May 2025 Edexcel: A Level
English Literature Paper 2 –
Prose – Merged Question Paper
& Mark Scheme
, Please check the examination details below before entering your candidate information
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Thursday 22 May 2025
reference
Paper
9ET0/02
Morning (Time: 1 hour 15 minutes)
English Literature 🟐 🟐
Advanced
PAPER 2: Prose
You must have: Total Marks
Prescribed texts (clean copies)
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 on your chosen theme.
Answer the question in the space provided
• In your answer, you must not use texts that you have used in your coursework.
– there may be more space than you need.
Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 40.
The marks for the question are shown in brackets.
Advice
Exam Resource Summary
The May 2025 Edexcel A Level English Literature – Paper 2: Prose – Merged Question Paper
••& Mark
Read Scheme
scheme.
document
the question
This paper
Check your
combines
carefully
answerassesses
before the
students’
if you have
you official
start toexamination
answer it. paper with its complete mark
time atunderstanding
the end. and critical analysis of set prose
texts, focusing on narrative techniques, characterisation, themes, and the influence of
context. 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 analytical and
evaluative writing skills, and practice in producing structured, coherent responses, making
it essential for preparation for the May 2025 Edexcel A Level English Literature Paper 2
examination.
Turn over
P79554A
©2025 Pearson Education Ltd.
Y:1/1
, Answer ONE question on the texts you have studied, one of which must be pre-1900.
Begin your answer on page 5.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Childhood
Texts
Pre-1900: What Maisie Knew, Henry James; Hard Times, Charles Dickens
Post-1900: Atonement, Ian McEwan; The Color Purple, Alice Walker
EITHER
1 Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts present injustice.
You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.
(Total for Question 1 = 40 marks)
OR
2 Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts present characters
who are in some way flawed. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual
factors.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
(Total for Question 2 = 40 marks)
Colonisation and its Aftermath
Texts
Pre-1900: Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,
Mark Twain
Post-1900: Home Fire, Kamila Shamsie; The Lonely Londoners, Sam Selvon
EITHER
3 Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts present characters
who are disillusioned with society. You must relate your discussion to relevant
contextual factors.
(Total for Question 3 = 40 marks) DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
OR
4 Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts make use of
symbolism. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.
(Total for Question 4 = 40 marks)
, Answer ONE question on the texts you have studied, one of which must be pre-1900.
Begin your answer on page 5.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Crime and Detection
Texts
Pre-1900: Lady Audley’s Secret, Mary Elizabeth Braddon; The Moonstone, Wilkie Collins
Post-1900: The Cutting Season, Attica Locke; In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
EITHER
5 Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts present characters
who are suspected of crimes. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual
factors.
(Total for Question 5 = 40 marks)
OR
6 Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts create suspense in
their narratives. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
(Total for Question 6 = 40 marks)
Science and Society
Texts
Pre-1900: Frankenstein, Mary Shelley; The War of the Worlds, H G Wells
Post-1900: Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro; The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood
EITHER
7 Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts present characters
who could be considered as victims. You must relate your discussion to relevant
contextual factors.
(Total for Question 7 = 40 marks)
OR
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
8 Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts explore friendship.
You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.
(Total for Question 8 = 40 marks)
English Literature Paper 2 –
Prose – Merged Question Paper
& Mark Scheme
, Please check the examination details below before entering your candidate information
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Thursday 22 May 2025
reference
Paper
9ET0/02
Morning (Time: 1 hour 15 minutes)
English Literature 🟐 🟐
Advanced
PAPER 2: Prose
You must have: Total Marks
Prescribed texts (clean copies)
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 on your chosen theme.
Answer the question in the space provided
• In your answer, you must not use texts that you have used in your coursework.
– there may be more space than you need.
Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 40.
The marks for the question are shown in brackets.
Advice
Exam Resource Summary
The May 2025 Edexcel A Level English Literature – Paper 2: Prose – Merged Question Paper
••& Mark
Read Scheme
scheme.
document
the question
This paper
Check your
combines
carefully
answerassesses
before the
students’
if you have
you official
start toexamination
answer it. paper with its complete mark
time atunderstanding
the end. and critical analysis of set prose
texts, focusing on narrative techniques, characterisation, themes, and the influence of
context. 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 analytical and
evaluative writing skills, and practice in producing structured, coherent responses, making
it essential for preparation for the May 2025 Edexcel A Level English Literature Paper 2
examination.
Turn over
P79554A
©2025 Pearson Education Ltd.
Y:1/1
, Answer ONE question on the texts you have studied, one of which must be pre-1900.
Begin your answer on page 5.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Childhood
Texts
Pre-1900: What Maisie Knew, Henry James; Hard Times, Charles Dickens
Post-1900: Atonement, Ian McEwan; The Color Purple, Alice Walker
EITHER
1 Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts present injustice.
You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.
(Total for Question 1 = 40 marks)
OR
2 Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts present characters
who are in some way flawed. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual
factors.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
(Total for Question 2 = 40 marks)
Colonisation and its Aftermath
Texts
Pre-1900: Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,
Mark Twain
Post-1900: Home Fire, Kamila Shamsie; The Lonely Londoners, Sam Selvon
EITHER
3 Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts present characters
who are disillusioned with society. You must relate your discussion to relevant
contextual factors.
(Total for Question 3 = 40 marks) DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
OR
4 Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts make use of
symbolism. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.
(Total for Question 4 = 40 marks)
, Answer ONE question on the texts you have studied, one of which must be pre-1900.
Begin your answer on page 5.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Crime and Detection
Texts
Pre-1900: Lady Audley’s Secret, Mary Elizabeth Braddon; The Moonstone, Wilkie Collins
Post-1900: The Cutting Season, Attica Locke; In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
EITHER
5 Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts present characters
who are suspected of crimes. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual
factors.
(Total for Question 5 = 40 marks)
OR
6 Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts create suspense in
their narratives. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
(Total for Question 6 = 40 marks)
Science and Society
Texts
Pre-1900: Frankenstein, Mary Shelley; The War of the Worlds, H G Wells
Post-1900: Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro; The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood
EITHER
7 Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts present characters
who could be considered as victims. You must relate your discussion to relevant
contextual factors.
(Total for Question 7 = 40 marks)
OR
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
8 Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts explore friendship.
You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.
(Total for Question 8 = 40 marks)
