphere, making the
situation more tense.

2. The men hid him from view. This phrase gives the sense that the men have surrounded Atticus.
He is simply one man trying to defend Tom Robinson from a lynch mob who are determined to get
Tom out of prison in order to lynch him. This adds even more tension to the scene as Atticus is
facing the men alone and is in obvious danger.

3. He in there, Mr Finch? Again this is adding to the tension as the men are pressing Atticus for
information about Tom Robinson. They want to know where he is but it seems a pointless question
as they already know he is in the jail. It seems the question is asked more to alert Atticus to the
fact that the men have arrived with the intention of taking Tom, adding further tension.

4. “You know what we want,” another man said. “Get aside from the door, Mr Finch.” Here
Harper Lee is injecting even more tension into the scene by suggesting they may use physical
force. The imperative Get aside shows that the men in the lynch mob are beginning to grow
desperate. They are now telling Atticus to move from the door as they intend to make their next
move which is to physically remove Tom from the prison even if Atticus tries to stop them.

5. “You can turn around and go home again, Walter,” Atticus said pleasantly. “Heck Tate’s around
somewhere.” The build-up of tension sometimes works best when a writer introduces something
which temporarily relieves the action. Here, Atticus has told the men in the mob that Heck Tate the
sheriff is nearby. This immediately makes the reader breathe a sigh of relief as they believe there is
help nearby should Atticus need it. The fact that Atticus recognises one of the men and calls him
by his name also helps to diffuse the tension.

6. “The hell he is,” said another man. This immediately makes the tension rise again as it becomes
obvious to the reader that Heck Tate is actually nowhere near Atticus and the jail. The men in the
 lynch mob have sent the sheriff on a pointless journey into the woods which means that Tom and
now Atticus too have been left isolated. The language of the men is getting rougher and more
aggressive and this also adds to the tension.

7. “Well then,” my father’s voice was still the same, “that changes things doesn’t it?” The tension
rises even further when Atticus begins to recognise the perilous situation he is in. However, the
reader is told that Atticus still manages to stop any fear creeping into his voice even though he’s in
danger.

8. I broke away from Jem and ran as fast as I could to Atticus.The fact that Scout now joins Atticus
causes even more tension as the reader believes she might be putting herself in danger also.

9. Jem shrieked and tried to catch me, but I had a lead on him and Dill. Jem has understood the
situation more fully than Scout has and realises the danger of the situation. The shriek is
onomatopoeic and dramatic and helps to create more tension in the scene. He is also aware that
Atticus will be annoyed at them being there in the first place.

10. A flash of plain fear was going out of his eyes, but returned when Dill and Jem wriggled into
the light. Atticus is not a man to typically feel afraid. When the reader is told about the flash of
fear in his eyes at the thought of all three children being near the lynch mob, the tension rises as
the seriousness of the situation becomes very clear.

Essay questions
It is always a good idea to plan your answer carefully before you begin writing your essay.
Planning will save you time as you will have a clear idea of what to write and it means you will
make your points in a logical manner. You must always refer to the assessment objectives to
ensure you have met the criteria.

Here is a plan you could use for your answer to both the higher and foundation tier questions.

Higher tier
How does Harper Lee create tension in this extract?

Foundation tier
How do we know there is a lot of tension in this extract?

1. Introduction – what is happening in this scene? Give a brief overview.

2. Comment on the way the men behave.

3. Comment on the way the men talk.

4. Comment on the way Atticus responds.

5. Comment on the behaviour of Scout, Jem and Dill.

 6. Conclusion - here you should provide a general summing up of your points.

Higher tier sample answers

Here are two sample answers that refer to point three of the essay plan.

Sample answer one

From the beginning of the extract the men talk in a way that is abrupt and rude. It is obvious that
they intend to take Tom Robinson from his jail cell in order to punish him themselves and they
do not care if they have to harm Atticus in order to do this. This is made obvious when one of the
mob says, Get aside from the door, Mr Finch. Here, we sense that the men in the mob are getting
angrier and cannot wait much longer to begin punishing Tom Robinson for his supposed crime.
When one of the men says to Atticus, The hell he is, it becomes obvious that Atticus is on his
own, Heck Tate is nowhere near the jail and this adds to the tension.

Feedback comments – good, but improvements need to be made

This answer shows understanding of the way the men talk but it does not link this to the way
tension is created. Answers should always refer to the question.

Technical terms such as imperatives should be commented on as they provide an answer with
depth.

Higher marks are awarded for using more sophisticated language.

Commenting on the way the men talk and the fact that the roughness of their language increases
the tension in the extract would also ensure higher marks were awarded for this answer.

