touching the void by joe simpson - study & revision...

AQA GCSE English Literature 2010 Unit 1, Section A: Exploring modern textsTouching the Void by Joe Simpson

Touching the Void Joe Simpson

GCSE English LiteratureStudy & Revision Pack

Copyright 2011 TES English www.tes.co.uk/tesenglish 1


Unit 1 - OutlineIn this unit you will study two modern texts and one that will require you to explore a culture different

from your own. On this exam paper, the word ‘modern’ means any text that was written after 1945.

When you study your texts for Unit 1, you will look at three different areas:

Ideas, themes and issues

Characterisation

Settings

But one very important area you must never forget is to think about how the writer uses language and

structure to build their text.

Unit 1 – the Exam

The key information about the Unit 1 is as follows:

You will have 1 hour 30 minutes to complete the tasks.

Two sections to complete.

Section A on your modern text.

Section B on your text from other cultures.


Unit 1 – Exploring Modern Texts: What do I need to know?


Unit 1 – The Assessment ObjectivesAssessment Objectives are the things that your teacher and the examiner want you to be able to do when

you write your answers on the Unit 1 exam.

You can see the Assessment Objectives for Unit 1 in the table below

ASSESSMENT

OBJECTIVEWHAT IS IT ASKING FOR? IN STUDENT-SPEAK

AO1

Respond critically and

imaginatively; select and

evaluate relevant textual detail

to illustrate and support

interpretations

Come up with your own

ideas about the texts.

Use and comment on

quotations to support your

ideas.

AO2

Explain how language, structure

and form contribute to writers’

presentation of ideas, themes

and settings.

Write about features of

language and structure that

you think are effective.

Explain how the use of

language links to the ideas

that the writer is trying to

explore in the text.

AO4

Relate texts to their social,

cultural and historical contexts;

explain how texts have been

influential and significant to self

and other readers in different

contexts and at different times.

Say how the text has been

influenced by the time in

which it was written.

Explain how texts have had

an influence on their readers.



Annotating your copy of Touching the Void


I was lying in my sleeping bag, staring at the

light filtering through the red and green fabric

of the dome tent. Simon was snoring loudly,

occasionally twitching in his dream world.

We could have been anywhere. There is a

peculiar anonymity about being in tents.

Once the zip is locked and the outside world

barred from site, all sense of location

disappears. Scotland, the French Alps, the

Karakoram, it was always the same. The

sound of rustling, fabric flapping in the wind,

or of rainfall, the feel of hard lumps under the

ground sheet, the smell of rancid socks and

sweat – these are universals, as comforting

as the warmth of the down sleeping bag.

Emphasis on colour – contrast to setting of snow covered mountain.

Annotating means making notes on a book, play or poem. This is a very important skill because you only have limited space and you need whatever you write to be clear and

convey the most meaning in the smallest number of words. Also, you have to remember that you may make an annotation in September which you don’t then look at again until December! So, making the right kinds of annotations is very important. If your teacher

will allow you to annotate your text, you should do it like the example below.

Shows that the place is disorientating. They have no sense of place here.

Shows the sense of isolation that they feel. This place is somewhere they have no connections or anything to relate

Emphasis on colour – contrast to setting of snow covered


Plot Overview

Touching the Void tells the powerful story of two climbers – Joe Simpson and Simon Yates – and their

expedition to climb the daunting west face of the Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. The story follows

the men as they attempt this daring feat for the first time; no other climbers have ever endeavoured to

climb the Siula Grande. Amongst their fellow mountaineers, if the men were successful, this would be

considered a massive achievement.

Joe and Simon overcome significant obstacles on the first few days of their expedition, including

snowstorms and dangerous terrain, to arrive at the summit on day three of their trip. When the men

stand at the summit they are effectively four miles above sea level; an incredible achievement.

However, as the men attempt their descent down the dangerous North Ridge, disaster strikes the

mountaineers when Joe falls and breaks his leg. In an attempt to rescue Simpson using a complicated

rope manoeuvre, Yates inadvertently lowers Simpson off a cliff. In order to save himself from near-

certain death, Yates is forced to cut the rope joining them together.

Simpson wakes to find himself on a small ledge. He assumes – rightly – that Yates will think he is dead. In

turn, Simpson must find his own way back to safety and proceeds to crawl, walk and struggle back to the

base camp.



Narrative – Revision Questions1. What is the location for the action of Touching the Void?

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2. Why is climbing Siula Grande such an important challenge for the two men?

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3. How many days does it take the men to reach the summit?

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4. Exactly how far above sea-level is the summit of the mountain?

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5. Siula Grande forms part of which mountain range?

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6. What is the name of the ridge that the men attempt their descent from?



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7. What are the bones that Joe breaks when he injures himself?

