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English Literature
All levels

Do you agree that Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 'defines and redefines its subject in each quatrain and this subject becomes increasingly concrete, attractive and vulnerable’.

Given the length of the quotation, I would like to separate my answer into two parts. Firstly, the issue of defining and redefining the sonnet's subject, and secondly how compatible the terms 'concrete, a...

AS
3928 Views

How do I begin to answer a question on a piece of 'unseen' poetry or prose?

Don't be daunted. Unseen questions are there to test your close-reading rather than memory skills. This can be scary but it is also reassuring as you have everything you need in front of you to answer the...

KB
5295 Views

How does Shakespeare help us today?/Why does Shakespeare matter?

Shakespeare's work can be a useful tool to help us better understand some of the issues we face today in modern culture. This is because many of Shakespeare's characters remain remarkably relevant today. ...

TG
3939 Views

How should I read a poem?

FIRST ENCOUNTER:  Poems don’t reveal themselves all at once.  In general, they yield their pleasures on repeated readings. ‘Live’ with a poem for some time; go back to it; let it s...

TG
4584 Views

How do I plan an answer to a close reading question in my exam?

The first thing I tell students is when presented with a question, take time to plan. Do not start writing immediately - most of what you will produce won’t be much good. In a lesson, I provide students w...

PC
3820 Views

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