Welcome to the Meal-Sized English Literature & Language Tutor for GCSE and advanced students.

Romeo and Juliet (William Shakespeare):
an analysis of Shakespeare's stagecraft with particular reference to the First Act.

To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee):
a quiz

Patrolling Barnegat (Walt Whitman) Tutorials:
(i) a deconstruction, examining what the various lines and images in Whitman's poem might mean.
(ii) an overview of the poem, with an examination of the language and the line-endings.
(iii) an analysis of the metre, attempting to explain why Patrolling Barnegat can be regarded as not being in "free verse."


I Remember I Remember (Philip Larkin):
a question about Larkin's references.

Please Click on Purple or use the contents list (right) to reach the section you need.

Post your questions here to the Pentametrical Tutor:
GCSE; A Level; Degree Level; General.

GCSE requirements

The GCSE examiners will not expect you to engage with all of what can be found on this site, but if the set literature intrigues you, do please read on.

I Remember I Remember

Larkin's sadly revised view of Thomas Hood's original seems to demand references, yet nobody seems to be pursuing them. To join in this discussion, see http://pentameterruminations.blogspot.com

GCSE the tyrant

Is the GCSE destroying English literature?
This is the site which will help you pass the alternative way (i.e. the way of those who love literature).