Character and Voice poetry- English Literature GCSE

If you're struggling with the poetry, this is the post for you!


One of the most effective ways to prepare for this section of the Literature exam is to pre empt what's coming. This post will direct you on how to do this effectively.

We can *roughly* know the types of things you will be asked about in the exam. We know it'll be to compare, and we can make some educated guesses about the topic which you will be asked to compare. Therefore, you can begin to group poems by question. Below are a list of questions that you may be asked. For each one, decide all of the poems you could write about:

1) Compare the ways identity is presented....
2) Compare the ways that strong characters are presented....
3) Compare the ways that weaknesses in characters are presented.....
4) Compare the ways that characters are presented.....
5) Compare the ways that attitudes to other characters are presented....
6) Compare the ways that heritage is presented....
7) Compare the ways the past is presented in terms of its impact on characters....

For each of these topics (in bold), write a list of poems you could write about.

You then need to work through the poems, one by one, comparing each of them to all of the others.

For example, if you decided that you could write about COMH, Casehistory, River God and Singh Song (there are more, but just as an example....) for identity, you would then set about deciding what you'd write about if each of the poems was the named poem, and which ones you'd compare it to and how.
So, let's say that River God is the named poem. For each of the poems you could compare it to, make a list of:
1) Similarities
2) Differences
3) Language devices used
4) Quotes you could use.

You can then use that information to write a plan. Then repeat this process for every poem that could be named, and for every poem you could write about. You should then be in a position where, in the exam, you know straight away which poem you'll choose, and, more importantly, what it is you're going to write about.

Have a go at planning the following essays, deciding what poems you'd use, and what you'd write about. Bring them to me to look at!

1) Compare the ways that strong characters are presented in Medusa and one other poem.
2) Compare the ways that heritage is presented in COMH and one other poem.
3) Compare the ways that attitudes to other characters are presented in The Ruined Maid and one other poem
4) Compare the ways that feelings towards other characters are presented in On a Portrait of a Deaf Man and one other poem.
5) Compare the ways that characters' experiences are presented in 'Horse Whisperer' and one other poem.

Once you've planned a range of responses, have a go at writing them as an essay response. Bring them in or email them to me for feedback.

Remember, it's absolutely vital that you're confident on all of the poems, and all of the potential topics. Tackle the ones you're scared of, or struggle with, first. Make yourself confident on them. You do not want to be in the position in the exam where you cannot answer either of the questions!!


A useful link to a video on the poems - it's a long one, so make sure you take notes throughout it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnbmdnxUJsk


Bitesize:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/poetrycharactervoice/


Happy revision!