AQA Anthology Prose
Chemistry
by Graham Swift
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Learning objectives:

Respond to texts critically, sensitively
and in detail;

Use textual evidence as appropriate;

Explore how language, structure and
forms contribute to the meanings of
texts;

Consider different approaches to
texts and alternative interpretations.
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Starter: initial ideas

Put the following statements in the
order you agree with them.
• Number 1 is the one you most agree with.
• Number 5 is the one you least agree with.
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Starter: initial ideas
(a)
Old people are irritating and get in the way.
(b)
Old people and young people have nothing in
common: each is suspicious of the other.
(c)
Old people are treated badly by society: they
are seen to have lost all value which isn’t true.
(d)
Old people have wisdom and experience and
should be valued.
(e)
Old people always look to the past and feel left
out of the current world.
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Chemistry: connections





It is told using 1st person narration
•
Which other stories use first person narratives?
It deals with family relationships
•
Can you think of two other family-centred stories?
The narrator and main character is a young boy
•
In which other story is the main character a boy?
The text deals with death
•
•
(like which other story …?)
It also deals with endings (like ….?)
The story is mysterious and the reader has to make
deductions about the plot and characters.
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Chemistry: main points

The narrator remembers events from his
childhood
•

Water is a recurring image
•

What is the most important event?
What relevance might this have?
Who are the main characters?
•
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List some details about each one.
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Chemistry: the opening

Write down five quotations to describe
the setting.

What are your first impressions of the
characters?
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Chemistry: the opening

What do you think this may mean?
• Look for clues about characters and events
‘The launch wallowed, sank…I remember what
he said to me, on this, the first loss in my life
that I had witnessed. He said very gravely: “You
must accept it – you can’t get it back – it’s the
only way”…I remember mother’s face as she got
up from the bench to leave. It was very still and
very white…’
(Lines 124-129)
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Family relationships:

What does the second section of the
story tell you about the family and their
relationships?
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Part three:

What do we find out about the boy’s
family?

What do you think of the way the
family live now?

Do you think the family seem
happy? Explain your answer.
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Your task:

Draw a family tree to show the family and
relationships between them.

Add quotations and line numbers.
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