Please check the examination details below before entering your candidate information
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Monday 18 May 2026
Morning (Time: 1 hour 30 minutes) Paper
reference 8EL0/02
English Language and Literature
Advanced Subsidiary
PAPER 2: Varieties in Language and Literature
You must have: Total Marks
Prescribed texts (clean copies)
Source Booklet (enclosed)
Instructions
•• Use black ink or ball-point pen.
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name,
centre number and candidate number.
• Answer one question in Section A and one question in Section B. You must
choose the same theme for both of your answers.
• Answer the questions in the spaces provided
– there may be more space than you need.
Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 50.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
Advice
•• Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
Check your answers if you have time at the end.
Turn over
P79491A
©2026 Pearson Education Ltd.
P:1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/
*P79491A0124*
, SECTION A
Prose Fiction Extract
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Answer ONE question on your chosen text. (You must choose a different text in Section B.)
Begin your answer on page 6.
Society and the Individual
EITHER
1 The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
Read the extract on page 4 of the source booklet.
In this extract, Myrtle’s death is described.
With reference to the extract above, discuss:
• Fitzgerald’s use of linguistic and literary features
• how the power divide between the genders is explored in the novel
• relevant contextual factors.
(25)
OR
2 Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
Read the extract on page 5 of the source booklet.
In this extract, Pip feels humiliated by Estella.
With reference to the extract above, discuss:
• Dickens’ use of linguistic and literary features
• Estella’s influence on Pip in the novel as a whole
• relevant contextual factors.
(25)
2
*P79491A0224*
, Answer ONE question on your chosen text. (You must choose a different text in Section B.)
Begin your answer on page 6.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Love and Loss
EITHER
3 A Single Man, Christopher Isherwood
Read the extract on page 6 of the source booklet.
In this extract, George and Kenny take a drunken swim.
With reference to the extract above, discuss:
• Isherwood’s use of linguistic and literary features
• how George’s need for human connection is explored throughout the novel
• relevant contextual factors.
(25)
OR
4 Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
Read the extract on page 7 of the source booklet.
In this extract, Tess has returned home following her seduction by Alec.
With reference to the extract above, discuss:
• Hardy’s use of linguistic and literary features
• how Tess’s isolation is explored throughout the novel
• relevant contextual factors.
(25)
3
*P79491A0324* Turn over
, Answer ONE question on your chosen text. (You must choose a different text in Section B.)
Begin your answer on page 6.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Encounters
EITHER
5 A Room with a View, E M Forster
Read the extract on pages 8–9 of the source booklet.
In this extract, Lucy and George react to a violent encounter between two
Italian men.
With reference to the extract above discuss:
• Forster’s use of linguistic and literary features
• how the violent encounter changes the relationship between Lucy and George
• relevant contextual factors.
(25)
OR
6 Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë
Read the extract on page 10 of the source booklet.
In this extract, Heathcliff and Cathy are reunited shortly before her death.
With reference to the extract above, discuss:
• Brontë’s use of linguistic and literary features
• how cruelty is a significant part of relationships in the novel
• relevant contextual factors.
(25)
4
*P79491A0424*
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Monday 18 May 2026
Morning (Time: 1 hour 30 minutes) Paper
reference 8EL0/02
English Language and Literature
Advanced Subsidiary
PAPER 2: Varieties in Language and Literature
You must have: Total Marks
Prescribed texts (clean copies)
Source Booklet (enclosed)
Instructions
•• Use black ink or ball-point pen.
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name,
centre number and candidate number.
• Answer one question in Section A and one question in Section B. You must
choose the same theme for both of your answers.
• Answer the questions in the spaces provided
– there may be more space than you need.
Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 50.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
Advice
•• Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
Check your answers if you have time at the end.
Turn over
P79491A
©2026 Pearson Education Ltd.
P:1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/
*P79491A0124*
, SECTION A
Prose Fiction Extract
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Answer ONE question on your chosen text. (You must choose a different text in Section B.)
Begin your answer on page 6.
Society and the Individual
EITHER
1 The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
Read the extract on page 4 of the source booklet.
In this extract, Myrtle’s death is described.
With reference to the extract above, discuss:
• Fitzgerald’s use of linguistic and literary features
• how the power divide between the genders is explored in the novel
• relevant contextual factors.
(25)
OR
2 Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
Read the extract on page 5 of the source booklet.
In this extract, Pip feels humiliated by Estella.
With reference to the extract above, discuss:
• Dickens’ use of linguistic and literary features
• Estella’s influence on Pip in the novel as a whole
• relevant contextual factors.
(25)
2
*P79491A0224*
, Answer ONE question on your chosen text. (You must choose a different text in Section B.)
Begin your answer on page 6.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Love and Loss
EITHER
3 A Single Man, Christopher Isherwood
Read the extract on page 6 of the source booklet.
In this extract, George and Kenny take a drunken swim.
With reference to the extract above, discuss:
• Isherwood’s use of linguistic and literary features
• how George’s need for human connection is explored throughout the novel
• relevant contextual factors.
(25)
OR
4 Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
Read the extract on page 7 of the source booklet.
In this extract, Tess has returned home following her seduction by Alec.
With reference to the extract above, discuss:
• Hardy’s use of linguistic and literary features
• how Tess’s isolation is explored throughout the novel
• relevant contextual factors.
(25)
3
*P79491A0324* Turn over
, Answer ONE question on your chosen text. (You must choose a different text in Section B.)
Begin your answer on page 6.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Encounters
EITHER
5 A Room with a View, E M Forster
Read the extract on pages 8–9 of the source booklet.
In this extract, Lucy and George react to a violent encounter between two
Italian men.
With reference to the extract above discuss:
• Forster’s use of linguistic and literary features
• how the violent encounter changes the relationship between Lucy and George
• relevant contextual factors.
(25)
OR
6 Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë
Read the extract on page 10 of the source booklet.
In this extract, Heathcliff and Cathy are reunited shortly before her death.
With reference to the extract above, discuss:
• Brontë’s use of linguistic and literary features
• how cruelty is a significant part of relationships in the novel
• relevant contextual factors.
(25)
4
*P79491A0424*
