Passage A is a transcript of a real interview with a man in which he speaks about his childhood.
Passage B is from Charlotte Bronte's novel, "Jane Eyre" where Jane has a conversation with another girl who lives in the school Jane has just been sent to.
Write a detailed comparison of the extracts, paying attention to -
Passage A
I never saw it in those terms that I was an orphan (.) we had these (.) three aunties and uncles who we used to (.) sort of rotate around and (.) they were mostly kind people but very very very different in the sense that (.) their children had grown up (.) they were another generation (.) and they really were entering into a time in their lives where they should have been putting their feet up and doing all the things that they wanted to do and all of a sudden they had these two small boys (.) looking back now it must have been very very difficult for them (.) they weren't very affectionate (.) eh in the sense of you know they never sort of gave you like gave you a kiss or said come and say goodnight (.) they were hard around the edges but they were soft inside if that makes sense to you (.) I know that they cared but their mechanisms for expressing it were very very kept under wraps (.) as I got older and I often did feel that (.) our experiences were very different and one of the things with my own children I've always (.) tried to remember that and make sure that (.) you know there's lots of (.) love and affection for them and lots of holding and hugging (.) expression of need and being wanted (.) whereas in my (.) childhood(.) I think that was (.) just didn't exist (.) there was very little of that
Radio 4 programme of stories from their archives
Passage B
"Can you tell me what the writing on that stone over the door means? What is Lowood Institution?"
"This house where you are come to live."
"And why do they call it Institution? Is it in any way different from other schools?"
"It is partly a charity-school: you and I, and all the rest of us, are charity-children. I suppose you are an orphan: are not either your father or your mother dead?"
"Both died before I can remember."
"Well, all the girls here have lost either one or both parents, and this is called an institution for educating orphans."
"Do we pay no money? Do they keep us for nothing?"
"We pay, or our friends pay, fifteen pounds a year for each."
"Then why do they call us charity-children?"
"Because fifteen pounds is not enough for board and teaching, and the deficiency is supplied by subscription."
"Who subscribes?"
"Different benevolent-minded ladies and gentlemen in this neighbourhood and in London."
"Then this house does not belong to that tall lady who wears a watch, and who said we were to have some bread and cheese?"
"To Miss Temple? Oh, no! I wish it did: she has to answer to Mr. Brocklehurst for all she does. Mr. Brocklehurst buys all our food and all our clothes."
"Does he live here?"
"No--two miles off, at a large hall."
"Is he a good man?"
"He is a clergyman, and is said to do a great deal of good."
"Did you say that tall lady was called Miss Temple?"
"Yes."
"And what are the other teachers called?"
"The one with red cheeks is called Miss Smith; she attends to the work, and cuts out--for we make our own clothes, our frocks, and pelisses, and everything; the little one with black hair is Miss Scatcherd; she teaches history and grammar, and hears the second class repetitions; and the one who wears a shawl, and has a pocket- handkerchief tied to her side with a yellow ribband, is Madame Pierrot: she comes from Lisle, in France, and teaches French."
"Do you like the teachers?"
"Well enough."
"Do you like the little black one, and the Madame -?--I cannot pronounce her name as you do."
"Miss Scatcherd is hasty--you must take care not to offend her; Madame Pierrot is not a bad sort of person."
"But Miss Temple is the best--isn't she?"
"Miss Temple is very good and very clever; she is above the rest, because she knows far more than they do."
"Have you been long here?"
"Two years."
"Are you an orphan?"
"My mother is dead."
"Are you happy here?"
"You ask rather too many questions. I have given you answers enough for the present: now I want to read."
This pratice module by Jennifer Greenald was found free at www.englishresources.co.uk
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