The exam is 1 hour and 15 minutes. You should spend 45 minutes on Section A, the comparison (36 marks) and 30 minutes on Section B, the unseen poem (18 marks).
SECTION A gives you a CHOICE of two questions. Each question will name one poem and ask you to choose another to compare it with. Make sure you choose a suitable poem to compare based on WHAT THE QUESTION TELLS YOU TO WRITE ABOUT - USUALLY A THEME/IDEA.
Don't spend too long deciding, then quickly draw up a plan, thinking about how each poem relates to the question. There must be comparisons/contrasts you can make, as you've chosen the second poem based on it linking to the named one in the question! Make these links as you write about the poems.
You get a blank anthology in the exam, but you ARE ALLOWED to write in it, if you want to make notes/highlight quotes.
REMEMBER TO COVER TAILS: A good exam response includes developed exploration of THEMES, ATTITUDES, IMAGERY, LANGUAGE and STRUCTURE in both poems.
SECTION B gives you a poem that you have not seen before, and you must answer a question based upon it. Make sure you read the question carefully answer the whole question.
You should write about the meaning of the poem, and analyse language, structure and how they're used to create effects. There is a video further down this page explaining how to approach this question.
SECTION A gives you a CHOICE of two questions. Each question will name one poem and ask you to choose another to compare it with. Make sure you choose a suitable poem to compare based on WHAT THE QUESTION TELLS YOU TO WRITE ABOUT - USUALLY A THEME/IDEA.
Don't spend too long deciding, then quickly draw up a plan, thinking about how each poem relates to the question. There must be comparisons/contrasts you can make, as you've chosen the second poem based on it linking to the named one in the question! Make these links as you write about the poems.
You get a blank anthology in the exam, but you ARE ALLOWED to write in it, if you want to make notes/highlight quotes.
REMEMBER TO COVER TAILS: A good exam response includes developed exploration of THEMES, ATTITUDES, IMAGERY, LANGUAGE and STRUCTURE in both poems.
SECTION B gives you a poem that you have not seen before, and you must answer a question based upon it. Make sure you read the question carefully answer the whole question.
You should write about the meaning of the poem, and analyse language, structure and how they're used to create effects. There is a video further down this page explaining how to approach this question.
PAST QUESTIONS
Below are all of the past questions for the Character and Voice section of the exam. Do not rely on certain poems coming up, but the following are most likely on the Higher paper:
At least one of Give & The Ruined Maid - it could even be two of these as none of them have appeared before
Possibly Medusa (because it hasn't come up for 5 years)
--> The focus of the question could be anything, such as a vague question about feelings, character or ideas, or something more related to a particular theme or attitude - change is a key one that hasn't appeared in any exam yet, for example.
If you want to see all of the past questions, click below:
At least one of Give & The Ruined Maid - it could even be two of these as none of them have appeared before
Possibly Medusa (because it hasn't come up for 5 years)
--> The focus of the question could be anything, such as a vague question about feelings, character or ideas, or something more related to a particular theme or attitude - change is a key one that hasn't appeared in any exam yet, for example.
If you want to see all of the past questions, click below:
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All past character and voice questions | |
File Size: | 13 kb |
File Type: | docx |
PLANNING YOUR POETRY COMPARISON (SECTION A)
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Or download the above guide by clicking here | |
File Size: | 1664 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
Useful revision sites & GUIDES (CLICK TO VISIT):
BBC Bitesize - Poetry
Wildern English - Poetry
Miss Ryan's English - Poetry
Character and Voice Guide Booklet - Poetry
GENIUS.COM HAS ANNOTATED VERSIONS OF ALL THE POEMS, WITH ANALYSIS: CLICK HERE.
IT IS ALSO USEFUL TO DO YOUTUBE SEARCHES FOR PARTICULAR POEMS.
ALL POEMS EXPLAINED AND ANALYSED IN DEPTH:
A* ESSAY EXAMPLE:Click below for a PowerPoint which covers an A* essay, based on the question How is control presented in The Horse Whisperer and one other poem you have studied?
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MAKE SURE YOU ARE COMPLETELY FAMILIAR WITH ALL OF THE CHARACTER & VOICE POEMS, INCLUDING THEIR THEMES, ATTITUDES, KEY LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES, IMPORTANT CHOICES OF STRUCTURE, AND FORMS. IF YOU'RE UNSURE, MAKE SURE YOU ARE USING THE LINKED WEBSITES ON THE HOMEPAGE OF THIS SITE, INCLUDING DOWNLOADING THE POETRY REVISION BOOKLET.
The Ruined Maid: Extensive revision notes on 'The Ruined Maid' are available by clicking here - use all the tabs on the left of the page when you go there - especially the 'Analysis' sections. You can also find analysis here.
Give: Some extra notes on 'Give', as well as the usual revision sites, can also be found here and here.
UNSEEN POETRY
Allow yourself 30 minutes for this part of the exam.
1. Read the question carefully, highlighting key words.
2. Read through the poem to gain an understanding, making some annotations as you go. You can write on the exam paper!
3. Read through it again, to confirm your understanding and pick out any further techniques or important language or structural choices that you can relate back to the question.
4. Plan a few (around 3) ideas about how you can answer the question and where your evidence will be. You might make notes on the exam paper or in your answer booklet.
5. Write your response, which should be around 3 detailed paragraphs, analysing the writer's choices in depth.
6. Allow a couple of minutes to check your work at the end.
1. Read the question carefully, highlighting key words.
2. Read through the poem to gain an understanding, making some annotations as you go. You can write on the exam paper!
3. Read through it again, to confirm your understanding and pick out any further techniques or important language or structural choices that you can relate back to the question.
4. Plan a few (around 3) ideas about how you can answer the question and where your evidence will be. You might make notes on the exam paper or in your answer booklet.
5. Write your response, which should be around 3 detailed paragraphs, analysing the writer's choices in depth.
6. Allow a couple of minutes to check your work at the end.