Understanding English Literature Mark Schemes and Assessment Objectives
Understanding the mark scheme is crucial for students aiming to excel in English Literature exams. This guide will walk you through how to achieve each of the three core Assessment Objectives (AO1, AO2, and AO3), which are essential to scoring top marks. We'll explain each objective, provide examples of strong responses, and include commentary on why they work well.
AO1: Articulate Informed, Personal and Creative Responses to Literary Texts Using Appropriate Concepts and Terminology
What is AO1?
AO1 is all about understanding and engaging with the text. You are expected to express your ideas clearly, show your personal interpretation, and use relevant literary terminology. This means you need to:
Develop an argument or opinion based on your interpretation.
Use textual evidence (quotations) to support your ideas.
Present your response in a structured, coherent way.
How to Achieve AO1:
Have a clear thesis or argument. When writing an essay, make sure your introduction clearly states your interpretation of the text or response to the question.
Use well-chosen evidence. Incorporate quotations or references from the text to back up your points.
Employ appropriate terminology. Use the correct literary terms (e.g., metaphor, imagery, enjambment) to discuss how the text is constructed.
Example Response for AO1:
Essay Question: How does Shakespeare present the theme of ambition in Macbeth?
Sample Response: “Shakespeare presents ambition in Macbeth as a dangerous and corrupting force. Through the character of Macbeth, the play illustrates how unchecked ambition leads to moral decay and eventual downfall. From the moment Macbeth hears the witches’ prophecy, his ambition drives him to murder Duncan, an act which catalyses his descent into tyranny and madness. This is evident when Macbeth reflects, ‘I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself / And falls on th’other’ (Act 1, Scene 7). Here, the metaphor of ‘vaulting ambition’ likens ambition to a horse that jumps too high and falls, symbolising Macbeth’s eventual failure as a consequence of overreaching ambition.”
Why is this good?
The response clearly expresses a personal interpretation (ambition as a dangerous force) and backs it up with a quotation.
The term "metaphor" is correctly used to analyse the text.
The writing is coherent, structured, and develops the argument logically.
10 High quality pages of detailed notes focused on the character Macbeth from Shakespeare's Macbeth.
AO2: Analyse the Ways in Which Meanings Are Shaped in Literary Texts
What is AO2?
AO2 focuses on how writers create meaning in a text. This involves analysing:
The writer’s use of language, form, and structure.
How specific techniques contribute to themes, characterisation, or mood.
Essentially, AO2 is about close reading and examining the technical details of how a text works.
How to Achieve AO2:
Analyse language features such as simile, metaphor, or diction (word choice).
Comment on structure—whether it’s the structure of a whole text (e.g., a tragedy in five acts) or smaller structural choices (e.g., enjambment, caesura in poetry).
Consider form—for example, is it a sonnet, novel, or play? How does the form influence the meaning?
Example Response for AO2:
Text Excerpt from Jane Eyre: “Do you think I am an automaton? — a machine without feelings? and can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup?”
Sample Response: Bronte shapes meaning in this passage through Jane’s impassioned rhetorical questions, which convey her inner turmoil and sense of injustice. The use of the metaphor comparing Jane to an ‘automaton’ illustrates her frustration at being treated as less than human, while the imagery of ‘bread’ and ‘living water’ symbolises her basic human needs—both emotional and spiritual—being denied. This choice of language evokes sympathy from the reader and reinforces the theme of independence and self-worth that runs throughout the novel.
Why is this good?
The response closely analyses the language (metaphor and imagery) to explain how it conveys Jane’s emotional state.
It connects specific language choices to the broader themes of the novel (independence and self-worth).
The answer is focused on how Bronte’s technique shapes meaning, fulfilling AO2’s requirement.
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AO3: Demonstrate Understanding of the Relationships Between Texts and Their Contexts
What is AO3?
AO3 requires you to consider the context in which a text was written and how this context influences its themes, characters, and meanings. Context can include:
Historical: The time period, events, and social attitudes.
Literary: The genre, conventions, or literary movements.
Biographical: The author’s own life experiences and how they may impact the text.
How to Achieve AO3:
Research the time period in which the text was written and identify any relevant social or political factors.
Consider the author’s background and how it might influence their writing.
Link context to the text. Don’t just throw in facts—explain how they enhance the reader’s understanding of themes or characters.
Example Response for AO3:
Essay Question: How does Shelley’s Frankenstein reflect concerns of the Romantic era?
Sample Response: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein reflects many of the concerns of the Romantic period, particularly the tension between the power of nature and the ambitions of science. Written in the early 19th century, when scientific discovery was rapidly progressing, the novel explores the dangers of humanity overstepping its bounds. This is encapsulated in Victor’s obsessive pursuit of creating life, which leads to catastrophic consequences. The Romantics valued nature’s power and mystery, and this is evident in Shelley’s use of sublime landscapes, such as the Alps and the Arctic, which serve as a backdrop to Victor’s inner turmoil and the creature’s suffering. Additionally, Shelley’s own experiences as the daughter of philosopher William Godwin and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft likely shaped her exploration of intellectual ambition and social responsibility.
Why is this good?
The response links the historical context (Romanticism and scientific discovery) to the novel’s themes.
It references biographical context (Shelley’s parents) in a relevant way.
The discussion of the sublime in nature ties the context directly to specific elements of the text.
The P.E.A.R.L structure is designed to meet all assessment objectives on English Language and Literature papers.
Bringing It All Together
To achieve top marks in an English Literature essay, you must address all three Assessment Objectives. This means you need to:
Develop a clear, coherent argument (AO1).
Support that argument with detailed analysis of how the text works (AO2).
Demonstrate an understanding of the text’s context and how it influences the meaning (AO3).
A well-rounded response will seamlessly integrate these three objectives. Let’s take a look at a final example that incorporates all three AOs:
Complete Example Response:
Essay Question: How does Shakespeare present the theme of power in Macbeth?
Sample Response: Shakespeare presents power in Macbeth as a corrupting and ultimately self-destructive force. From the beginning, Macbeth’s ambition for power drives him to commit increasingly violent acts, starting with the murder of Duncan. The play’s central message seems to be that the pursuit of power for its own sake leads to chaos and moral decay. This is reflected in Macbeth’s soliloquy, ‘I am in blood / Stepp’d in so far that, should I wade no more, / Returning were as tedious as go o’er’ (Act 3, Scene 4), where the metaphor of wading through blood symbolises Macbeth’s irreversible moral descent.
Shakespeare’s use of dramatic irony is crucial in shaping the audience’s understanding of power’s corrupting influence. For instance, while Macbeth believes he is invincible due to the witches’ prophecies, the audience is aware that his power is built on a false foundation. The structure of the play, which follows Macbeth’s rise and fall, mirrors the tragic structure where hubris leads to downfall.
The play’s context also enriches its exploration of power. Written in the early 17th century, Macbeth reflects contemporary concerns about the divine right of kings and the political uncertainty following the death of Queen Elizabeth I. Shakespeare’s portrayal of Macbeth’s unlawful seizure of the throne would have resonated with audiences of the time, who feared the chaos of political instability.
Why is this good?
AO1: It presents a clear argument (power as corrupting) supported by quotations.
AO2: It analyses Shakespeare’s use of metaphor and dramatic irony to shape meaning.
AO3: It links the theme of power to the historical context of political instability in 17th-century England.
By understanding and addressing each assessment objective, you can create well-rounded essays that engage deeply with the text while also demonstrating knowledge of how literature works in its historical and literary contexts.
