English Literature GCSE EDEXCEL
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Shakespeare Overview edexcel1 主题
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How To Answer The Shakespeare Questions edexcel6 主题
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Part A What The Question Is Asking edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Part A How To Get Full Marks edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Part A Mark Scheme And Model Answer edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Part B What The Question Is Asking edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Part B How To Get Full Marks edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Part B Mark Scheme And Model Answer edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Part A What The Question Is Asking edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Macbeth edexcel15 主题
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Macbeth Plot Summary edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Macbeth Themes edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Macbeth Key Theme Ambition edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Macbeth Key Theme The Supernatural edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Macbeth Key Theme Appearance Versus Reality edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Macbeth Key Theme Corruption Of Nature edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Macbeth Characters edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Macbeth Character Analysis edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Macbeth Key Character Profile Lady Macbeth edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Banquo Character Analysis edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Duncan Character Analysis edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Macbeth Context edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Macbeth Writers Methods And Techniques edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Macbeth Key Quotations edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Macbeth Character Quotations edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Macbeth Plot Summary edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Romeo And Juliet edexcel15 主题
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Romeo And Juliet Plot Summary edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Romeo And Juliet Themes edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Romeo And Juliet Key Theme Love edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Romeo And Juliet Key Theme Conflict edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Romeo And Juliet Key Theme Honour edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Romeo And Juliet Key Theme Fate edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Romeo And Juliet Characters edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Romeo Character Analysis edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Juliet Character Analysis edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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The Nurse Character Analysis edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Tybalt Character Analysis edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Romeo And Juliet Context edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Romeo And Juliet Writers Methods And Techniques edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Romeo And Juliet Key Quotations edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Romeo And Juliet Character Quotations edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Romeo And Juliet Plot Summary edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Much Ado About Nothing edexcel7 主题
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Much Ado About Nothing Plot Summary edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Much Ado About Nothing Themes edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Much Ado About Nothing Characters edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Much Ado About Nothing Context edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Much Ado About Nothing Writers Methods And Techniques edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Much Ado About Nothing Key Quotations edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Much Ado About Nothing Character Quotations edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Much Ado About Nothing Plot Summary edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Twelfth Night edexcel7 主题
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Twelfth Night Plot Summary edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Twelfth Night Themes edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Twelfth Night Characters edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Twelfth Night Context edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Twelfth Night Writers Methods And Techniques edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Twelfth Night Key Quotations edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Twelfth Night Character Quotations edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Twelfth Night Plot Summary edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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The Merchant Of Venice edexcel7 主题
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The Merchant Of Venice Plot Summary edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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The Merchant Of Venice Themes edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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The Merchant Of Venice Characters edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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The Merchant Of Venice Context edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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The Merchant Of Venice Writers Methods And Techniques edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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The Merchant Of Venice Key Quotations edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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The Merchant Of Venice Character Quotations edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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The Merchant Of Venice Plot Summary edexcel 1-Shakespeare
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Post 1914 Literature Overview edexcel1 主题
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How To Answer The Post 1914 Literature Question edexcel6 主题
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British Play What The Question Is Asking edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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British Play How To Get Full Marks edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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British Play Mark Scheme And Model Answer edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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British Novel What The Question Is Asking edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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British Novel How To Get Full Marks edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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British Novel Mark Scheme And Model Answer edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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British Play What The Question Is Asking edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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An Inspector Calls edexcel15 主题
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An Inspector Calls Plot Summary edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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An Inspector Calls Themes edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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An Inspector Calls Key Theme Responsibility And Guilt edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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An Inspector Calls Key Theme Capitalism Vs Socialism edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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An Inspector Calls Key Theme Class edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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An Inspector Calls Key Theme Gender edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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An Inspector Calls Characters edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Inspector Goole Analysis edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Arthur Birling Analysis edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Sheila Birling Analysis edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Eric Birling Analysis edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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An Inspector Calls Context edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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An Inspector Calls Writers Methods And Techniques edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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An Inspector Calls Key Quotations edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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An Inspector Calls Character Quotations edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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An Inspector Calls Plot Summary edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Animal Farm edexcel7 主题
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Animal Farm Plot Summary edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Animal Farm Themes edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Animal Farm Characters edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Animal Farm Context edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Animal Farm Writers Methods And Techniques edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Animal Farm Key Quotations edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Animal Farm Character Quotations edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Animal Farm Plot Summary edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Blood Brothers edexcel7 主题
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Blood Brothers Plot Summary edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Blood Brothers Themes edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Blood Brothers Characters edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Blood Brothers Context edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Blood Brothers Writers Methods And Techniques edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Blood Brothers Key Quotations edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Blood Brothers Character Quotations edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Blood Brothers Plot Summary edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Lord Of The Flies edexcel7 主题
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Lord Of The Flies Plot Summary edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Lord Of The Flies Themes edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Lord Of The Flies Characters edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Lord Of The Flies Context edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Lord Of The Flies Writers Methods And Techniques edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Lord Of The Flies Key Quotations edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Lord Of The Flies Character Quotations edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Lord Of The Flies Plot Summary edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Anita And Me edexcel7 主题
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Anita And Me Plot Summary edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Anita And Me Themes edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Anita And Me Characters edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Anita And Me Context edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Anita And Me Writers Methods And Techniques edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Anita And Me Key Quotations edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Anita And Me Character Quotations edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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Anita And Me Plot Summary edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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The Woman In Black edexcel7 主题
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The Woman In Black Plot Summary edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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The Woman In Black Themes edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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The Woman In Black Characters edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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The Woman In Black Context edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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The Woman In Black Writers Methods And Techniques edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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The Woman In Black Key Quotations edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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The Woman In Black Character Quotations edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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The Woman In Black Plot Summary edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature
