AQA ENGLISH LITERATURE
A-level
ENGLISH LITERATURE B
Paper 2A Texts and genres: Elements of crime writing
Thursday 8 June 2023 Morning Time allowed: 3 hours
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 12-page answer book
• a copy of the set text(s) you have studied for Section B and Section C. These texts must not be
annotated and must not contain additional notes or materials.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7717/2A.
• You must answer the question in Section A, one question from Section B and one question from
Section C. Over Section B and Section C you must write about three texts: one poetry text, one
post-2000 prose text and one further text.
• Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 75.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
• In your response you need to:
– analyse carefully the writers’ methods
– explore the contexts of the texts you are writing about
– explore connections across the texts you have studied
– explore different interpretations of your texts.
IB/G/Jun23/E6 7717/2A
, 2
Section A
Answer the question in this section.
0 1 Explore the significance of elements of crime writing in this extract.
Remember to include in your answer relevant detailed analysis of the ways the author
has shaped meanings.
[25 marks]
This extract is taken from a chapter near the end of Pine by Francine Toon, published in
2020. The story is set in the Scottish Highlands. After the disappearance of his wife ten
years ago, Niall, together with his daughter Lauren, lives in a remote hamlet at the edge
of a forest. Now a teenager, Ann-Marie, the daughter of Angela and Malcolm, has gone
missing. The police, along with neighbours including Diane and Kirsty, have been
searching for her.
Close to ten o’ clock, long after Lauren has fallen fast asleep once more, the doorbell
rings, startling Niall on the sofa. It’s the police again. Today, they searched the woods
and are examining a dilapidated house, after a tip-off from a young member of the public
who came across a secret annexe. Diane, Kirsty told him, has put something on social
media that has been shared thousands of times. Niall only has a vague idea of what this
really means. The police are interviewing a man found on the premises and have found
human remains. The words don’t click into place. He clings on to fragments of
sentences. Female. They were fast-tracked to a lab. He wonders if Angela and Malcolm
know.
The police pause. ‘And we’re sorry to bother you so late, but we’re working against the
clock and wanted to talk to you before anyone else, reporters and the like, do.’ Their
voices are smoothed out, softened.
‘OK, sure,’ says Niall, trying to figure out what they are getting at.
They tell him that the DNA does not match Ann-Marie’s DNA and the search for
Ann-Marie must continue. He breathes out.
The DNA, they continue, matches with Christine Mackay, his wife. He tries to
understand but his brain has slowed. He goes to the kitchen and eyes four fingers of
whisky in the bottle under the sink. He pours a glass.
‘Niall, if we may . . .’ The policeman’s voice reminds him of laminate flooring, flat and
colourless. ‘Our forensic team found the remains – bones, to be precise – of your wife
Christine, deep underground. We had her DNA on file and it is an exact match.
Therefore, her status has changed from that of a missing person to deceased. We are
sorry to tell you that her skull suffered trauma.’
‘She was wearing a blue dress that day.’
‘We have not yet found evidence of clothing in the basement. There was a dressing
gown near the door. We have to tell you that while we have taken in a man for
questioning, you remain a suspect in this case and we are going through your interviews
on file. If you want to say anything else, now is the time. We will set up another interview
with you at a later date. We’re currently running tests. And we have this ring now as
potential evidence.’ They put a silver Claddagh ring on the table in a clear plastic wallet.
‘It was handed in by your daughter today. But she says she found it earlier and didn’t tell
anyone. Can you tell us, Niall, if this belongs to your late wife, Christine?’
‘Yes,’ says Niall. ‘My daughter. Why didn’t she tell me?’
IB/G/Jun23/7717/2A
A-level
ENGLISH LITERATURE B
Paper 2A Texts and genres: Elements of crime writing
Thursday 8 June 2023 Morning Time allowed: 3 hours
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 12-page answer book
• a copy of the set text(s) you have studied for Section B and Section C. These texts must not be
annotated and must not contain additional notes or materials.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7717/2A.
• You must answer the question in Section A, one question from Section B and one question from
Section C. Over Section B and Section C you must write about three texts: one poetry text, one
post-2000 prose text and one further text.
• Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 75.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
• In your response you need to:
– analyse carefully the writers’ methods
– explore the contexts of the texts you are writing about
– explore connections across the texts you have studied
– explore different interpretations of your texts.
IB/G/Jun23/E6 7717/2A
, 2
Section A
Answer the question in this section.
0 1 Explore the significance of elements of crime writing in this extract.
Remember to include in your answer relevant detailed analysis of the ways the author
has shaped meanings.
[25 marks]
This extract is taken from a chapter near the end of Pine by Francine Toon, published in
2020. The story is set in the Scottish Highlands. After the disappearance of his wife ten
years ago, Niall, together with his daughter Lauren, lives in a remote hamlet at the edge
of a forest. Now a teenager, Ann-Marie, the daughter of Angela and Malcolm, has gone
missing. The police, along with neighbours including Diane and Kirsty, have been
searching for her.
Close to ten o’ clock, long after Lauren has fallen fast asleep once more, the doorbell
rings, startling Niall on the sofa. It’s the police again. Today, they searched the woods
and are examining a dilapidated house, after a tip-off from a young member of the public
who came across a secret annexe. Diane, Kirsty told him, has put something on social
media that has been shared thousands of times. Niall only has a vague idea of what this
really means. The police are interviewing a man found on the premises and have found
human remains. The words don’t click into place. He clings on to fragments of
sentences. Female. They were fast-tracked to a lab. He wonders if Angela and Malcolm
know.
The police pause. ‘And we’re sorry to bother you so late, but we’re working against the
clock and wanted to talk to you before anyone else, reporters and the like, do.’ Their
voices are smoothed out, softened.
‘OK, sure,’ says Niall, trying to figure out what they are getting at.
They tell him that the DNA does not match Ann-Marie’s DNA and the search for
Ann-Marie must continue. He breathes out.
The DNA, they continue, matches with Christine Mackay, his wife. He tries to
understand but his brain has slowed. He goes to the kitchen and eyes four fingers of
whisky in the bottle under the sink. He pours a glass.
‘Niall, if we may . . .’ The policeman’s voice reminds him of laminate flooring, flat and
colourless. ‘Our forensic team found the remains – bones, to be precise – of your wife
Christine, deep underground. We had her DNA on file and it is an exact match.
Therefore, her status has changed from that of a missing person to deceased. We are
sorry to tell you that her skull suffered trauma.’
‘She was wearing a blue dress that day.’
‘We have not yet found evidence of clothing in the basement. There was a dressing
gown near the door. We have to tell you that while we have taken in a man for
questioning, you remain a suspect in this case and we are going through your interviews
on file. If you want to say anything else, now is the time. We will set up another interview
with you at a later date. We’re currently running tests. And we have this ring now as
potential evidence.’ They put a silver Claddagh ring on the table in a clear plastic wallet.
‘It was handed in by your daughter today. But she says she found it earlier and didn’t tell
anyone. Can you tell us, Niall, if this belongs to your late wife, Christine?’
‘Yes,’ says Niall. ‘My daughter. Why didn’t she tell me?’
IB/G/Jun23/7717/2A
