To help you excel with your GCSE English and GCSE English Literature check out our GCSE English and GCSE English Literature learning songs.  All songs have been created with practicing teachers and professional musicians and are independently proven to help with revision and learning.

For a limited period of time all downloads are only £1.79 per subject!!

Downloads include the featured song, sing-along backing track and a complete lyrics set, that includes extra GCSE revision notes.

We have learning songs that can help you with:

1.    Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

2.    An Inspector Calls by JB Priestly

3.    To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

4.    A view From the Bridge by Arthur Miller

5.    Blood Brothers by Willy Russell

6.    The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

7.    Othello by William Shakespeare

8.    Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

9.    Macbeth by William Shakespeare

10.  Lord of the Flies by William Golding

11.  Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austin

12.  Stone Cold by Robert Swindells

13. Exam Paper 1

14. Exam Paper 2

15. Persuasive Writing & Technique

Also check out our free GCSE English and English Literature articles. Providing you with great exam tips, hints and GCSE English Literature and GCSE English revision  notes.

This article focuses on 10 last minute revision tips to help you with your GCSE English and GCSE English Literature exam revision.

1. Don’t do it all at once. We only retain a certain amount of what we learn in a single sitting. You are far better off spreading your revision over a week than cramming the night before (if you have no choice, see here. Even fifteen minute slots before you go to bed each night, or on the journey to school can make all the difference.

2. Walk the dog (or tortoise, or small sibling, or whatever). Go for short walks whenever you can. The change of scenery will stimulate your imagination and your learning capabilities. Take a sheet of paper with a few quotes to learn for an essay, or some formula, or a vocabulary list, and you’ll be surprised at how much more you take in just being outside.

3. Cram it all in – onto one sheet of paper, that is. Try to summarise a module or a topic on a single sheet of paper that you can stick to your wall. Not only will you be reminded of your notes whenever you walk past them, but fitting the material into a set space forces you to mentally organise the information, a massive step towards learning it. Making your notes is 50% of your revision

4. Get personal. Relate your notes to your bedroom, to your favorite colours, your favorite foods. Make up stories involving the information you have to learn. Once for an exam, I had to remember the stages of a phonological change called ‘Grimm’s Law’. It was indeed grim (just like that pun).

5. Get out the colouring pens! Making all of your revision notes in black ballpoint is fatal – buy some cheap felt tips and write different words in different colours. Pictures tell a thousand words, remember, especially if they’re in colour.

6. Shout it for the world to hear. You might feel an idiot at first, but it is definitely worth reading your revision notes aloud. Even better, get a friend to quiz you on the intricacies of electromagnets, or insist on explaining the plot of Hamlet to your mum. Speaking practice is essential for the revision of foreign languages. Even saying basic words like “yes” and “no” and “please pass the ketchup” in the language you are learning are steps towards fluency.

7. Learn it inside out and backwards. If you are learning a list of chemicals, then try saying the list backwards (without looking at your notes!). Spell words back to front to make sure you really know what they look like – just remember to get them the right way around in the exam.

8. Have a good gossip. Discuss your revision topics with a friend in the same class, especially if you will have to write essays in the exam. See what ideas you can glean from each other – it is surprising how differently two people can approach the same questions.

9. Test yourself both ways. Don’t just learn how to recognise French words: practice translating the English into French. Learn how to work out each segment of a formula triangle.

10. Practice, practice, practice. Find some past exam papers and have a go at the questions. There’s nothing like writing an essay on Shakespeare for really getting to know what you don’t yet know …

Read more at Suite101: Ten Top Exam Revision Tips: How to Revise for Exams in School, College and University.

This article focuses on GCSE English Literature and specifically on helping you write GCSE English Coursework for Blood Brothers by Willy Russell

The Original article sourced from the super teacher resource website yourdissertation.com, where a great selection of free GCSE English and GCSE English Literature notes to help you revise and learn are on offer.

There are 4 main tips:

• Your awareness of what the play is about;
• An interesting idea;
• The basic requirements for GCSE courseworks;
• Personal efforts.

What is the play about?

“Blood Brothers” is a story about twin brothers (Mickey and Eddie) who grew up apart. They belonged to different social circles – one of them was rich and the other was poor. If you want to include some specific details into your GCSE English coursework on “Blood Brothers”, read it or find its screen version on the Web.

An interesting idea…

Remember, an idea should be interesting to you. If it is, work on your paper will be involving and interesting as well.

