AS LEVEL ENGLISH LITERATURE: Actual May 2025 PAST PAPER 1: Poetry and
Drama. All Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme [Edexcel 8ET0/01]
Exam Resource Summary
The May 2025 Edexcel AS Level English Literature 8ET0/01 – Paper 1: Poetry and Drama – Merged Question
Paper & Mark Scheme document combines the official examination paper with its complete mark scheme. This
paper assesses students’ understanding and analysis of set poetry and drama texts, focusing on literary
techniques, thematic development, characterisation, and contextual influences. The merged format presents each
question alongside its marking criteria, providing clear guidance on examiner expectations, mark allocation, and
question structure. This resource enables targeted revision, development of critical and analytical writing skills,
and effective practice in crafting structured responses, making it essential for preparation for the May 2025
Edexcel AS Level English Literature Paper 1 examination.
Turn over
, SECTION A
Poetry
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Answer ONE question.
Begin your answer on page 4.
EITHER
1 Compare the ways in which poets present feelings about the past in
To My Nine‑Year‑Old Self by Helen Dunmore and one other poem of your choice from
Poems of the Decade: An Anthology of the Forward Books of Poetry 2002–2011.
In your answer you should consider the following:
• the poets’ development of themes
• the poets’ use of language and imagery
• the use of other poetic techniques.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
(Total for Question 1 = 24 marks)
OR
2 Compare the ways in which poets present ideas about control in Eat Me by
Patience Agbabi and one other poem of your choice from Poems of the Decade:
An Anthology of the Forward Books of Poetry 2002–2011.
In your answer you should consider the following:
• the poets’ development of themes
• the poets’ use of language and imagery
• the use of other poetic techniques.
(Total for Question 2 = 24 marks)
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
2
■■■■
, List of prescribed poems
Poems of the Decade: An Anthology of the Forward Books of Poetry 2002–2011
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
(Faber and Faber, 2015) ISBN 978-0571325405 / ISBN 978-0571281732
Page numbers
Poem title Poet
New edition Old edition
Eat Me Patience Agbabi 3 13
Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass Simon Armitage 6 16
Material Ros Barber 10 20
History John Burnside 25 35
An Easy Passage Julia Copus 37 47
The Deliverer Tishani Doshi 43 53
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
The Lammas Hireling Ian Duhig 51 61
To My Nine-Year-Old Self Helen Dunmore 52 62
A Minor Role U A Fanthorpe 57 67
The Gun Vicki Feaver 62 72
The Furthest Distances I’ve Travelled Leontia Flynn 64 74
Giuseppe Roderick Ford 66 76
Out of the Bag Seamus Heaney 81 91
Effects Alan Jenkins 92 102
Genetics Sinéad Morrissey 125 135
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
From the Journal of a Disappointed Man Andrew Motion 127 137
Look We Have Coming to Dover! Daljit Nagra 129 139
Please Hold Ciaran O’Driscoll 132 142
On Her Blindness Adam Thorpe 170 180
Ode on a Grayson Perry Urn Tim Turnbull 172 182
3
■■■■ Turn over
Drama. All Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme [Edexcel 8ET0/01]
Exam Resource Summary
The May 2025 Edexcel AS Level English Literature 8ET0/01 – Paper 1: Poetry and Drama – Merged Question
Paper & Mark Scheme document combines the official examination paper with its complete mark scheme. This
paper assesses students’ understanding and analysis of set poetry and drama texts, focusing on literary
techniques, thematic development, characterisation, and contextual influences. The merged format presents each
question alongside its marking criteria, providing clear guidance on examiner expectations, mark allocation, and
question structure. This resource enables targeted revision, development of critical and analytical writing skills,
and effective practice in crafting structured responses, making it essential for preparation for the May 2025
Edexcel AS Level English Literature Paper 1 examination.
Turn over
, SECTION A
Poetry
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Answer ONE question.
Begin your answer on page 4.
EITHER
1 Compare the ways in which poets present feelings about the past in
To My Nine‑Year‑Old Self by Helen Dunmore and one other poem of your choice from
Poems of the Decade: An Anthology of the Forward Books of Poetry 2002–2011.
In your answer you should consider the following:
• the poets’ development of themes
• the poets’ use of language and imagery
• the use of other poetic techniques.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
(Total for Question 1 = 24 marks)
OR
2 Compare the ways in which poets present ideas about control in Eat Me by
Patience Agbabi and one other poem of your choice from Poems of the Decade:
An Anthology of the Forward Books of Poetry 2002–2011.
In your answer you should consider the following:
• the poets’ development of themes
• the poets’ use of language and imagery
• the use of other poetic techniques.
(Total for Question 2 = 24 marks)
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
2
■■■■
, List of prescribed poems
Poems of the Decade: An Anthology of the Forward Books of Poetry 2002–2011
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
(Faber and Faber, 2015) ISBN 978-0571325405 / ISBN 978-0571281732
Page numbers
Poem title Poet
New edition Old edition
Eat Me Patience Agbabi 3 13
Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass Simon Armitage 6 16
Material Ros Barber 10 20
History John Burnside 25 35
An Easy Passage Julia Copus 37 47
The Deliverer Tishani Doshi 43 53
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
The Lammas Hireling Ian Duhig 51 61
To My Nine-Year-Old Self Helen Dunmore 52 62
A Minor Role U A Fanthorpe 57 67
The Gun Vicki Feaver 62 72
The Furthest Distances I’ve Travelled Leontia Flynn 64 74
Giuseppe Roderick Ford 66 76
Out of the Bag Seamus Heaney 81 91
Effects Alan Jenkins 92 102
Genetics Sinéad Morrissey 125 135
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
From the Journal of a Disappointed Man Andrew Motion 127 137
Look We Have Coming to Dover! Daljit Nagra 129 139
Please Hold Ciaran O’Driscoll 132 142
On Her Blindness Adam Thorpe 170 180
Ode on a Grayson Perry Urn Tim Turnbull 172 182
3
■■■■ Turn over
