A Taste of Honey

    OCR
    GCSE

    Set in Salford in the late 1950s, the play follows Jo, a working-class teenager, and her volatile relationship with her 'semi-whore' mother, Helen. After Helen abandons Jo to marry the younger, brutish Peter, Jo becomes pregnant by a black sailor, Jimmie, who subsequently leaves. Jo is befriended by Geoffrey, a homosexual art student who moves in and assumes a maternal, nurturing role during her pregnancy. The narrative culminates in Helen's return as Jo goes into labour, forcing Geoffrey out and re-establishing the dysfunctional mother-daughter dynamic. The play is a seminal text of the 'Kitchen Sink' genre, challenging social taboos regarding race, sexuality, and the sanctity of motherhood.

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    Objectives
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    Exam Tips
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    Pitfalls
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    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • AO1: Develop a critical, argumentative voice that debates characters' motivations rather than accepting them at face value
    • AO2: Analyse dramatic form, specifically the interplay between naturalism and non-naturalistic devices (direct address, use of music)
    • AO3: Integrate context regarding the 1950s stigma surrounding illegitimacy, interracial relationships, and homosexuality as a driver of conflict
    • AO2: Evaluate the cyclical structure of the play and the symbolic use of the setting (the flat) to represent entrapment

    Example Examiner Feedback

    Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

    • "You have identified the theme of abandonment; now analyse the specific language Helen uses to justify it"
    • "Integrate your knowledge of 1950s social attitudes into your analysis of Geof's character, rather than stating it separately"
    • "Discuss the effect of the 'direct address' to the audience here—how does it change our relationship with Jo?"
    • "Use more precise terminology when discussing the staging; consider how the setting contributes to the mood"

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • AO1: Develop a critical, argumentative voice that debates characters' motivations rather than accepting them at face value
    • AO2: Analyse dramatic form, specifically the interplay between naturalism and non-naturalistic devices (direct address, use of music)
    • AO3: Integrate context regarding the 1950s stigma surrounding illegitimacy, interracial relationships, and homosexuality as a driver of conflict
    • AO2: Evaluate the cyclical structure of the play and the symbolic use of the setting (the flat) to represent entrapment

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡Memorise 3-4 'utility quotations' for each main character that can be adapted to various themes
    • 💡Since this is closed book, focus on analysing specific moments or 'key scenes' in detail rather than vague overviews
    • 💡Ensure context (AO3) is woven into your argument; explain *why* Delaney challenges 1950s societal norms
    • 💡Dedicate 5 minutes to planning; a coherent argument (AO1) is weighted heavily in this component

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Treating the text as a historical document rather than a constructed drama
    • Describing the plot or character actions without analysing the writer's methods
    • Bolting on biographical information about Shelagh Delaney that is not relevant to the specific question
    • Ignoring the 'play' aspect; failing to mention staging, entrances/exits, or the effect of dialogue on the audience

    Study Guide Available

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