GCSE English Literature Syllabus : AQA Code 9710
Exploring Modern Texts 40% (20th May am)
How can parents help?
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Students must know these texts extremely well.
They should not watch films as revision as they often differ from the
original texts.
Both texts are short enough to be read at least twice more before this
exam.
Students should take responsibility re—reading the texts. Please encourage them!
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GCSE Bitesize is a fantastic resource for interactive revision.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/
prosemicemen/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/
dramainspectorcalls/
Students should take responsibility for reading the texts again. Please
encourage them!
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Poetry Across Time : 35 % (22nd May pm)
How can parents help?
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Poetry can feel like a daunting area for parents. Again GCSE Bitesize is
very helpful for practising these skills.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/
poetrycharactervoice/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/
poetryrelationships/
There is no right answer to poetry—as long as you can give an opinion
about what the poet means and support it with evidence.
Discuss the poems with students. Ask them to tell YOU what they mean
and why. It might even be fun….
A Guide for Parents: English Literature
Writers’ Techniques/Poetic Devices. Help with Lit papers
and Language Paper Q2.
Alliteration: The repetition of the same consonant sounds at the
beginning of words. Some famous examples of alliteration are tongue
twisters. Alliteration can emphasise certain phrases: Ghastly, grey
ghouls.
Hyperbole :A figure of speech in which deliberate exaggeration is
used for emphasis. Many everyday expressions are examples of hyperbole: tons of money, waiting for ages, a flood of tears, etc.
Imagery :The use of any techniques which create a detailed
description to help the reader imagine ideas, feelings, objects, actions, states of mind : The willows wept and trembled in the storm;
their chilly tears splashing to the ground from the long greens fingers of their leaves.
Metaphor :A figure of speech in which two things are compared,
usually by saying one thing is another: The world's a stage, he was
a lion in battle, drowning in debt, and a sea of troubles.
Onomatopoeia: A figure of speech in which words are used to imitate sounds. Examples of onomatopoeic words are: buzz, hiss, zing,
clippety-clop etc.
Personification :A figure of speech in which non -human things or
abstract ideas are given human attributes: the sky is crying, dead
leaves danced in the wind, blind justice.
Powerful verbs/adjectives/adverbs : These are the building
blocks of descriptive writing and are easy to spot and comment on:
trudging, vast, disgustedly etc.
Simile: A figure of speech in which two things are compared using
the word "like" or "as." As cold as ice, she moved like a ballerina,
etc.
Symbol: When a word, phrase or image 'stands for' an idea or
theme. The sun could symbolize life and energy, a red rose could
symbolize romantic love or a dove could symbolise peace.
Example Literature Questions
‘An Inspector calls’ Modern Texts Section A:
What do you think is the importance of Inspector Goole and how does Priestley present him?
OR
An Inspector Calls has been called ‘a play of contrasts’.
Write about how Priestley presents some of the contrasts in the play.
‘Of Mice and Men’ Modern Texts Section B:
Read the passage and then answer part (a) and part (b)
‘I don’t want no fights,’ said Lennie. He got up from his bunk and sat down at the table, across
from George. Almost automatically George shuffled the cards and laid out his solitaire hand.
He used a deliberate, thoughtful, slowness. (Not the full extract.)
Part (a) How do the details in this passage add to your understanding of George and
his relationship with Lennie?
Part (b) How does Steinbeck use their relationship in the novel as a whole to convey
ideas about America in the 1930s?
Poetry Across Time: Section A (2 Qs will be offered for each cluster studied. For
the purposes of giving an example I have included one from each cluster here).
Compare how poets use language to explore ideas and feelings in ‘Checking Out
Me History’ and in one other poem from Character and voice.
OR
Compare the ways poets use language to present relationships in ‘Praise Song for My
Mother’ and in one other poem from Relationships.
Poetry Across Time: Section B
Children In Wartime
Sirens ripped open
the warm silk of sleep;
we ricocheted to the shelter
moated by streets
that ran with darkness. ( not the full poem)
How does this poet present the ways children are affected by war?
Writers’ Techniques/Poetic Devices. Help with Lit papers
and Language Paper Q2.
Alliteration: The repetition of the same consonant sounds at the
beginning of words. Some famous examples of alliteration are tongue
twisters. Alliteration can emphasise certain phrases: Ghastly, grey
ghouls.
Hyperbole :A figure of speech in which deliberate exaggeration is
used for emphasis. Many everyday expressions are examples of hyperbole: tons of money, waiting for ages, a flood of tears, etc.
Imagery :The use of any techniques which create a detailed
description to help the reader imagine ideas, feelings, objects, actions, states of mind : The willows wept and trembled in the storm;
their chilly tears splashing to the ground from the long greens fingers of their leaves.
Metaphor :A figure of speech in which two things are compared,
usually by saying one thing is another: The world's a stage, he was
a lion in battle, drowning in debt, and a sea of troubles.
Onomatopoeia: A figure of speech in which words are used to imitate sounds. Examples of onomatopoeic words are: buzz, hiss, zing,
clippety-clop etc.
Personification :A figure of speech in which non -human things or
abstract ideas are given human attributes: the sky is crying, dead
leaves danced in the wind, blind justice.
Powerful verbs/adjectives/adverbs : These are the building
blocks of descriptive writing and are easy to spot and comment on:
trudging, vast, disgustedly etc.
Simile: A figure of speech in which two things are compared using
the word "like" or "as." As cold as ice, she moved like a ballerina,
etc.
Symbol: When a word, phrase or image 'stands for' an idea or
theme. The sun could symbolize life and energy, a red rose could
symbolize romantic love or a dove could symbolise peace.
Writers’ Techniques/Poetic Devices. Help with Lit papers
and Language Paper Q2.
Alliteration: The repetition of the same consonant sounds at the
beginning of words. Some famous examples of alliteration are tongue
twisters. Alliteration can emphasise certain phrases: Ghastly, grey
ghouls.
Hyperbole :A figure of speech in which deliberate exaggeration is
used for emphasis. Many everyday expressions are examples of hyperbole: tons of money, waiting for ages, a flood of tears, etc.
Imagery :The use of any techniques which create a detailed
description to help the reader imagine ideas, feelings, objects, actions, states of mind : The willows wept and trembled in the storm;
their chilly tears splashing to the ground from the long greens fingers of their leaves.
Metaphor :A figure of speech in which two things are compared,
usually by saying one thing is another: The world's a stage, he was
a lion in battle, drowning in debt, and a sea of troubles.
Onomatopoeia: A figure of speech in which words are used to imitate sounds. Examples of onomatopoeic words are: buzz, hiss, zing,
clippety-clop etc.
Personification :A figure of speech in which non -human things or
abstract ideas are given human attributes: the sky is crying, dead
leaves danced in the wind, blind justice.
Powerful verbs/adjectives/adverbs : These are the building
blocks of descriptive writing and are easy to spot and comment on:
trudging, vast, disgustedly etc.
Simile: A figure of speech in which two things are compared using
the word "like" or "as." As cold as ice, she moved like a ballerina,
etc.
Symbol: When a word, phrase or image 'stands for' an idea or
theme. The sun could symbolize life and energy, a red rose could
symbolize romantic love or a dove could symbolise peace.