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sabeenmasaud1Questions: Valley of Fear : 5 marks each/ 4 paragraphs ; 25 marks
1. How does McMurdo hide his true identity, and what
does this reveal about the theme of deception in the
play?
✅ Planning Outline:
Introduction: Mention McMurdo’s secret – he’s actually a detective.
Body: ( 2 paragraphs)
How he pretends to be a member of the Scowrers.
How he gains trust by lying about his past.
How he uses fake identity to bring justice.
Conclusion para : Deception is used for a good cause, showing it can be
clever and brave.
PEEL Answer:
Point: The character of McMurdo uses deception to hide his true identity, which
reveals how disguise can serve a greater purpose.
Evidence: At the beginning of the play, McMurdo pretends to be a criminal and joins
the Scowrers, a violent secret society.
Explanation: Even though he lies about who he is, his goal is to uncover the truth and
stop the group from hurting innocent people. He uses deception to gain trust and
gather information. This shows that lying, in some cases, can be brave if it is done for
justice.
Link: Through McMurdo’s actions, the play explores how deception is not always
wrong — it can be a smart and courageous way to protect others and fight evil.
Short Model Answer:
McMurdo hides his true identity by pretending to be part of the Scowrers, a dangerous
secret society. He uses a false name and acts like he agrees with their actions. This
helps him collect evidence. The theme of deception is shown as something smart and
brave because McMurdo uses it to stop evil. The play shows that sometimes hiding
the truth can be a way to protect others and fight for justice.
2. Explore the role of courage in the play. Which
characters show bravery, and what risks do they take?
✅ Planning Outline:
Introduction: Courage is needed to fight fear and injustice.
Body:( 2 paragraphs)
McMurdo shows courage by joining the gang to stop it.
Ettie shows courage by speaking up and trusting McMurdo.
Morris shows courage when he warns others about the gang
Conclusion: Courage is shown by standing up to danger.
PEEL Answer:
Point: Courage is a key theme in the play, shown through the risks
characters take to do what is right.
Evidence: McMurdo shows great bravery by joining the dangerous
Scowrers while secretly working against them. Ettie also shows
courage by speaking out, and Morris risks his life to warn others.
Explanation: Each of these characters faces real danger but
chooses to stand up for justice. McMurdo could be killed if
discovered, but he continues his mission. Ettie and Morris act
bravely, even though fear surrounds them.
Link: The play shows that courage is not about being fearless, but
about choosing to do the right thing in the face of danger and fear.
Short Model Answer:
Many characters in The Valley of Fear show courage. McMurdo is very brave when
he joins the secret society to stop it from inside. Ettie is also courageous because she
speaks out about the evil around her, even when it’s dangerous. Morris shows bravery
when he gives a warning, risking his life. The play shows that real courage means
doing the right thing, even when you’re afraid.
3. Discuss how the idea of justice is presented in The
Valley of Fear. Do you think justice is truly achieved
by the end?
✅ Planning Outline
Introduction: Justice means doing what’s fair and punishing the guilty.
Body:( 2 paragraphs)
McMurdo’s goal is to bring justice to the Scowrers.
The gang is exposed and arrested.
However, some damage (like deaths) cannot be undone.
Conclusion: Justice is mostly achieved, but with a cost.
PEEL Answer:
Point: Justice is one of the main ideas in The Valley of Fear,
and it is shown through McMurdo’s secret mission.
Evidence: He pretends to be a criminal in order to gather
proof and expose the Scowrers, who have committed many
crimes.
Explanation: By the end of the play, the truth comes out and
many criminals are arrested. However, some people suffer
before justice is done. This shows that while justice is
eventually achieved, it is not perfect or painless.
Link: The play suggests that justice can take time and
sacrifice, but it is worth pursuing to stop evil and protect the
innocent.
Short Model Answer:
Justice is one of the main ideas in the play. McMurdo works secretly to stop the
Scowrers and protect innocent people. By the end, the gang is caught, and the truth
comes out. But some people were hurt before that could happen. This shows that
justice sometimes comes too late, but it is still important to fight for it.
4. “Loyalty can be dangerous.” To what extent do you
agree with this statement? Use examples from the
play to support your answer.
✅ Planning Outline
Introduction: Loyalty is when someone sticks by another person or group.
Body: ( 2 paragrpahs)
Some Scowrers are loyal to evil leaders and do terrible things.
McMurdo is secretly loyal to the police – this kind of loyalty helps.
Ettie struggles between loyalty to her family and doing the right thing
Conclusion:Loyalty can be dangerous if it's to the wrong people
PEEL Answer:
Point: Loyalty is shown to be both helpful and harmful in the play, depending on who
the characters are loyal to.
Evidence: Some Scowrers follow their leader without question and commit violent
acts, while McMurdo stays loyal to justice, even in disguise.
Explanation: When people are loyal to evil leaders, they make bad choices and hurt
others. McMurdo, however, chooses to stay loyal to what is right, even though it
means putting himself in danger. Ettie also struggles with loyalty, trying to do what’s
right while protecting those she loves.
Link: The play supports the idea that loyalty can be dangerous if it is given to the
wrong cause, and it encourages us to think carefully about who deserves our trust
Short Model Answer:
In the play, loyalty is shown in both good and bad ways. Some members of the
Scowrers are loyal to their leaders, even when they do wrong things, and this leads to
violence. But McMurdo is loyal to justice, even if he has to lie and take risks. Ettie
also finds it hard to choose who to be loyal to. I agree that loyalty can be dangerous if
it makes people do the wrong thing.
5. McMurdo plays many roles throughout the story.
What do these different identities tell us about the
theme of disguise and truth?
✅ Planning Outline:
Introduction: McMurdo is a master of disguise.
Body:( 2 paragraphs)
He pretends to be a criminal but is really a hero.
His lies help him discover the truth.
Other characters trust or fear him based on what they think is true
Conclusion: The theme shows how appearances can be false.
PEEL Answer:
Point: McMurdo’s changing identities show how disguise can be used to uncover the
truth.
Evidence: He acts like a member of the Scowrers, but he is secretly a detective named
Birdy Edwards.
Explanation: The other characters believe McMurdo is one of them, which helps him
gather important information. His disguise allows him to protect others and eventually
expose the truth. This shows that appearances can be deceiving, and people are not
always who they seem.
Link: Through McMurdo’s disguises, the play explores the idea that sometimes
hiding the truth is necessary in order to reveal something even more important — real
justice.
Short Model Answer:
McMurdo uses different identities in the play. He acts like a criminal so he can stop
the real ones. This shows how disguise can be useful. Other characters believe he is
one of them, but the truth is very different. The play teaches us that truth is not always
easy to see and that disguise can help uncover it.
