Task 2: What The Question Is Asking (OCR GCSE English Literature): Model Answers

Identify and Focus on a Specific Theme or Element: The question will usually direct you to a particular theme, character, or technique in the texts. Your task is to explore how each text presents this focus area. For example, if the question asks about the theme of power, you need to examine how power is portrayed and its significance in both texts.

Compare and Contrast Both Texts: The main goal is to compare and contrast how the two texts handle the theme or topic. You should identify both similarities and differences in their approaches. This means looking at how each author presents the theme through characters, settings, and narrative techniques, and discussing why they might have made these choices.

Support Your Points with Evidence: To back up your analysis, the question expects you to use quotations and specific examples from the texts. These should be carefully chosen to illustrate your points and should be followed by explanations of how they support your argument.

Discuss the Context: You should consider how the context—such as the historical, cultural, or social background of the authors—affects the treatment of the theme in each text. The question is asking you to show how these external factors influence the way the theme is explored.

Explore Different Interpretations: The question may implicitly expect you to recognise that texts can be interpreted in various ways. You should be prepared to discuss how different readers or critics might understand the texts differently, and consider these alternative viewpoints in your analysis.