Question 1: Describe the tone of the narrator in this excerpt. How does it influence your understanding of their perspective?

Answer: The tone is nostalgic and reflective, which suggests the narrator views the house with sentimental longing and a sense of personal history.

Question 2: Identify one literary technique used to emphasise the narrator’s perspective and explain its effect.

Answer: The use of personification, like 'the house had remained untouched for decades, yet to me, it was alive with stories,' gives the house a sense of life and deep emotional connection.

Question 3: What is the significance of the narrator gazing into the mirror? How does this moment contribute to the theme of perspective?

Answer: Gazing into the mirror signifies self-reflection and a connection between the narrator’s current identity and their memories, highlighting how perspective shapes personal history.

Question 4: Analyse how the imagery of 'flickering candlelight' and 'long shadows' contributes to the atmosphere of the passage.

Answer: See full answer key

Question 5: Identify the point of view used in this excerpt and discuss how it influences the reader's perception of the narrator’s experience.

Answer: The excerpt is written in the first person, which creates an intimate connection, allowing the reader to see the house and memories through the narrator's personal perspective.

Question 6: Select the correct option: Which literary device is primarily used to evoke a sense of nostalgia in the passage?

Answer: b) Personification

Question 7: How does the author's choice of words influence the reader's emotional response to the memoir extract?

Answer: The use of words like 'faded', 'dim', 'flickered', and 'long shadows' creates a somber, atmospheric mood that evokes nostalgia and reflection.

Question 8: Imagine you are the narrator. Write a short paragraph describing a childhood memory that is meaningful to you, using a similar reflective tone and imagery.

Answer: See full answer key

Question 9: What is the role of sensory imagery in conveying the narrator’s perspective in this extract?

Answer: Sensory imagery like sounds and sights immerses the reader in the scene, enhancing the emotional depth and personal connection with the narrator's perspective.