Ten steps for building a focused, well-evidenced essay on your set novel, from a clear opening argument to using context that actually supports your interpretation.
The tips below apply whether you are studying Jekyll and Hyde, A Christmas Carol, Frankenstein or another nineteenth-century novel on your exam board's set list.
Start by identifying exactly what the question is asking you to explore. Underline the key words and make sure every paragraph links back to them.
Remember: don't simply write everything you know about the character or theme. Answer the question.
Before you begin writing, decide what you think the writer is saying about the character, theme or idea. Your introduction should make your overall argument clear. For example:
“The writer presents social class as a powerful force that limits people's opportunities and shapes their behaviour.”
This gives your essay a clear direction.
If the question includes an extract, begin by analysing it closely. Look at:
Consider the events just before and just after this extract. Use the extract to develop your ideas rather than simply describing what happens.
You don't need long quotations to show your knowledge. Short quotations allow you to focus closely on individual words and explore their meanings. Ask yourself why the writer chose this particular word – you can often write a much stronger analysis of one powerful word than a long quotation.
Don't just identify a technique. Instead of writing, “The writer uses symbolism,” explain what the symbol suggests and why the writer has used it. Consider:
Always focus on the effect of the writer's choices.
The extract is only part of the story. Make connections to other important moments in the novel that support your argument. Think about how the character or theme develops from the beginning, through the middle, to the end. This shows the examiner that you understand the novel as a whole.
Characters often change throughout a novel. Ask yourself:
Showing development can help you move beyond simply describing a character.
Nineteenth-century writers were influenced by the society in which they lived. Depending on your novel, you might consider:
Don't add a large chunk of historical information that isn't relevant. Instead, connect context directly to your interpretation of the text.
Ask yourself: why has the writer presented this character, situation or theme in this way? Think about what the writer might want the reader to think, feel, question, understand or criticise. Remember that the novel was written to communicate ideas, not simply to tell a story.
At the end of each paragraph, ask yourself:
“Have I answered the question?”
Your essay should have a clear argument running throughout it. Don't let your analysis become a list of quotations and techniques. Keep explaining what the writer is showing and why it is important.
A useful paragraph structure: when you're not sure how to structure a paragraph, try Point → Evidence → Method → Analysis → Context → Writer's purpose → Link to the question. You don't need to follow this formula mechanically – the important thing is to develop your ideas rather than simply identify techniques.
Final tip: knowledge is important, but analysis is what turns knowledge into marks. You don't need to mention every character, event or quotation you can remember. Choose the evidence that best supports your argument and explore it in detail – a focused, thoughtful argument with a few well-chosen quotations is much stronger than an essay that tries to include everything you know about the novel.