Suggested Examination Questions
Below you will see two AS-level English Literature examination questions issued by the Welsh Examination Board. As you can see, unlike in the old A-level, this one question is divided into two parts. Even though it is split into two, it is perfectly acceptable to write the essay as one continual piece.

Attempt one of the following. EITHER . . .

1. By close attention to selected passages say how far you agree with this assessment.
2. Do you see Celie as victim or victor in The Color Purple?

OR . . .

1. "These letters are the most interesting part of the novel." How far do you agree with this statement.
2. The use of letters is part of Walker’s narrative technique. How successful do you find this use?
   

Suggested Examination Answers
Below is a reprint of an essay by Gurvinder Dosanjh of High Pavement Sixth Form College in Nottingham. This essay achieved an A-grade at AS-level and although it addresses a different question to that printed and is set out in the old A-Level format, you should realise that sisterhood is a likely candidate to appear on the question paper since it is such a big theme.

I am actually in the process of wishing to make this site interactive. The way I wish to do this is to expand this page so that it includes other students' essays. If you have recently written an A-grade essay, simply cut and paste your answer, along with the question set and your name to this e-mail address: newfoundgrowth@yahoo.com. Obviously, due to space, I cannot promise that you essay will make it onto the page, I can however promise that your essay will be read and if adjudged to be of considerable quality, will be put up on the site for all to see.

