2014 Literature in English SHSS Preliminary Examinations 2 - 28 July 2010 (WED) Answer Key - Main Points Only

Question 1[A]
Christopher inspires in spite of his “behavioural problems”. Discuss with close reference to the novel.


• Christopher’s ability to be frank and forthcoming with his “behavioural problems” as outlined in Chapter 73 and the challenges faced by his primary care-givers at home and in the special needs education school.

• That he remains undaunted inspite of his “behavioural problems” by
- staying true to his thinking / narration / pledge to be “speaking and writing about the truth”
- earnest in his attempts to “impress”[?] his readers by including no doubt, somewhat awkwardly, tracts of mathematics and scientific knowledge in his running narrative
- spelling out his ambition to be an ASTRONAUT – no ordinary ambition, given his “behavioural studies” – by turning his personal weaknesses into strengths through the positive thinking that runs in his mind
- determined to do well academically and to complete his education and have a career – a successful one in the university and try to lead a normal life – according to his personal planning – ability to think ahead – matter-of-factly, no doubt but all clearly his thoughts


• That through our inference from his writing - he is not very different from most teenagers - his claim that EVERYBODY has learning difficulties, not just him or his fellow schoolmates in the special school


• That despite his autism – the word never appears in his writing, Christopher shows love and concern to his pet rat TOBY just like any ordinary teenager. That even though he fails to relate effectively with his father, mother, Mrs. Alexander, the policemen and the railway station personnel, Roger and Eileen Shears – he is capable of making assumptions about what these people mean to him and how he should be dealing with them. Christopher’s sense of self is a very powerful one.


• That despite his displays of tantrums and responses to cope with difficult situations, he may have been THE cause for the separation between his parents, he is open and honest to his readers about the crucial role he has played  Christopher consciously wants his readers to know that “he only speaks and writes about the truth”  a noble claim. He despises the ordinary novel because it contains a load of lies and consciously wants to present his writing to us in his own way  whether he succeeds is a different matter / it is the focus and the single-mindedness in his pursuit that lead to the eventual completion of his book – a rite of passage of some sorts – a milestone in his personal life


• That Christopher firmly believes that he is different / superior to normal people because he runs his mind at full capacity and copes with life’s challenges using logical thinking and reasoning.


• That despite all his problems, Christopher handles his “escape” from Swindon to London well – he successfully reunited with Judy in London.


• That although “traumatized” by his father’s confession, Christopher is able to contain his emotions and manages somewhat to complete his novel to deliver his story to his readers


• That he stays essentially TRUE to himself and remains SOLELY accountable for himself, his own past actions, thinking and his future