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Summary A* AQA ENGLISH LITERATURE B CRIME WRITING UNSEEN EXTRACT Explore the significance of elements of crime writing in this extract?
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Course
Elements of Crime Writing
Institution
AQA
A* AQA ENGLISH LITERATURE B CRIME WRITING UNSEEN EXTRACT Explore the significance of elements of crime writing in this extract?
Received 23/25 marks A*
Explore the significance of the elements of
crime writing in this extract. Remember to
include in your answer relevant detailed
analysis of the ways that the author has
shaped meanings. [25 marks]
The extract is taken from The Blank Wall by Elisabeth Sanxay Holding, published in America in
1947. Lieutenant Levy is investigating a murder. At a picnic, arranged by the Lloyds, Lieutenant
Levy sits down to talk to Lucia. Lucia has a 17-year-old daughter, Bee, and a son, David who is
15. Mr Harper is Luciaʼs father. Bee formed a relationship with an older man, Ted, but when Mr
Harper intruded upon a meeting that Bee had with him, Ted was accidentally killed. Lucia
discovered the body and in order to protect her family, she disposed of it on Shimmʼs Island.
Although Murray, a drug-dealer, has been wrongfully arrested for the murder, Lieutenant Levy
continues to investigate.
Ideas of function of the police – “the function of the police is protection”
Concepts of justice and injustice – “I donʼt think so much of the law” “I think itʼs often very
stupid and unjust”. The man who was “accidentally killed” and Lucia disposing of the body
to protect her family.
Lack of sympathy for involvement of the crime – “Iʼm glad this happened right now”. The
day seeming to be a Golden Age of crime setting although it is more police procedural not
detective.
Foreshadowing in the fate of Lucia – “she hoped that this hesitation was not noticeable”.
The mention of ‘Simmʼs Islandʼ likely a hint where the body is disposed. The police acting
as a detective. The significance of this. The use of ‘trapsʼ and use of birds to diverge the
topic to the Island. “But he was a policeman”. Pouring sand through his open fingers – time
passing before she gets caught.
In the extract we are immediately introduced to the crime element of the police and justice
system and their roles in society. We hear juxtaposing opinions from a police officer –
Lieutenant Levy – and Lucia who is described as having a “secretly rebellious” streak within her
stating ironically “I donʼt think so much of the law”. Lucia views the police as predators in the
food chain zoomorphising them into animalistic characteristics as she describes how they hunt
“people down, trying to get them punished”. However, Lieutenant Levy contrasts this opinion
stating, “the function of the police is protection”. Through this, although the 1940s setting
where the “golden and tranquil day” alludes to the Golden Age of Crime is contradicted. In
these settings popularised by Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers the police were presented
as farcical often being incompetent or monetarily motivated when compared to the detective
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