You can choose one of the ideas presented below and cover it in the GCSE English coursework on “Blood Brothers”:

• The Function of Knives, Flowers, Water, and Blood as Symbols in the Play;
• Social Worlds and Class Differences in “Blood Brothers”;
• Deaths of Mickey and Edward in “Blood Brothers”;
• The Success of “Blood Brothers” on Stage;
• The Role of Mrs. Lyons in “Blood Brothers”.

Basic requirements for your GCSE coursework on “Blood Brothers”

1. Deep analysis of the play and the author’s message;
2. Perfect structuring;
3. Proper format (usually, MLA format is required for GCSE English courseworks);
4. Full answer to the research question of your GCSE English coursework on “Blood Brothers”.

Personal efforts…

Writing an English coursework on “Blood Brothers” is difficult, still, it should not be a reason to give up or panic. Believe in yourself, and do not put off writing if you want your “Blood Brothers” coursework to be excellent. Good luck

We hope this article helps with your GCSE English Literature revision and coursework.

Be sure to check out the LearnThruMusic Blood Brothers learning song

To this end we have created a super selection of learning songs that are proven to make it easier for you to learn and revise the key aspects of the GCSE English and GCSE English Literature syllabus. Visit our shop section to listen to demos.

We also believe in providing you with free GCSE English and GCSE English Literature revision notes and exam help.

Please check our wide range or articles within the community section of www.learnthrumusic.co.uk for full details.

GCSE English and GCSE English Literature Shakespeare songs:

• The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
  

•  Othello by William Shakespeare
  

•   Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
  

•   Macbeth by William Shakespeare
  

Our Shakespeare songs have been developed to help GCSE students but they can also be used to engage younger pupils in Shakespeare and to provide adults with an overview of Shakespeare’s finest work.

Please visit the shop section of this site to listen to demos of all our Shakespeare songs. 

We help GCSE English students learn and revise key exam and coursework topics through modern music.

We Love GCSE English and GCSE English Literature and want everyone else to love it as well. We believe that using music to help you learn and revise will help you remember key GCSE texts, GCSE persuasive writing techniques and the format of GCSE English and GCSE English Literature examination papers.

You can listen to demos of all our GCSE English and GCSE English literature songs within the shop section of this site. For free revision tips check out our LearnThruMusic community section, where free GCSE tips, revision techniques and notes are available on subjects such as:

• Lord Of The Flies

• Blood Brothers

• Pride And Prejudice

• To Kill A Mocking Bird

• Persuasive Device And Techniques

• Romeo And Juliet

• Of Mice And Men

• Macbeth

• A View From The Bridge

• Othello

• Stone Cold

• An Inspector Calls

• The Merchant Of Venice

• Persuasive Writing

• GCSE English exam paper 1

• GCSE English exam paper 2

• GCSE English and GCSE English Literature exam exam dates

Please get in touch with us here at LearnThruMusic and let us know what you think of our GCSE English and GCSE English Literature learning songs.

We have listed below The author’s technique in of Mice and Men By John Steinbeck. We hope the information provided helps you with your GCSE English Literature.

The author’s technique in of Mice and Men By John Steinbeck, article written by Andrew Moore

Structure

Steinbeck’s narrative method is unremarkable but effective in a simple way; for this reason it is not an obvious subject for study. The structure of the novella is clear and quite simple: each chapter is an extended episode, in the same place. Some things happen while others, which have happened, are re-told (George tells Slim about Weed; Whit tells the hands about Bill Tenner’s letter; Curley’s wife tells Lennie about her past).

Time and place

Steinbeck controls time and place very skilfully. Though he recalls events from earlier, what he narrates directly takes place over a single weekend. The narrative is framed by the opening and closing chapters, which are set in a beautiful clearing by a stream, close to the ranch. All the other chapters are set on the ranch, inside: in the bunkhouse, in Crooks’s room or in the barn. The text is very short, and yet a great proportion is taken up with dialogue, in the form of direct speech. It is clear from all of this (a series of “scenes”; no single viewpoint, nor access to thought; unity of time and place; past events recalled in conversation; indoor locations, and heavy reliance on dialogue) that the novella has been written with an eye to dramatization. It is not surprising to discover that Steinbeck himself did write a dramatization for the stage, and that this has subsequently been made into (two) very successful feature films.