   The Color Purple, written by Alice Walker, is about a girl named Celie who tells us her life story through letters that she writes to God.
   The novel starts from 1910 and slavery was abolished in the 1860s. Even though it was abolished, the legacy of slavery was still there, and the black races were still treated as inferiors. This fact is very important because throughout the novel there are many references to slavery and it is important to know how women survived in this time and this novel illustrates that.
   Black women in general, were seen as objects to men at this particular time and it was very hard for women to retaliate against the dominance of the men. This is why women felt that they had to stick together. We see many examples of sisterhood in this novel and it is important to point out that women didn't have to be actual sisters to stick together. Women, who just knew each other, bonded and felt like sisters.
   One interesting example of sisterhood is the changing relationship between Celie and Shug Avery. The very first time that Celie sees a picture of Shug, she feels very strongly towards her and we can immediately see some form of desire from Celie for Shug.
   "The most beautiful woman I ever saw."
   When Shug and Celie actually meet for the first time, it isn't really a good meeting. Celie has been dreaming to see Shug and all that Shug says is "You sure is ugly." Shug is mean towards Celie because she is jealous that she is married to Albert, but she rises above this jealousy to become good friends with Celie. One reason that Celie likes and admires Shug is because she feels that she has a rapport with her and can identify with her. She seeks comfort in looking at Shug's picture when Pa is trying to sell her to Mr. _______.
   "I take out the picture of Shug Avery. I look into her eyes. Her eyes say Yeah, it bees that way sometime."
   Their relationship grows because they learn that they need each other and they begin to support each other. Shug also teaches Celie many things and helps her to broaden her understanding of her sexuality. Celie is very unaware of her sexuality and is innocent in terms of her knowledge. She feels that she doesn't enjoy sexual intercourse and Shug teaches her that it can be enjoyable. Here, we see the two women's bond and the way that they interact is positive and loving.
   Shug also takes risks for Celie because she sticks up for her. Shug is well aware of how much Albert thinks of her and so uses him to achieve things for Celie. A first example is when Shug is playing at Harpo's Place and Mr. _______ doesn't want Celie to go. Shug sticks up for her and she dominates Albert and he takes it because he loves her.
   "Yeah, but Celie going, say Shug."
   Another example is the way in which Shug gets the letters from Nettie for Celie, from Albert's trunk. The way in which Celie knows that Shug will be able to get the key, symbolises how well they know each other and how much power Shug has over Albert.
   "He keep it locked up tight, but Shug can git the key."
   The way in which Celie and Shug support each other is shown in this particular part because they work together, even though Shug has all the plans and takes the lead, to get the letters. Shug can obviously see how important these letters are to Celie and that is why she helps her and supports her.
   Celie's affection and admiration for Shug is easy to spot. Even when Celie is bathing Shug, she feels that she is praying and we can see that she worships her.
   "I wash her body, it feels like I'm praying."
   Shug also supports Celie because she brings out a voice in Celie. We can see this when old Mr. _______ comes for a visit and Celie spits in his glass of water because he is bad-mouthing Shug. It is the first time that we have Celie do anything like this.
   "I drop little spit in Old Mr. _______ water"
   Another example of how Celie and Shug bond, is when they confide in each other about the events of their lives. We learn a little about Shug's life in letter 24 when she explains why her children are not with her.
   "My kids went they grandma, she say. She could stand the kids, I had to go."
   Here, we see something else that brings Celie and Shug closer together and something that connects them both, they have both had children that have been taken away. In Celie's case, Adam and Tashi that are with Corrine and Samuel, and in Shug's case, her two children are with her mother.
   Celie tells Shug about her life in letter 47 and she tells Shug about how Pa sexually abused her. This is important, as it is the first person that Celie has told, and the fact that she has told Shug, emphasises their support for each other.
   The relationship between Celie and Sofia is also an interesting one because they are two very different people. By different, I mean that Celie is very submissive and stoical because she puts up with Mr _______ and doesn't say anything back, whereas Sofia has a voice and uses it because she wants to be in a fair relationship with Harpo and doesn't want him dominating her. Sofia sisters also have voices and are supportive of each other.
   "They all big strong healthy girls, look like amazons. They come early one morning in two wagons to pick Sofia up."
   Sofia also asks Celie for advice about Harpo and his excessive eating. Sofia is confused as to why Harpo is eating so much and asks Celie if she knows.
   "Harpo eating more and more every day."
   We know that Harpo is trying to build himself up so he is as big as Sofia is but Sofia doesn't know this. Celie plays the mother figure and finds out why Harpo is eating so much. She does this out of concern for Sofia and because Sofia asked her to, which shows how they support each other.
   An example of how women conflict with each other is the relationship between Mary Agnes and Sofia. They first meet when Sofia is dancing with Harpo, when they're not together anymore, and Mary confronts Harpo. Mary slaps Sofia and so Sofia retaliates by punching her. This shows that they didn't get on at first and this is simply because of jealousy. However, when Sofia goes to jail, Mary helps Sofia by looking after her children for her and she does this because of sisterhood. Their relationship started from jealousy, but transcended above that to support each other in times of need. Mary finds her voice later on in the novel, when she tells Harpo to call her by her real name.
   "She stand up. My name Mary Agnes, she say"
   She wants Harpo to call her by her real name for identity and respect. She becomes an independent woman because near the end of the novel, she prepares to tour around the north of the country with her new songs.
   The way that the women in this novel interact is very important. One way which demonstrates sisterhood is the theme of laughter. This theme, in the whole of the book, is important, but it is very significant for women as it helps them get through hard times. The first example we have is when Celie and Corinne are laughing together on the wagon near the beginning of the book.
   "And I git it and laugh. It feel like I split my face."
   Another example is when Celie and Sofia chuckle together.
   "This is the first giggle I heard in three years."
   This shows how laughter is like a healing power for women to help them through difficult times.
   Throughout the novel, the women advise each other a lot as a way of supporting each other. Her own sister, Nettie and Mr. _______’s sister Kate give advice to Celie’s. Both of them tell her to fight her way out of her current situation with Mr. _______.
   "You got to fight them. Celie, she say."
   As I have said before, Celie also advises Sofia about her relationship with Harpo. There are also differences between each of the women. The major differences are that there are some women with voices and some without. Celie is an example of someone without a voice because she doesn't stick up for herself, whereas women such as Shug and Sofia do. These women have options to get out of their current situation. Sofia has the option to get away from Harpo, which she takes and Shug has the option to move on once she's better.
   "Well, Miss Celie, I believe it time for me to go."
   Mary also has options at the end because she can go off on tour with her songs. Women without a voice can't do this without the help of women like Shug and Sofia.
   One other major point about sisterhood is the quilt. Celie and Sofia started the quilt from some curtains that Celie made for Sofia's house. It is important because sewing was a form of communication and bonding for the women. The name of the pattern in the quilt is Sister's Choice, which is very important because the point of the quilt is all about women having a choice to do what they want. Celie's love for Shug is also emphasised using the quilt because she says that if it turns out perfect, then she would give it to Shug. This means that only the best can be given to Shug.

Gurvinder Dosanjh [2001]

Compiled by Matthew Kane [2001]

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