To achieve the highest marks in the exam, you will need to analyse quotations closely.
Try to zoom in on different parts of a quotation to explore the connotations of words.
For example, in the quotation:
"When they enter the flat they have been playing with a bunch of brightly coloured balloons."
... you might zoom in on the word "playing" - this word suggests something that children do, perhaps reminding us of Jo's youthful innocence.
....you might zoom in on the words "brightly coloured- these words might suggest a brightness and happiness, perhaps revealing Jo's emotions at this point in the play, as she is with Geof, who she feels most comfortable with.
When you need to support a point in your exam response, you should try to choose the quotation carefully - which quotation illustrates your point the best?
To evaluate the impact of a quotation, you will also need to analyse the techniques used in the quotation and explain how the quotation reflects something about the context in which Delaney was writing.
Now have a go at the following questions, which will help you to evaluate the impact of some of the key quotations in 'A Taste of Honey'.
You should always refer to your own text when working through these examples. These quotations are for reference only.