English Literature Revision programme
This revision programme is designed to give you ideas as to the sort of structured
tasks you should be completing in order to make sure you gain you target grade for
GCSE English Literature.
In addition to completing the programme below, you will also need to make time to reread your set English Literature texts.
Resources:
To make the most of this revision programme, you will need the following:
 A copy of ‘Of Mice and Men’
 A copy of ‘Blood Brothers’
 The ‘Of Mice and Men’ study guide (orange cover)
 The ‘Of Mice and Men’ revision guide
 The ‘Blood Brothers’ study guide (pale green cover)
When following this revision programme, you will create lots of mind-maps and write
key essays. Organise these into a folder so they can be reviewed on the final run up to
your English Literature examination.
Week
Commencing
Revision Tasks
Monday, 9th
March
Of Mice and Men’ Revision
 Start ‘Of Mice and Men’ revision. You will already
need to have re-read the text.
 You need also to read the ‘Of Mice and Men Revision
Guide and complete the Revision Summaries on pages
28, 39 and 44.
Character Notes:
You will need to do the following revision tasks for each
of these characters this week:
George and Lennie.
 Refresh your memory of the notes you made in your
exercise books on each character. If you were
absent and have missed any characters, make a bullet
point list of the things you would say about them,
including the events they are involved in.
 Look in the orange study guide and the ‘Of Mice and
Men Revision Guide, reading all of the information on
the characters.
 On A3 paper, create a mind map showing all of the
information you have for these characters.
Tick
When
Done
Remember, your mind map needs to include
EVERYTHING you know about the character.
Essay Writing:
In timed conditions (40 minutes) write the following essays:
 Do you sympathise with Lennie’s character?
 Discuss the relationship between George and Lennie.
 ‘I like to pet soft things.’ Trace in detail the ‘sort of
things’ that Lennie pets in the novel. How does this
develop as the novel progresses?
 Imagine you are George. At the end of the novel you
think back over the time you spent at the ranch.
Write down your thoughts and feelings. (Think
about: what happened at the ranch; your friendship
with Lennie; your thoughts and feelings about the
others on the ranch; the end of the novel…)
Monday 16th
March
Character Notes:
You will need to do the following revision tasks for each
of these characters this week:
Curley and Curley’s Wife.
 Refresh your memory of the notes you made in your
exercise books on each character.
 Look in the orange study guide and the ‘Of Mice and
Men Revision Guide, reading all of the information on
the characters.
 On A3 paper, create a mind map showing all of the
information you have for these characters.
Remember, your mind map needs to include
EVERYTHING you know about the character.
Essay Writing:
In timed conditions (40 minutes) write the following essays:
 Discuss Curley’s contribution to the novel.
 Do you sympathise with the character of Curley’s
Wife?
 Who is to blame for the death of Curley’s Wife?
 While Curley is physically aggressive towards Lennie,
his wife is sexually provocative. Show how these two
characters cause trouble for Lennie, and combine to
cause his death.
Monday 23rd
March
Character Notes:
You will need to do the following revision tasks for each
of these characters this week:
Slim, Crooks, Candy, The Boss and The Ranch-Workers
(Whit and Carlson)
 Refresh your memory of the notes you made in your
exercise books on each character.
 Look in the orange study guide and the ‘Of Mice and
Men Revision Guide, reading all of the information on
the characters.
 On A3 paper, create a mind map showing all of the
information you have for these characters.
Remember, your mind map needs to include
EVERYTHING you know about the character.
Essay Writing:
In timed conditions (40 minutes) write the following essays:
 Discuss Slim’s/ Candy’s/Crook’s contribution to the
novel.
 Imagine you are Slim. At the end of the novel you
think back over the time George and Lennie spent at
the ranch. Write down your thoughts and feelings.
(Think about: your impressions of George and Lennie;
what happened during their time at the ranch; your
relationship with the others on the ranch; your role
on the ranch…)
 What is life like for the ranch-workers? (To answer
this question, you may also like to read page 29 in the
revision guide)
Monday, 30th
March
Theme Notes:
 Read pages 29 – 39 of the revision guide and
complete the theme revision summary.
You will need to do the following revision tasks for each
of these themes this week:
Dreams and Violence
 Refresh your memory of the notes you made in your
exercise books on each theme.
 Look in the orange study guide (pages 1 – 7) and
review all of the information on themes.
 On A3 paper, create a mind map showing all of the
information you have for these themes.
Essay Writing:
In timed conditions (40 minutes) write the following essays:
 Discuss the theme of the dream in ‘Of Mice and Men’.
 How far can it be argued that ‘Of Mice and Men’ is a
violent novel?
 The killing of Candy’s dog foreshadowed Lennie’s
death. Describe the two killings, pointing out any


Monday 6th April
Monday 13th
April
similarities or differences between them. (Page 12 in
the study guide)
Describe, in some detail, the farm that George and
Lennie dream of owning one day. How does this
dream develop throughout the novel?
Write about the importance of animals in ‘Of Mice
and Men’. )Think about: the mouse Lennie has at the
beginning of the novel; Candy’s dog; Slim’s puppies;
the rabbits in Lennie’s dream …)
Theme Notes:
You will need to do the following revision tasks for each
of these themes this week:
Loneliness, The Outsider and Friendship
 Refresh your memory of the notes you made in your
exercise books on each theme.
 Look in the orange study guide (pages 1 – 7) and
review all of the information on themes.
