Note Individual requirements for further reading are conditioned mainly by your own syllabus. Your lecturers and the editorial matter (introduction and notes) in your copies of the prescribed texts will provide you with the titles of books and articles that you should read to fill out your set book study. Chapter 3 of this book (Section 3.5) makes detailed suggestions to help you to organise your extra reading and - while giving it all the time you can - to keep it within manageable limits. In addition to the further reading that stems directly from your own set texts, the specialised help provided by the books in this short list of further reading will be of benefit to all English A Level candidates. Standard reference books The Oxford Companion to English Literature (OUP) Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (Cassell) Histories of literature The Cambridge History of English Literature (CUP) The Macmillan History of Literature (Macmillan) The Pelican Guide to English Literature (Penguin) Unseen critical appreciation S. H. Burton, The Criticism of Poetry (Longman) S. H. Burton, The Criticism of Prose (Longman) Richard Gill, Mastering English Literature (Macmillan) 167
168 work out english further reading The technical terms of literature and criticism J. A. Cuddon, A Dictionary of Literary Terms (Penguin) Patrick Murray, Literary Criticism: A Glossary of Major Terms (Longman) John Peck and Martin Coyle, Literary Terms and Criticism (Macmillan) Study guides Until fairly recently, books of this kind were rarely of much value. 'Notes'- on this book, that book, and the other - weighed down the bookshop shelves with their stodgy comments and dull exercises. Nowadays, however, there are many lively and thought-provoking 'Study Guides' offering factual but imaginative critical comments on individual books and authors. An hour's browsing in your local bookshop will show you how wide a choice is provided by several leading publishers who, between them, issue titles corresponding to most of the set texts specified by the various examining boards. Macmillan Master Guides are particularly useful; and they introduce their subjects in an interesting and stimulating way. Each contains a carefully chosen and up-to-date list Of further reading from which you can plan a programme to meet your examiners' demands. English language S. H. Burton and J. A. Humphries, Mastering English Language (Macmillan) S. H. Burton, Mastering English Grammar (Macmillan)
access to prescribed texts in exam 8, 160 aims of studying English A Level 2-3 of text study 8-9 alliteration 100-1 analytical skills 36 anthologies 110, 159-60 appreciation, critical 7, 10, 30, 107-8 aim of study 2, 8-9 critical commentaries and 58 essay questions and 86-7 levels needed 88, 91 see also critical analysis; unseen critical appreciation Arnold, Matthew 103 The Breath and Spirit of All Knowledge 137-42 assignments, written 14 assonance 101 attitude, writer's comprehension 136, 146-54, 156-8 unseen critical appreciation 113, 114; worked examples 119-20, 122, 126-7, 129-30 audience, sense of 145 Augustan Age 5-6 authors, major 4 author's attitude see attitude author's intentions see intentions awareness of literary tradition 4-5, 36 see also form background reading 39-40, 109-10 see also reading biographical reading 39-40 'black comedy' 62-5 characterisation 51, 57,66-71 characters, presentation of 31-2 Chaucer, Geoffrey 5 Canterbury Tales 52-3 choice of words see diction 'classic' literature 4 clear presentation 14-16 Coleridge, Samuel Taylor 73 collection of material essay questions 93-4, 99 questions drawing on wider reading 164-6 summary writing 23-4, 24-5 varieties of English 149-50 comparative reading 39 'compare and contrast' questions unseen critical appreciation 109, 116, 126-7 varieties of English 146-54 comprehension questions 36, 133-42 analysing structure and use of language 139-40 common mistakes 137 guided practice 17-21 kinds of questions 134-6 meaning of comprehension 133-4 169
