Question Constellation Sign up for free OCR · GCSE · English Literature · Higher
Unhappy experiences in youth or age
Section A – Poetry across Time. Youth and Age. Candidates answer both parts of the question on the poetry cluster they have studied; part b asks about one other poem from the anthology.
Explore in detail one other poem from your anthology which presents unhappy experiences in youth or age.
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Study the marking See what earns credit and compare it with a full-mark answer.
Marking points
- 1 Focuses on one other Youth and Age anthology poem.
- 2 Explains unhappy experiences in youth or age.
- 3 Uses relevant textual reference.
- 4 Analyses language, form and/or structure.
Full-mark answer
A strong answer would choose one suitable Youth and Age anthology poem and explain how unhappy experiences are presented. It would support the argument with close quotation and analysis of the poet’s methods.
Why this answer loses marks
The speaker is unhappy when they are young, which makes the poem sad.
This stays at mood level and needs one chosen anthology poem, precise textual support and analysis of poetic methods.