AQA ENGLISH LANGUAGE: PAPER 1
P2Q3 example answer
This example answer was written by an SHSG student and was awarded 10/12 by the exam board. It has been included exactly as written in the GCSE exam, including any mistakes or inaccuracies.
How does the writer use language to describe working night shifts at the hospital?
The writer uses the simile of “made Hell look like Disneyland” to describe the night shifts at the hospital. Here, by juxtaposing “Hell,” which connotes immense suffering and endless, grievous torture, not with “Disneyland,” which evokes an image of children and adults enjoying a life of bliss, the writer implies that the night shifts were barbaric. Furthermore, it also implies that they were worse than human imagination could comprehend – as for many people, Hell is the most painful place possible. Through this juxtaposition, the writer also suggests that the night shifts are a punishment, as the Christian belief is that Hell is a punishment for sinners – Kay suggests that the night shifts were even more tormenting than this which causes the reader to feel sympathy.
The writer uses the metaphor “unrelenting nightmare” to describe the night shifts. The noun “nightmare” evokes an image of a person being tormented by their greatest fear which disrupts their sleep. This suggests that the night shifts were a culmination of Kay’s greatest fears. Moreover, sleep has connotations of peace of mind and solace, so by conveying the night shifts as a nightmare, Kay suggests that they rob him of his peace and he can’t escape them in the same way that one can’t escape their thoughts. This idea is furthered by the adjective “unrelenting,” which conveys the incessant nature of the night shifts and the chaos they cause.
The writer uses the metaphor “endless stream” to describe how many sick patients had to be attended to. The noun “stream” evokes an image of a barrage of water flooding an area. This emphasises the sheer number of patients in the A&E during the night shifts, allowing the reader to share in the overwhelmed feeling of the writer. Furthermore, the adjective “endless” emphasises the magnitude of “worryingly sick patients,” as it seems like they would never stop coming through. This suggests that the night shifts were stressful and chaotic.