Smoke – Ila Mehta

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Story Overview

‘Smoke’ by Ila Mehta is a short story in the Stories of Ourselves Volume 3 collection for the 2028–2030 IGCSE Literature syllabus.
It centres on a woman in a traditional Indian household who struggles to light a kitchen stove (a chulha) while being watched and criticised by her mother-in-law, Baa.
The plot is simple, but the emotions are complex: the story is about the quiet, daily battles fought in a kitchen.
The conflict is not just with the fire but with identity: the narrator feels trapped by family expectations and rigid traditions.
The ending conveys weariness: the smoke represents the narrator’s blurred sense of self and her inability to escape her situation.

The Narrator

The narrator is a ‘modern’ woman trying to survive in a ‘traditional’ space.
She is frustrated: the domestic chores are difficult and physically painful for her.
She is internalised: much of the story happens inside her head, and she observes everything but often stays silent.
She feels trapped, experiencing the smoke as a suffocating shroud that prevents her from breathing or living her own life.

Baa, the Mother-in-Law

Baa is the authority figure in the house and represents the old ways and the weight of tradition.
She is critical: she watches the narrator closely and notices every mistake.
She is resilient but rigid: she has lived this life for decades and expects the narrator to do the same without complaining.
She acts as the gatekeeper, ensuring the household runs according to traditional rules, even if those rules make the narrator unhappy.
Avoid seeing Baa as a villain; see her instead as a product of her own upbringing, doing what she was taught is right.

Key Themes

Tradition vs. modernity: the chulha symbolises the past, and the narrator’s struggle to light it shows how difficult it is for modern individuals to fit into old-fashioned roles.
The domestic trap and gender roles: the story explores how women’s lives can be limited to the kitchen, and the narrator feels her potential is being burnt up like the wood in the stove.
Physical and emotional suffocation: Mehta uses the physical sensation of smoke—stinging eyes, coughing, restricted breathing—to show how the narrator feels about her marriage and social position.
There is no ‘clean air’ or freedom for the narrator; the smoke is everywhere.

Language and Structure

Sensory imagery: Mehta focuses on smell and sight, describing the smoke as ‘biting’ the eyes so the reader feels the narrator’s physical discomfort.
Repetitive sentence structure: the way the chores are described often feels repetitive, mimicking the monotony of the narrator’s daily life.
The symbol of smoke: it is the most important image, described as something that ‘blurs everything’, suggesting the narrator is losing her sense of who she is.
The narrator becomes ‘invisible’ behind the smoke of her duties.
Analysis tip: identify a word such as ‘suffocating’, explain its literal meaning (can’t breathe), then explain its deeper meaning (the narrator feels her soul is being crushed by her environment).

Exam Skills: AO1–AO4

AO1 (Knowledge): use short, relevant references, such as the ‘damp wood’ or the ‘tears’ caused by the smoke; keep quotes under ten words.
AO2 (Meaning): don’t just say what happens—explain why it happens. Why is the narrator crying? Is it just the smoke, or is it her life?
AO3 (Analysis): use terms like metaphor, symbolism and sensory detail, and explain how Mehta makes the kitchen feel like a prison.
AO4 (Personal Response): express how you feel about the narrator and Baa, using phrases like ‘The writer successfully creates a feeling of…’ or ‘I found the description of… particularly moving because…’.
In the 2028 exam (Paper 1, Section B), all four assessment objectives are tested holistically.

Quick Review

Author: Ila Mehta.
Setting: a traditional domestic kitchen.
Main symbol: smoke, representing suffocation, blurred identity and tradition.
Main conflict: the narrator versus the expectations of her mother-in-law and society.
The chulha symbolises the past and the rigid expectations of traditional domestic life.
The conflict between the narrator and Baa is a conflict of identity and tradition, where the narrator feels trapped by the rigid domestic expectations Baa represents.
Smoke represents both the physical discomfort of the chores and the emotional suffocation the narrator feels within her marriage and social position.

