Questions 1 to 3, part (a) (answer the one on your cluster)
Comparing an anthology poem with an unseen poem
20 marksAO1 · 8AO2 · 12About 45 min
What it asks
Compare how the two printed poems present the idea or feeling the question names: one named poem from your anthology cluster and one unseen poem (one you have not studied). The bullet points under the question remind you to cover what each poem says and the attitudes in it, the tone and mood of each, and the effects of language and structure.
What earns marks
- Close analysis of language, form and structure in both poems: this is the main objective here (AO2, 12 of the 20 marks).
- Comparison throughout: how the poems are alike and different in ideas, tone and methods.
- Your own interpretation of each poem, backed by short quotations from both.
- Subject terms (for example imagery, rhyme, stanza, enjambment) used accurately to sharpen the analysis.
What each level looks like
Top level first.
| Level | Marks | What an answer at this level does |
|---|---|---|
| Level 6 | 18-20 | Close, insightful analysis of how both poems work, with exact quotations built into a tightly argued response that compares the poems in every paragraph. |
| Level 5 | 15-17 | A well-built, persuasive response with careful analysis of both poems, well-suited quotations built into the sentences, good use of terms and comparison kept up throughout. |
| Level 4 | 11-14 | A detailed response with some real analysis of language, form and structure, terms used correctly, relevant quotations and some developed points of comparison. |
| Level 3 | 7-10 | A fuller response that explains some of the poets' choices, uses some subject terms and relevant quotations, and makes some direct comparisons. |
| Level 2 | 4-6 | A simple response with some support from the poems, simple comments on language, form or structure, and a few basic links between them. |
| Level 1 | 1-3 | A few relevant remarks about the poems, with little reference to them, very little sense of how they are written and little or no linking of the two. |
What to avoid
- Writing about only one poem: OCR marking makes that unlikely to pass Level 2 and never lets it pass Level 3.
- Writing about the poems in two separate halves with a short comparison at the end.
- Listing techniques without explaining their effect.
- Spending time on facts about the poets: context is not marked in this section.
Tip: Read the unseen poem twice before you write. Then plan three or four points of comparison, each covering both poems.
Mark an answer to this question