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English Literature Paper 2: Modern Texts and Poetry 2h 15m
Many questions on lots of different texts but only four that we answer: one on An Inspector Calls (Section A); one on the Power and Conflict anthology (Section B); and two on Unseen Poetry (Section C).
96 marks in total (34 marks for Section A; 30 marks for Section B; and 32 marks for Section C).
In Section A (An Inspector Calls), students have a choice of two essay questions (answering one only); students do not have access to the text and there is no extract for this question.
In Section B (Power and Conflict Anthology). Students must write an essay about two poems: the one named in the question + another that they choose from the anthology. The named poem is provided (the other 14 poems are not). There is no choice of question. Students must therefore know all poems well.
Section C has two questions. For the first question, students write an essay about an unseen poem. This is worth 24 marks and there is no choice of question. For the second question, students compare a second unseen poem to the first. This is worth 8 marks. There is no choice of question.
The exam assesses the ability of students to craft compelling essays about the following studied texts: An Inspector Calls; two of the 15 poems from the Power and Conflict anthology.
As well as knowledge of how to write a literature essay, students should have a thorough knowledge of the following for An Inspector Calls:
Plot
Character and character functions
Themes and ideas (as well as the context that helps us to understand these)
Key quotations
The literary methods used by the writer to craft the text (e.g. genre, setting, characterisation, motifs, structure, language).
For the Power and Conflict poems, students should have thorough knowledge of the following:
What happens in the poem
Themes and ideas
Key quotations
The literary methods used by the writer to craft the poems (e.g. type, structure, motifs, language).
Which poems fit together well for particular themes.
For the Unseen Poems, students should have thorough knowledge of how to apply their analytical knowledge to a poem they have never seen before.
Revision Materials
Revision Materials
Students have access to extensive revision materials for the above, most notably the Literature Paper 2 revision booklet (containing additional guidance, knowledge organisers, revision activities and practice questions). Students should practise planning responses to questions (these questions are all contained in the Literature Paper 2 revision booklet).
Students also have access to annotated copies of all 15 Power and Conflict poems.
Reading & watching
Reading & watching
While challenging, re-reading these texts independently is an excellent way of securing knowledge of what happens, structure, themes etc.
However, actively listening to audiobooks or watching productions (either theatre or film) of An Inspector Calls can also be helpful.
A real-time example of how to approach an unseen poem can be found here
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