Sample answer two

In this extract Harper Lee allows the reader to see how the way in which the members of the
lynch mob talk to Atticus increases the tension. One member begins by asking, He in there, Mr
Finch? This immediately creates tension as the man is making it obvious that he and the other
men have arrived at the jail for one thing only; to take Tom Robinson. They do not even bother
calling Tom by name but simply use the pronoun he. The tension begins to rise when Harper Lee
continues, You know what we want, another man said. Get aside from the door, Mr Finch. The
fact that it is not made obvious who all these voices belong to adds even more tension to the
scene as does the fact that an imperative is now used. Get aside from the door, is a rough
command and the reader senses that the men are beginning to grow more aggressive. The same
could be said when another of the mob responds to Atticus’ comment about Heck Tate being
around somewhere with The hell he is. This implies a certain amount of aggression is beginning
to surface and this again adds tension to the scene.

Feedback comments – this is a much improved answer

This answer immediately links to the title which is exactly what the examiner wants to see.
This answer approaches the extract in a chronological order. This means there is a logical
approach to the response which makes it ordered and easier to read and make sense of.

Use of technical language such as ‘pronouns’ and ‘imperatives’ adds depth and helps fulfil the
assessment objectives.

The answer also focuses on how the aggressive nature of what the men say adds to the growing
tension in the scene.

Words such as ‘implies’ are effective and this answer could benefit from more use of such
linking language, such as ‘suggestive of...’ in order to show how language creates tension.

You should now try to read over the assessment objectivesagain before attempting your own
answer to this essay title. You should try to complete it in timed conditions. Remember to keep in
mind how important planning is and use everything you have learned in this section to write your
own answer.

Planning your answer - continued

Foundation tier sample answers

Here are two sample essays that refer to point four of the essay plan.

Sample answer one

Here are two sample essays that refer to point four of the essay plan set out in step 4.

Atticus does not seem very happy that Scout, Jem and Dill have come to see him at the jail
house. We know this because we are told, A flash of plain fear was going out of his eyes, but
returned when Dill and Jem wriggled into the light. This might make the children tense. Also,
when one of the men tells Atticus that Heck Tate and his men have been called away on a snipe
hunt and they ask Atticus if he had thought about this, Atticus says he had not believed the men
would do this. He says this changes things but then adds, Do you think so? Scout tells us this
means someone might get jumped so again this could help us know the characters are feeling
tense. Scout tries to run to Atticus and Jem tries to stop her. He gives a shriek which shows us he
might be worried and tense at this moment.

Feedback comments – some good ideas but improvements need to be made

This answer shows some understanding of the way in which Atticus reacts but it does not link
this to how we know there is a lot of tension in the extract. Answers should always refer to the
question, especially in the opening sentence.

There is a considerable amount of retelling in this answer. Examiners expect analysis of what is
said and the way a character responds and not just to be told what the character said.
 This answer would get higher marks if it included more language analysis. For example, it would
be helpful to comment on the actual words Atticus uses when he speaks to the lynch mob and
how this adds tension to the scene.

The sentence on Jem should not be included in this paragraph which is meant to be about the
way Atticus responds to the men.

Sample answer two

We can tell Atticus feels tense in this extract from the way he reacts to the men in the lynch mob.
Atticus tries to keep calm when he is told that Heck Tate is not nearby, Well then... that changes
things doesn’t it? but the fact that he admits this changes things, helps the reader realise that
Atticus is beginning to feel tense about the situation. Atticus tries hard to remain calm and polite
but as the extract develops it is possible to see that he is becoming tense. This is particularly the
case when his children and Dill appear. Harper Lee writes, A flash of plain fear was going out of
his eyes, but returned when Dill and Jem wriggled into the light. This suggests Atticus is feeling
tense, especially when there is fear in his eyes as he is afraid of what the mob might do to the
children.

Feedback comments – this is a much improved answer

This answer immediately links to the title which is exactly what the examiner wants to see.

There is no retelling in this answer. The points that are made relate to the question and there is
also some language analysis of what Atticus says.

Well integrated evidence is embedded into the body of the answer.

There is no mention of the way other characters react. This answer sticks clearly to covering
Atticus and the way he reacts.

The use of words such as ‘suggests’ is also useful in this answer as it shows there is plenty of
analysis taking place.

Essay writing
In the exam you will also be asked to write an essay. There will be a choice of two essay titles
and you will be asked to pick one. Your essay must focus on the novel as a whole and therefore it
is very important that you know the novel extremely well before you sit your exam. You must
make sure you have a clear idea about:

 plot

 themes
 characters

 language, form and structure

 context
When you are in the exam, it is a good idea to write a brief essay plan before you start writing
the actual essay. This will help you to have control of the structure of your essay and make sure
that you do not end up repeating points or even worse, missing out valuable points.

Below there are examples of essay titles from a higher tier and foundation tier exam on To Kill a
Mockingbird.

Higher tier
Who are the mockingbird figures in the novel and what is their significance to the novel as
a whole?

Foundation tier
Why are Boo Radley and Tom Robinson considered to be the mockingbird figures in To Kill
a Mockingbird?