170 work out english index comprehension questions continued method 136-7 reading preparation 10-12 summary statement of contents 136, 139, 156 worked example 137-42 see also unseen critical appreciation; varieties of English conclusion, essay 65-6, 89, 90, 95, 99, 161 contemporary literature 4, 6 content comprehension questions 19, 135; summarising content 136, 139, 156 critical commentaries 60-1, 77 essay questions 98, 105 contentious subjects 164-6 context 11, 77 'context probing' questions 43, 48 context questions 36, 41-56 common mistakes 42-6; failure to obey instructions 42-5; poor timekeeping 46 explaining author's purposes 41, 43-4 placing passage in its context 43 relationships between passage and rest of text 42, 44 typical questions 41-2 use of language 42, 44-5, 51 what they test 41 worked examples 47-56; Canterbury Tales 52-3; Paradise Lost 54-6; The Tempest 49-51; The Winter's Tale 47-9 context of situation/use 145 'counterpointing' 100 critical analysis 28-34 appropriateness of passage 31 description of period and place 31, 32-3 presentation of characters 31-2 style 31, 33-4 way in which passage develops 31, 33 critical appreciation see appreciation; unseen critical appreciation critical commentaries 36, 57-84 common mistakes 58-9 planning 58-9, 65-6, 76-7 selection of passage 74, 75 studying the passage 75-6 timing 58 what questions test 57-8 worked examples 59-84; Antony and Cleopatra 59-61; Middlemarch 62-6; Much Ado About Nothing 66-71; The Prelude 71-84 writing the commentary 77-8 critical reading 39, 110 deep reading 2, 7-10 description period and place 31, 32-3 varieties of English and 146-54 'detailed instruction' questions 108-9, 162-4 development of argument 156 essays 65,89-90,94,99,160-1 plot 57, 66-71 writer's 103 Dickens, Charles: Hard Times 91-7 diction 101-2 comprehension questions 19, 135 unseen critical appreciation 113, 114; worked examples 120-1, 123, 125, 127 difficult words, explaining 45 discursive answers 161-2 discussion essay questions 92-7, 162-6 of reading 110-11 drafts of summaries 24, 27 drama, as genre 4 see also Shakespeare dramatic significance bringing out in context questions 47, 49 critical commentaries 66-71 Eliot, George: Middlemarch 62-6 epic poetry 4, 54-6 essay questions 36, 85-106 common mistakes 90-1 gathering material 93-4, 99 kinds of questions 86-8 levels of understanding/appreciation needed 88, 91 planning 89-90, 91, 93-5, 99 timing 88-9 what they test 85-6 worked examples 91-106; Hard Times 91-7; poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins 97-102; poetry and letters of John Keats 102-6 writing the essay 95-7, 99-102, 104-6 essay-writing problems 159-66 anthologies 159-61 discussion answers 162-4 discursive answers 161-2 questions drawing on wider reading 164-6
work out english index 171 evaluation 114, 115, 121, 123 see also personal response; unseen critical appreciation evidence, textual see quotations; text references examiners' requirements 3 exams 35-40 access to prescribed texts 8, 160 background reading 39-40 common mistakes 38 kinds of questions 36 time factor 36-8 what they test 35-6 explanations, text see text explanations exposition questions/answers 98-102, 159-61 see also essay questions failure to obey instructions 29-30, 42-5, 90--1 fair copy 24, 28 figures of speech 113, 114, 121, 123, 125 first reading 8-9 form background reading and 39, 110 wide reading and 4-5 see also structure function of language 144, 158 genre see form grammar varieties of English 146-54 writing skills 13, 38 grouping poems 98, 103 groups, literary 6-7 Hardy, Thomas: 'Paying Calls' 17-21 'hinge sections' 90, 94-5 historical reading 39-40 see also period Hopkins, Gerard Manley 97-102 humour 62-6 imagery 102, 113, 114 worked examples 121, 123, 125, 127 insensitivity 111 intentions, author's 11 comprehension 135-6 context questions 41, 43-4 critical commentaries 58, 66-71 essay questions 94-5 unseen critical appreciation 113, 114; worked