How to Approach the 19th-Century Prose Question (WJEC Eduqas GCSE English Literature)
Revision Note
Written by: Nick Redgrove
Reviewed by: Kate Lee
How to Approach the 19th-Century Prose Question
In Component 2, Section B of your Eduqas GCSE English Literature exam, you need to write an essay about a 19th-century prose text.
You have a choice from six prose texts:
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens | Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen |
Silas Marner by George Eliot | Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë |
War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells | The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson |
You can approach the question in Section B with confidence by learning more about the exam question:
Section B: 19th-century prose question overview
Understanding the exam question
Understanding the assessment objectives
Top tips for a Grade 9
Section B: 19th-century prose question overview
You will have one question for each prose text in Section B. You are required to write about an extract from the text and include analysis of the rest of the novel in the same response.
Here is a summary:
Exam question | 19th-century prose question |
Time that you should spend on the question | 45 minutes |
Number of marks | 40 marks |
How much you should write | Approx. 3–4 paragraphs |
This is a closed-book examination, meaning that you will not have access to a copy of the text in the exam.
Understanding the exam question
Below are some recent examples of exam questions from Eduqas GCSE English Literature past papers. Look at the wording of the questions and the question structure. Can you identify any exam questions that would be challenging for you to answer?
GCSE Eduqas English Literature 19th-century prose questions, June 2019 | |||||
A Christmas Carol | Write about some members of the Cratchit family and how they are important to the novel as a whole | ||||
Silas Marner | Write about the importance of money in Silas Marner and how George Eliot presents this at different points in the novel | ||||
War of the Worlds | Write about some of the ways people react to the Martian invasion. How are these reactions presented at different points in the novel? | ||||
Pride and Prejudice | Write about the relationship between Elizabeth and Jane and how it is presented at different points in the novel | ||||
Jane Eyre | The female characters in Jane Eyre struggle to be treated fairly.’ Write about some of the times female characters are treated unfairly and how this is presented in the novel | ||||
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde | Write about Dr Jekyll and how he is presented at different points in the novel | ||||
You can significantly improve your exam performance by paying close attention to the question and understanding it thoroughly.
Understanding the assessment objectives
In Section B, there are three assessment objectives which are all equally weighted:
AO1 | Demonstrate a close knowledge and understanding of texts, maintaining a critical style and presenting an informed personal response |
AO2 | Analyse the language, form and structure used by a writer to create meanings and effects, using relevant subject terminology where appropriate |
AO3 | Show understanding of the relationships between texts and the contexts in which they were written |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Ensure that anything you write about context applies specifically to the novel in question: writing a biography of the author will waste valuable time unless it's directly relevant to the text. For context, you could comment on a range of elements, including:
The author's life or beliefs (if relevant)
The historical setting, time and location of the novel
The social and cultural context
The literary context
How the text has been critically received at different times
The most successful responses integrate references to context throughout, often using context to support and develop points for AO1. Having separate sections on context will only result in a loss of focus on the question.
Top tips for a Grade 9
When responding to the 19th-century prose question you should remember to:
Write well-developed and detailed analysis of the language, form and structure of the extract and the novel as a whole
Show the examiner your detailed knowledge of the whole text, never simply retelling events from the narrative:
Rather than focusing on just one section or chapter, refer to specific examples throughout the novel
Aim to place the extract in the context of the rest of the text:
Consider its location to the preceding and subsequent events in the novel
Remember, the extract has been specifically chosen for you to use to answer your essay:
This means it will contain many lines that you can use as evidence in your essay
The whole of the extract should be considered and there will be a good reason why it begins and ends where it does
Provide a range of examples from the whole text:
Remember this is a closed book examination so examples can be specific references to episodes or events or paraphrased quotations
Use the extract for direct quotes
Bear in mind the type of novel you are writing about and how different audiences may respond to it
The 19th century was a time of huge change, so explore how the time in which the novel is set, and written, may have had an impact on the narrative
Link all contextual points with an example from the novel:
Often AO3 is naturally illustrated through the actions, events, themes and characters of the novel
Integrate contextual comments throughout your response rather than writing separate sentences or bolt-on paragraphs
Context should not outweigh evidence from the novel
Find out more about how to write a Grade 9 19th-century prose exam answer.
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