Margaret Thatcher never liked her country.

Close Reading Marking Key

Question 1a1. Explain what the writer believes his son’s actions in the

opening paragraph reveal about Maggie Thatcher at that time?

(2) U

There must be some attempt to use own words. Blatant lifts: 0.

Acceptable gloss on any two of the following for 1 mark each or more detailed response on one example for 2 marks:

1 “cosmic war…between Jesus and Maggie” – e.g. Her impact/reign was all-consuming. She held an elevated status etc

2 “How much she dominated our lives and thoughts” – e.g. the fact that even a child was conscious of the sentiments towards her suggests that she pervaded the whole of society and was at the centre of society in Britain at the time

Q1a. Model Answer

1. The fact the writer uses ‘cosmic war…between Jesus and

Maggie’ suggests that her influence was as important or

elevated as religious figures. He also makes reference to the

fact that she pervaded almost every aspect of society

Question 1b1b. What does the word reverent mean and how does the

context of the rest of the paragraph help you

understand the meaning?

Definition for 1 mark. Explaining context for 1 mark. Candidates

should be rewarded for an implied understanding of the definition

Reverence – respectful/deferential/solemn (1)

Gloss on ‘silence’ and/or ‘communion’ (1)

Q1b. Model Answer

The word reverent means solemn respect. The word silent

has connotations of people being serious or respectful.

Question 22. Show how the sentence structure in lines 8-16 suggests the

scale of Thatcher’s impact on popular culture

Marks will depend on the quality of comment. A single insightful comment will be worth up to 2 marks; more basic comments will be worth up to 1 mark each. Mere identification of a feature of sentence structure: 0.

Possible answers:

1 list (items separated by commas) of a variety of genres of art emphasises the dominance of Thatcher as a subject in culture

2 Short opening sentence: “It was the same at work” suggests an element of Thatcher being inescapable after his previous anecdote.

3 Parenthesis (brackets) adds additional information of iconic songs, TV shows and books which again emphasises the widespread nature of her impact on the arts.

Q2 Model Answer

2. The use of the list of entertainment shows produced using

Thatcher as the muse suggests to the reader that she

dominated the arts right across the spectrum and was the

subject matter for some of the most iconic productions of the

era.

Question 3Q3 .Show how the writer’s use of language in lines 17-26 helps

the reader understand the relationship between Thatcher and the arts/artists in this period.

In your answer you should refer to such features as sentence structure, word choice, imagery . . . (4) A

Possible Answers

Sentence Structure

Rhetorical Questions (why didn’t this work? Why wasn’t she mocked…John Major was) Guides the reader through the context of the arts’ treatment of Thatcher and allows the writer to go on and discuss possible reasons

Question 3 cont…Possible Answers

Imagery (must deal with literal and figurative connotations)

“Sucked them into her orbit” – Just as a big planet/galaxy can attract others around them without choice, Thatcher seemed to have a luring affect towards artists looking for material.

“made her out to be the devil….devil has the best tunes” Just as the devil holds an element of fascination for people, the artist’s depiction of Thatcher as the devil seemed to make her even more enticing/interesting/powerful to society and other artists.

Question 3 cont…

Possible Answers

Word Choice (1 mark for each example with comment, up to 3 marks)

‘mythologise’ suggests something legendary or fabled that has grown through retelling by artists

‘sucked’ Idea of a powerful, consuming force

‘orbit’ Suggests a planet/person around which everything else revolves.

‘enemies’ Suggests strong opposition from the arts

‘devil’ Suggests she was depicted as the epitome of evil by the arts/artists

Q3. Sample AnswerSentence Structure

The repeated use of rhetorical questions (“why didn’t this work? Why wasn’t she mocked…John Major was”) helps the reader understand that the arts/artists treatment of Thatcher was based around negativity and scorn.

Imagery

“Sucked them into her orbit” – Just as a big planet/galaxy attracts others around it without choice, Thatcher seemed to have a luring affect on artists looking for material.

Word Choice

The word ‘mythologise’ suggests that the media bestowed legendary or fabled status upon Thatcher through their repeated use of her as a muse or subject within the arts.

The word ‘sucked’ has connotations of a powerful, consumptive force which the arts found impossible to resist.

Question 44. Explain why the writer believes the public’s reaction to

Thatcher’s death is the ‘same mistake all over again’. (2) U

There must be some attempt to use own words. Blatant lifts: 0. Acceptable gloss on two of the following:

1. “It adds to the legend” – Idea that it elevates her or makes her seem more important/powerful than she ever was

2. “adds to the legend obscures the truth” – idea that elevating her status will hide the facts about her time as PM.

3. “Dramas that raged…did nothing to harm her” – History of the arts vilifying her never had a negative impact on her career, writer feels this will be the case again.

Question 4 Sample Answer

The writer believes that the vitriol and fixation on Thatcher

will only increase the impact of her legacy (“it adds to the

legend”) and that elevating her in this way detracts from the

facts of her time as Prime Minister (“legend obscures the

truth).

Question 5

Q5. How does the writer’s anecdote in lines 34-41 reinforce his earlier point that focusing on the negative aspects of Thatcher’s personality is a mistake? (2) U

There must be some attempt to use own words. Blatant lifts: 0.

