Grade 9 English Home Language Paper 2 Exam Revision: The Book Thief, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Transactional Writing

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering Grade 9 English Home Language Paper 2 exam preparation, Markus Zusak's The Book Thief (Part One), William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, and transactional writing formats.

How old is Liesel Meminger when her brother Werner dies on the train in Part One of The Book Thief?

$9$ years old.

What is the name of the first book Liesel steals, and where does she find it?

The Grave Digger's Handbook, which she picks up from the snow at her brother's roadside burial.

Who are Liesel's foster parents, and where do they live in Molching?

Hans and Rosa Hubermann, who live on Himmel Street.

According to Death, how many times will he cross paths with Liesel Meminger across her lifetime?

$3$ times.

What nickname does Rosa Hubermann give Liesel, and what does it translate to?

"Saumensch", which roughly translates to "filthy pig".

What single political word does Liesel remember about her vanished father?

"Communist".

How do the notes define the ideological difference between communism and fascism?

Communism aims for a classless society with no private property and shared wealth, whereas fascism enforces strict social classes, intense national pride, and a powerful dictator, allowing private businesses only if they serve the state.

To which organization is Liesel enrolled on her tenth birthday?

The BDM (Bund Deutscher Mädel), the girls' branch of the Hitler Youth.

Which American Olympic athlete, pictured here, inspired Rudy Steiner's track stunt at the local sports field?

Jesse Owens.

What was the "Jesse Owens Incident" in The Book Thief?

Rudy Steiner covered himself in charcoal and sprinted at the local sports field at night, inspired by Jesse Owens's four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

How does Hans Hubermann begin teaching Liesel to read at night?

After finding The Grave Digger's Handbook under her mattress, he writes letters on the back of sheets of sandpaper, progressing through the alphabet until they later move to the basement wall.

From whom did Hans Hubermann learn to play the accordion, and what debt does he owe him?

Erik Vandenburg, a Jewish friend from World War I who saved Hans's life.

What event triggers the schoolyard fight between Liesel, Ludwig Schmeikl, and Tommy Müller in Chapter 8?

Liesel cannot perform during a reading test and recites a memorized passage from The Grave Digger's Handbook instead; after Sister Maria beats her, Ludwig Schmeikl mocks her, provoking Liesel's attack.

What historical event occurs in the fall of 1939 in Chapter 8 of The Book Thief?

Germany invades Poland, marking the beginning of World War II.

What is the total mark allocation and duration of the Grade 9 English HL Paper 2 examination?

$70$ marks over a duration of $2$ hours ($08:00\text{--}10:00$).

What are the recommended time allocations for Questions 1, 2, and 3 in Paper 2?

Question 1: about $45$ minutes; Question 2: about $30$ minutes; Question 3: about $35$ minutes; Checking: about $10$ minutes.

What does each letter in the PEEL essay paragraph structure stand for?

P: Point (state argument clearly); E: Example (give textual evidence); E: Explain (analyse how evidence proves the point); L: Link (connect back to the question).

What is the required word length for the Question 1 literary essay in Paper 2?

$350\text{--}400$ words.

What four focus areas are assessed by markers in the Grade 9 literary essay?

Argument, Structure, Evidence, and Style.

When answering short questions, what action is required when the prompt says "Refer to the play"?

Use events known from the wider play, not only the printed extract.

What is the distinction between hyperbole and dramatic irony as figures of speech?

Hyperbole exaggerates for effect, whereas dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows more than the characters on stage.

What are the eight transactional writing formats required for Question 3?

Friendly letter, formal email, newspaper article, dialogue, blog, diary entry, open letter, and eulogy.

How are the $20$ marks for Question 3 (Transactional Writing) divided?

$10$ marks for purpose, audience, and content; $10$ marks for language and register.

What register and key features are expected in a formal email?

Formal register; key features include a subject line, polite greeting, and a clear request.

What register and key features are expected in an open letter?