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1.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', what is the name of the kitchen stove the narrator struggles to light?
Easy
- Achulha
- Btandoor
- Csigri
- Dangeethi
2.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', which character watches and critiques the narrator as she tries to light the stove?
Easy
- ABaa, her mother-in-law
- Bher husband
- Cher sister
- Da neighbour
3.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', what does the chulha primarily symbolise?
Medium
- AThe past and rigid expectations of traditional domestic life
- BThe narrator's modern education
- CThe love between the narrator and her husband
- DThe freedom of the outside world
4.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', how is the conflict between the narrator and Baa best characterised?
Medium
- AA conflict of identity and tradition, where the narrator feels trapped by rigid domestic expectations
- BA political disagreement about education
- CA rivalry over who owns the house
- DA misunderstanding about money
5.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', what is the significance of the smoke as a metaphor?
Medium
- AIt represents both physical discomfort and emotional suffocation within marriage and social position
- BIt represents the narrator's joy in cooking
- CIt represents the freshness of the morning air
- DIt represents Baa's youth
6.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', how does the author use sensory imagery to convey the narrator's experience?
Medium
- ABy focusing on smell and sight, using words like 'biting' to describe the smoke
- BBy describing only sounds of the kitchen
- CBy listing the colours of the vegetables
- DBy quoting conversations with Baa
7.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', why does Mehta use repetitive sentence structures?
Medium
- ATo mimic the monotony and boredom of the narrator's daily domestic life
- BTo show the narrator's excitement
- CTo create a fast-paced action scene
- DTo imitate Baa's speech patterns
8.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', what does the use of pathetic fallacy or physical metaphors suggest about the narrator's mind?
Medium
- AThat if the external environment is smoky and clouded, the character's internal mind is equally unhappy and confused
- BThat the narrator is physically ill
- CThat the weather is bad
- DThat Baa is planning a celebration

