Question 3:
The writer creates interest for the reader by structuring the text to reveal the burgeoning surprise of Mr Fisher when he reads Tibbett’s unexpectedly ‘original’ work.
This surprise is well earned as at the beginning of the text, the protagonist’s disappointment in the effects of his English teaching is established by the writer, as ‘ a disappointing term’ despite his continued commitment to his marking and the subject. The ‘old days’ of enthusiasm seem far away and the use of the nostalgic flashback in the third paragraph focuses the reader’s attention on the halcyon days before disillusionment set in, when ‘ books were golden’ and therefore to be treasured and of considerable value: ‘good always triumphed in the end.’ This nostalgic tone is then immediately contrasted with the focus on the present time when ‘now everything was in black and white’ underlining the dismally literal state of the students’ imagination who view their English studies as ‘boring’ convincing Mr Fisher that ‘ the magic had run out’ unfortunately.However, the commitment of the teacher which was so explicitly focused on in the opening paragraph in terms of his marking habits, results in an attempt to revive his ‘uncharacteristically gloomy’ thoughts and the text shifts its focus to the ‘amiable Tibbett’ instead. This shift of focus returns the protagonist to his love of teaching and sense of fairness too as ‘a spark’ in Tibbett is acknowledged once more and ‘attention’ is generously granted, despite the potentially unwelcome result of missing the ‘five o’clock bus’ on a wintry Friday evening.Excitingly this dedication is now rewarded by the visceral effects of Tibbett’s creative writing story which ‘quickened’ Mr Fisher’s breathing, ’ underlining the revelation of Tibbett’s compelling attempt at the homework. This shift of focus culminates in the very satisfying conclusion which declares that ‘Something very original’ has been written that defies any obvious formula and which recreates a sense of ‘hope’ in the teacher whose engaging characterisation makes the reader share this enriching emotion too.