examples 119-20, 122, 127, 131-2 varieties of English 144-5, 158 internal rhymes 101 introduction, essay 65, 89, 94, 99, 160 irony, dramatic 49 irrelevance 29-30, 90 judgement 36, 111, 113-14 Keats, John 4 essay on poetry and letters of 102-6 King for a TV Day exercise 155-8 kingship, theories of 5 knowledge 10,35,91 aims of English A Level study 2-3 exam questions and 41, 57, 86 of prescribed texts 7, 8, 37 language, use of 11 checklist 144-5 comprehension 19, 136, 139-40 context questions 42, 44-5, 51 critical commentaries 58 essay questions 105-6 varieties of English see varieties of English Larkin, Philip: 'I Remember, I Remember' 116-17, 118-21, 123-7 Lawrence, D.H. 162-4 Lee, Laurie: Cider with Rosie 117-18, 122-3, 126-7 linguistic features 143-4, 144, 158 'linking sentences' 15 literary form see form literary groups/movements 6-7 literary terms 111 see also technical studies literary tradition, awareness of 4-5, 36 see also form 'love as a disease' exercise 164-6 major authors 4 marks, allotment of 37 meaning 161-2 comprehension questions 135 unseen critical appreciation 112, 114; worked examples 118-19, 122, 129-30 'Menelaus and Helen' 128-32 Metaphysical poetry 159-61 metre 100, 125, 131 Middle English 5 Milton, John: Paradise Lost 4 context questions 54-6 mistakes, common 38 comprehension questions 137 context questions 42-6 critical commentaries 58-9 essay questions 90--1
172 work out english index mistakes continued failure to obey instructions 42-5 poor time-keeping 46 unseen critical appreciation 111-12 Morrison, Toni: Beloved 28-34 movements, literary 6-7 narration 29, 38, 86, 90-1 newspapers, reading 12 onomatopoeia 101 'open' questions 109 order of presentation 24, 25-7 orderly presentation 14-16 paragraph unity 15 paragraphing 15, 38, 89-90 paraphrasing 45, 48, 51, 53, 55 period 103 background reading 39-40, 110 description of 31, 32-3 wide reading 5-7 periodicals, reading 12 personal response 7, 36 aim of text study 8-9 comprehension questions 20-1, 135-6, 141-2 critical commentaries 66, 74, 77 essay questions 85-6, 87-8, 91; worked examples 92-3, 98, 104, 104-6 unseen critical appreciation 112, 114, 115; worked examples 121, 123, 125-6, 127, 130-1 place, description of 31, 32-3 'placing' questions 43, 50-1, 60 planning common mistakes 38 critical commentaries 58-9, 65-6, 76-7 discussion essays 164-6 essay questions 89-90, 91, 93-5, 99 exposition essays 160-1 summary 26-7 unseen critical appreciation 114-15 varieties of English 145-6, 150-1 well-written answers 15 plot development 57, 66--71 poetry comprehension exercise 17-21 critical commentary 71-84 epic 4, 54-6 essay on Gerard Manley Hopkins 97-102 essay on John Keats 102-6 metaphysical 159-61 unseen critical appreciation 112, 113; worked examples 116-17, 118-21, 123-7, 129-32 Pope,AJexander 5-6 Potter, Dennis 21-8 practice, timed 37-8 prejudice 86, 111 prescribed texts access to in exam 8, 160 aims and methods of study 8-10 deep reading 2, 7-10 thorough knowledge of 7, 8, 37 wide reading 2, 3-7 presentation of characters 31-2 clear 14-16 order of 24, 25-7 punctuation 13, 38 purposes, author's see intentions qualification 65, 89, 90, 94-5, 99, 161 quality of reading 110 quantity, quality and 38 questions, kinds of 36 comprehension 134-6 context questions 41-2 essay questions 86--8 essay-writing problems 159-66 unseen critical appreciation 108-9 varieties of English 142-3 quotations learning 37, 66 use of 44, 59, 90, 149-50, 163-4 see also text references 'reaching out' questions/answers 42-5 reading 2-12 background 39-40, 109-10 careless 111 deep 2, 7-10 discussion of 110-11 essay questions drawing on wider reading 164-6 extending the range of 12 preparation for unseen material 10-12, 109-10 quality of 110 unseen passages 18-19, 137 wide 2, 3-7 reading list 3-4 ' reasoned-out' answers 161-2, 164-6 reasoning 136, 156 'recognition' questions 43, 48, 50 references, text see text references
