Question 7
OLIVER GOLDSMITH: She Stoops to Conquer
Assess Marlow and Hastings’ first encounter with Mr Hardcastle.
Observation
This was another popular question. However, candidates’ answers were not detailed as they dwelt more on mere narration without the demands of the question.
The required answers should include:
- Statement of the central theme.
- Character identification.
- Tony’s trick of leading them to Hardcastle’s house, as if to an inn.
- Marlow and Hastings’ rudeness towards Mr Hardcastle.
- Marlow’s discovery and his decision to leave immediately.
- Significance of the encounter: provides humour, reveals the problems of arranged marriage.
Candidates’ performance in the question was good.