Focus on Section B questions

It's a good idea to focus on Section B questions between now and the exam. Use the mark schemes and possible answer lists available from the AQA to help you plan or write answers (English Literature B 2745).

Timed essay on Gatsby

Some readers are irritated by Nick Carraway as a narrator.

What is your view of Fitzgerald's use of Nick Carraway as a narrator?

To be completed in class on Tuesday 30 April.

Section B timed essay

Timed essay on Tuesday 23 April:

  Write about the significance of climaxes and /or anti-climaxes in the narratives of three writers you have studied.

 

Section B question

Write about the significance of the use of speech in the three texts you have studied.
To be handed in on Tuesday 16 April.

Enduring Love chapter notes

Complete all notes on 'Enduring Love' chapters and appendices by Tuesday 26 March.

Enduring Love type (b) question

How far do you agree that by the end of chapter 8 the reader is engaged with the novel? To be handed in on Tuesday 19 March.

Auden type (b) question

 

Choose one of the following Auden type (b) questions discussed in class and answer it:

1. How far would you agree with the view that the relationships in Auden’s poetry are far from happy?

2. How important is time in Auden’s poetry?

3. How far do you agree with the view that Auden’s poems always leave the reader with a disturbing sense of uncertainty?

4. How do you respond to the view that Auden’s poems are too obscure to be enjoyable?

5. How far do you think that Auden’s poems are dominated by death?

6. To what extent do you agree that Auden’s poetry is largely about human suffering?

7. How far do you agree that Auden’s narratives are always very different from each other?

8. To what extent do you think that Auden’s poems are more pessimistic than optimistic?

 To be handed in on Tuesday 12 March.

Auden type (a) question

Choose one of the four Auden poems used for class presentations and answer a type (a) question on it. To be handed in on Tuesday 5 March.

O What Is That Sound

How is the story told in Auden's 'O What Is That Sound'? To be handed in on Tuesday 26 February.

Draft of The History Boys essay

Produce a draft of at least the first page of your coursework essay on 'The History Boys'. Focus on establishing your argument. It should be clear how your essay will develop after this point. To be handed in on Tuesday 12 February.

Coursework starter essay

Identify a coursework essay question focus for 'The History Boys'. Write about 300 words in response to this focus and hand it in by Tuesday 5 February. Make sure that you have an argument but don't worry if there is more than one argument or that it drifts. You will be advised on how to structure an essay from this preliminary attempt.

The History Boys

How is the comedy created in Act One of 'The History Boys'? Think about possible essay questions and shape your comments around them. You could consider the serious issues in the play and how characters and themes are developed to explore them. Post your comments on your blog by Tuesday 29 January.

Gatsby type (b) questions

Choose one of the following Section A type b questions, answer it and hand it in on Tuesday 22 January:

1. How far do you agree with Nick’s view that Gatsby is “worth the whole damn bunch put together”?

2. Some readers are irritated with Nick as a narrator. What is your view of Fitzgerald’s use of Nick Carroway as a narrator?

 

3. How do you respond to the view that it is very difficult for readers to feel anything other than contempt for Tom Buchanan?

4. How appropriate do you think it is to describe ‘The Great Gatsby’ as a tragedy?

 

5. What do you think about the view that there are no women in ‘The Great Gatsby’ with whom the reader can sympathise?

6. What do you think of the view that obsession with money and consumer culture dominates thinking and behaviour in ‘The Great Gatsby’?

7. “Illusory as it is, Gatsby’s dream gives meaning and value to human experience.” How do you respond to this view?

Gatsby questions

Write about how the story is told in a chapter of your choice from 'The Great Gatsby'. To be handed in on Tuesday 15 January.