GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE — Actual May 2025 PAST PAPER: Exploring Poetry and
Shakespeare: All Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme [OCR J352/02]
Exam Resource Summary
The GCSE (9–1) English Literature May 2025 Exploring Poetry and Shakespeare Paper (OCR J352/02)
integrates the full official examination paper with its detailed mark scheme to create a focused and
comprehensive revision resource. This paper assesses students’ ability to analyse, interpret, and evaluate
poetry and Shakespearean texts, exploring themes, characterisation, language, and dramatic techniques.
Candidates are expected to demonstrate understanding of historical and cultural contexts, evaluate
writers’ intentions, and support interpretations with detailed textual evidence. By presenting each
question alongside its marking criteria, the resource clarifies examiner expectations, highlights the
analytical and evaluative skills required for high-band responses, and guides learners in producing
precise, well-structured answers. This integrated format strengthens literary analysis, supports targeted
revision, and prepares students thoroughly for the 2026 OCR GCSE English Literature Exploring Poetry
and Shakespeare examination.
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
, 2
Contents Page
Section A – Poetry across time Question Page
Love and Relationships 1 4
Conflict 2 6
Youth and Age 3 8
Section B – Shakespeare Questions Page
Romeo and Juliet 4/5 10
The Merchant of Venice 6/7 11
Macbeth 8/9 12
Much Ado About Nothing 10/11 13
© OCR 2025 J352/02 Jun25
, 3
Section A
Poetry across time
Answer both parts of the question on the poetry cluster you have studied.
1 Love and Relationships
Read the two poems below and then answer both part (a) and part (b).
You should spend about 45 minutes on part (a) and 30 minutes on part (b).
(a) Compare how these poems present a relationship where one person feels more strongly than the
other.
You should consider:
• ideas and attitudes in each poem
• tone and atmosphere in each poem
• the effects of the language and structure used. [20]
AND
(b) Explore in detail one other poem from your anthology which presents an unequal relationship.
[20]
Warming Her Pearls by Carol Ann Duffy
Next to my own skin, her pearls. My mistress
bids me wear them, warm them, until evening
when I’ll brush her hair. At six, I place them
round her cool, white throat. All day I think of her,
resting in the Yellow Room, contemplating silk 5
or taffeta, which gown tonight? She fans herself
whilst I work willingly, my slow heat entering
each pearl. Slack on my neck, her rope.
She’s beautiful. I dream about her
in my attic bed; picture her dancing 10
with tall men, puzzled by my faint, persistent scent
beneath her French perfume, her milky stones.
I dust her shoulders with a rabbit’s foot,
watch the soft blush seep through her skin
like an indolent sigh. In her looking-glass 15
my red lips part as though I want to speak.
Full moon. Her carriage brings her home. I see
her every movement in my head…Undressing,
taking off her jewels, her slim hand reaching
for the case, slipping naked into bed, the way 20
she always does… And I lie here awake,
knowing the pearls are cooling even now
in the room where my mistress sleeps. All night
I feel their absence and I burn.
© OCR 2025 J352/02 Jun25 Turn over
, 4
Oh God by Michelle Tea
spilling water from my back,
you call and i come.
that exhausted walk to reach you
breathless and no i didn’t run
to see you, i’ve been smoking 5
too much, same thing.
another awkward hug in the car
as my face smashes your cheek
that i can feel it leaving now
is the saddest, a beautiful eruption 10
you could have picked it off the tree
and chowed
but you weren’t hungry.
feeling it dying away all day.
much worse than the straining 15
against the leash, another gorgeous
thing that should not have happened,
gone again.
© OCR 2025 J352/02 Jun25
Shakespeare: All Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme [OCR J352/02]
Exam Resource Summary
The GCSE (9–1) English Literature May 2025 Exploring Poetry and Shakespeare Paper (OCR J352/02)
integrates the full official examination paper with its detailed mark scheme to create a focused and
comprehensive revision resource. This paper assesses students’ ability to analyse, interpret, and evaluate
poetry and Shakespearean texts, exploring themes, characterisation, language, and dramatic techniques.
Candidates are expected to demonstrate understanding of historical and cultural contexts, evaluate
writers’ intentions, and support interpretations with detailed textual evidence. By presenting each
question alongside its marking criteria, the resource clarifies examiner expectations, highlights the
analytical and evaluative skills required for high-band responses, and guides learners in producing
precise, well-structured answers. This integrated format strengthens literary analysis, supports targeted
revision, and prepares students thoroughly for the 2026 OCR GCSE English Literature Exploring Poetry
and Shakespeare examination.
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
, 2
Contents Page
Section A – Poetry across time Question Page
Love and Relationships 1 4
Conflict 2 6
Youth and Age 3 8
Section B – Shakespeare Questions Page
Romeo and Juliet 4/5 10
The Merchant of Venice 6/7 11
Macbeth 8/9 12
Much Ado About Nothing 10/11 13
© OCR 2025 J352/02 Jun25
, 3
Section A
Poetry across time
Answer both parts of the question on the poetry cluster you have studied.
1 Love and Relationships
Read the two poems below and then answer both part (a) and part (b).
You should spend about 45 minutes on part (a) and 30 minutes on part (b).
(a) Compare how these poems present a relationship where one person feels more strongly than the
other.
You should consider:
• ideas and attitudes in each poem
• tone and atmosphere in each poem
• the effects of the language and structure used. [20]
AND
(b) Explore in detail one other poem from your anthology which presents an unequal relationship.
[20]
Warming Her Pearls by Carol Ann Duffy
Next to my own skin, her pearls. My mistress
bids me wear them, warm them, until evening
when I’ll brush her hair. At six, I place them
round her cool, white throat. All day I think of her,
resting in the Yellow Room, contemplating silk 5
or taffeta, which gown tonight? She fans herself
whilst I work willingly, my slow heat entering
each pearl. Slack on my neck, her rope.
She’s beautiful. I dream about her
in my attic bed; picture her dancing 10
with tall men, puzzled by my faint, persistent scent
beneath her French perfume, her milky stones.
I dust her shoulders with a rabbit’s foot,
watch the soft blush seep through her skin
like an indolent sigh. In her looking-glass 15
my red lips part as though I want to speak.
Full moon. Her carriage brings her home. I see
her every movement in my head…Undressing,
taking off her jewels, her slim hand reaching
for the case, slipping naked into bed, the way 20
she always does… And I lie here awake,
knowing the pearls are cooling even now
in the room where my mistress sleeps. All night
I feel their absence and I burn.
© OCR 2025 J352/02 Jun25 Turn over
, 4
Oh God by Michelle Tea
spilling water from my back,
you call and i come.
that exhausted walk to reach you
breathless and no i didn’t run
to see you, i’ve been smoking 5
too much, same thing.
another awkward hug in the car
as my face smashes your cheek
that i can feel it leaving now
is the saddest, a beautiful eruption 10
you could have picked it off the tree
and chowed
but you weren’t hungry.
feeling it dying away all day.
much worse than the straining 15
against the leash, another gorgeous
thing that should not have happened,
gone again.
© OCR 2025 J352/02 Jun25