Plus de questions

9.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', how should students interpret the character of Baa for the exam?
Easy
- AAs a product of her own traditional upbringing rather than a simple villain
- BAs a cruel villain who enjoys causing pain
- CAs a modern woman who rejects tradition
- DAs a minor character with no influence
10.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', which of the following are key themes? (select all that apply)
Medium
- ATradition versus modernity
- BThe domestic trap and gender roles
- CPhysical and emotional suffocation
- DThe joys of travel
- EThe importance of wealth
11.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', the story is set in a traditional domestic kitchen.
Easy
True or false?
12.Match each element from Ila Mehta's 'Smoke' with its correct description.
Medium
- chulha
- Baa
- smoke
- narrator
- symbol of tradition and the past
- mother-in-law and authority figure
- metaphor for suffocation and blurred identity
- protagonist who feels trapped
13.Place the following events from Ila Mehta's 'Smoke' in the order they occur in the story.
Medium
- The narrator struggles to light the damp wood in the chulha.
- Baa watches and critiques the narrator's efforts.
- The narrator feels suffocated by the smoke and her situation.
- The story ends with a sense of weariness and blurred identity.
14.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', which of the following best describes the narrator's character?
Medium
- AFrustrated, internalised, and feeling trapped
- BCheerful and carefree
- CRebellious and outspoken
- DIndifferent and lazy
15.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', Baa is presented as a villain who deliberately makes the narrator's life miserable.
Easy
True or false?
16.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', which of the following are true about the story's structure and language? (select all that apply)
Hard
- ARepetitive sentence structures mimic the monotony of domestic life.
- BSensory imagery focuses on smell and sight.
- CThe smoke is described as 'biting' the eyes.
- DThe story uses a complex chronological structure with flashbacks.
- EThe language is highly formal and distant.
17.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', what does the narrator's struggle to light the chulha primarily represent?
Medium
- AThe difficulty for a modern individual to fit into old-fashioned roles
- BA simple lack of cooking skill
- CThe narrator's dislike of her mother-in-law
- DA desire to leave the house
18.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', the kitchen is presented as a place of nourishment and joy.
Medium
True or false?
19.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', what is the name of the narrator, the woman who struggles to light the chulha and feels trapped in her domestic role?
Easy
- AShubha
- BBaa
- CIla
- DAnuradha
20.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', what is Baa's relationship to the narrator?
Medium
- AShe is the narrator's mother-in-law
- BShe is the narrator's biological mother
- CShe is the narrator's sister
- DShe is the narrator's neighbour
21.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', Baa is best understood as a deliberate villain who enjoys making the narrator miserable.
Easy
True or false?
22.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', how does the narrator's attitude towards her domestic role change over the course of the story?
Medium
- AShe moves from quiet frustration to a deeper sense of weariness and entrapment
- BShe begins by enjoying the chores and ends by resenting them
- CShe starts confident and becomes more confident as she masters the stove
- DShe is indifferent throughout and shows no emotional development
23.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', which of the following are true about the relationship between the narrator and Baa? (select all that apply)
Medium
- ABaa represents the weight of tradition and rigid domestic expectations
- BThe narrator feels judged and watched by Baa as she struggles with the stove
- CThe conflict is primarily about who owns the kitchen utensils
- DBaa's authority stems from her long experience of the same domestic life
- EThe narrator openly rebels against Baa and leaves the house
24.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', what does the story suggest about the theme of tradition versus modernity through the character of the narrator?
Medium
- AModern individuals may struggle to fit into old-fashioned roles, causing inner conflict
- BTradition is always superior and should be embraced without question
- CModernity destroys all family relationships
- DThe narrator rejects tradition completely and feels no conflict
25.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', the story is set in a traditional Indian household where domestic chores are central to the plot.
Easy
True or false?
26.Match each character or element from Ila Mehta's 'Smoke' with its correct description.
Medium
- The narrator (Shubha)
- Baa
- The chulha
- The smoke
- A modern woman feeling trapped in a traditional role
- The mother-in-law who upholds tradition and watches critically
- A symbol of the past and rigid domestic expectations
- A physical and emotional metaphor for suffocation and blurred identity
27.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', how does the writer use the symbol of smoke to explore the narrator's sense of identity?
Hard
- ASmoke blurs everything, suggesting the narrator is losing her sense of self and becoming invisible behind her duties
- BSmoke represents the narrator's joyful memories of her childhood
- CSmoke symbolises the narrator's desire to become a professional chef
- DSmoke is a sign of the narrator's rebellion against Baa
28.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', the narrator feels the smoke acts as a "suffocating shroud". Which technique is Mehta using when she describes the smoke in this way?
Medium
- AMetaphor
- BSimile
- CPersonification
- DAlliteration
29.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', the writer describes the smoke as "biting" the eyes. What is the main effect of this verb?
Medium
- AIt makes the smoke seem alive and aggressive, so the reader feels the narrator's physical pain
- BIt suggests the smoke is harmless and gentle, so the reader feels calm
- CIt shows that the narrator is exaggerating for comic effect
- DIt proves that Baa is deliberately hurting the narrator
30.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', the smoke is said to "blur everything". Why is this image especially important for the story's meaning?