 On A3 paper, create a mind map showing all of the
information you have for these themes.
Essay Writing:
In timed conditions (40 minutes) write the following essays:
 When all of the other ranch hands go to town, Lennie,
Crooks, Candy and Curley’s Wife are left behind.
Explain what causes these characters to be left out
and what they have in common. (Page 16 of your study
guide)
 Discuss the theme of the outsider. Who are the
outsiders?
 Many characters suffer loneliness in the novel. Who
are they and what impact does the loneliness have on
them?
 How important is the theme of friendship in the
novel?
‘Blood Brothers’ Revision
 Start ‘Blood Brothers’ revision. You will already need
to have re-read the text.
Character Notes:
You will need to do the following revision tasks for each
of these characters this week:
Mrs Lyons and Mrs Johnstone
 Refresh your memory of the notes you made in your
exercise books on each character. If you were
absent and have missed any characters, make a bullet
Monday, 20th
April
point list of the things you would say about them,
including the events they are involved in.
 Complete the notes in the green study guide (pages 11
– 13.)
 Read the essay you have been given on Mrs
Johnstone. Make a mind-map containing ALL of the
information in that essay.
 Look back at the mind-map you have created for Mrs
Lyons. Compare it with the essay you wrote in timed
conditions. If you didn’t get your target grade, rewrite the essay in timed conditions.
Essay Writing:
In timed conditions (40 minutes) write the following essays:
 Give advice to the actor playing Mrs Johnstone on
how she should speak and behave at different points
in the play. For example, her meetings with Mrs
Lyons; her relationship with Mickey; her relationship
with Edward…)
 Imagine you are Mrs Lyons. At the end of the play
you think back over what has happened. Write your
thoughts and feelings. Remember how Mrs Lyons
would speak as you write your answer. Think about:
your feelings about Mrs Johnstone; your relationship
with Edward; your feelings about the ending of the
play.
 To what extent do you feel sympathy for Mrs Lyons?
 At the beginning of the play, the Narrator describes
Mrs Johnstone as ‘the mother so cruel’. What do you
think of Mrs Johnstone. Give reasons for what you
say.
Character Notes:
You will need to do the following revision tasks for each
of these characters this week:
Edward and Mickey
 Refresh your memory of the notes you made in your
exercise books on each character.
 Complete the notes in the green study guide (pages 7
- 9.)
 Read through the A4 notes you have been given on
Mickey and Edward.
 On A3 paper, create a mind map showing all of the
information you have for these characters.
Remember, your mind map needs to include
EVERYTHING you know about the character.
Essay Writing:
In timed conditions (40 minutes) write the following essays:
 For which character do you have more sympathy,
Mickey or Edward? Explain your thoughts with close
reference to the play.
 Write about the differences in the ways Edward and
Mickey were brought up, and the effects these
differences had on them.
Monday, 27th
April
Character Notes:
You will need to do the following revision tasks for each
of these characters this week:
Edward and Mickey
 Refresh your memory of the notes you made in your
exercise books on each character.
 Complete the notes in the green study guide (page 10
and page 23 and 24)
 On A3 paper, create a mind map showing all of the
information you have for these characters. You need
to include information for every time they appear on
the stage.
 Remember, your mind map needs to include
EVERYTHING you know about the character.
Essay Writing:
In timed conditions (40 minutes) write the following essays:
 Imagine your friend is taking the part of Linda in
‘Blood Brothers’ and has asked you for advice. Tell
her how you think she should present the character
to the audience. (Think about: Linda’s relationship
with the other characters; Linda’s importance in the
play; one or two key scenes that you think are
important for the character of Linda; how you think
the audience will respond to her character.)
 Discuss the narrator’s role in the play. (Use the plan
on page 23 and 24 to help you.)
Monday, 4th May
Theme Notes:
You will need to do the following revision tasks for each
of these themes this week:
Superstition, Fate and Class
 Refresh your memory of the notes you made in your
exercise books on the theme of Fate.
 Read the notes in the green study guide on
Superstition (page 14)
On A3 paper, create a mind map showing all of the
information you have for these themes. Include
references to events from the play to show examples
of each theme.
Essay Writing:
In timed conditions (40 minutes) write the following essays:
 Who or what do you think was most responsible for
the deaths of Mickey and Edward? (Think about: the
actions of Mrs Johnstone; your thoughts on
superstition; the actions of Mickey and Edward;
Fate…)
 How does Willy Russell present the theme of social
class in ‘Blood Brothers’? (Think about: the
differences between Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons;
the different upbringings of the two boys; the
differences between Mickey and Edward as adults;
the impact that class has on the events in the play…)
 ‘The tragic outcome of the play is inevitable from the
very start of the play.’ Discuss this statement, with
detailed reference to the play.
th
Monday, 11 May Theme Notes:
You will need to do the following revision tasks for each
of these themes this week:
Violence and Dreams.
 Read the notes in the green study guide on Violence
(page 14) and Dreams (page 21 – 22) and Dancing
(page 19 – 20)
 Complete any notes you have not yet finished.
 On A3 paper, create a mind map showing all of the
information you have for these themes. Include
references to events from the play to show examples
of each theme.
Essay Writing:
In timed conditions (40 minutes) write the following essays:
 Discuss the dreams of the characters
th
Monday, 18
What to do the night before your exam!
May



You should have organised all of your notes, mindmaps and essays in a folder.
Take time to re-read everything you have worked so
hard to produce.