Edexcel GCSE English Literature key terms

Skills regarded as signs of a cultivated young woman, such as music, drawing and modern languages. The Netherfield discussion exposes disagreement about how demanding these expectations should be.

The requirement that those exercising power explain their decisions and can be challenged or removed.

Bringing up a child who is not one’s biological child. In Silas Marner, Silas’s adoption of Eppie is presented through his everyday care rather than a modern legal process.

The ability to make choices and act independently, even when social expectations or other people limit that freedom.

A feeling of being estranged from other people or unable to belong to their shared life.

A story whose characters and events can represent a further religious, moral or political meaning.

A connection between families or groups that can strengthen their position; marriage can create such a connection.

The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of nearby words.

A reference to a person, event or another work that brings additional associations into a text.

A second identity or alternative version of a person. Hyde is the identity through which Jekyll gives separate expression to his evil impulses.

A rhyme pattern in which the first and third lines rhyme, and the second and fourth lines rhyme: ABAB.

A word or detail that allows more than one plausible meaning or interpretation.

A strong desire to achieve something, often involving success, distinction or power.

Mixed or conflicting feelings towards someone or something.

A comparison used to explain an idea or test an argument by relating it to something else.

A metre with four feet per line, each normally containing two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable: da-da-DUM.

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginnings of successive lines or clauses.

An appearance combining features conventionally associated with masculinity and femininity.

Relating to the Church of England, the established church represented by Raveloe’s parish church.

Language that describes a person through animal characteristics or behaviour.

The system of beliefs developed by the pigs from Old Major’s ideas, promising animal solidarity, freedom from human exploitation and equality.

Hostility or strong resentment towards another person.

A person who studies human societies and cultures.

The attribution of human behaviour or characteristics to animals or other non-human things.

Prejudice, hostility or discrimination directed against Jewish people.

The placing of contrasting ideas together to emphasise their opposition, as in ‘my shame, my pride’.

The assessment objective rewarding understanding, an informed personal response and a critical style supported by textual references.