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8. Where does Simon spend the night following his separation from Joe?

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9. When Joe wakes up, what does he assume Simon will think about him?

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10.How does Joe get a sense that he is on the right track when he heads back to camp?

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11.Why does Simon become angry when he returns to Base Camp?

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12. In the final chapter, describe Joe’s feelings towards Simon.


AQA GCSE English Literature 2010 Unit 1, Section A: Exploring modern textsTouching the Void by Joe Simpson______________________________________________________________________________________

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Getting into Touching the Void


To help you find your way into the novel, use the Internet to do some research on the topics in the boxes below. Record your findings.

The Author – Joe Simpson

The Setting – Siula Grande

The Real Life Characters


Touching the Void: Engaging with the novel’s ideas…


As you probably already know, Touching the Void is a novel about an adventure that goes seriously wrong. To help you begin to empathise with the characters and their situation, complete the tasks below.

Brainstorm everything you know about the story so far – think about what

happens, who is in it, when and where it is set…

With your partner, discuss an adventure that you have undertaken – where was

it? What happened? What were the risks involved?

Think about a time when you have faced adversity, explain to a friend how

you reacted…how did you cope?

What makes a good adventure story? Make a list of the key features and explain why each one is important.


Keeping Track: Chapter by Chapter

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Chapter 1: Beneath the Mountain Lakes The opening chapter of the novel is key to our understanding of why Simon and Joe decide to climb the

mountain in the first place. The vivid descriptions of the mountain give the reader a clear sense of their

amazement at this natural wonder.

In the space below, draw your impression of the mountain as it is described and label it with

quotations to show how you came to see the mountain in this way.



Chapter 1: Beneath the Mountain Lakes (Enlarge to A3)

In the early parts of the text, Joe describes each of the previous summit attempts and the problems

associated with them. He is making us as the reader aware of these failed attempts in order to build

tension in anticipation of their climb.

Complete the table below identifying the problems that arose with each of the attempts to climb to the

summit. In the final column explain how this helps to build tension.

Attempt Problems How is tension created?

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Chapter 1: Beneath the Mountain Lakes – Getting to know

the characters (Enlarge to A3)

In the opening chapter we learn a lot about Joe and Simon. Work in pairs to complete the venn

diagram below to show their similarities and differences. Add quotations to the chart to support your

ideas.

Joe Simon



Chapter 1: Beneath the Mountain Lakes – Extension Activities

1. Imagine that you are Joe or Simon, write a letter from the base-camp to your family explaining the

scene at Siula Grande.

2. Imagine that you are a TV producer who is accompanying Joe and Simon on their trip – work with

other students to script and perform a news broadcast at the beginning of their expedition.

3. Based on the information in this chapter, produce a guide for climbers entitled ‘Preparing to Climb

Siula Grande’. Your guide should be informative and appropriate for your audience.

Touching the Void: The Characters

1. Complete the character profiles Joe Simpson, Simon Yates & Richard Hawkings.

2. Use adjectives to describe them.

3. Add quotations to support your ideas.



Character Profile – Joe Simpson (Enlarge to A3)

Who is Joe Simpson?

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What is Joe’s role in the novel?

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How does the writer create Joe’s character?

Point Evidence (quote) Explain & Analyse

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My personal response to Joe

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Character Profile – Simon Yates (Enlarge to A3)

Who is Simon Yates?

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What is Simon’s role in the novel?

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How does the writer create Simon’s character?


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My personal response to Simon

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Character Profile – Richard Hawkings (Enlarge to A3)

Who is Richard Hawkings?

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What is Richards’s role in the novel?

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How does the writer create Richard’s character?


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My personal response to Richard

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Character Extension Task - Keeping Track: Joe and Simon’s Relationship

Consider the relationship between Joe and Simon and how it develops and changes through the novel. Copy and complete the table below to show the changes.

Chapter What is the same? What is different?

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Character Extension Tasks1. Which of the two characters do you most relate to and why?

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2. What are the key differences between Simon and Joe, and how does this generate tension and interest in the novel?

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AQA GCSE English Literature 2010 Unit 1, Section A: Exploring modern textsTouching the Void by Joe Simpson3. Think about the novel as a whole. How do the interactions of the characters help to develop the

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4. What do the periods of time when the characters are alone reveal about their personalities?

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Keeping Track: Setting (Enlarge to A3)

One of the key characters of the novel is, in a sense, the setting of the novel. It is the unforgiving nature

of the setting that causes Joe and Simon to end up in the precarious situation at the heart of the novel.

Complete the table below to show the location, events and their importance in each chapter

Setti

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Keeping Track: Specific Settings Using the specific key settings listed below, complete the tables to show their significance in the novel.

