A-level ENGLISH LITERATURE A Paper 2A Texts in shared contexts: WW1 and its aftermath

A-level ENGLISH LITERATURE A Paper 2A Texts in shared contexts: WW1 and its aftermath June 2021 2 IB/G/Jun21/7712/2A/INS It was the same as ever before when I went into the room. Cold disapproval, a nod, the papers, the pens, the neatly folded hands. ‘Everything all right, Moore?’ ‘Sir.’ ‘We move up to the front on Thursday morning. Extra supplies and ammunition must be carried. I hope that Bennett will be returning to us sometime tomorrow afternoon. He will be just in time. Sergeant Barry will take you to the stores this afternoon so that you can see what has to be taken. We will be at least ten days at the front.’ He picked up his pen and drew three straight lines on the clean piece of paper in front of him. ‘Will that be all, sir?’ ‘Private Crowe has been sentenced to death. You will command the firing squad at eight o’clock tomorrow morning.’ At first I didn’t understand what he had said. Then, suddenly, I did. ‘There must be some mistake.’ ‘Mr. Moore, I dislike all this as much as you do. I assure you there has been no mistake.’ He tapped at the paper impatiently. ‘I warned you of the seriousness of the charges. Under the present circumstances it is essential that there is no crumbling of the men’s morale. Deserters must be made an example of.’ ‘An appeal . . .’ ‘There will be no appeal. Tomorrow morning at eight. Let me remind you also, Mr. Moore, that Crowe was not merely a deserter, there is a strong possibility that he might also have been a traitor.’ ‘Utter rubbish.’ He reddened with anger. ‘Take care, young man. Wiser men than you have come to this decision. Not lightly. Men of experience. Men who know men.’ ‘The men won’t like it.’ ‘I must be the judge of that.’ He drew another line. ‘Our conversations follow the same pattern. You refuse to be guided.’ ‘You refuse to view people as anything but cattle.’ ‘That’s what most of them are. I suppose you may learn one day.’ ‘I don’t want to learn anything that people like you have to teach