Planning your answer

1. Introduction. explain who the mockingbird figures are and why they are important to the
novel.

2. Comment on Atticus’ belief that mockingbirds should not be shot and include details of
why he believes this.

3. Comment on Boo Radley and why he is considered to be a mockingbird figure.

4. Comment on Tom Robinson and why he is considered to be a mockingbird figure.

5. Conclusion - here you should provide a general summing up of your main points.

Higher tier sample answers

Here are two sample answers that refer to point one of the essay plan set out in step 4.

Sample answer one

The mockingbird figures in To Kill a Mockingbird are Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. They are
the mockingbird figures because they are kind men who do not do anything wrong but they are
still treated badly by the rest of the townspeople in Maycomb. Boo Radley rescues Scout and
Jem from Bob Ewell and Tom Robinson is kind towards Mayella Ewell and helps her when she
needs a wardrobe chopped up. In this essay I will be writing about Boo Radley and Tom
Robinson and explaining to you how they are considered to be the mockingbird figures in Harper
Lee’s novel.

Feedback comments – good but improvements need to be made

This answer does not clearly state what a mockingbird figure actually is. This needs to be
included in the introduction.

Phrases such as In this essay I will be writing about.... should be avoided as they are a little basic.
In fact you should try to avoid using the first person (I) completely.

In the introduction there is no need to mention specifics such as Tom Robinson chopping up the
wardrobe. This should be saved for the main body of the essay.

The name of the author should be included at the start of the paragraph instead of at the end.

Sample answer two

Harper Lee’s novel To kill a Mockingbird includes several characters who could be referred to as
mockingbird figures. Mockingbird figures are characters who are kind and caring and yet are
treated badly in some way by the rest of society. They are linked to the actual mockingbird, who
does nothing wrong except sing for the enjoyment of others and so should therefore never be
hunted and killed. There are several episodes during the novel which highlight the fact that both
Tom Robinson and Boo Radley can be considered as mockingbird figures and these will be
examined over the course of this essay.

Feedback comments – a much improved answer

This answer begins with the author’s name and makes it clear what the essay will be about.

There is no use of the first person here which provides the answer with a more polished feel.

This answer makes it clear what a mockingbird figure is, giving a clear link to the next
paragraph, which will be about Atticus’ views on mockingbird figures.

This answer does not give too many specifics about the actions of Tom Robinson and Boo
Radley, meaning that there is scope to include these points later in the essay

Essay writing - continued

Foundation tier sample answers

Here are two sample answers that refer to point two of the essay plan set out in step 4.

Sample answer one

Atticus Finch does not believe that mockingbirds should be shot. He says you can kill all the blue
jays you want as they are a nuisance but he does not think you should kill mockingbirds as they
do nothing but sing to make people happy and so it’s a sin to kill them. Really, this could also be
linked to Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. Both men try to help people in the neighbourhood but
both men are taunted and are treated badly. They are therefore like mockingbirds as they do
nothing wrong and try to help people but still have bad lives because of other people being
horrible to them.

Feedback comments – some good points but improvements need to be made

This answer should make it clear which part of the line about blue jays and mockingbirds being
shot is an actual quote from Atticus. This will help gain extra marks. Quote marks need to be
used as otherwise it is difficult to tell which part of the sentence is a quote. Also by using ‘you’
confusion is caused as it is not made clear who Atticus is actually talking to.

This answer needs to make it clear why Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are treated badly. A
comment on prejudice and racism needs to be made.

This answer could also make a point about how wise Atticus is when he mentions the fact that
mockingbirds should not be shot and this would be a good opportunity to make a link to the
actual title of the novel.

Beginning a sentence with a word such as really is a little informal and should be avoided.

Sample answer two

Atticus Finch is presented throughout the novel as a wise and tolerant man. One of the things he
strongly believes is that mockingbirds should not be hunted as they do nothing but sing for the
pleasure of others. He tells Scout and Jem that they can shoot all the blue jays they want as these
birds are a nuisance. However, he warns them ... but remember it’s a sin to kill a
mockingbird. Mockingbirds do no harm and therefore Atticus does not want Scout and Jem to
shoot them with their air rifles. This also links to one of the main themes of the novel and to the
title itself. Boo Radley and Tom Robinson could also be considered as mockingbird figures as
they do no harm to anyone and simply try to help others, yet they are persecuted for being
different or being black. Atticus is really telling the children to look after such people and to be
tolerant towards people who are treated badly because of such differences or racial intolerances.

Feedback comments – a much better answer

This answer makes some perceptive comments about the character of Atticus.

This answer also includes a direct quote and quotation marks are used to make the quote clear to
the examiner. It also includes information about who Atticus was talking to when he made his
comments about not shooting mockingbirds.

This answer is particularly good because it makes a link to the title of the novel as well as to the
themes of racism and intolerance.
This answer is formal in tone and informal sentence starters such as ‘really’ have been avoided.

This answer also makes it very clear why Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are mockingbird
figures and provides a clear link to the following paragraphs which will be about these two
characters

Remember, it is essential to look over the assessment objectives before you go into the exam and
try to bear these in mind when you are writing your essay.