Respond to one question on a poetry set text and one question on a prose set text.

Component 1 – Poetry & Prose (Paper 1)

Learning Objective

Students will be able to respond to one question on a poetry set‑text and one question on a prose set‑text, demonstrating the knowledge, understanding, analysis and personal response required by the Cambridge IGCSE English Literature (0475) syllabus.

Set Texts (2026 examination series)

For the definitive list of set texts, always consult the official Cambridge IGCSE English Literature (0475) syllabus for the current examination series.

Assessment Objectives (AOs)

• AO1 – Knowledge & Understanding (25 %): Recall quotations, characters, plot events and contextual information.
• AO2 – Interpretation (25 %): Explain how ideas, themes and attitudes are conveyed through language, structure and form.
• AO3 – Analysis (25 %): Examine the effect of literary techniques (e.g., imagery, symbolism, narrative perspective) on the reader.
• AO4 – Evaluation (25 %): Offer a personal, balanced response; justify interpretations and consider alternative readings.

Planning Checklist (All Questions)

1. Read the command word carefully (analyse, compare, evaluate, discuss, explore, etc.).
2. Identify the focus of the question (theme, character, technique, etc.).
3. Choose 2‑3 relevant quotations (include line/page numbers).
4. Note the AO(s) the question targets and allocate time accordingly.
5. Draft a quick paragraph plan (PEEL: Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link).
6. Write, proof‑read, and ensure every paragraph addresses the command word and links back to the overall argument.

Answering Poetry Questions (Paper 1)

1. Read the command word.
2. Plan (5 min). Select 2‑3 quotations that best support your argument; note line numbers.
3. Brief contextualisation. Poet’s biography, period, literary movement (Romantic, Modernist, etc.).
4. Analyse language & form.
   • Imagery, metaphor, simile, personification.
   • Sound devices – alliteration, assonance, consonance, rhyme scheme, meter.
   • Structural features – stanza shape, enjambment, caesura, line length, repetition.
5. Link to theme/attitude. Explain how each technique contributes to the central idea(s) of the poem.
6. Conclude. Summarise the main points and comment on the poem’s overall significance.

Answering Prose Questions (Paper 1)

1. Identify the focus. Character, setting, plot development, or author’s technique.
2. Gather evidence (2‑3 passages). Record the quotation, page number and a brief note of its context.
3. Consider narrative perspective. Point of view, narrator reliability and its effect on the reader.
4. Analyse literary techniques. Dialogue, description, symbolism, foreshadowing, pacing, irony, etc.
5. Connect to wider context. Historical, social or biographical background where relevant.
6. Structure your essay. Introduction, 3–4 body paragraphs (PEEL), conclusion.

Unseen Poetry / Prose (Paper 4) – Quick Planning Guide

• Read the extract (2 min). Note speaker, tone, striking language.
• Identify the command word (1 min).
• Plan (5 min). Decide which AO(s) the question emphasises and allocate time:
  • AO1 – locate a quotation that shows knowledge.
  • AO3 – choose a technique to analyse.
  • AO2 & AO4 – develop interpretation and personal response.
• Write (12 min). Keep paragraphs tight; each should contain a point, evidence, analysis, and link.
• Proof‑read (1 min). Check spelling, punctuation and that the command word has been fully addressed.

Drama (Papers 2 & 3) – Open‑Book Guidance

• Use a clean copy of the script; no highlighting or marginal notes are permitted.
• Answer the same AOs as for poetry/prose – AO1 (knowledge of characters, plot, stage directions), AO2 (interpretation of themes/attitudes), AO3 (analysis of language, dramatic techniques, staging), AO4 (evaluation).
• Typical question types: “Analyse how Shakespeare creates tension in Act 3 of *Macbeth*” or “Compare the treatment of love in *Romeo and Juliet* and *A Midsummer Night’s Dream*.”

Coursework (Component 5) – Brief Overview

• Two assignments (usually one poetry, one prose) of 600–1 200 words each.
• Both must demonstrate AO1‑AO4; the weighting is the same (25 % each) as the written papers.
• Students submit a clean, typed copy with a bibliography. No collaboration is allowed.
• Typical tasks: a comparative essay, a creative response with commentary, or a critical analysis of a specific technique.

Command‑Word Cheat‑Sheet

Suggested Essay Structure (30‑mark response)

Paragraph plan: Introduction – 3–4 body paragraphs – Conclusion

• Introduction (≈5 min)
  • Restate the question in your own words.
  • Present a concise thesis statement that outlines your main argument.
  • Briefly mention the quotations you will use.
• Body paragraphs (≈8 min each) – follow the PEEL pattern:
  • Point – clear topic sentence linking to the thesis.
  • Evidence – embed a quotation (line/page number).
  • Explanation – analyse language/structure (AO3) and link to theme/attitude (AO2).
  • Link – show how the paragraph supports the overall argument (AO4).
• Conclusion (≈3 min)
  • Summarise the main points.
  • Restate the thesis in light of the analysis.
  • Offer a final evaluative comment on the text’s broader significance.

Marking Criteria Overview