GCSE English Literature Paper 1 and Paper 2: Complete Revision Guide

GCSE English Literature can feel overwhelming. You’re expected to know multiple texts in detail, memorise quotations, write analytical essays under time pressure, and demonstrate understanding of context and authorial intent. But with the right approach, you can tackle both Paper 1 and Paper 2 with confidence.

This guide breaks down the structure of AQA GCSE English Literature Papers 1 and 2, explains what examiners are looking for, and provides practical strategies for revision and exam success.

Understanding the GCSE English Literature Exam Structure

AQA GCSE English Literature has two exam papers:

Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-Century Novel

1 hour 45 minutes
64 marks (40% of your GCSE)
Section A: Shakespeare (34 marks)
Section B: 19th-century novel (30 marks)
Closed book (no texts allowed)

Paper 2: Modern Texts and Poetry

2 hours 15 minutes
96 marks (60% of your GCSE)
Section A: Modern prose or drama (34 marks)
Section B: Poetry (30 marks)
Section C: Unseen poetry (32 marks)
Sections A and B are closed book; Section C provides the poems

Understanding the structure helps you allocate revision time and manage exam pacing.

Paper 1 Section A: Shakespeare

You’ll study one Shakespeare play (commonly Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, or The Tempest).

What the Exam Tests

You’re given an extract from the play and a question asking you to analyse it, then relate it to the play as a whole.

Example question: “How does Shakespeare present the theme of ambition in this extract and in the play as a whole?”

What examiners want:

Close analysis of language and dramatic techniques in the extract
Links to other parts of the play
Understanding of context (Elizabethan/Jacobean attitudes, Shakespeare’s intentions)
Clear, structured argument

How to Structure Your Shakespeare Essay

Use the PETER structure:

Point – Make a clear point answering the question Evidence – Provide a quotation from the extract or elsewhere in the play Technique – Identify the literary or dramatic technique Shakespeare uses Explain – Analyse why Shakespeare uses this technique and its effect Relate – Link back to the question and the play’s themes

Example paragraph:

“Shakespeare presents Macbeth’s ambition as destructive from the outset. When Macbeth says ‘I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition,’ the metaphor of a rider suggests Macbeth recognises his ambition is excessive, comparing it to a horse that will throw its rider. The word ‘vaulting’ implies his ambition leaps beyond reason, foreshadowing his tragic downfall. This aligns with Jacobean beliefs about divine right – overreaching ambition was seen as a challenge to God’s natural order, which would inevitably lead to punishment.”

Notice: quotation, technique identified (metaphor), analysis of effect, link to context.

Common Mistakes in Shakespeare Essays

Retelling the plot – Examiners know the story. Don’t summarise; analyse.
Not analysing language – You must explain HOW Shakespeare creates meaning, not just WHAT happens.
Ignoring context – Shakespeare wrote for a specific audience. Show you understand Elizabethan/Jacobean attitudes.
Not linking extract to whole play – The question explicitly asks for this. Compare the extract to other scenes.

Revision Tips for Shakespeare

Memorise 5-6 key quotations per theme (ambition, love, conflict, etc.)
Know the plot inside out so you can reference any scene quickly
Understand key contextual points (divine right, gender roles, supernatural beliefs)
Practise timed essays using past paper questions

Paper 1 Section B: The 19th-Century Novel

You’ll study one 19th-century novel (commonly A Christmas Carol, Frankenstein, Jane Eyre, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, or Pride and Prejudice).

What the Exam Tests

Similar to Shakespeare, you’re given an extract and asked to analyse it in relation to the novel as a whole.

Example question: “How does Dickens present Scrooge as a miserly character in this extract and in the novel as a whole?”

