GCSE English Literature Syllabus Topics — Examevo

Complete specification map

Everything you learn in English Literature

Not a school tick-list — every accredited heading from spec 8702 / 7712, mapped across all major UK boards. Track progress topic-by-topic when you join Examevo.

4spec units

17topics mapped

5exam boards

AQAEdexcelOCRWJECCCEA

Intro · 6Standard · 5Advanced · 6

Shakespeare

4 topics in this unit

1MacbethIntro
- Macbeth — plot, characters and key scenes
- Context of Macbeth — Jacobean society and theatre
- Shakespeare’s language, imagery and dramatic methods
- Themes in Macbeth — ambition, conflict, identity
- Planning and writing a Macbeth essay (AO1–AO3)
2Romeo and JulietIntro
- Romeo and Juliet — plot, characters and key scenes
- Context of Romeo and Juliet — Jacobean society and theatre
- Shakespeare’s language, imagery and dramatic methods
- Themes in Romeo and Juliet — ambition, conflict, identity
- Planning and writing a Romeo and Juliet essay (AO1–AO3)
3The Merchant of VeniceIntro
- The Merchant of Venice — plot, characters and key scenes
- Context of The Merchant of Venice — Jacobean society and theatre
- Shakespeare’s language, imagery and dramatic methods
- Themes in The Merchant of Venice — ambition, conflict, identity
- Planning and writing a The Merchant of Venice essay (AO1–AO3)
4Much Ado About NothingIntro
- Much Ado About Nothing — plot, characters and key scenes
- Context of Much Ado About Nothing — Jacobean society and theatre
- Shakespeare’s language, imagery and dramatic methods
- Themes in Much Ado About Nothing — ambition, conflict, identity
- Planning and writing a Much Ado About Nothing essay (AO1–AO3)

19th Century Novel

5 topics in this unit

1A Christmas CarolIntro
- A Christmas Carol — plot, characters and narrative voice
- Victorian context and social issues in A Christmas Carol
- Writer’s methods — symbolism and setting in A Christmas Carol
- Themes in A Christmas Carol — class, morality, science
- Essay structure for A Christmas Carol (extract and whole text)
2Jekyll and HydeIntro
- Jekyll and Hyde — plot, characters and narrative voice
- Victorian context and social issues in Jekyll and Hyde
- Writer’s methods — symbolism and setting in Jekyll and Hyde
- Themes in Jekyll and Hyde — class, morality, science
- Essay structure for Jekyll and Hyde (extract and whole text)
3Pride and PrejudiceStandard
- Pride and Prejudice — plot, characters and narrative voice
- Victorian context and social issues in Pride and Prejudice
- Writer’s methods — symbolism and setting in Pride and Prejudice
- Themes in Pride and Prejudice — class, morality, science
- Essay structure for Pride and Prejudice (extract and whole text)
4Great ExpectationsStandard
- Great Expectations — plot, characters and narrative voice
- Victorian context and social issues in Great Expectations
- Writer’s methods — symbolism and setting in Great Expectations
- Themes in Great Expectations — class, morality, science
- Essay structure for Great Expectations (extract and whole text)
5Jane EyreStandard
- Jane Eyre — plot, characters and narrative voice
- Victorian context and social issues in Jane Eyre
- Writer’s methods — symbolism and setting in Jane Eyre
- Themes in Jane Eyre — class, morality, science
- Essay structure for Jane Eyre (extract and whole text)

Modern Texts

4 topics in this unit

1An Inspector CallsStandard
- An Inspector Calls — plot, characters and dramatic tension
- Post-war / modern context of An Inspector Calls
- Writer’s methods — dialogue and stage directions in An Inspector Calls
- Themes in An Inspector Calls — responsibility, power, society
- Comparing ideas across An Inspector Calls and context
2Lord of the FliesStandard
- Lord of the Flies — plot, characters and dramatic tension
- Post-war / modern context of Lord of the Flies
- Writer’s methods — dialogue and stage directions in Lord of the Flies
- Themes in Lord of the Flies — responsibility, power, society
- Comparing ideas across Lord of the Flies and context
3Animal FarmAdvanced
- Animal Farm — plot, characters and dramatic tension
- Post-war / modern context of Animal Farm
- Writer’s methods — dialogue and stage directions in Animal Farm
- Themes in Animal Farm — responsibility, power, society
- Comparing ideas across Animal Farm and context
4The Curious IncidentAdvanced
- The Curious Incident — plot, characters and dramatic tension
- Post-war / modern context of The Curious Incident
- Writer’s methods — dialogue and stage directions in The Curious Incident
- Themes in The Curious Incident — responsibility, power, society
- Comparing ideas across The Curious Incident and context

Poetry

4 topics in this unit

1Power and Conflict anthologyAdvanced
- Power and Conflict anthology — themes, voice and structure
- Analysing language, imagery and form in Power and Conflict anthology
- Context and comparison in Power and Conflict anthology
- Unseen poetry approach — Power and Conflict anthology
- Writing a comparative poetry response — Power and Conflict anthology
2Love and Relationships anthologyAdvanced
- Love and Relationships anthology — themes, voice and structure
- Analysing language, imagery and form in Love and Relationships anthology
- Context and comparison in Love and Relationships anthology
- Unseen poetry approach — Love and Relationships anthology
- Writing a comparative poetry response — Love and Relationships anthology
3Unseen poetryAdvanced
- Unseen poetry — themes, voice and structure
- Analysing language, imagery and form in Unseen poetry
- Context and comparison in Unseen poetry
- Unseen poetry approach — Unseen poetry
- Writing a comparative poetry response — Unseen poetry
4Comparing poemsAdvanced
- Comparing poems — themes, voice and structure
- Analysing language, imagery and form in Comparing poems
- Context and comparison in Comparing poems
- Unseen poetry approach — Comparing poems
- Writing a comparative poetry response — Comparing poems

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