📖 A-Level English Literature (Edexcel)
✅ Big Themes and Concepts
Know the key concerns of your texts:
- Love, power, conflict, betrayal, loss, identity, etc.
✅ Critics and Literary Theories
- Learn 3–4 critics’ ideas per text.
- Mention critics when appropriate (“Some critics argue that…”) but always argue YOUR interpretation.
✅ Contextual Depth
Link to:
- Historical background (e.g., post-war Britain, Victorian society)
- Literary movements (e.g., Gothic, Modernism)
✅ Close Reading Is Crucial
Analyze specific words, images, metaphors, and structure.
Zoom in carefully on small details to show sharp understanding.
✅ Comparison (if needed)
If comparing two texts:
- Compare theme/method/context.
- Integrate comparisons throughout, not just at the end.
✅ Essay Structure (PEAL/PEEZL)
- Point
- Evidence
- Analysis
- Link (and sometimes Zoom Language)
✅ Stay Argument-Driven
Every paragraph must drive your thesis forward.
✅ Timed Practice is KEY
- Practise writing full essays under real exam conditions.
- Build stamina and refine timing.