Edexcel Unit 3 Enhlish Literature June 6 2013

I'm doing this exam but my texts are behind the scenes at the museum, the wife of bath, and a fat black womans poems,

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR UNSEEN BECAUSE IM SO NERVOUS FOR IT

AO2 is worth the most for the unseen so make sure you write lots about structure, form and language, but more importantly explain how they shape the meaning don't just list the techniques used, but say why they have been used in that way.

To start, before even reading the poem, look at its title. Write down some possible meanings/connotations from it because it can give you a good overview for the poem. You can also write about the title for a structure point.
Also look at the way it is presented on the page - how many stanza's, rhymes, enjambment etc.
Also remember to write about the tone/mood of the poem, whether it is humorous etc.
Narrative forms, is it a monologue?
Etc you get the point.

Include your opinions and I always feel the best way to start it is to explain what the poem is about. If you don't know what it's about then you cant explain how techniques shape the meaning of it.

Ah thank you so much! I was just wondering whether you have specific things that you look out for, like a mental list or something technqieus wise e.g metaphors, first person, antithesis, stasis? or do you just see what pops up as you deal with it?

Hey im doing war poetry, spies and kite runner too!!!!


Really bricking it :/... Any idea on what theme might pop up?

Not sure, I don't even know what theme came up for the January entry or last year's June entry cos the edexcel website doesn't allow you to look at them unless you're a teacher.
But it might be something on cultural identity as that hasn't been for a while!

Im thinking maybe something on appearance vs reality? i dont know why its just this weird inkling
cultural identity is a good shout though! Its annoying how hard it is to predict the questions in english! Gah i hat this exam so much!

Are you doing Kite Runner, Spies and war poetry? I doubt something like appearance vs reality would come up, are you referring to Spies where Stephen isn't sure about his knowledge etc?

I think the whole idea of the texts is the impact of war or how war is presented (horror/glory/bravery/heroism/celebration etc.) so at least one question has to be moulded around this; they normally go for the humanity option too which is essentially the same thing.

what i mean by appearance versus reality is the way in which writers/ charachters perceive war compared to the reality of war ie war is considered a game/ noble but other combatants appear to stress otherwise? if that makes sense and yea stephens knowledge can play in to that to as in what we think we know about war and what we really know!
Just a thought
I personally like it when questions about presenting horrors appears.
How do you approach a question when it says something like writing about both the horrors and also the celebrations? I never know hos to tackle them, separately or combined or maybe say nowadays nothing really to do with celebration and all horrors then go on and say that?
Sorry for this essay! but its something that i find so hard and my teacher will not give me any help!

Oh I see, I don't know what poems you're doing but for example I've studied Dulce Et
With a question like that, personally, I'd say that some texts refer exclusively to the horrors (More Light, Dulce, Kite Runner to an extent? etc.) and then I'd talk about poems which celebrate the horrors of war (normally the pre-modern poems where warrior ethic was common) and then I'd refer to the poems which just celebrate humanity during war (Barricade etc.) if you understand what I mean?