“A View from the Bridge”
Essay Plan
Key Scene
SQA External Report 2009
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Successful candidates continued to pay attention
to the structure of their essays, striving to shape
them relevantly to the key parts of the question.
Candidates who took a broad view of the text as
a whole and did not get bogged down in
constant “analysis” performed well; such
candidates were often able to contextualise their
comments by effectively narrating key details of
selected events.
From a play you know well, select a
scene, episode or incident that is crucial to
your exploration of the ideas of the play.
By close reference to this scene, episode
or incident, show why it is so important to
your understanding of the ideas of the
play.
Remember
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The first line of the question directs you to
an appropriate text.
The second line of the question tells you
exactly what you have to do and should
be the starting point for your planning.
From a play you know well, select a scene,
episode or chapter that is crucial to your
exploration of the ideas of the novel.
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This is a very wide key scene question, allowing
you to chose a scene, episode or chapter. This
gives you plenty of scope and plenty of choice.
Here are some examples that have been done
well in the past:
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Act1 – The Boxing Match scene
Act 2 – The double kiss
Act 2 – The Phone call to immigration
Act2 – Eddie’s death at the end
These are not the only key scenes but they are
perhaps the easiest to write about.
By close reference this scene, episode or chapter,
show why it is so important to your understanding
of the ideas of the play.
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Close reference; you must know the scene
very well and be able to quote from it.
However, that doesn’t mean that you may
not quote form other parts of the play;
you are trying to show that the scene you
are writing about develops your
understanding of the ideas (themes,
central concerns) of the whole text.
show why it is so important to your understanding
of the ideas of the play.
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Well, what are the ideas of the play?
Think of the themes we have discussed.
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Different types of love.
The destructive nature of jealousy.
The importance of the code of honour.
The inability to settle for half.
Important!!
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Do NOT try to write about all of these. If you do,
your essay will be superficial and won’t cover
any of the ideas in real depth.
Choose the scene which you remember best and
found most powerful. Write it down.
Think about it very carefully; which two or three
of the themes does this particular part of the
play help you understand. Write them down.
Planning
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Choose the scene which you remember
best and found most powerful. Write it
down.
Think about it very carefully; which two or
three of the themes does this particular
part of the play help you understand.
Write them down.
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For each theme you have thought about,
consider which quotations are relevant.
How will you analyse them to show that it has
helped you understand the important ideas.
For each idea you have chosen to write about,
think about one or two other incidents from
elsewhere in the book where this theme is
introduced or developed.
You should refer to these in your essay as it will
show you have a full knowledge and
understanding of the text.
Intro – text, author, ref. to qu.
Brief explanation of key scene/
Statement of what important ideas
are explored
Topic sentence, stating which idea you are going to be discussing.
Evidence – quotation
Analysis
Evaluate – explain how this helps you answer the qu.
Repeat the pattern to develop the point
Key Point 1
Firstly, The climactic “boxing match” and “trial of strength” scene
at the end of the first Act demonstrates that Eddie’s frustration
about Catherine and Rodolpho’s relationship has intensified
throughout the first act and the theme of the destructive nature of
jealousy is revealed.
Eddie is becoming increasingly agitated and intent on physically
confronting Rodolpho in this scene. Miller subtly portrays this
through the stage directions. At the outset of the scene, Eddie’s
anger and frustration at Rodolpho are evident through the stage
directions when the family are sitting down to a meal together
when he replies to Rodolpho’s contradiction;
“[resenting his instruction]” I know lemons are green for Christ’s
sake.”
Eddie’s anger towards Rodolpho escalates and this is again
highlighted in the stage directions when Rodolpho comments
that the women of his town do not have loose morals. Eddie
capitalises on this opportunity to raise the subject of Rodolpho’s
perceived disrespectful and flippant behaviour;
“[Rises, paces up and down]: It ain’t so free here either,
Rodolpho…”
Miller uses symbolism to represent the fact that Eddie feels he is
exposing the issue that has been the source of his growing
frustration throughout the first act.
“[He has been unconsciously twisting the newspaper into a tight
roll.] ”
Eddie’s subconscious twisting motion of the
newspaper in this scene implies a progression in
Eddie’s abuse of Rodolpho from verbal
condescension to that of a more physical nature.
Eddie’s treatment of the newspaper symbolises
the physical violence that he would like to inflict
on Rodolpho. Eddie’s frustration reaches a
climax at this point as the stage directions
reveal;
“[He has bent the rolled paper and it suddenly
tears in two.]”
Eddie’s frustration is replaced with the excitement at the
possibility of getting at Rodolpho under the pretence
that he is teaching him to box and this is highlighted by
the stage directions;
“[He is weirdly elated, rubbing his fists into his palm]”
Eddie is almost giddy at his plan to allow him to hit
Rodolpho that at that moment he has just invented.
The key scene of the “boxing match” and the “challenge
of strength” adds to an understanding of the events and
dynamics of the play as a whole, revealing that Eddie’s
frustration throughout the first act and his jealousy of
Rodolpho reaches a climax.
Key point 2
Furthermore, this scene develops the idea of Eddie’s
inappropriate feelings for Catherine that are implied
earlier in the act.
You could:
 Include Catherine’s choice of song “paper doll” as a
thinly veiled criticism by Catherine of Eddie’s attitude
towards her.
 You could comment on Rodolpho’s realisation of Eddie’s
feelings when he is struck by him as demonstrated by
his response; “…I was only surprised.”
 Then comment on the fact that this scene shows how
Eddie has moved from being a caring honourable family
man to a jealous destructive tyrant of sorts.
 Include Eddie’s overprotective objections about her job
and dress and how this scene helps the audience to
understand his real motivation.
 Eddie’s obvious jealousy of Rodolpho because of his
many talents. Etc. etc.
Key Point 3
Finally,
this scene represents the point in the play
where the conflict between Eddie and Marco that will
lead ultimately to Eddie’s death supersedes that of
Eddie and Rodolpho.
You could:
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Include challenge of strength and the subtle indications
in stage directions in the scene.
Include the final conflict and Marco’s need for revenge.
Include discussion of the Greek Tragedy genre and how
the boxing match is an example of Eddie not thinking
about his actions and consequences to an inevitable end
with Alfieri as the chorus and helpless.
Include the fact that this culminates in the symbolism of
Eddie dying on his own knife in the denouement of the
play.
Remember
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There are several ways to answer a question like this
and to apply your knowledge of the play.
You must be careful to do this in a way that answers the
question.
For a key scene question like this it is crucial to show
both a sound knowledge of the scene and its importance
to the themes, ideas and characters of the play as a
whole by referring to events before and after the scene
You will have noticed that Higher questions are usually
written in such a way that allows you to use your
knowledge of the play and the dramatic techniques
effectively.
Do not simply learn one essay or question type as
you will be very unhappy if there is not such a
question and this is a possibility.
Plan
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Key Scene Possible Structure.doc