1. A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller
Examining an extract
In the exam you will be given a short extract from the play to read,
followed by a choice of two questions. The example below is taken from
the sample materials produced by the exam board.
Read from …
EDDIE: Tell her about Vinny. To Catherine: You think I’m blowin’ steam here? To
Beatrice: Go ahead, tell her. To Catherine: You was a baby then. There was a
family lived next door to her mother, he was about sixteen.
to …
BEATRICE: Who’s mad? She gets up, clearing the dishes. I’m not mad. She picks
up the dishes and turns to him. You’re the one is mad. She turns and goes into
the kitchen as Catherine enters from the bedroom with a cigar and a pack of
matches.
Either
3a) How does Miller make this such a fascinating moment to return to when you
know what happens later in the play? [40]
or
3b) How does Miller’s portrayal of Beatrice make her such an admirable character in
the play?
Remember to support your ideas with details from the play. [40]
The tasks below will help you prepare a response to question 3a.
1. Which of the following statements is the most accurate description of what the
examiner is looking for in response to question 3a?
a) The examiner wants you to explain why what Vinny did was wrong.
b) We know right from the outset that the play ends in tragedy. The examiner wants
you to explore the methods Miller uses to sow the seeds of the tragedy in this
extract.
c) The examiner wants you to explain why Eddie does what he does by looking at his
behaviour in this extract.
2. Discuss your ideas with a partner and if you have different answers, try to explain why
you chose your response by referring back to the question.
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2. A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller
Examining an extract
1. What impression of Eddie’s character do you get from the extract? Choose three
adjectives you could use to describe him.
2. Why does Miller draw him in this light and why is it interesting to compare the
presentation of Eddie here to the Eddie we see at the end of the play?
3. Referring to the extract, summarise Eddie’s views on family.
1. Looking back at the extract you can see it can be roughly divided into three
parts:
 the Vinny anecdote
 a discussion of how the ‘system’ works
 Catherine’s job.
2. Mark your copy of the extract to show where each of these episodes occurs.
3. Use the diagram below to create a mind-map about the Vinny anecdote.
Briefly outline
the story.
Who says ‘you can
quicker get back a Find examples
million dollars that was from the text of
stole than a word that language used to
was gave away’? Why describe Vinny
is this significant?
Vinny and his ‘crime’.
Bolzano’s
story
How does Vinny’s
community react to How does Catherine
him/his crime? How is react to the story? Is
this similar/different to her reaction different
the reaction of the Who tells the to Eddie and
Carbone family? What story? Is this Beatrice’s? What
does this suggest? significant? does this suggest?
4. What do we find out about the way the system works? What does this tell us
about the values of the community?
© www.teachit.co.uk 2010 14346 Page 2 of 3

3. A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller
Examining an extract
1. How is Catherine addressed by Eddie as he moves the conversation on to its final
stage? What two points could you make about the way he addresses her? What is her
reaction?
2. How does the tone differ from this point to the end of the extract? Find some
examples from the extract that show this. Do the quotations you have chosen show
what people say or what they do?
3. ‘Eddie is standing facing the two seated women. First Beatrice smiles, then Catherine.’
What is interesting about the presentation of the women in this stage direction?
4. If you did not know what happens in the rest of the play, how would you describe the
relationship between Eddie and each of the women?
5. How does what you know about the rest of the play affect the way you interpret what
Eddie does and says here? Find three quotations that show us the seeds of the issues
that cause the tragedy; at least one of the quotations should be a stage direction.
Explain what each quotation you have chosen reveals.
1. Using your responses to the tasks above, work with your partner to create a plan that
you could use to answer question 3a.
2. When you have finalised your plan, each of you should choose one section to develop
into PEE paragraphs. When you have finished writing swap with your partner and
provide feedback on what they have written.
© www.teachit.co.uk 2010 14346 Page 3 of 3