The Perfect Bowl

Text 1: Centre Stage, by Miriam Falstaff

An original novel extract.

Mr Vale folded back his cuffs and surveyed the six rows of chairs arranged around the potter’s wheel. ‘A bowl,’ he announced, ‘is simply a circle persuaded to stand up.’ Several people nodded. He pointed to the bucket beside his apprentice. ‘Nell, keep the water where I can reach it and try not to breathe on the clay.’ Nell moved the bucket three inches closer without looking at him.

The wheel began to turn. Beneath Mr Vale’s hands, the lump rose obediently into the pale neck of a swan. For three glorious seconds, it was perfect. Then Mr Vale removed one hand to acknowledge the audience’s applause. A small, thoughtful wobble appeared at the rim. Nell leaned towards him. ‘The wheel’s too fast.’ ‘The wheel is exactly—’ The bowl folded in half, recovered, and launched a ribbon of wet clay onto the polished shoe of the man in the front row. The audience became intensely interested in the ceiling. A child whispered, ‘Is that the finished one?’

‘Sponge!’ Mr Vale commanded. ‘More water! Less water!’ But Nell had already slowed the wheel. She placed a fresh piece of clay in the centre and pressed down with both hands. The clay steadied. It widened. It rose. A small bowl opened between her fingers, plain and even. This time, the applause came before Mr Vale could bow. He examined the bowl, then the audience, and smiled. ‘Precisely the recovery I intended to demonstrate.’

How does Miriam Falstaff use language and structure to make the pottery demonstration comic and change the reader’s view of Nell?

You should use relevant subject terminology to support your answer.