Sailmaker Textual Analysis

Final Question

The final question is worth 8 marks.

This will be worth 8% of your overall Nat 5 marks, so it is a very important question.

This could easily make the difference between two bands – an A could easily become a B if you fail to answer this question correctly.

Approach to this Question

Approach the final question using a mini-essay approach.

Split your mini-essay into four different points which relate to themes identified in the extract, and write two marks worth of answer for each theme.

Advised Structure

• Intro – Address the question and identify what four themes you can see in the extract (very short sentence).

• Point One – Theme 1. – Explain how it appears in the extract.– Use a quote from elsewhere in the play to show why the

theme is important.– Explain the quote you have chosen and why it is important to

the rest of the play.

Use the above format for Themes 2, 3 and 4.

Example Introduction

Question:This extract looks at the relationship between

Alec and Davie. Comment on the relationship, saying what factors influence their relationship throughout the play.

Intro:In this extract themes of family relationships are

made clear, and we can also recognise the importance of poverty, dealing with death and religion.

Example Point Structure

In this extract we can see the theme of religion as Alec says ‘Jesus to come walking across the back and tell me everything was alright’. This is continued later in the play when Alec says ‘If the lord Jesus had come into my heart, I should know’. This shows Alec’s struggle with faith. Alec has been using religion as an escape from his problems – both his mother’s death and his father – so religion is a central motif in the relationship between Alec and Davie.