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How would you go about analysing an unseen poem for the first time?

I think the clearest access point when starting to unpick a new text is through identifying key themes, motifs and patterns, which can be pretty easy once you know what you're looking for. There are a cou...

AC
Answered by Aaron C. English tutor
2139 Views

Why does the poem rhyme?

That is such a good spot. Rhyme is a really important part of poetry - it can completely change the tone of the poem. You can have rhyme at the end of a line, for example : 'cat' and 'bat'. This can give ...

LC
Answered by Lily C. English tutor
2339 Views

How would you advise approaching an unseen piece of poetry or prose in an exam?

You should read the poem through first without annotating or writing anything down in order to try and absorb what the poem means as much as possible. On the second read through, it is really useful to an...

GV
Answered by Georgia V. English tutor
2144 Views

How do I add contextual knowledge about the text into my answers?

Contextual knowledge includes all kinds of things that give a background of the text, for example why it was written, what belief system it is situated in, what historical events influenced the writer. Th...

JC
Answered by Jim C. English tutor
12712 Views

How should I approach an unseen poem for an exam?

Approaching an unseen poem can be challenging, often it takes time to get to know a poem. But don't worry, there are always a few tips and tricks that will help you prepare. First of all just sit and read...

LE
Answered by Lowri E. English tutor
2344 Views

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