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Independent comparative critical study
The task must support direct comparison, critical interpretations and independent reading, with at least one text written pre-1900.
17
Objectives
10
Flashcards
10
Questions
90 min
Study time
AqaA LevelEnglish Literature ANon-exam assessment Texts across time
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Syllabus checklist
What you need to know
17 objective pages available
Autonomous reading and task design3 objectives
- Develop an individual comparative task from wider and independent reading.
- Select a theme that enables sustained analysis of similarity and difference.
- Keep the task literary and analytical rather than biographical, historical or purely thematic.
Text selection requirements4 objectives
- Select two texts that provide strong comparative potential and access to critical interpretations.
- Ensure at least one selected text was written pre-1900.
- Ensure at least one text is studied independently by the student.
- Exclude all texts on the A-level examination set-text lists.
Comparative argument3 objectives
- Build a sustained comparative argument across both texts.
- Use connections and contrasts to develop interpretation rather than merely identify features.
- Balance attention to both texts throughout the extended essay.
Critical views and interpretations over time4 objectives
- Apply and evaluate a range of critical views autonomously.
- Consider different interpretations over time for at least one selected text.
- Use critical material to open literary debate rather than substitute for textual analysis.
- Distinguish criticism from context and interpretation from unsupported opinion.
Translated texts3 objectives
- Evaluate whether a translated text is eligible and influential in literature in English.
- Use an academically recognised high-quality translation.
- Treat the translated wording as the original writer's words for assessment purposes.
Key terms
AlienationNarrative PerspectiveIntertextualityGothic LiteratureFragmentationThemeNarrative voiceBildungsromanStream of consciousnessSoliloquyDramatic IronyNarrative Voice
Exam tips
- Use Textual Evidence: Support your arguments with direct quotes and specific examples from the texts.
- Use Comparative Language: When discussing similarities and differences, use comparative phrases such as 'similarly', 'in contrast', and 'both texts illustrate'.
Common mistakes
- Overlooking Contextual Influences: Always consider how the time period and societal norms influence character actions and themes.
- Overgeneralization of Themes: Focus on specific themes and provide textual evidence to support your claims.
Practice preview
- Which of the following best describes the theme of isolation in Mary Shelley’s 'Frankenstein'?
- How does the use of first-person narrative in 'The Catcher in the Rye' affect the reader's understanding of Holden Caulfield's character?
- Compare the portrayal of parental figures in both 'Frankenstein' and 'The Catcher in the Rye'. How do these representations influence the protagonists' development?
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