TESTING TIMES !

Each year the Scottish Qualifications Authority set a question on Burns in the SCE English Higher Grade Examination. The following question is from this years examination which took place on Tuesday 15th May 2001. (The "Higher Grade" is Scotland's pre-university entrance examination standard )

Now then fellow Burnsians.……how many of you reckon you could handle this? If you like, send us your "examination answer paper" via Mac Good Luck !

The examination Paper read as follows:-

ROBERT BURNS

Read the poem carefully and answer the questions which follow. The number of marks attached to each question will give a clear indication of the length of answer required.

SUCH A PARCEL OF ROGUES IN A NATION

FAREWEEL to a' our Scottish fame,
Fareweel our ancient glory;
Fareweel even to the Scottish name,
Sae fam'd in martial story!
Now Sark rins o'er the Solway sands,
And Tweed rins to the ocean,
To mark whare England's province stands,
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!

What force or guile could not subdue,
Thro' many warlike ages,
Is wrought now by a coward few,
For hireling traitors' wages.
The English steel we could disdain,
Secure in valor's station;
But English gold has been our bane,
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!

O would, or I had seen the day
That treason thus could sell us,
My auld grey head had lien in clay,
Wi' BRUCE and loyal WALLACE!
But pith and power, till my last hour,
I'll mak this declaration;
We're bought and sold for English gold,
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!

5





10




15





20

(a)
(i) Comment on the meaning and tone of the title. (2 Marks)

(ii) What is the effect of the word "Now" (line 5)? (1 Mark)

(b) Show how Burns expresses strength of feeling in lines 9?16. In your answer you should refer to at least two language features such as word choice, sentence structure and tone. (6 Marks)

(c) How fitting is the last verse as a conclusion to the poem? You should consider both ideas and language in your answer. (5 Marks)

(d) Show how the structure of the poem adds to its impact. (3 Marks)

(e) In many of his poems, Robert Burns deals with strong emotions expressed with considerable poetic craft. Show how this is achieved in another of his poems. (8 Marks)

TOTAL - 25 Marks