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The work of American writers Ralph Ellison, Sylvia Plath, and Anne Sexton is often described as 'confessional' writing. How do these texts complicate the idea of confession?

In his essay ‘The World and the Jug’, Ralph Ellison asserts, ‘being a Negro American involves a willed (who wills to be a Negro? I do!) affirmation of self against all outside pressure.’ This resistance summ...
EM
Answered by Ellie M. English tutor
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Past paper questions

11+ English is comprehension and spelling. It is difficult to set specific questions for this. I have looked at various past papers and there are a range of areas that different schools test on. I would have...
KM
Answered by Krishna M. English tutor
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How do I analyse an unseen text?

The first thing to do is read the question very thoroughly, and underline the key terms. Really zero in on exactly what you're being asked. Are there any specific features you need to discuss (such as langua...
RR
Answered by Rory R. English tutor
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How are you meant to talk about context when answering an A-Level literature paper?

Handling contexts surrounding literary texts is a difficult skill, even for university students. The crucial aspect of doing it well is to make sure it remains relevant to the rest of your argument. Consider...
JW
Answered by Joe W. English tutor
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How does Shakespeare present women in The Taming of the Shrew?

The Taming of the Shrew is set in Italy in the late 1500s, and suggests that women should be mild-mannered, and obedient to their husbands. In the play, Shakespeare contrasts the two main female characters, ...
AJ
Answered by Alex J. English tutor
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