1. Section C: Unseen poetry
GCSE Literature
Paper 2 Fri 26th May
45 minutes to answer two questions
Part A: Answer a question based on one unseen poem
24 marks
Part B – compare two unseen poems
8 marks
5 – clear understanding 6/7 – thoughtful, developed consideration 8/9 – Convincing, critical analysis and exploration

2. Section C: Unseen poetry
GCSE Literature
Paper 2 Fri 26th May
AO1 – Read, understand and respond to texts (12 marks)
AO2 – Analyse language, structure and form (12 marks)
5 – clear understanding 6/7 – thoughtful, developed consideration 8/9 – Convincing, critical analysis and exploration

3. Section C: Unseen poetry
GCSE Literature
Paper 2 Fri 26th May
Mark scheme descriptors:
Band 4 – level 5 – clear understanding
Band 5 – Level 6/7 – thoughtful, developed consideration
Band 6 – level 8/9 – Convincing, critical analysis and exploration
5 – clear understanding 6/7 – thoughtful, developed consideration 8/9 – Convincing, critical analysis and exploration

4. Section C: Unseen poetry
GCSE Literature
Paper 2 Fri 26th May
The examiner is looking for four main things: 1- Show that you understand what the poems are about. 2- Write about the techniques used in the poems. 3- Support every point you make with quotes or examples from the poem. 4- Use the correct technical terms to describe the techniques in the poem
5 – clear understanding 6/7 – thoughtful, developed consideration 8/9 – Convincing, critical analysis and exploration

5. Section C: Unseen poetry
GCSE Literature
Paper 2 Fri 26th May
24 marks – 30 minutes (5 planning, 25 writing and checking)
Answer in paragraphs covering:
Language
Structure and form
Feelings and attitudes
Step 1:
Highlight key words in the question then read through the poem
Step 2:
Read through again and add annotations answering the question and considering impact on reader/reader reaction
Step 3:
Create a paragraph order/put points on your annotated poem
Let’s practise with two poems…
SEI
5 – clear understanding 6/7 – thoughtful, developed consideration 8/9 – Convincing, critical analysis and exploration

6. Unseen Poetry
Q1- In ‘Neutral Tones’, how does the narrator show that love can bring bitter memories? (24 marks)
WE stood by a pond that winter day, And the sun was white, as though chidden of God, And a few leaves lay on the starving sod, --They had fallen from an ash, and were gray. Your eyes on me were as eyes that rove Over tedious riddles solved years ago; And some words played between us to and fro-- On which lost the more by our love. The smile on your mouth was the deadest thing Alive enough to have strength to die; And a grin of bitterness swept thereby Like an ominous bird a-wing.... Since then, keen lessons that love deceives, And wrings with wrong, have shaped to me Your face, and the God-curst sun, and a tree, And a pond edged with grayish leaves.
Step 1: Highlight key words in the question then read through the poem
Step 2: Read through again and add annotations answering the question and considering impact on reader/reader reaction
Step 3: Create a paragraph order/put points on your annotated poem
Bronze– identify skills required in the exam Silver – understand what the examiner will be looking for
Gold – plan your response to an example poem Platinum – Analyse how a previous example is successful

7. Unseen Poetry
The clouds had given their all - two days of rain and then a break in which we walked, the waterlogged earth gulping for breath at our feet as we skirted the lake, silent and apart, until the swans came and stopped us with a show of tipping in unison. As if rolling weights down their bodies to their heads they halved themselves in the dark water, icebergs of white feather, paused before returning again like boats righting in rough weather. ‘They mate for life’ you said as they left, porcelain over the stilling water. I didn’t reply but as we moved on through the afternoon light, slow-stepping in the lake’s shingle and sand, I noticed our hands, that had, somehow, swum the distance between us and folded, one over the other, like a pair of wings settling after flight
Q2 – In ‘Winter Swans’, how does the narrator show that the couple have become distant? (24 marks)
Step 1: Highlight key words in the question then read through the poem
Step 2: Read through again and add annotations answering the question and considering impact on reader/reader reaction
Step 3: Create a paragraph order/put points on your annotated poem
Bronze– identify skills required in the exam Silver – understand what the examiner will be looking for
Gold – plan your response to an example poem Platinum – Analyse how a previous example is successful

8. Quick plan on poem/s then…
Unseen Poetry
Q2 – ‘Neutral Tones’ and ‘Winter Swans’ both explore relationships in conflict. Compare the ways these relationships are presented in the two poems (8 marks)
Quick plan on poem/s then…
Answer in paragraphs – focus on analysing the language. You MUST make links between both poems and discuss the impact on the readers!
SEICSEI
This question is really going to challenge you time wise! Motor, motor, motor!
Bronze– identify skills required in the exam Silver – understand what the examiner will be looking for
Gold – plan your response to an example poem Platinum – Analyse how a previous example is successful

9. Unseen Poetry
Poem B
Poem A
Comparison of method only – LANGUAGE, STRUCTURE, FORM (AO2) – and IMPACT on reader
Q2 – ‘Neutral Tones’ and ‘Winter Swans’ both explore relationships in conflict. Compare the ways these relationships are presented in the two poems (8 marks)

10. Unseen Poetry
SEICSEI
Q2 – ‘Neutral Tones’ and ‘Winter Swans’ both explore relationships in conflict. Compare the ways these relationships are presented in the two poems (8 marks)
Both poets… In ‘Neutral Tones’… “…” This suggests… Similarly, in ‘Winter Swans’… shown in the line “…” This implies… x2
This question is really going to challenge you time wise! Motor, motor, motor!
Bronze– identify skills required in the exam Silver – understand what the examiner will be looking for
Gold – plan your response to an example poem Platinum – Analyse how a previous example is successful

11. Section C: Unseen poetry
GCSE Literature
Paper 2 Fri 26th May
Practicing unseen poetry: pick a poem at random from the first cluster (love and relationships) and annotate picking out words/techniques/structural features to help you answer this question:
How does the poet present the speaker’s attitude towards love? (24 marks)
You can then select another poem to compare this to: How do the poets present their attitudes towards relationships?
You can find any poems online and create your own questions for further revision practise!
SEI
5 – clear understanding 6/7 – thoughtful, developed consideration 8/9 – Convincing, critical analysis and exploration