GCSE English Language 8700/1 Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing - Source A

Sep 5, 2026

GCSE English Language 8700/1 Paper 1 Source A provides the prose-fiction extract “The Tiredness of Rosabel” by Katherine Mansfield. The passage follows Rosabel, a lower-class girl working in a hat shop, as she travels home through a sensory, oppressive urban environment. It contrasts her routine hardship with flashes of memory about customers, fashion, and a beautiful red-haired girl. The extract is designed for creative reading and writing tasks that build on character, atmosphere, and viewpoint.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Source A

Prose-fiction extract: The Tiredness of Rosabel

Narrative focus and events on the journey home

GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE 8700/1 Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing Insert The source that follows is: Source A: 20th Century prose-fiction The Tiredness of Rosabel by Katherine Mansfield An extract from a short story written in 1908. Please turn the page over to see the source Source A This extract is from the beginning of a short story by Katherine Mansfield. It is the early 1900s and Rosabel, a lower class girl who works in a hat shop, is on her way home. 1 At the corner of Oxford Circus, Rosabel bought a bunch of violets, and that was practically the reason why she had so little tea – for a scone and a boiled egg and a cup of cocoa are not sufficient after a hard day's work in a hat shop. As she swung onto the step of the bus, grabbed her skirt with one hand and clung to the railing with the other, Rosabel thought she 5 would have sacrificed her soul for a good dinner, something hot and strong and filling. 6 Rosabel looked out of the windows; the street was blurred and misty, but light striking on the panes turned their dullness to opal and silver, and the jewellers' shops seen through this were fairy palaces. Her feet were horribly wet, and she knew the bottom of her skirt and petticoat would be coated with black, greasy mud. There was a sickening smell of warm 10 humanity – it seemed to be oozing out of everybody in the bus – and everybody had the same expression, sitting so still, staring in front of them. Rosabel stirred suddenly and unfastened the two top buttons of her coat…she felt almost stifled. Through her half-closed eyes, the whole row of people on the opposite seat seemed to resolve into one 14 meaningless, staring face. 15 She began to think of all that had happened during the day. Would she ever forget that awful woman in the grey mackintosh, or the girl who had tried on every hat in the shop and then said she would ‘call in tomorrow and decide definitely’? Rosabel could not help smiling; the excuse was worn so thin. 19 But there had been one other – a girl with beautiful red hair and a white skin and eyes the 20 colour of that green ribbon shot with gold they had got from Paris last week. Rosabel had seen her carriage at the door; a man had come in with her, quite a young man, and so well dressed. ‘What is it exactly that I want, Harry?’ she had said, as Rosabel took the pins out of her hat, untied her veil, and gave her a hand-mirror. 25 ‘You must have a black hat,’ he had answered, ‘a black hat with a feather that goes right round it and then round your neck and ties in a bow under your chin – and a decent-sized feather.’ The girl glanced at Rosabel laughingly. ‘Have you any hats like that?’ They had been very hard to please; Harry would demand the impossible, and Rosabel was 30 almost in despair. Then she remembered the big, untouched box upstairs. ‘Oh, one moment, Madam,’ she had said. ‘ I think perhaps I can show you something that will please you better.’ She had run up, breathlessly, cut the cords, scattered the tissue paper, and yes, there was the very hat – rather large, soft, with a great, curled feather, anda black velvet rose, nothing else. They had been charmed. The girl had put it on and then 35 handed it to Rosabel. ‘Let me see how it looks on you,’ she said. Rosabel turned to the mirror and placed it on her brown hair, then faced them. ‘Oh, Harry, isn't it adorable,’ the girl cried, ‘I must have that!’ She smiled again at Rosabel.‘ It suits you, beautifully.’ 40 A sudden, ridiculous feeling of anger had seized Rosabel. She longed to throw the lovely, perishable thing in the girl's face, and bent over the hat, flushing. ‘ It's exquisitely finished off inside, Madam,’ she said. The girl swept out to her carriage, and left Harry to pay and bring the box with him. ‘ I shall go straight home and put it on before I come out to lunch with you,’ Rosabel heard 45 her say. END OF SOURCE There is no source material on thi

FAQs

What story and author is Source A taken from?

Source A is taken from the story “The Tiredness of Rosabel” by Katherine Mansfield.

Where is Rosabel at the start of the extract?

Rosabel is on her way home, after buying violets and boarding the bus from Oxford Circus.

What is the purpose of this paper section?

The extract is provided for “Explorations in creative reading and writing,” supporting tasks that use the text for creative responses.

Sep 5, 2026

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