Siula Grande Base CampThe North Ridge

The Summit Joe’s Crevasse



Specific Settings: Siula Grande

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Touching the Void: Setting – Extension Questions


AQA GCSE English Literature 2010 Unit 1, Section A: Exploring modern textsTouching the Void by Joe Simpson1. Why do you think that the Peruvian Andes is an effective setting for a novel about survival and

despair?

______________________________________________________________________________________

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2. How do you think Simpson has used the different settings to structure the novel?

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3. In Chapter 7, Joe’s descriptions of the crevasse focus very heavily on the ‘darkness’ and ‘black spaces’ surrounding him. How and why is this effective?

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Touching the Void: Themes


AQA GCSE English Literature 2010 Unit 1, Section A: Exploring modern textsTouching the Void by Joe Simpson There are five key themes that you need to understand. However, towards the end of this section,

some more complex themes are explored. To give yourself the opportunity to achieve the higher grades,

you will want to make sure that you think about them and how they relate to other ideas in the novel.

The key themes of the novel are shown below. In the spaces provided, try to explain what you think

each one refers to in the novel.

THEME EXPLANATION

Adventure

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Wilderness

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Isolation

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Rescue

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Hope

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Themes in Touching the Void – Adventure (Enlarge to A3) Use this worksheet to collect quotations about the theme explored in the central box.



Copyright 2011 TES English www.tes.co.uk/tesenglish

Man’s Thirst for Adventure – Key Quotations

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Adventure

One of the central motivations for Simon and Joe appears to be their determination to conquer one of the most treacherous mountains in the world. This is a mountain, after all, that no other mountaineer has endeavoured to climb. Simpson uses this idea to explore the theme of adventure throughout the novel. When tragedy strikes and Joe is left alone, stranded and injured, it brings the idea of adventure clearly into focus: were the two men too ambitious? Were they stupid to attempt such an endeavour? Or is there something far more fundamental that drives man’s determination to tackle nature’s challenges?

The Triumph of Adventure – Key Quotations

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Dangers of Adventure – Key Quotations

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

31


Keeping Track: Themes in Touching the Void – Adventure (Enlarge to A3)

In the table below is a section for each of the chapters where the theme of adventure is explored.

For each chapter you need to identify and make a note of three quotations that show the theme.

In the final column, explain how the quotations you have recorded show the theme.

THE THEME OF ADVENTURE

CHAPTER QUOTATION HOW DOES THIS SHOW THE THEME OF ADVENTURE?

Beneath the Mountain Lakes_________________________

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Tempting Fate_________________________

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Storm at the Summit_________________________

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A Land Without Pity_________________________

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Themes in Touching the Void – The Wilderness (Enlarge to A3)

Use this worksheet to collect quotations about the theme explored in the central box.


The Brutality of the Wilderness – Key

Quotations________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Wilderness

One of the most haunting aspects of the novel is the way that the characters, at different points in the novel, are forced to confront the loneliness of the environment around them. Indeed, they are not faced with just the loneliness, but also the vicious and, at times, aggressive nature of their surroundings. In turn, the wilderness, its power and brutality are central ideas at the heart of the novel.

Overcoming the Wilderness – Key Quotations

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The Mystery of the Wilderness - Key Quotations___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Keeping Track: Themes in Touching the Void – The Wilderness (Enlarge to A3)

In the table below is a section for each of the chapters where the theme of the wilderness is

explored.




CHAPTER QUOTATION HOW DOES THIS SHOW THE THEME OF WILDERNESS?

Tempting Fate_________________________

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Storm at the Summit_________________________

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On the Edge_________________________

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Disaster_________________________

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Themes in Touching the Void – Isolation (Enlarge to A3) Use this worksheet to collect quotations about the theme explored in the central box.


The Terror of Isolation – Key Quotations

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Isolation

The characters in the novel

spend some of their most

terrifying moments alone on

the mountain. As they face

near certain death, they are

alone. This is an effective

way for Simpson to create

tension because it asks the

audience to think about how

we might find the strength

to survive horrific

circumstances with only

ourselves for support.

Overcoming Isolation – Key Quotations

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The Mental Effects of Isolation – Key Quotations

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Keeping Track: Themes in Touching the Void – Isolation (Enlarge to A3)

In the table below is a section for each of the chapters where the theme of isolation is explored.




CHAPTER QUOTATION HOW DOES THIS SHOW THE THEME OF ISOLATION?

On the Edge_________________________

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Disaster_________________________

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Shadows in the Ice_________________________

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Silent Witness_________________________

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Themes in Touching the Void – Rescue & Hope Work in groups of four to compile pairs of revision worksheets like the ones above for the themes of

‘Rescue’ and ‘Hope’. Then, work in pairs to identify and make a note of key quotations for both themes.



Language in Touching the Void

Simpson uses a range of techniques in the text.

Some of them are listed in the table below.