Acceptable gloss on the following for 1 mark each or more detailed/combined response for 2 marks:

1. The girl he tells the story about had been subjected to a harsh environment growing up (like Thatcher’s Britain) (1)

2. But achieved a positive outcome by focusing on something positive, in this case the book ‘Heidi’/found happiness by refusing to become fixated on the negativity around her (1)

Q5. Model Answer

Q5. The anecdote is effective is depicting the idea of someone

who has grown up in a harsh/oppressive environment, much

like Thatcher’s Britain, turning their life around by focusing

on positive aspects of life as opposed.

Question 6aQ6a. What, according to the writer, did Thatcher fail to

grasp about politics?

(2) U

There must be some attempt to use own words. Blatant lifts: 0.

Acceptable gloss on any two of the following for 1 mark each or

more detailed response on one example for 2 marks:

She did not understand the concept (“dismissed the very idea”)(1)

that politics has the potential to improve society or people’s lives

(“that politics could make things better”) (1)

Q6a. Model Answer

6a. Thatcher did not seem to understand the notion that politics

has the potential to improve society and people’s lives.

Question 6b

6b. How does his language in lines 46-47 convey his disagreement with

Thatcher’s approach to politics? (2) A

Candidates expected to deal with word choice. Example + comment

for 2 marks. Example alone = 0

‘Diminished’ Suggests something less than

whole or something less than

impressive

‘Potent’ Connotations of something very

powerful, in this case used

negatively

Q6b. Model Answer

6b. The use of the word ‘diminished’ has connotations of

something less than whole. Used alongside potent, which

means something powerful, it suggests the writer feels her

failure to grasp the potential of politics will be what she is

most remembered for.

Question 7Q7. Referring to specific words and/or phrases, show how the final

two sentences in lines 50-51 (“This distrust of the state…It’s not

British”) perform a linking function at this point in the passage.

(2) U

“This distrust [of the state]” links back to the previous idea of

Thatcher destroying the state in favour of using the markets to

build the country (1)

“It’s not British” introduces the theme of the next paragraph where

the writer lists some of Britain’s great historical achievements (1)

Q7. Model Answer

Q7. “This distrust [of the state]” links back to the previous idea

of Thatcher destroying the state in favour of using the

markets to build the country. “It’s not British” introduces the

theme of the next paragraph where the writer lists some of

Britain’s great historical achievements.

Question 8

Q8. Show how the writer’s use of language in lines 52-63 emphasises his feelings about Britain’s history.

In your answer you should refer to tone, sentence structure and word choice . . . (4) A

Possible Answers

Sentence Structure

1. Repetition of ‘The State [that]’ + appropriate comment (1)

2. Parenthesis to add additional information of some of “our finest moments” (lines 57-58) + comment (1)

3. Repetition of “more” (lines 59-60) to emphasise the aspirational nature of Britain in the past (1)

4. Dash in line 61 used to introduce a list traditional British ‘Utopias’ + comment (1)

Question 8 cont…Tone

Recognition of appropriate tone + appropriate example

and comment for up to 2 marks

Tone - proud/nostalgic/(accept rueful etc for what has been lost) or

any other appropriate

+

Appropriate example and comment

Question 8 cont

Word Choice

example + comment for 1 mark each (up to 3 marks)

Possible examples

1. ‘happy [memories]’ suggests something positive and or nostalgic

2. ‘believed’ – suggests a sense of hope and optimism

3. ‘’possibility’ suggests a feeling of unlimited potential

4. “finest” suggests something at its best

5. “utopias” connotations of the perfect society or environment

6. Any other appropriate + comment

Q8. Model Answer

Sentence Structure

The list of accomplishments contained within the parenthesis in lines 57-58 suggests that the writer is very proud of Britain’s history

Tone

The phrase “the temporary Utopias we build for ourselves” followed by the list of very British traditions suggests a tone of nostalgia as the writer reflects on Britain’s history.

Word Choice

The use of the word ‘’possibility’ suggests the writer feels that pre-Thatcher Britain was a time of unlimited potential.

The use of the word “finest” suggests that he feels this was Britain at its best.

Question 9Q9. In your own words, explain why the writer disagrees

with his friends that Ed Milliband should have been

angrier during the Thatcher debate.

(2) U

There must be some attempt to use own words. Blatant lifts: 0.

Acceptable gloss on any two of the following for 1 mark each or

more detailed response on one example for 2 marks:

1. That approach has been tested previously “we tried that” (1)

2. It was unsuccessful the last time “it didn’t work” (1)

Q9. Model Answer

9. The writer believes that ‘being angry’ was the approach taken

before and it was unsuccessful. He believes a new approach is

needed.

Question 10

10. How effective do you find the final paragraph (lines 89-90) as a conclusion to the writer’s argument throughout the passage. (2) E

Marks will depend on the quality of comment on ideas and/or language. For full marks the concept of “the passage as a whole” must be addressed. Reference alone: 0.

Some correlation should be drawn between the language or ideas of the final two lines and the sentiment of the passage as a whole e.g. taking a more positive/optimistic approach towards politics and moving away from the vilification of Thatcher and the focus on negativity.

Q10. Model AnswerQ10. The final paragraph is a very effective summary of the writer’s

argument. “It is time to stop going on about the witch being dead” links back to his previous idea that vilifying Thatcher will only strengthen the mythology surrounding her. Similarly, ‘start imagining what might lie over the rainbow’ echoes his earlier message that taking a more positive approach, much like the girl in his anecdote, will lead to a more prosperous Britain.