English Literature Exam Revision

Literature Exam

You will need to:

• develop and sustain independent interpretations of whole texts, supporting them with detailed textual references

• relate texts to their social and historical contexts and to the literary traditions of which they are a part

• understand how the text chosen from literary heritage has been influential and significant over time.

What to expect for both papers!

Hound of the Baskervilles• Based on passage• Character• Theme• Setting• Linked with language• 4 part question, you

MUST answer all parts, or you will lose marks

Of Mice and Men• Choice of two questions• Character question• Theme question• Significance of…?• Using multiple parts of the

text• Showing your understand

the social, historical and cultural context linked to questions

Revise the characters:1. Sherlock Holmes2. Dr. Watson3. Sir Henry Baskerville4. Sir Charles Baskerville5. Dr Mortimer6. Mr Barrymore7. Mrs Barrymore8. Seldon (Convict)9. Miss Stapleton10. Mr Stapleton11. Laura Lyons12. Mr Frankland

• Create a slide for each character

• Consider their characteristics

• Consider significant passages where they are included

• Consider links to themes• Consider significance of

character to story

Aspects of the text to consider for the exam. Create a slide and find evidence

for each.Themes: Supernatural v natural, fantasy v truth,

isolationRelationships between charactersAspects of language: suspense, tension,

excitement, movement, atmosphere, elements of mystery: red herring, cliff-hanger

Aspects of text: plot, setting, character development

Significance of the Hound, the Moor, Baskerville Hall

Consider key passages for HOB• Consider key events from each chapter of the

text• Choose passages at random and see if you can

create a question based around the passage– How is language used in the extract to create a sense

of urgency?– What impression does the reader get of Holmes in the

extract?• Consider passages which show Holmes and

Watson, the moor, the hound, suspense, atmosphere, the relationship between Miss Stapleton and her ‘brother’ etc

HOB Exam Practice (Chapter 4)

1. 1. Explain what the reader learns about Sir Henry Baskerville’s character in this extract. Use evidence from the extract to support your answer. (8 marks)

2. 2. Comment on the language used to describe Sherlock Holmes in the extract. Use evidence from the extract to support your answer. (12 marks)

3. Mystery is a prevalent theme surrounding Sherlock Holmes. Comment on how the author presents mystery in another part of the novel. (16 marks)

1. How does Watson react to his new surroundings in the extract? (8)

2. How is language used to present the setting of the Moor? (12)

3. Explore the significance of setting in another extract in the novel. (16)

I remembered the case well, for it was one in which Holmes had taken an interest on account of the peculiar ferocity of the crime and the wanton brutality which had marked all the actions of the assassin. The commutation of his death sentence had been due to some doubts as to his complete sanity, so atrocious was his conduct. Our wagonette had topped a rise and in front of us rose the huge expanse of the moor, mottled with gnarled and craggy cairns and tors. A cold wind swept down from it and set us shivering. Somewhere there, on that desolate plain, was lurking this fiendish man, hiding in a burrow like a wild beast, his heart full of malignancy against the whole race which had cast him out. It needed but this to complete the grim suggestiveness of the barren waste, the chilling wind, and the darkling sky. Even Baskerville fell silent and pulled his overcoat more closely around him.

Use this as an example of what you could do: choose a passage, create 4 questions, linked to character, theme, setting, etc,

OMAM Exam

The focus will be on theme or character.

You will need to show you understand the whole text and that you can relate aspects of the whole text to what the question has asked.

You will need to consider the CONTEXT of the novel, social, cultural and historical context.

You will have a choice of two questions.

Characters from OMAMLennieGeorgeCarlsonCurleyCurley’s wifeSlimCandy

• A good way to revise would be to create a slide for each character

• Describe each in as much detail you can

• Take notes on links to other characters

• Consider themes they represent

• Consider significant passages they are in through OMAM

Themes and Significant Events• Hopes• Dreams (American Dream)• Great Depression• Loneliness• Isolation• Racism• Relationships/friendships

• A good way to revise would be to create a slide for each

• Describe each in as much detail you can

• Take notes on links to others

• Consider significant passages they are in through OMAM

• Have quotes represent each• Consider characters that

link with each

Practice OMAM Lit QuestionsEither Hopes and dreams help people to survive, even if they can never become

real. How true is this for characters in Of Mice and Men? OR Discuss the significance of setting in Of Mice and Men. Comment on the

language and imagery used by Steinbeck when presenting setting. OR Slim is presented as the only character in the novel who is not handicapped

in some way. Do you agree? Refer to other characters in the novel to support your response.

More OMAM Questions to tryDiscuss the significance of loneliness in the novel.

OR

Many people in the novel suffer from disappointment. Choose any three of the following characters and discuss what reasons they have to be disappointed about their life: Crooks - Curley - George – Candy

OR

Discuss the significance of friendship in the novel.

Last remarksRemember to manage your time well! This is one thing

your class struggled with as a whole!• The exam in 1 hour 45

– you should spend no more than an 55 minutes on the Hound of the Baskervilles question

– no more than 40 minutes on the OMAM– Leaving you 10 minutes to read back through and add any

final comments• Remember to PEE- give a point, get examples (direct

quotes!) and explain how it directly relates to the question

• Use strong topic sentences!

The following slides include significant passages and practice

questions to attempt.

Our extracts and Questions from Chapter 4P34-35: What does the reader learn about Henry Baskerville in

the extract?Explore how elements of mystery are in this extract? P36-38: What does the reader learn about Holmes’ character? Comment on how the writer uses language to create a sense

of mystery?P38-40: What does the reader learn about Holmes’ character?Explore how the writer uses elements of mystery to create

suspense?P41-45: What does the reader learn about Watson Holmes’

relationship or what is the significance of Watson’s character in this extract?

What does Holmes’ reaction on pg 42-43 tell us about his character?

Chapter 7 Significant PassagesPg 67-70 What is the significance of Barrymore’s character in the

extract? What is the significance of Baskerville Hall and what effect does it have

on other characters?Pg70-73What does this extract show about Mr Stapleton’s character?How is the moor portrayed on pages 72-73?Pg 73-75 How does the language used in the extract create suspense?What does the reader learn about Stapleton?How the writer influence the reader’s view of the moor?Pg 75-77 Discuss the significance of Miss Stapleton’s character.Explore how the language used in the extract creates suspense.Explain how the writer presents the character of Stapleton.Pg 78-80 How do the elements of mystery create suspense in the

extract?How does the language used in the extract affect the reader’s view of

Miss Stapleton?

OMAM Questions

In what ways is George significant in the novel?You must consider the context of the novel.Use evidence to support your answer.

Or

Explore the significance of hope in the novel.You must consider the context of the novel.Use evidence to support your answer.