Question 1: Identify two poetic devices used in the extract and explain their effect.

Answer: Possible devices include simile ('shoulders globed like a full sail') and imagery ('flickering, sweating, and grunting'), which enhance visualisation and evoke a sense of hard work.

Question 2: What is the central theme of this extract? Support your answer with a brief explanation.

Answer: The extract explores themes of admiration for hard work, the desire for mastery, and the feeling of being in the shadow of a parent.

Question 3: How does the poet use tone to reflect the narrator's feelings about following in their father’s footsteps?

Answer: The tone is contemplative and somewhat wistful, reflecting admiration mixed with a longing to take control.

Question 4: Identify the line that suggests a sense of aspiration and explain its significance.

Answer: ‘To grow up and plough’ signifies the narrator’s aspiration for independence and mastery.

Question 5: What stylistic device is employed in the phrase ‘the shadow of his strength’, and what does it imply?

Answer: The phrase uses metaphor, implying the narrator’s sense of being overshadowed or in the background compared to their father’s strength.

Question 6: Describe how the poem reflects the relationship between the narrator and their father.

Answer: The poem illustrates a relationship rooted in admiration and the desire to emulate the father’s skills and strength. The narrator feels a sense of belonging and respect but also expresses a longing for independence and recognition as an individual. The recurring motif of following and shadowing highlights both the influence and the subtle tension in their relationship.

Question 7: Identify and explain the significance of any volta (turn) in the extract.

Answer: The volta occurs with the shift from admiration of the father’s work to the narrator’s own aspirations ('I wanted to grow up and plough'), indicating a shift from reverence to personal ambition.

Question 8: Choose one line that shows the narrator's internal conflict and explain your choice.

Answer: ‘But I was the one who followed him’ reflects the internal conflict of longing for independence while feeling bound by admiration and tradition.

Question 9: Based on the extract, what can you infer about the narrator's personality and aspirations?

Answer: The narrator is introspective and respectful, with a desire to prove themselves and develop skills, but also feels overshadowed by their father’s strength and legacy.

Question 10: Write a brief creative response: imagine you are the narrator, expressing your hopes for the future in a short paragraph (about 15 lines).

Answer: Sample responses should include personal ambitions, reflections on the relationship with the father, and aspirations to forge their own path, demonstrating personal voice and creativity.