AS Level English Literature OCR new specification (from 2015)

What will you study? The Tempest Paradise Lost (books 9 & 10) The History Boys The Bloody Chamber

What are you assessed on?

VERY SIMPLY: Ao1: Responding to the text; creating a focused, clear argument; writing clearly. Ao2: Exploring the ways in which language, form are used to create a sense of meaning/ tone/ message. Ao3: Exploring the ways in which the context (when and where it was written, what the social and historical background is) influenced the text; how it has been read/ received in different contexts since then. Ao4: Making literary/thematic/linguistic connections. In the AS this will be between the sections of Paradise Lost (at A2 you will have to compare texts). Ao5: Using critics and considering others’ ideas; analysing these in light of your own arguments/ keeping an open mind and allowing your own ideas to be informed by others’. This will mean quite a bit of wide/ independent reading. Google books and Jstor are your friends!

whaT ARE THE WEIGHTINGS for each part? Each question is worth 30 marks. The whole paper is worth 50% of the AS level. Paper 1 (The Tempest/ Paradise Lost): The Tempest = Ao1, 2, 3 and 5 (no comparative here); Paradise Lost = Ao1, 2, 3, 4 (no need to consider interpretations). You therefore need to be well versed on the contexts in which both texts have been written and received. Again, wide and independent reading will be very useful here.

Example questions: paper 1: The Tempest: ‘A play about self-discovery.’ How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of ‘The Tempest’? ‘At crucial moments, Prospero misuses his power.’ How far and in what ways do you agree with this view? Paradise Lost: Discuss Milton’s portrayal of Adam and Eve’s actions and their consequences in the following extract from Paradise Lost Book 9: You will be given an extract of around 45 lines.

Paper 2 (The History Boys and The Bloody Chamber): The History Boys: Ao1, 2, 3, 5 (no need to compare but you need to know the whole texts and critics). The Bloody Chamber: Ao1, 2, 3, 4 (you will be given an unseen text that you must compare with the whole of The Bloody Chamber. i.e you can’t just compare it to one of the stories). Each question is worth 30 marks. The whole paper is worth 50% of the AS level.

Example questions: paper 2: The History Boys: ‘The History Boys demonstrates the power and value of education.’ How far and in what ways do you agree with this view? ‘A damaged individual who makes an inspiring leader.’ In the light of this comment, discuss the role of Hector in ‘The History Boys.’ The Bloody Chamber: Discuss ways in which Carter explores links between the past and the present in ‘The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories. In your answer you should select material from the whole text and make connections and comparisons with the following passage, in which…..: You will be given an extract of around 20 lines.

Things to remember/ do: Learn the assessment objectives (Aos) for each question. Consider reading around the texts: books/ articles about context and critical pieces. Remember the exams are closed text so you will need to know the texts really well (and have some key quotations learnt) so make sure you read them a few times. Good luck!

Next year? At A2 you will still be assessed on: The Tempest There will be a coursework component on the A2 course so you won’t have to learn every single one of these for a closed-text exam (the texts in pink will be coursework texts)! Next year? At A2 you will still be assessed on: The Tempest Paradise Lost The History Boys The Bloody Chamber. BUT you will also pick up: The Duchess of Malfi The Picture of Dorian Gray Gothic texts (you will need to do wider reading on this). Ariel The Go-Between