Viewpoint

The novella is written in the third person, but there is no single viewpoint. We read of scenes in which George or Lennie or both are present, but we may briefly follow other characters (Candy or Crooks, say). We are never told what anyone is thinking, but must work this out from what people say, with one curious exception. In the final chapter, Steinbeck describes the imaginary talking rabbit (as one would expect from Lennie, it does not see anything odd in telling him he is not fit “to lick the boots of no rabbit”!) and the remembered Aunt Clara, who appear to Lennie, their voices supplied by his talking aloud.

Language and symbolism

The language of the narrative is fairly simple; most vocabulary is of an everyday kind, except for names of items of farm equipment to which Steinbeck refers. In the dialogue, Steinbeck uses slang and non-standard terms (“would of”, “brang” and so on) to convey an authentic sense of the speaking voice.

Apart from the symbolism in the title, we should note the symbolic function of the killing of Candy’s old dog. At various points in the novel shooting is mentioned as a way out of trouble (as when George says he would shoot himself if he were related to Lennie). The killing of the dog parallels the shooting of Lennie: both are depicted as merciful, in both cases the shot is in the same place (base of the skull) and Slim approves both killings.

Be sure to check out our of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, GCSE English Literature learning song

In addition to our great GCSE English Literature learning songs, currently availalbe to purchase online. We will be helping you by posting free exam tips and GCSE English Literature guidelines.

To help you excel with your GCSE English and GCSE English Literature check out our Of Mice of Men and Blood Brothers  GCSE English Literature learning songs or one of our free GCSE English Literature articles. View the full selection of GCSE English Literature topics below:

GCSE English Literature

1. Lord Of The Flies – Before it’s Too Late
A sickeningly-dark-edged Hip Hop Track based on William Golding’s ‘Lord of the Flies’. Get to know key characters, main themes and plot while you enjoy listening to this thought-provoking tale of savagery. Don’t forget.. Pupils can Rap or Sing-Along to all songs with the Backing Tracks and lyrics to help them learn and revise.

2. Blood Brothers – Careful Mrs. Johnstone
This Retro/Rock number carefully accounts for the character, plot and thematic content of Willy Russell’s, ‘Blood Brothers’. Relentless rhythmic verses, mystical keyboards and emotive vocal textures combine to provide you with a really fun way to learn this fantastic play.

3. Pride And Prejudice -First Impressions
Based on Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’, this catchy, reggae/ska based pop song poses a musical backdrop to explanations of plot, characters and themes, predominantly based around Class and Love.

4. To Kill A Mocking Bird – From the Other Side
A hard-hitting metal song emphasising the crude and violent undercurrent of racial tension evident in Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. Learn the key events, plot, characters and themes in the story guided by soaring riffs, chuggs and solos as they collide in a crescendo of Black vs. White.

5. Persuasive Device And Techniques – I’m Persuasive
This song is sure to get your brain into gear where persuasive devices and techniques are concerned… An up-beat dance track, ‘I’m Persuasive’ is a mental-workout song that explains all you need to know to be able to remember the main devices you will need to understand, spot and use – including when, where & how to utilise them.

6. Romeo And Juliet- Life without You
Based on Shakespeare’s classic love story of the two ’star-crossed’ lovers, ‘Life Without You’ takes the form of a melodic R&B song. Listen as ‘Romeo & Juliet’ sing of their tragic demise, outlining key information from their characters’ perspectives. Fancy singing along? Don’t forget that there’s a backing track for each song. ‘Life Without You’ has 3 backing tracks: 1 For Romeo’s part, 1 For Juliet’s part &1 For Both parts.

7. Of Mice And Men -The American Dream
Based on John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’, this upbeat, Power-Punk track tells the story of Lenny and George’s dream to, ‘live off the fat of the land’ in post-depression America. Let this Power-Pop-Punk track steer you through the main themes, characters and plot guided by some seriously slick guitar and haunting vocals.

8. Macbeth -The Chain of Being
An indie-Rock track for one of Shakespeare’s best-known plays, ‘MacBeth’. Yielding key information on characters, plot and themes of this bloodthirsty tale of ambition and the lengths one will go to in order to get what one wants.

9. A View From The Bridge -Think Of Yourself

Based on the unsettling-tale of betrayal and questionable family-loyalty amongst a New York-Italian family, ‘A View from the Bridge’ tells the story of Eddie who betrays his illegal-immigrant cousin to the law with dire consequences. Set in a poor part of Brooklyn, America, where the author Arthur miller lived, an aggressive and gritty D’n'B track depicts the characters, plot and themes of the text, imitating the tension and aggression of a violent reality.