Hard
- AIt suggests the narrator's sense of identity is becoming unclear, matching the physical blurring of her surroundings
- BIt shows that the narrator needs spectacles
- CIt proves that the kitchen is badly built
- DIt means the narrator cannot remember Baa's name
31.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', why does Mehta use repetitive sentence structures when describing the narrator's chores?
Medium
- ATo mimic the monotony of the narrator's daily domestic life
- BTo show that the narrator is a careless writer
- CTo make the story shorter and easier to read
- DTo suggest that the narrator enjoys cooking
32.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', which of the following best explains how the writer uses the kitchen setting to create meaning?
Medium
- AThe kitchen is a place of labour and irritation, not nourishment, which reflects the narrator's trapped life
- BThe kitchen is a joyful place where the narrator feels free
- CThe kitchen is a symbol of the narrator's successful career
- DThe kitchen is a neutral background with no symbolic meaning
33.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', which of the following are true about the writer's use of sensory imagery? (select all that apply)
Medium
- AMehta focuses on smell and sight to convey the narrator's discomfort
- BThe smoke is described as "biting" the eyes
- CThe imagery is mainly about pleasant fragrances and beautiful colours
- DThe sensory details help the reader feel the narrator's physical pain
- EThe imagery suggests the narrator is happy and relaxed
34.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', the smoke is described as something that "blurs everything", which suggests the narrator is losing her sense of who she is.
Easy
True or false?
35.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', which of the following best explains how the writer uses pathetic fallacy or physical metaphors?
Hard
- AThe smoky, clouded environment suggests the narrator's mind is equally unhappy and confused
- BThe weather reflects the narrator's joy and contentment
- CThe physical setting has no connection to the narrator's emotions
- DThe smoke is used only to show that the kitchen needs cleaning
36.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', the smoke is described as "biting" the eyes, which appeals mainly to the sense of sight.
Easy
True or false?
37.Match each literary term from Ila Mehta's 'Smoke' with the correct example or description.
Medium
- Symbol
- Sensory imagery
- Repetition
- Pathetic fallacy
- The smoke represents suffocation and blurred identity
- The smoke "biting" the eyes
- Repetitive sentence structures mimic the monotony of chores
- The smoky, clouded environment reflects the narrator's unhappy mind
38.Place the following steps in the correct order to build an exam answer about Ila Mehta's 'Smoke'.
Medium
- Identify a relevant quotation or detail
- Explain the literal meaning
- Explain the deeper meaning or effect
- Link to the question and the whole text
39.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', a student writes: 'The smoke is a suffocating shroud.' Which assessment objective are they mainly addressing by analysing this image?
Hard
- AAO3: Analyse ways in which writers use language, structure and form to create meanings and achieve effects
- BAO1: Show detailed knowledge of the content of literary texts
- CAO2: Understand the meanings of literary texts and their contexts
- DAO4: Communicate a sensitive and informed personal response
40.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', which of the following would help you achieve AO4 (personal response) in an exam answer? (select all that apply)
Hard
- AUsing phrases like 'The writer successfully creates a feeling of...'
- BExplaining how the description of the smoke made you feel
- CListing every event in the story without comment
- DReferring closely to the text to justify your interpretation
- EIgnoring the question and writing about another story
41.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', what is the name of the mother-in-law who watches and critiques the narrator?
Easy
42.Complete the sentence about Ila Mehta's 'Smoke' using the correct terms.
Medium
The narrator struggles to light the ____ because the ____ is damp.
43.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', what is the name of the collection in which the story appears?
Medium
44.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', what single word does the narrator use to describe the smoke as a 'suffocating shroud' that prevents her from breathing or living her own life?
Easy
45.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', what is the name of the narrator, the woman who is a doctor and a widow?
Easy
46.Complete the sentence about the themes in Ila Mehta's 'Smoke'.
Medium
In 'Smoke', the chulha represents the ____, while the narrator's struggle to light it symbolises the difficulty of fitting into ____ roles.
47.Complete the sentence about the ending of Ila Mehta's 'Smoke'.
Medium
At the end of 'Smoke', the smoke represents the narrator's blurred sense of ____ and her inability to ____ her situation.
48.Complete the sentence about the writer's methods in Ila Mehta's 'Smoke'.
Medium
Mehta uses sensory imagery, such as the smoke 'biting' the eyes, to convey the narrator's ____ discomfort, and repetitive sentence structures to mimic the ____ of her daily life.
49.Complete the sentence about Ila Mehta's 'Smoke' using the correct literary terms.
Medium
The smoke is a ____ because it stands for the narrator's suffocation and blurred identity, and the description of smoke "biting" the eyes is an example of ____ imagery.
50.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', which single word does the writer use to describe the smoke as a shroud that prevents the narrator from breathing or living her own life?
Medium
51.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', how does the writer present the relationship between the narrator and Baa?
Hard
52.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', how does Mehta use the symbol of smoke to explore the narrator's sense of identity?
Hard
53.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', how does Mehta use the domestic setting to explore the theme of tradition versus modernity?
Challenge
54.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', how does the writer use sensory imagery to convey the narrator's experience?
Hard
55.In Ila Mehta's 'Smoke', explain how the writer presents the relationship between the narrator and Baa. Support your answer with close reference to the text.
Hard

