GCSE English Literature 8702/1 Paper 1 Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel A selection of 11 practice examination questions for the Macbeth section of the paper. (No prose questions included).

Just a blank table for them to fill in with notes on the poems. Should get them comparing in terms of theme, tone and language. Might save you a job during a busy stretch!

A practice paper based on an extract from Pullman’s ‘The Subtle Knife’ as well as a lengthy PowerPoint presentation taking students through the paper. Several lessons-worth of material here. I’m using with Key Stage 3 as preparation for the GCSE skills, but could be used at Key Stage 4 too, particularly with a lower ability group.

A worksheet style resource, which includes a table with detailed comparative analysis of Du Maurier’s ‘Rebecca’ with Blake’s ‘The Garden of Love’ and Keats’s ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’. The table is followed up with a task which prompts students to do the same thing with the remaining poems. (I’ve not included the two Hardy poems as I don’t think they’re great together, but you could differentiate by getting weaker students to just compare with one Hardy poem at a time in a similar fashion. Or, could be a homework/follow up task). The main detail is on Blake, Keats and the novel. References to AOs are specifically tailored to AQA A-level ENGLISH LITERATURE A (7712/1) Paper 1: Love through the Ages

GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE (8700) Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing A full practice paper based on ‘The Bear and the Nightingale’. I’ve not included pages and pages of lines for students to write on, as thought lined paper was more user friendly. Includes an extract from the novel, 4 ‘Reading’ questions and a choice of two ‘Writing’ questions. Does not include mark scheme or indicative content, but the generic AQA mark scheme can be used in conjunction with this resource.

A short PowerPoint, guiding students through Act 3 Scene 2 of the play. It’s focused on analysis and is question based to encourage independent thought. Only 7 slides long, so not a long one, but might save you a job! Final slide is a writing task based on the scene.

A great pre-reading activity based on Macbeth. Students simulate being in a police investigation and try to uncover the identity of a missing woman based on the things she has said and done. (It’s Lady Macbeth). Students work in groups, in role, which makes for an excellent speaking and listening activity, as well as a great introduction to the play. (It works best when you’ve not done anything with them on the play).

Designed specifically for AQA A Level English Literature, Modern times: Literature from 1945 to the present day, this resource offers four short extracts from unseen modern texts followed by tasks based on critical views of Walker’s The Color Purple and Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire . Four practice questions included. Could be used as a discussion PowerPoint or as a group activity, using the slides as worksheets. I’m using it with my Year 13s as a revision activity, leading up to them writing responses to the questions included.

A PowerPoint presentation designed to take students through analysing the poem independently/in pairs. Questions are focused on the AOs for AQA’s A Level English Literature paper 7711 7712. I’ve included a couple of comparison questions for ‘Rebecca’, but not many and these could easily be adapted for the text you are using as the comparison piece. The focus is on the poem itself, rather than on the novel.

A PowerPoint taking students through this important scene. It includes a number of activities including drama tasks, language analysis tasks, creative writing, a chat show and a storyboarding activity. Should keep them busy for a while! I use this with mixed ability year 8 classes, but it might work for lower ability ks4 ( though you might miss some of the tasks out/adapt them).

A PowerPoint presentation, which takes students through Act One Scene Three of Macbeth. Includes a variety of tasks with focus on: reading for meaning, language, context and empathy. About an hour - 2 hours worth of work, depending on whether some tasks are set as homework or whether they are all completed in class time.

A PowerPoint introducing the comparison question for AQA A Level English Literature (Modern times: Literature from 1945 to the present day). The question focus is Isolation and the resource prompts discussion and independent thought. I have included in the notes section suggestions for directing the discussions. Includes group activity task and should prepare students nicely for answering the sample examination question.

A PowerPoint presentation designed for the new AQA English Literature at A Level. Information about the novel’s background is provided, links to wider reading and a group/independent task is included too, to provide a varied couple of lessons. It will take me 3 x 1 hour lessons with mixed ability year 12, including an hour for them to work together to make their own links (with guided questions). There are some references to comparison with the poetry, these could easily be replaced with whatever text you are comparing with. If you like this, see my other resources on ‘Rebecca’ too!

To use just as a PowerPoint, or to print as worksheets to use alongside the PowerPoint, this resource visually presents the changing nature of the relationships during the course of the play. I use as an ongoing resource alongside the teaching of the play. A good plenary for the end of each act. Suitable for Key Stage 3

A very visual activity which takes students through comparing the imagery of the two poems. Focused on student discussion and interpretation and leading to a short writing task. An hour long lesson. Created for AQA GCSE English Literature Paper 2