GCSE Literature Exam

1 HOUR 45 MINUTES

Section A and Section B

• Answer 1 question from Section A (On the novel you have studied : either Of Mice And Men or Lord of The Flies or To Kill A Mockingbird)

• Answer 1 question from Section B (On the pre and post 1914 poetry you have studied : either Duffy and Armitage or Heaney and Clarke

• Find your questions by using the contents page at the front of the exam paper

• Ask for help if you cannot find your questions

Section A :The Novel

• Spend 45 minutes on this section

• You will have 2 questions to choose from

• Only answer 1 question

• Make sure that you stick to the 45 minutes!

• Whichever question you choose, you will need to tackle the question in the following way.............

HOW TO TACKLE THE QUESTON

• Firstly, key word the question, underlining the key words to focus on answering the question

• Then, make a quick brainstorm/spider diagram to think of different points to make to answer the question

• Next, plan your answer. Spend 10-12 minutes planning• Plan to write a paragragh each on the following:• Characters• Events / Incidents• Language techniques• Themes / Writer’s intentions• Setting• You also need an introduction and conclusion• Make sure all your points answer the question

Writing About Characters

• Make sure that all the points you make are focused on anwering the question

• Support your points with evidence – quotes or details : • What the character says• What the character does• What others say about the character

• How others react to the character• How the character is described• Explain the character’s relationship with other characters• Make links with other characters in the novel – explain

how they are similar or different

Writing About Events/Incidents

• Describe events by referring to details

• Make sure that you describe a number of events

• Explain what the events reveal about themes and character

• Link events, explaining what the similarities or differences reveal about characters and themes

Writing About Language

• Write about the language techniques used by the writer to:

• describe character• describe setting• communicate dramatic tension• communicate dialogue• communicate atmosphere• communicate themes/writer’s intentions• You don’t have to write about them all – it depends on

the question• Write about different language techniques – 3+

Writing About LanguageAlways support your points with quotationsExplain your quotes:~ how your quote supports your point~ which language techniques are used~ the effect of a particular word in your quote~ how the reader is influenced~ how this helps the writer to communicate his/her view

point~ what the quote tells you about characters/themes~ if appropriate, how this quote links to other language

techniques or images~ how the quote answers the question

Themes• Themes are the big ideas and issues that are presented and

explored in the novel. For example, they could include justice or power or loneliness, depending on the novel you have studied

• You need to explain what the novel is saying about the theme which is relevant to the question

• The themes are presented through the characters, events, setting and language

• Try to explain what the writer’s viewpoint is on the theme• Try to explain what the writer is saying about human nature and

society through the characters and events• Give your own views on the theme

The Setting

• Try to explain how where and when the novel was set adds to your understanding of the themes and the writer’s intentions

• Make sure that you keep your comments focused on answering the question

• You may have a chance to write about how places are described by the writer to make points about character and themes

• If you have an opportunity, write about how where the events take place adds to meaning and to atmoshere

• Remember to support your points with evidence (details and quotes)

KEY POINTS

• Find your questions and choose 1 to answer• Plan• Keep focused on the question• Keep to the 45 minutes• Use lots of details and quotes• Refer to and link the different events and

characters• In your conclusion,refer back to the question and

give your personal opinion. If you can, give your opinion about what the writer is saying about human nature

Section B : The Poetry

• You will have 3 questions to choose from

• Only answer one question

• You have one hour to answer

• Which ever question you choose, you will need to tackle the question in the following way.........

How To Tackle The Question

*After you have chosen your question, underline the key words to help you to focus on the question

*Choose which poems to write about, if they are not all named in the question

*Remember, you need to compare 2 pre 1914 and 2 post 1914 poems

*Next, pair up the poems to compare 2 in the first half of your answer and 2 in the second half

*In their pairs, make a quick brainstorm/spider diagram to give you lots of ideas and points to make about how they are similar and different

*Then, plan before writing your answer.....

Planning• You need to plan to compare the 2 pairs of poems• Some of you will be used to using grid plans• Which ever type of plan you use, make sure that you plan to compare the

poems in terms of: ~ ideas and feelings ~ language ~ layout and presentation ~ structure• Make sure that every point you make is focused on the question• Make 2 plans ; one for each pair of poems• Remember, you don’t need to write about ideas and feelings, language,

layout, presentation and structure for every poem – there isn’t enough time• Make sure that in your whole answer you compare ideas and feelings,

language, layout and structure at some point when writing about the four poems

• You need an introduction and conclusion• Spend up to 15 minutes planning

Ideas And Feelings

• You need to compare :~what the poems are about~the feelings in the poems~the writers’ viewpoints on the ideas and

feelings in the poems• Try to use embedded quotations when

describing the ideas and feelings in the poems

• Avoid spending too much time on this

Language

• You need to compare the language techniques used in the poems

• Make sure that you write about a range of different language techniques used

• Always support your points with quotations

• Always explain your quotations......

Explaining Language Quotations

Always support your points with quotationsExplain your quotes:~ how your quote supports your point~ which language techniques are used~ the effect of a particular word in your quote~ how the reader is influenced~ how this helps the writer to communicate his/her view

point~ what the quote tells you about characters/themes~ if appropriate, how this quote links to other language

techniques and images~ how the quote answers the question

Layout and Presentation

• Layout means the way that the words are set out on the page (the number and length of verses; where the gaps are; the shape of the poem; etc.)

• Presentation means the writers’ choice of font, etc.

• Avoid just describing the layout• Explain and compare how the writers use the

layout and presentation to communicate the ideas and feelings to the reader

• Refer to details to support your points

Structure

• This means the change/development of ideas and feelings during the poem

• Explain where the ideas /feelings change (if they do)

• Explain how these changes are communicated to the reader

• Explain any links between the opening and the ending

• Explain and compare how the structure helps the writers to communicate ideas and feelings to the reader

Comparing Poems• Remember to compare 2 poems in the first half of your answer, and

compare the other 2 poems in the second half of your answer• Try to make links between the poems in every paragragh• You need to use connectives/sign posts to link your points:

SIMILARITIES DIFFERENCES

~ In the same way ~ In contrast ~ Similarly ~ However ~ Like ~ Conversely ~ Equally ~ Although ~ As with ~ On the other hand

Key Points• Find your questions then choose which question to answer• Key word the question• Choose which poems to write about (if necessary)• Pair up the poems to compare and brainstorm• Plan• Stick to the 1 hour limit• Make points on ideas and feelings, language, layout and structure• Use lots of quotes• Explain language in detail• Make links between poems in every paragragh• In your conclusion, refer back to the question. Give your personal

opinion. Try to comment on what the four poems tell you about human nature or explain which poem you like the most and why