work out english index 173 relationships between passages and whole text 42,44 critical commentaries 57, 71-84 response, personal see personal response 'restricted' questions/answers 42-5, 48 revising drafts 24, 27 rhymes 20, 100 internal 101 unseen critical appreciation 120, 124, 130--1 rhythms 100, 113, 114, 115 Royal Wedding exercise 146-54 schedule, working out a 46 selection material see collection of material passage 74, 75 sense of audience 145 sentences 'linking' 15 structure 55-6, 82, 84 'topic' 15 writing skills 15-16, 38 Shakespeare, William 4, 5, 164-6 Antony and Cleopatra 59-61, 165 As You Like It 165 Hamlet 165 King Lear 165 Love's Labour's Lost 87-8, 165 Macbeth 165 Much Ado About Nothing 66-71, 165 Othello 165 The Tempest 49-51 The Winter's Tale 47-9 situation, linguistic 145 'skim-reading' 12 sloppy thinking 90--1 sorting material 149 see also collection of material spelling 13 structure comprehension 136, 139-40 context questions 55-6 critical commentaries 81-2, 83-4 unseen critical appreciation 113-14; worked examples 120, 122-3, 124-5, 127, 130--1 varieties of English 156 verse see verse structure well-written answers 14-16 style comprehension 19, 135, 141 context questions 44-5, 55, 55-6 critical analysis 31, 33-4 critical commentaries 58, 60--1, 66-71,77 essay questions 98-102, 103, 105 unseen critical appreciation 113-14; worked examples 120--1, 123, 125, 127, 130 varieties of English 146-54, 157, 158 written answers 16, 78 see also diction; figures of speech; imagery; rhythms subject 97-8, 103 unseen critical appreciation 113, 114, 118-19, 122, 129-30 see also attitude; content; intentions; meaning; tone summary of content 136, 139, 156 summary writing 21-8 draft 24,27 fair copy 24, 28 order of presentation 24, 25-7 revising draft 24, 27 selecting relevant material 23-4, 24-5 syllabus 1-2,35 synonyms 135 technical studies 40, 111 text explanations 42 difficult words 45 worked examples 51, 53, 55, 61 text references 7, 38, 44, 59, 90, 111 essay-writing problems 160--1, 163-4 varieties of English 152-4 see also quotations thinking, sloppy 90--1 timed practice 37-8 timing/time-keeping 36-8 comprehension 145 critical commentaries 58 essay questions 88-9 unseen critical appreciation 114 working out a schedule 46 tone 136 unseen critical appreciation 112, 114; worked examples 119, 122, 124, 126, 129 varieties of English 157, 158 'topic sentences' 15 tradition, awareness of literary 4-5, 36 see also form training 37-8 transcripts 142 understanding 10, 35 context questions and 41-2 critical commentaries and 57-8 essay questions and 86-7 levels needed 88, 91
174 work out english index unseen critical appreciation 36, 107-32 common mistakes 111-12 critical method 112-14, 118-23; first steps 112; judgement 113-14; looking for clues 112-13 kinds of questions 108-9 planning 114-15 preparation for this paper 109-11; discussion 110-11; reading 10-12, 109-10; study technique 111 timing 114 what the questions test 107-8 worked examples 115-32; Cider with Rosie 117-18, 122-3, 126-7; 'I Remember, I Remember' 116-17, 118-21, 123-7; 'Menelaus and Helen' 128-32 see also comprehension use, context of 145 varieties of English 36, 142-58 collecting material 149-50 kinds of questions 142-3 planning 145-6, 150-1 timing 145 what to look for 143-5; function 144; linguistic features 144; purpose 144-5; situation 145 worked examples 146-58; King for a TV Day 155-8; Royal Wedding exercise 146-54 verse structure (versification) 19, 20, 100 critical commentaries 81-2, 84 unseen critical appreciation 113, 114, 120, 124-5, 130-1 see also structure vocabulary varieties of English 146-54 well-written answers 14, 38 waffle 90 wide reading 2, 3-7 essay questions drawing on 164-6 see also background reading; reading words, choice of see diction Wordsworth, William 4 The Prelude 71-84; background 72--4; critical commentaries 74-84 writing skills 2-3, 13-16, 36, 38, 112 clear presentation 14-16 critical commentaries 58-9, 77-8 good English 13-14 see also grammar; punctuation; spelling; vocabulary written assignments 14