I completed my A Levels in English Literature (AQA), Religious Studies (OCR), and Sociology (AQA) and am currently a final-year student studying Philosophy. I hope you find my material resourceful! If you have any further questions do not hesitate to contact me on: melissa.minkoff@outlook.com
I completed my A Levels in English Literature (AQA), Religious Studies (OCR), and Sociology (AQA) and am currently a final-year student studying Philosophy. I hope you find my material resourceful! If you have any further questions do not hesitate to contact me on: melissa.minkoff@outlook.com
A detailed analysis of Carol Ann Duffy’s poem ‘Loud’ including structural points & connections to ‘Handmaids tale’ for paper 2- Love through the ages
A detailed analysis of the theme ‘motherhood’ in Carol Ann Duffy’s feminine gospels, primarily focusing on three of her poems which explore this theme: the chord, light gatherer and work.
(Paper 2- Love through the ages) An A* essay on ‘womens bodies’, comparing and contrasting a similarity of themes in ‘The Long Queen’ and ‘Beautiful’ from Carol Ann Duffy’s feminine gospels and Handmaids tale.
An A* detailed essay surrounding the cultural significance of the handkerchief in Othello. The essay explores several different critical lenses and Shakespeare’s intention of incorporating the handkerchief in the play.
An A* essay in response to the question:
“Texts typically present the damage that can be caused when taboos are broken due to love”
In light of this view, discuss how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Othello and Desdemona in this extract and elsewhere in the play
A comprehensive and easy-to-learn historical context booklet from the Medieval period up until present. This resourceful booklet includes: key features of that era, sampling of key authors, genres/styles and essential content which can be used as ‘historical context’ behind unseen/seen prose.
A comprehensive list of ALL Othello questions (specifically for ‘Love through the ages’, however, can be used & applied to other exam boards too). Extracts for the themed question are also provided.
Niche and detailed cross-comparisons to pick up on between Handmaids tale, A Streetcar named desire as well as Carol ann duffy’s ‘feminine gospels’ for paper 2. In paper 2, there will be a section comparing two of the three texts you choose, so here are some essential cross-comparisons you could draw.
Essential background knowledge of 1945-1970s for unseen poetry in paper 2 & can also be applied as historical context for carol ann duffy’s ‘feminine gospels’.
A top quality A* (24/25) essay exploring the representation of the three women: Desdemona, Bianca, and Emilia in the extract as well as elsewhere in the play. The essay ticks off all A01-4 objectives, and has plenty of wider critics & their perspectives included.
I have collated a bunch of in-depth, A worthy essay plans covering a multitude of themes for Othello (AQA- Love through the ages specifically). Below are some of the questions that are covered within this document:
[- “Texts typically present the damage that can be caused when taboos are broken due to love”, In light of this view, discuss how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Othello and Desdemona in this extract and elsewhere in the play
“Male characters are presented as most romantically desirable when they display heroic attributes and exert their power over others”- looking at the presentation of qualities of men
“Typically, texts present women as objects of men’s sexual desires”- looking at presentation of women
‘In the literature of love, male characters value their pride above all else, including their romantic relationships’
‘As lovers, Othello and Desdemona either worship or despise one another. There is no middle ground.’ - how Shakespeare presents O & D’s attitudes towards one another
“Male characters in the literature of love are more inclined to trust other men. This is the true cause of problems within romantic relationships between men and women”- focused on trust/broken trust
“Typically, texts present men as unable to control their emotions or act rationally upon them”
“Honour is the most important aspect of a man’s sense of self-respect”
“Typically, texts present husbands and wife present marriage from a male point of view”
Side note (O stands for Othello & D stands for Desdemona)
Comprehensive essay plans for AQA English Literature, ‘A Streetar Named Desire’- covering: plight of woman in 1940s, shift of power dynamics between Blanche + Stanley, the significance of setting and use of props etc
Essay plans for Handmaids tale in relation to Carol Ann Duffy’s ‘feminine gospels’
Plans for:
Significance of fear
Isolation (women’s body, women’s narrative)
Women’s bodies
Women being limited by gender
Significance of suffering
Significance of unhappiness
Spider diagrams for Othello (AQA) historical context, critics quotes, theorists (Loomba’s postcolonial critique, Lisa Jardine, Leonard etc) + cross-references to other Shakespeare plays with explicit linkings.
Indepth analysis of 'The Long Queen' + multiple links between Handmaids tale (for example, the theme of isolation, motherhood vs lack of motherhood, pain and suffering, isolation, and the depiction of women as 'treasures' who are to be sought)