Sailmaker Textual Analysis
Final Question
The final question is worth 8 marks.
This will be worth 8% of your overall Nat 5 marks,
so it is a very important question.
This could easily make the difference between two
bands – an A could easily become a B if you fail to
answer this question correctly.
Approach to this Question
Approach the final question using a mini-essay
approach.
Split your mini-essay into four different points
which relate to themes identified in the extract,
and write two marks worth of answer for each
theme.
Advised Structure
• Intro – Address the question and identify what
four themes you can see in the extract (very short
sentence).
• Point One – Theme 1.
– Explain how it appears in the extract.
– Use a quote from elsewhere in the play to show why
the theme is important.
– Explain the quote you have chosen and why it is
important to the rest of the play.
Use the above format for Themes 2, 3 and 4.
Example Introduction
Question:
This extract looks at the relationship between
Alec and Davie. Comment on the relationship,
saying what factors influence their relationship
throughout the play.
Intro:
In this extract themes of family relationships
are made clear, and we can also recognise the
importance of poverty, dealing with death and
religion.
Example Point Structure
In this extract we can see the theme of religion
as Alec says ‘Jesus to come walking across the
back and tell me everything was alright’. This is
continued later in the play when Alec says ‘If the
lord Jesus had come into my heart, I should
know’. This shows Alec’s struggle with faith. Alec
has been using religion as an escape from his
problems – both his mother’s death and his
father – so religion is a central motif in the
relationship between Alec and Davie.