English Literature AS - An Overview
Paper 1 - Love through the ages: Shakespeare and poetry
Closed-book examination: 1.5hrs
50% of your AS // 50 marks
Answer one question from each section
Section A: Shakespeare /25 marks
Othello
You will study Othello by William
Shakespeare. In the exam, you answer a
two-part question. One part is passagebased and the other asks you to link your
ideas to the wider play.
Section B: Poetry Pre-1900 /25 marks
Love poetry through the ages (pre-1900)
You will study fourteen poems by
different poets, all written before 1900
and on the theme of love. In the exam,
you answer a question on one of these
poems, making links to the other poems
where appropriate.
Assessment Objectives
Paper 2 – Love through the ages: prose
Open-book examination: 1.5hrs
50% of your AS // 50 marks
Answer one question from each section
Section A: Unseen prose /25 marks
Unseen prose extract
Section B: Comparing prose texts /25 marks
Jayne Eyre and The Great Gatsby
You will learn how to explore extracts
from unseen prose texts. In the exam, you
answer a question on an extract of unseen
prose, examining a given view and making
close reference to the writer’s methods.
You will study two prose texts, Jayne Eyre by
Charlotte Bronte and The Great Gatsby by F
Scott Fitzgerald. In the exam, you will answer
one question which asks you to explore a
statement, comparing your studied texts.
Mark Scheme Descriptor (Band 5)
Mark Scheme Descriptor (Band 4)
AO1
Articulate informed, personal and
creative responses to literary
texts, using associated concepts
and terminology, and coherent,
accurate written expression.
28% of AS mark
* perceptive, assured and sophisticated argument in relation to
the task
* assured use of literary critical concepts and terminology;
mature and impressive expression
* logical, thorough and coherent argument in relation to
the task where ideas are debated in depth
* appropriate use of literary critical concepts and
terminology; precise and accurate expression
AO2
Analyse ways in which meanings
are shaped in literary texts.
24% of AS mark
AO3
Demonstrate understanding of
the significance and influence of
the contexts in which literary
texts are written and received.
24% of AS mark
* perceptive understanding of authorial methods in relation to
the task
* assured engagement with how meanings are shaped by the
methods used
* perceptive understanding of the significance of relevant
contexts in relation to the task
* assuredness in the connection between those contexts and the
historicist literary concept studied
* thorough understanding of authorial methods in relation
to the task
* thorough engagement with how meanings are shaped by
the methods used
* thorough understanding of the significance of relevant
contexts in relation to the task
* coherence in the connection between those contexts and
the historicist literary concept studied
AO4
Explore connections across
literary texts.
12% of AS mark
* perceptive exploration of connections across literary texts
arising out of historicist study
* logical and consistent exploration of connections across
literary texts arising out of historicist study
AO5
Explore literary texts informed by
different interpretations.
12% of AS mark
* perceptive and confident engagement with the debate set up
in the task
* thorough engagement with the debate set
up in the task