What examiners want:

Close analysis of the writer’s language and methods
Understanding of Victorian context
Links to other parts of the novel
Clear structure and argument

How to Structure Your 19th-Century Novel Essay

Use the same PETER structure as Shakespeare:

Example paragraph:

“Dickens presents Scrooge as physically isolated due to his miserliness. The simile ‘solitary as an oyster’ suggests Scrooge has deliberately enclosed himself, just as an oyster’s shell protects the valuable pearl within. However, Dickens subverts this image – Scrooge’s isolation protects nothing of value, only his greed. Victorian readers would recognise this critique of industrial capitalism, which Dickens believed prioritised wealth over human connection. This isolation is reinforced later when Scrooge eats alone in a ‘melancholy tavern,’ the adjective emphasising the emptiness of his existence.”

Notice: quotation, technique (simile), analysis, context, link to wider novel.

Common Mistakes in 19th-Century Novel Essays

Not analysing methods – You must identify techniques (metaphor, imagery, sentence structure, symbolism).
Weak context – Victorian attitudes (class, gender, morality) are essential for top marks.
Feature-spotting without analysis – Saying “Dickens uses a simile” earns no marks unless you explain its effect.
Poor time management – This section is worth 30 marks. Allocate about 45-50 minutes.

Revision Tips for the 19th-Century Novel

Memorise 6-8 key quotations covering different themes and characters
Understand Victorian context (social class, gender expectations, religious morality)
Practise integrating context naturally into analysis, not as a separate paragraph
Time yourself writing full essays (aim for 3-4 sides of A4 in 50 minutes)

Paper 2 Section A: Modern Texts

You’ll study one modern prose or drama text (commonly An Inspector Calls, Blood Brothers, Animal Farm, or Lord of the Flies).

What the Exam Tests

You answer one essay question (no extract provided this time) about themes, characters, or the writer’s methods.

Example question: “How does Priestley present social responsibility in An Inspector Calls?”

What examiners want:

Range of references across the whole text
Analysis of dramatic/literary techniques
Understanding of 20th-century social and historical context
Sustained focus on the question

How to Structure Your Modern Text Essay

Use PETAL paragraphs:

Point – Topic sentence answering the question Evidence – Quotation or specific reference Technique – Identify the method used Analysis – Explain the effect Link – Connect to context or back to the question

Aim for 5-6 PETAL paragraphs.

Revision Tips for Modern Texts

Memorise 10-12 key quotations (modern texts are longer, so you need more)
Know the text’s context (WW1/WW2, social class, political themes)
Practise planning essays in 5 minutes (you don’t have an extract to guide you)

Paper 2 Section B: Poetry

You’ll study one poetry cluster (15 poems) from the AQA Anthology (Power and Conflict, or Love and Relationships).

What the Exam Tests

You’re given one named poem and must compare it to another poem of your choice from the cluster.

Example question: “Compare how poets present the effects of conflict in ‘Remains’ and one other poem from the cluster.”

What examiners want:

Comparison throughout (not one poem, then the other)
Analysis of poetic techniques (imagery, structure, rhyme, rhythm)
Personal response (your interpretation)
Links to context where relevant

How to Structure Your Poetry Comparison Essay

Use a comparative structure with integrated paragraphs:

“In ‘Remains,’ Armitage presents conflict’s psychological impact through the repetition of ‘he’s here in my head,’ suggesting the soldier’s trauma is inescapable. Similarly, in ‘Bayonet Charge,’ Hughes uses enjambment to mirror the soldier’s frantic thoughts: ‘Stumbling across a field of clods towards a green hedge / That dazzled with rifle fire.’ Both poets use structural techniques – Armitage’s anaphora and Hughes’ enjambment – to convey the relentless nature of trauma. However, Armitage focuses on guilt (‘his blood-shadow stays on the street’), while Hughes emphasises fear and confusion.”

Notice: both poems discussed within the same paragraph, techniques identified and compared, effects analysed.

Common Mistakes in Poetry Comparison

Writing about one poem, then the other – Compare throughout.
Not using comparative language – Use “similarly,” “in contrast,” “whereas,” “both poets,” etc.
Ignoring form and structure – Stanza breaks, rhyme schemes, and line length are poetic techniques.
Not choosing your second poem wisely – Pick one with clear similarities or contrasts to the named poem.

