Approaching the Comparative Unseen Poetry Question (Edexcel A-Level English Literature): Revision Notes

Approaching the Comparative Unseen Poetry Question

Approaching the Question

General Advice

• Consider poetic form.
  • The craft of the writer.
  • Reasons as to why certain words are in certain orders.
  • Pick out nuances about specific details.
• Embed the quotations or quote longer sections depending on the point you're making.
  • When quoting multiple lines from a poem with line breaks, write them in the essay as they do in the poem.
  • This is important if you are analysing structural devices such as enjambment.
  • Always need to provide evidence from the poem for the points you make.
  • Try to analyse and use evidence from the entire poem.
  • Approaching the poems chronologically can be useful in ensuring you reference the full poem.
• Explain the WHY and the HOW
  • WHY do these methods create specific effects?
  • How does the poem achieve a particular meaning?

Timings

• 30-mark essay.
• 1 hour 15 minutes paper.
  • 20 minutes of planning.
  • 55 minutes of writing.

Assessment Objectives Examined in Section A

AO1: Articulate informed, personal, and creative responses to literary texts, using associated concepts and terminology, and coherent, accurate written expression.

• Argument and analysis within the essay.

• Understanding of literary texts.

• Ability to use appropriate literary concepts and terminology AO2: Analyse ways in which meanings are shaped in literary texts.

• Use of evidence (quotations) within the essay.

• Ability to analyse how writers use language, form and structure to create meaning. AO4: Explore connections across literary texts.

• Use of comparison within the essay.

• Can involve comparing themes, ideas or literary techniques across different works.

• Takes into account how one text might influence or relate to another.

Essay Structure

Introduction

• Include a thesis statement: an outline of your argument as it relates to the question, referencing both poems.
• An outline of your points (3-4 comparative points).
  • Each point will have its paragraph, so you don't need to go too into detail in the introduction!
• Keep the introduction brief and informative.

Paragraph Structure

• Comparative topic sentence (AO1 & AO4) that refers to both poems.

  • Lead with idea/theme then link to technique.

• Begin analysis of the POTD poem.

  • Textual evidence (AO2) - only quote what is needed.
  • Analysis (AO1) - technique and the effect it achieves.
  • Repeat with further evidence (AO2) to consolidate the point if necessary.

• Comparative sentence link to the point for the Unseen Poem (AO1 & AO4)

• Begin analysis of the Unseen Poem.

  • Textual evidence (AO2) - only quote what is needed.
  • Analysis (AO1) - technique and the effect it achieves.
  • Repeat with further evidence (AO2) to consolidate the point if necessary.

• Comparative sentence linking back to POTD poem.

• Concluding sentence linking back to the essay question.

Conclusion

• Ways to begin your conclusion: "In conclusion", "overall", "to conclude", "therefore".
• Reiterate your thesis statement: an outline of your argument as it relates to the question, referencing both poems.
• Outline all points with more detail than the introduction.
• Final concluding statement with your argument.