Notes de révision

## ‘Smoke’ – Ila Mehta: Last-Minute Revision **Text:** short story by Ila Mehta, in *Stories of Ourselves Volume 3* (2028–2030 syllabus). Examined on **Paper 1, Section B (Prose)** — open text, essay question, 25 marks. ### What happens A woman in a traditional Indian household struggles to light the kitchen stove (*chulha*). The wood is damp, the air thick, and her mother-in-law, **Baa**, watches and criticises every mistake. The story ends in weariness: the smoke fills the room and blurs the narrator's sense of self. ### Characters - **Narrator** – frustrated by the chores, largely silent and internal, feels trapped; the smoke is a suffocating shroud that stops her breathing or living her own life. - **Baa** – the household authority; critical, resilient but rigid, the gatekeeper of tradition. **Do not call her a villain** — she is a product of her own upbringing, doing what she was taught is right. ### Themes 1. **Tradition vs modernity** – the chulha symbolises the past; the narrator's struggle to light it shows how hard it is for a modern woman to fit an old role. 2. **The domestic trap / gender roles** – the kitchen is labour and irritation, not nourishment; her potential is burnt up like the wood. 3. **Physical and emotional suffocation** – stinging eyes, coughing, restricted breathing mirror her feelings about marriage and social position. There is no clean air. ### Language and structure (AO3) - **Sensory imagery** – smell and sight; smoke bites the eyes, so we feel her discomfort. - **Repetitive sentence structure** – mimics the monotony of her daily life. - **Symbol of smoke** – blurs everything, so she becomes invisible behind her duties. **Analysis method:** name the word (e.g. suffocating) → literal meaning (can't breathe) → deeper meaning (her soul crushed by her environment). ### Exam skills - **AO1** – short, relevant references (damp wood, tears); keep quotations under ten words. - **AO2** – explain *why*, not just *what*: is she crying from smoke or from her life? - **AO3** – use metaphor, symbolism, sensory detail; show how the kitchen feels like a prison. - **AO4** – give a personal response: "The writer successfully creates a feeling of…" / "I found the description of… particularly moving because…" **Quick review:** author Ila Mehta; setting a traditional domestic kitchen; main symbol smoke (suffocation, blurred identity, tradition); main conflict the narrator vs. her mother-in-law's and society's expectations.

chulha: The traditional kitchen stove in the story; a symbol of the past and the rigid expectations of traditional domestic life.
Baa: The narrator's mother-in-law; the household authority who represents the old ways and the weight of tradition, and who watches and criticises the narrator.
smoke: The story's central symbol: physical discomfort of the chores and the emotional suffocation the narrator feels within her marriage and social position; it blurs everything, suggesting a lost sense of self.
sensory imagery: Mehta's focus on smell and sight, e.g. smoke 'biting' the eyes, so the reader feels the narrator's physical and emotional pain.
repetitive sentence structure: A structural technique that mimics the monotony and boredom of the narrator's daily domestic life.
tradition vs modernity: The clash between the old-fashioned role the chulha represents and the narrator's modern sense of self; the smoke symbolises the confusion when these two worlds collide.
the domestic trap (gender roles): The idea that women's lives can be limited to the kitchen, where the narrator's potential is burnt up like the wood and the kitchen becomes a place of labour rather than nourishment.
physical and emotional suffocation: The way Mehta uses the physical sensations of smoke — stinging eyes, coughing, restricted breathing — to convey the narrator's feelings about her marriage and social position.
pathetic fallacy / physical metaphor: Using the external environment (a smoky, clouded room) to suggest the character's internal state (an unhappy, confused mind).
AO1 (Knowledge): Show detailed knowledge of the content of literary texts, supported by reference to the text — in the exam, short relevant references such as the damp wood or the tears caused by the smoke.
AO2 (Meaning): Understand the meanings of literary texts and their contexts, exploring beyond surface meanings — explain why something happens, not just what happens.
AO3 (Analysis): Analyse ways in which writers use language, structure and form to create meanings and achieve effects — use terms like metaphor, symbolism and sensory detail.
AO4 (Personal Response): Communicate a sensitive and informed personal response to literary texts — phrases such as 'The writer successfully creates a feeling of…' or 'I found the description of… particularly moving because…'

Cartes mémo

Who wrote the short story 'Smoke'?