Revision Tips for Poetry

Memorise 2-3 key quotations per poem (you don’t need full poems, just striking phrases)
Know the context of each poem (war poetry, Victorian attitudes, personal experiences)
Create a comparison grid showing how different poems present similar themes
Practise choosing your second poem quickly (know which poems compare well)

Paper 2 Section C: Unseen Poetry

You’re given two poems you’ve never seen before and must analyse them.

Question 1 (24 marks): Analyse one unseen poem. Question 2 (8 marks): Compare both poems.

How to Approach Unseen Poetry

Step 1: Read both poems carefully (5 minutes)

Identify the subject and tone
Notice structural features (stanzas, rhyme, repetition)
Highlight striking imagery or techniques

Step 2: Answer Question 1 (25 minutes)

Analyse the first poem using PETER:

What is the poet’s message?
How do they use language techniques (metaphor, personification, alliteration)?
How does structure create meaning (enjambment, caesura, volta)?
What is the tone and mood?

Step 3: Answer Question 2 (15 minutes)

Compare both poems briefly:

Similarities in theme or message
Differences in tone or perspective
Comparison of one or two key techniques

Key tip: You don’t need to identify every technique. Focus on the most striking language and structure choices and analyse them deeply.

Common Mistakes in Unseen Poetry

Panicking because you don’t recognise the poem – No one does. That’s the point.
Feature-spotting without analysis – Don’t just list techniques; explain their effect.
Spending too long on unseen poetry – It’s 32 marks out of 96. Allocate 40-45 minutes max.

Time Management Across Both Papers

Paper 1 (1 hour 45 minutes):

Shakespeare: 50 minutes
19th-century novel: 50 minutes
Reading and checking: 5 minutes

Paper 2 (2 hours 15 minutes):

Modern text: 50 minutes
Poetry comparison: 45 minutes
Unseen poetry: 40 minutes
Reading and checking: 10 minutes (especially important for unseen poetry)

Stick to these timings. Don’t let one section eat into another.

How to Memorise Quotations Effectively

You can’t bring texts into the exam, so quotation memorisation is essential.

Use Active Recall

Write out quotations from memory
Test yourself with flashcards
Get someone to quiz you

Organise by Theme, Not by Text Order

Group quotations by theme (e.g., “ambition in Macbeth,” “social class in An Inspector Calls”). This helps you retrieve them quickly in the exam when a question asks about a theme.

Prioritise Short, Punchy Quotations

You don’t need full speeches. Short, memorable phrases are easier to learn and embed in essays:

“vaulting ambition” (Macbeth)
“solitary as an oyster” (A Christmas Carol)
“fire and blood and anguish” (An Inspector Calls)

Practice Embedding Quotations in Sentences

Don’t write: “Lady Macbeth says ‘unsex me here’.”

Write: “Lady Macbeth’s command to ‘unsex me here’ reveals her rejection of traditional femininity, which she associates with weakness.”

This shows analytical skill, not just memorisation.

How UpGrades Helps with GCSE English Literature

Understanding essay structure and memorising quotations is one thing. Applying them under exam pressure is another.

UpGrades provides targeted practice on:

Analytical writing skills
Quotation embedding
Timed essay planning
Identifying and explaining literary techniques

With instant feedback on your answers, you’ll quickly learn what examiners reward and where you need to improve. Whether you’re revising Shakespeare, modern texts, or poetry, UpGrades builds the confidence and skills you need for GCSE English Literature success.

Final Checklist for GCSE English Literature Success

Memorise 5-6 key quotations per Shakespeare/19th-century text, 10-12 for modern texts, 2-3 per poem
Understand context for each text (historical, social, authorial intent)
Practise PETER/PETAL paragraph structure
Time yourself on full essays (aim for 3-4 sides of A4 in 45-50 minutes)
Learn comparative language for poetry comparison
Practise unseen poetry with past paper questions
Create a revision timetable prioritising your weakest text

GCSE English Literature rewards close analysis, clear structure, and confident use of quotations. Master these skills, and you’ll approach both Paper 1 and Paper 2 ready to showcase your knowledge and analytical ability.