A Taste of Honey (play) - Extract question
There are several things to keep in mind when tackling the extract based question:
- Read the extract more than once to make sure you fully understand what you have read.
- When you are reading the extract for the second time you should highlight key words and phrases that will help you to answer the question.
- Make sure that any quotes you use are brief and to the point. Quotes should support your answer but should not be the main part of your answer.
- In the extract question, your answer should only be based on the extract itself. Do not waste valuable time referring to other parts of the novel as you will not receive any extra marks for doing so.
Higher tier question
Look closely at the way Jo speaks and behaves in this extract. What does it reveal to the audience about her feelings at this point in the play?
Foundation tier question
What do you think of Jo’s behaviour and the way she speaks in this extract? Remember you must give reasons for what you write and you must also support your answer with words and phrases from the text.
The extract
Jo
God! It’s hot.Geof
I know it’s hot.Jo
I’m so restless.Geof
Oh, stop prowling about.Jo
This place stinks. [Goes over to the door. Children are heard singing in the street.] That river, it’s the colour of lead. Look at that washing, it’s dirty, and look at those filthy children.Geof
It’s not their fault.Jo
It’s their parents’ fault. There’s a little boy over there and his hair, honestly, it’s walking away. And his ears. Oh! He’s a real mess! He never goes to school. He just sits on that front doorstep all day. I think he’s a bit deficient.[The children’s voices die away. A tugboat hoots.]
His mother ought not to be allowed.
Geof
Who?Jo
His mother. Think of all the harm she does, having children.Geof
Sit down and read a book, Jo.Jo
I can’t.Geof
Be quiet then. You’re getting on my nerves. [Suddenly she yells and whirls across the room.]Jo
Whee! Come on rain. Come on storm. It kicked me, Geof. It kicked me!Geof
What?Jo
It kicked me. [Geof runs to her and puts his head on her belly.]Geof
Will it do it again?Jo
It shows it’s alive anyway. Come on, baby, let’s see what big sister’s making for us.Geof
Put it down.Jo
What a pretty little dress.Geof
It’s got to wear something. You can’t just wrap it up in a bundle of newspaper.Jo
And dump it on a doorstep. How did Geoffrey find out the measurements?Geof
Babies are born to the same size more or less.Jo
Oh, no, they’re not. Some are thin scrappy things and others are huge and covered in rolls of fat.Geof
Shut up, Jo, it sounds revolting.Jo
They are revolting. I hate babies.