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IGCSE English Literature: Unseen Poetry tips

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The number one concern that IGCSE Literature candidates bring to their tutor is, “what happens if I don’t understand the unseen poem on the exam?” This is a reasonable fear, but it’s one that can be overcome with practice. I find that my students are generally quite intimidated by poetry, and find it difficult to identify the ‘deeper meaning’ of a poem. My general aim when I tutor my IGCSE Literature students is to break down this process so they see poetry analysis as structured, logical, and accessible. Their immediate interpretations are usually sound; it is the organisation of thought that requires working through in order to produce a good exam response. It’s worth remembering that if an exam board sets a particularly difficult poem one year, then all those sitting the test will struggle with it. While you might still find it difficult, you won’t be alone in your suffering!

It takes a lot of practice to excel at poetry analysis. I find that poetry analysis is usually the most challenging aspect for Hong Kong IGCSE Literature students without extra tutoring. In Paper 1 of the IGCSE English Literature exam, which forms 60% of the total mark, Section A is dedicated to unseen poetry analysis. Since there are 3 sections in Paper 1, time management is the first key skill to focus on when tutoring IGCSE Literature candidates. This, along with analytical expression and critical thinking, are the main skills that must be consolidated. Candidates need to remain cool-headed and produce a tightly-worded, five-paragraph essay that responds to the prompt. 

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The 20-mark question follows the format of ‘Explore how the author presents thoughts/feelings about …’ in relation to the unseen poem. Usually, this is accompanied by prompts on what to include in the response, such as ‘You may like to consider the author’s description of [x], [y], and [z].’ Let’s take a look at the structure of a strong Paper 1 unseen poetry analytical response. I tutor my IGCSE Literature students on how to write a 5-paragraph essay, which consists of analysising key aspects like descriptive skills, choice of language (other than diction), form, and structure. 

Importantly, the response must be guided by an argument regarding the poet’s purpose, which will greatly help organisation of the essay. This might look like:

‘In ‘Ozymandias’, Percy Shelley’s purpose is to criticise hubris and convey the impermanence of power.’

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With weaker learners, I prioritise helping them identify the central purpose of a poem. I usually tutor this by first asking them to use the words of the exam question and prompts, as well as the title and the most literal reading of the poem. For example, here are some guiding questions I would ask a candidate about Irene Rawnsley’s ‘Purple Shoes’:

  • What does the last line of the poem communicate? How does this add to or change the overall meaning of the poem?

  • What is the main thematic concern of the poem, in other words, what are the most important ideas in the poem? 

  • Does the speaker feel happy or sad? Are the words used positive or negative?

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To relate this to a 20-mark question such as ‘Explore how Rawnsley presents strong feelings in the poem’, I guide my student by helping them specify the strong feelings most prevalent in the poem, such as anger, frustration, and defiance, and their interplay in the relationship between the girl and the mother. After sustained practice, a model purpose statement could look like this:

‘In ‘Purple Shoes,’ Irene Rawnsley explores the strong feelings of anger, frustration, and defiance that the speaker experiences in her relationship with her mother.’

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This statement is good because it uses formal language, answers the question clearly and directly, and shows analysis rather than a literal summary of the poem. It has multiple purposes, rather than one simplistic one. By consolidating the skill of identifying and constructing a purpose statement, it becomes clearer how to structure the answer, and what evidence to use. With more practice, candidates can comfortably master the analytical, critical, and time management skills needed for top marks in the Literature exam. 

BartyED IGCSE English tutors are highly experienced in helping students navigate the challenges of the unseen poetry portion of the Literature exam. Find out more about our IGCSE English Literature tutoring programmes on our website here, or contact us today at (852) 2882 1017 or enquiries@bartyed.com

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