10. Othello -Throw the Pearl Away
With a central theme of jealousy, ‘Throw the Pearl Away’ is a heavy, indie-rock track whose deep, rich, heavy guitar and riffs echo the weight and impact of ‘revenge’ and ‘jealousy’ – two of the main themes that play a big part in most characters in ‘Othello’ by William Shakespeare. Explore the other themes, plot and characters using this fitting track.

11. Stone Cold – What Would You Do?
An ironically up-tempo track: ‘Link’ (the main character) tells his side of the story of how he became homeless and it’s consequences… Based on the book, ‘Stone Cold’ by Robert Swindells, ‘What Would You Do?’ covers the main themes, characters & plot of the text in the form of an Urban/Pop fusion song featuring Link on lead Vocals.

12. An Inspector Calls – Who Will Take Responsibility?
The simple yet catchy melody twists and turns delivering the ever-thickening plot that is J. B. Priestley’s spectacular ‘Whodunnit’ entitled, ‘An Inspector Calls’. Primarily centred-around the theme of responsibility, each verse leads you through the main events in the play, one-by-one addressing each character’s responsibility over the death of a young local girl, Eva Smith. Just one question… Who will take responsibility?’ See if you can get to the bottom of it.

13. The Merchant Of Venice – You Won’t Find Me There
Based on Shakespeare’s, ‘Merchant of Venice’, this track features a powerful and intentional melody representative of the main character, ‘Portia’ who is a strong-minded woman who wears the ‘mask’ of a man in order to stand-up for her beliefs in court. With an under-stated musical arrangement to accompany vital plot, character and thematic information of the lyrics, your sure to get a head-start on gaining a solid grasp of the story.

Check out the community section for full details on GCSE English Literature & GCSE English learning blogs or visit the shop for access to demos of all GCSE English and GCSE English Literature  learning songs.

We want to help you revise and learn GCSE English and GCSE English Literature to your full potential.

Of Mice and Men: George to Lenny Chapter 1

“Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place. . . . With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. We don’t have to sit in no bar room blowin’ in our jack jus’ because we got no place else to go. If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. But not us.”

Of Mice and Men: George  in Chapter 1

“Whatever we ain’t got, that’s what you want. God a’mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an’ work, an no trouble. No mess at all, and when the end of the month come I could take my fifty bucks and go into town and get whatever I want.”

Of Mice and Men: Lennie in Chapter 3

“We could live offa the fatta the lan’.”

Of Mice and Men: Crooks in Chapter Chapter 4

“S’pose you didn’t have nobody. S’pose you couldn’t go into the bunk house and play rummy ’cause you was black. How’d you like that? S’pose you had to sit out here an’ read books. Sure you could play horseshoes till it got dark, but then you got to read books. Books ain’t no good. A guy needs somebody – to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. Don’t make no difference who the guy is, long’s he’s with you. I tell ya, I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick.”

Of Mice and Men: Slim in Chapter 6

“Never you mind. A guy got to sometimes.”

Be sure check out our GCSE English Literature learning song, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck “The American Dream”

As part of our FREE character profiles for 12 key GCSE texts. We want to help you revise and learn GCSE English and GCSE English Literature to your full potential.

Link/Dave: Main character in Stone Cold by Robert Swindells.  Link  got his name from the “Thames-link” railway sign. One of his first sites on arriving in London from Bradford or “up north”, as Link refers to it. Link becomes friends with Ginger, but does not 100% trust him.

Shelter: A former sergeant-major who has made it his sick mission to kill all of London’s homeless people. Shelter despises homeless people and thinks  they ‘make the place look untidy.’ Shelter wishes he was still in the army and uses military precision to lure homeless people into his house. He then kills them and hides their body under the floor boards calling them ‘the Camden Horizontals’.

Ginger: More streetwise than Link, a seasoned homless person who befreinds Link in a doorway.

Gail: Journalist reporter who goes undercover to expose the truth behind homelessness.  Gail first meets with Link just after Ginger goes missing. Link is suspicious of Gail’s phone calls home and probing questions.It is only after Shelters arrest that Link finds out Gail’s true identity. Link is very disheartened on finding out and feels used.

Be sure check out our GCSE English Literature learning song, Stone Cold “What would you do”