Complete the table below for each of the features.

FEATURE OF LANGUAGE EXAMPLE FROM THE TEXT EFFECT

Vivid description

Sensory description

Subject Specific Language

Motivational Language

Impact Sentences

Direct Speech

Internal Dialogue



Simpson’s Use of Language in Touching the Void

Feature Effect on the Reader?

Why is Simpson’s language use effective in this example?

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Why is

Simpson’s language use effective in this example?

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Look at each of the quotations below.

Highlight the features of language that you can find.

Write a paragraph explaining the effects of Simpson’s language.

“We could have been anywhere.”

“It feels menacingly remote and exhilarating at the same time… no hordes of climbers, no helicopters, no rescue – just us and the

mountains.”

AQA GCSE English Literature 2010 Unit 1, Section A: Exploring modern textsTouching the Void by Joe Simpson______________________________________________________________________________________

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“Hit hard. Hit again - that’s it, now the hammer. Look at your feet… no time to answer. This way is wrong. Damn, damn!

“Simon was coming up, hitting hard, ice splintering down below him, hitting hard and strong… head down, hitting, hopping, on past

me and up without a word.”

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Touching the Void – Exam Preparation



“We had a silent agreement. We both knew the truth…I was injured and unlikely to survive. Simon could down alone…I remained silent,

but it was no longer for fear of losing control.”

“I was standing on an open face with a drop of nearly 4000 feet below me and felt very unnerved by the exposure. There was a long gap of unprotected rope between me and Simon…his anchor was his axes

buried in the snow, and I knew all too well how useless these would be if I made a mistake.”

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What do I need to know about the Unit 1 Examination?

Time Allowed1 hour 30 minutes

How many questions?

Two: one from Section A and one from Section BTouching the Void is in Section A

How many marks?30 marks

Am I allowed my book? Yes – but it must be clear of all annotations

Understanding the Mark Scheme

Touching the Void – Sample Response (C)


To get a C you must

Focus on the question.

Use effective quotations to prove your points.

Explain the effects of language on the reader.

Include a range of points in your answer.

To get an A* you must

Keep the focus on the question all the way until the end of your answer.

Write with insight – get to the core of what the writer is trying to say.

Use quotation analytically.

Make evaluative comments on language / structure.

Suggest different interpretations of the text.

Other things to remember!

Re-read the novel several times before the examination.

Keep thinking about quotations that you could use in your answer.

Try and think of a range of points you could use in your answer.

Look at the sample response below. Using the C grade descriptors, identify which of those

qualities it demonstrates. The response is on the question below.

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Choose a passage that is particularly tense.

Write about:

what is tense in the passage; the methods that Simpson uses to create tension.

Annotation

Touching the Void – Sample Response (A*)


One of the most tense parts of the book is in Chapter 1, Beneath the Mountain Lakes. At one point Simpson writes ‘It feels menacingly remote and exhilarating at the same time…no helicopters, no rescue – just us and the mountains.” This is a very effective quotation because it helps to build tension for the reader. The reason why this quotation builds tension is because it gives us the impression that Joe and Simon are alone and abandoned in the Andes. The sentence ‘no helicopters, no rescue’ is very effective because he repeats the word ‘no’ which makes us realise that if anything goes wrong that there is no one there to help or save them. This quotation creates tension for the reader because we realise that the two men are alone on the mountains attempting to achieve something that no other mountaineer has ever attempted. We quickly realise that the men are in serious danger.

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Choose a passage that is particularly tense.

Write about:

what is tense in the passage; the methods that Simpson uses to create tension.

Annotation

Touching the Void – Planning a Response (Enlarge to A3)


Look at the sample response below. Using the A* grade descriptors, identify which of those

qualities it demonstrates. The response is on the question below.

Simpson creates tension in the novel from the first chapter; he evokes the climbers’ sense of isolation and separation from all that they know. He writes ‘It feels menacingly remote and exhilarating at the same time…no helicopters, no rescue – just us and the mountains.” It is clear that while the sense of isolation is, in a sense, a threat to them, the threat itself is exciting and a reason to undertake the climb. This is an interesting opposition, almost as if the men find the idea that they are in danger a thrill. This, perhaps, is Simpson’s way of exploring the nature of adventure; he suggests to the reader that it is only when we are forced to the extremes of the natural world that we are forced to face the extremes within ourselves. It is, Simpson, appears to suggest the point at which we overcome these extremes that we have truly prevailed over all that life has to offer.

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Use the diagram below to plan your essay and remember to include:

Points

Quotations

Comments on the effects of language


Choose a passage from the book that creates tension.

Write about:

what creates tension in the passage; the methods that Simpson uses to create tension.

Introduction

Paragraph 1

Paragraph 2

Paragraph 3

Conclusion

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