Formal register; key features include addressing a public audience, persuasive tone, and a strong argument.

Who is Theseus in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and what does he represent?

The Duke of Athens, who represents power and order.

What three legal options does Theseus give Hermia if she refuses to marry Demetrius in Act 1, Scene 1?

1. Marry Demetrius; 2. Suffer execution (death); 3. Enter a nunnery to live a celibate life dedicated to Diana.

What escape plan do Lysander and Hermia arrange in Act 1, Scene 1?

To sneak out of Athens the following night and elope to the home of Lysander's wealthy, childless widow aunt, located seven leagues outside Athens where Athenian law cannot reach them.

Why does Helena reveal Hermia and Lysander's elopement plan to Demetrius?

To earn his gratitude and have the opportunity to follow him as he pursues Hermia into the forest and returns.

What role does Peter Quince assign to Nick Bottom in the play Pyramus and Thisbe?

Pyramus, described as a gallant lover who kills himself for love.

In the story of Pyramus and Thisbe, why does Pyramus commit suicide?

He arrives at Ninus' tomb under the mulberry tree, finds Thisbe's dropped shawl torn and bloodied by a lioness, and mistakenly assumes Thisbe was killed.

Why are Oberon and Titania quarrelling in Act 2, Scene 1?

Titania refuses to give Oberon a young Indian changeling boy whose mortal mother was her devoted worshipper.

What environmental consequences have resulted from Oberon and Titania's ongoing feud?

Unseasonable fogs, flooding rivers, rotted crops, diseased livestock, and altered seasons where winter frosts blight summer buds.

What is the flower "love-in-idleness", and what power does its juice possess?

A western flower struck by Cupid's arrow that turned from milk-white to purple; placing its juice on a sleeper's eyelids causes them to fall madly in love with the first living creature they see upon waking.

Why does Puck mistakenly place the love juice on Lysander's eyes instead of Demetrius's in Act 2, Scene 2?

Oberon told Puck to look for a man wearing Athenian garments, and Puck discovered Lysander asleep in Athenian clothing separated from Hermia.

What metaphor does Helena use in Act 2, Scene 1 to describe her loyalty to Demetrius?

She calls herself his "spaniel," declaring that the more he strikes, spurns, and neglects her, the more she will fawn over and follow him.

What physical transformation does Puck perform on Nick Bottom in Act 3, Scene 1?

He places an ass's (donkey's) head upon Bottom's shoulders.

Which four fairy servants does Titania appoint to attend to Bottom?

Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustardseed.

What insults do Hermia and Helena exchange during their confrontation in Act 3, Scene 2?

Hermia accuses Helena of being a thief of love and a "painted maypole," while Helena insults Hermia's short stature, calling her a "puppet," "dwarf," and "vixen."

How does Oberon prevent Lysander and Demetrius from duelling in Act 3, Scene 2?

He commands Puck to cover the sky in thick fog, imitate each man's voice to lead them in opposite directions until they collapse from exhaustion, and apply the counter-herb to Lysander's eyes.

What does Oberon use to release Titania from the enchantment in Act 4, Scene 1?

"Dian's bud" (the bud of Diana), which overpowers Cupid's flower and restores normal sight.

What ruling does Theseus make when he discovers the four lovers asleep in the woods on May Day morning?

He overrules Egeus's demand to enforce Athenian law and orders that Hermia will marry Lysander and Helena will marry Demetrius alongside his own wedding.

What title does Bottom give to his dream upon waking in Act 4, Scene 1, and why?

"Bottom's Dream", because it is so deep that it has no bottom.

Which three types of people does Theseus claim are governed by imagination in Act 5, Scene 1?

The lunatic, the lover, and the poet.

How does Puck address the audience in the final monologue of A Midsummer Night's Dream?

He tells the audience that if the players have offended, they should imagine they only slumbered and experienced a dream, and asks for their applause ("give me your hands") to restore amends.