What’s an English Lang & Lit Paper 2? Notes

A Breakdown of Paper 2

1. Paper 2 is a comparative literary essay based on two works you've studied.
   1. You choose one of four essay prompts in the exam and write a comparative response using two of your texts.
2. Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes (SL and HL)
3. Length: ~1000 to 1300 words
4. Marks: /30 (4 criteria)
5. You are assessed on:
   1. Criterion A (10 marks): Knowledge, understanding, interpretation
   2. Criterion B (10 marks): Analysis and evaluation
   3. Criterion C (5 marks): Focus and organisation
   4. Criterion D (5 marks): Language

What Is the Task?

1. You’ll be given four open-ended prompts.
2. They often begin with a philosophical idea (e.g. “We are all prisoners of ourselves”) and then pose a task:

“Literature often explores the tension between personal desires and social expectations.” Compare how this tension is presented in at least two of the works you have studied.

How to Approach the Prompt

Step 1: Identify the Command Term

1. Common terms: Discuss, Evaluate, Compare and contrast, Analyse
2. These all require you to write a comparative analysis, don’t overthink the command word.

Step 2: Identify the Key Concept

1. The core of the prompt is usually thematic or stylistic.
   1. e.g. imprisonment, identity, use of irony, impact of setting
2. Rephrase it in your own words to clarify your focus.

Step 3: Morph Your Texts or the Prompt

1. Not every text will directly reference the key concept.
2. Your job is to adapt your interpretation:
   1. e.g. Nostalgia = emotional imprisonment.
   2. e.g. “Interesting characters” → define interest as “psychological complexity” or “moral ambiguity”.

Step 4: Brainstorm Overlapping Points

1. Choose points that apply to both texts.
2. Look for overlapping ideas, themes, or techniques to build clear comparisons and contrasts.

How Many Texts Should You Prepare?