Ila Mehta (Ila Arab Mehta), a Gujarati novelist and story writer from Gujarat, India.

In which collection and syllabus does 'Smoke' appear?

It is part of the Stories of Ourselves Volume 3 collection for the 2028-2030 syllabus.

What daily task is at the centre of 'Smoke'?

The narrator's repetitive struggle to light a traditional kitchen stove (a chulha) using damp wood.

Who is Baa in 'Smoke'?

The narrator's mother-in-law, the authority figure in the household who represents the old ways and the weight of tradition.

How does Baa treat the narrator?

She watches the narrator closely and notices every mistake, expecting her to follow traditional rules without complaining.

Why should Baa not be read as a simple villain?

She is a product of her own traditional upbringing, doing what she was taught is 'right' rather than acting out of pure malice.

How is the narrator characterised in 'Smoke'?

As a 'modern' woman trying to survive in a 'traditional' space: frustrated by the chores, internalised and often silent, and feeling trapped.

What does the chulha (wood stove) symbolise?

It symbolises the past and the rigid expectations of traditional domestic life.

What does the smoke symbolise in the story?

Both the physical discomfort of the chores and the narrator's emotional suffocation, blurred identity and inability to escape her situation.

What is the main conflict in 'Smoke'?

The narrator against the expectations of her mother-in-law and society — a conflict of identity and tradition, not just a struggle with fire.

What theme does the chulha help develop?

Tradition versus modernity: the narrator's struggle to light it shows how hard it is for a modern individual to fit into old-fashioned roles.

How does 'Smoke' explore gender roles?

It shows how women's lives can be limited to the kitchen, with the narrator feeling her potential is 'burnt up' like the wood in the stove.

How does Mehta convey physical and emotional suffocation?

Through the physical sensations of smoke — stinging eyes, coughing and restricted breathing — used to describe the narrator's feelings about her marriage and social position.

What kind of imagery does Mehta use most in 'Smoke'?

Sensory imagery, focusing on smell and sight, such as describing the smoke as 'biting' the eyes.

Why does Mehta use repetitive sentence structures?

To mimic the monotony and boredom of the narrator's daily domestic life.

What does the smoke 'blurring everything' suggest?

That the narrator is losing her sense of who she is, becoming 'invisible' behind the smoke of her duties.

What is pathetic fallacy, as illustrated by 'Smoke'?

Using the external environment to reflect a character's inner state: if the room is smoky and clouded, the character's mind is likely clouded and unhappy too.

Give a three-step method for analysing a word like 'suffocating' in 'Smoke'.

Identify the word; explain its literal meaning (can't breathe); then explain its deeper meaning (the narrator feels her soul is being crushed by her environment).

What does AO1 require for a prose answer on 'Smoke'?

Detailed knowledge of the content, shown through short, relevant references and direct quotations from across the text — keep quotes under ten words.

What does AO2 require when writing about 'Smoke'?

Understanding of meanings and ideas, exploring beyond surface events — for example, explaining why the narrator cries, not just that she does.

What does AO3 require when writing about 'Smoke'?

Analysis of how Mehta uses language, structure and form to create meanings and effects, using terms such as metaphor, symbolism and sensory detail.

What does AO4 require when writing about 'Smoke'?

A sensitive, informed personal response, using phrases such as 'The writer successfully creates a feeling of…' or 'I found the description of… particularly moving because…'.

In which exam paper and section would 'Smoke' be assessed?

Paper 1 (Poetry and Prose), Section B (Prose), where candidates answer one essay question from a choice of two on each set text.

What does the ending of 'Smoke' convey?

A sense of weariness: the smoke fills the room and represents the narrator's blurred sense of self and her inability to escape her situation.

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