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19th Century Novel Overview edexcel1 主题
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How To Answer The 19th Century Novel Questions edexcel6 主题
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Part A What The Question Is Asking edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Part A How To Get Full Marks edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Part A Mark Scheme And Model Answer edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Part B What The Question Is Asking edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Part B How To Get Full Marks edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Part B Mark Scheme And Model Answer edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Part A What The Question Is Asking edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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A Christmas Carol edexcel15 主题
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A Christmas Carol Plot Summary edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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A Christmas Carol Themes edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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A Christmas Carol Key Theme Poverty edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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A Christmas Carol Key Theme Family And Relationships edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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A Christmas Carol Key Theme Transformation And Redemption edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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A Christmas Carol Key Theme Death And Loss edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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A Christmas Carol Characters edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Scrooge Character Analysis edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Bob Cratchit Character Analysis edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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The Three Spirits Character Analysis edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Jacob Marley Character Analysis edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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A Christmas Carol Context edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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A Christmas Carol Writers Methods And Techniques edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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A Christmas Carol Key Quotations edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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A Christmas Carol Character Quotations edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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A Christmas Carol Plot Summary edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde edexcel7 主题
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Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Plot Summary edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Themes edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Characters edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Context edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Writers Methods And Techniques edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Key Quotations edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Character Quotations edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Plot Summary edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Pride And Prejudice edexcel7 主题
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Pride And Prejudice Plot Summary edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Pride And Prejudice Themes edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Pride And Prejudice Characters edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Pride And Prejudice Context edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Pride And Prejudice Writers Methods And Techniques edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Pride And Prejudice Key Quotations edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Pride And Prejudice Character Quotations edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Pride And Prejudice Plot Summary edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Silas Marner edexcel7 主题
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Silas Marner Plot Summary edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Silas Marner Themes edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Silas Marner Characters edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Silas Marner Context edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Silas Marner Writers Methods And Techniques edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Silas Marner Key Quotations edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Silas Marner Character Quotations edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Silas Marner Plot Summary edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Frankenstein edexcel7 主题
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Frankenstein Plot Summary edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Frankenstein Themes edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Frankenstein Characters edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Frankenstein Context edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Frankenstein Writers Methods And Techniques edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Frankenstein Key Quotations edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Frankenstein Character Quotations edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Frankenstein Plot Summary edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Great Expectations edexcel7 主题
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Great Expectations Plot Summary edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Great Expectations Themes edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Great Expectations Characters edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Great Expectations Context edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Great Expectations Writers Methods And Techniques edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Great Expectations Key Quotations edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Great Expectations Character Quotations edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Great Expectations Plot Summary edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Jane Eyre edexcel7 主题
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Jane Eyre Plot Summary edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Jane Eyre Themes edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Jane Eyre Characters edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Jane Eyre Context edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Jane Eyre Writers Methods And Techniques edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Jane Eyre Key Quotations edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Jane Eyre Character Quotations edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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Jane Eyre Plot Summary edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel
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How To Answer The Poetry Anthology Question edexcel3 主题
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Relationships edexcel16 主题
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Relationships Poetry Overview edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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La Belle Dame Sans Merci edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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A Child To His Sick Grandfather edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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She Walks In Beauty edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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A Complaint edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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Neutral Tones edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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Sonnet 43 edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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My Last Duchess edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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1st Date She And 1st Date He edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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Valentine edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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One Flesh edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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I Wanna Be Yours edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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Loves Dog edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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Nettles edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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The Manhunt edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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My Father Would Not Show Us edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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Relationships Poetry Overview edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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Conflict edexcel16 主题
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Conflict Poetry Overview edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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A Poison Tree edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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The Destruction Of Sennacherib edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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Extract From The Prelude edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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The Man He Killed edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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Cousin Kate edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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Exposure edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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The Charge Of The Light Brigade edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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Half Caste edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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Catrin edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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War Photographer edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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Belfast Confetti edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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The Class Game edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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Poppies edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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No Problem edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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What Were They Like edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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Conflict Poetry Overview edexcel 4-The-Poetry-Anthology
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How To Answer The Unseen Poetry Question edexcel3 主题
Romeo And Juliet Key Theme Honour edexcel 1-Shakespeare
Exam code:1ET0
Honour timeline
The theme of honour in each act of Romeo and Juliet:
What are the elements of honour in Romeo and Juliet?
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The Montague and Capulet feud: The Capulets and Montagues both consider family honour an important part of life, as the regular brawls that disturb the public peace reflect
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Tybalt’s obsession: Tybalt does not recognise the act of murder as a crime if it is in defence of his family honour:
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“Now, by the stock and honour of my kin, / To strike him dead I hold it not a sin”
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Juliet’s defiance: Lord Capulet arranges the marriage of Juliet to Paris, “this noble earl”, emphasising the importance of family reputation and honour as marriage to Paris would promote the family’s status in Verona:
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Lord Capulet is infuriated by Juliet’s apparent lack of honour: “An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets”
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Romeo’s rejection: Shakespeare highlights the importance of love over family honour as Romeo is willing to give up his name for Juliet in order to be with her:
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“I never will be Romeo”
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The impact of honour on characters
Honour is a central theme in the play and the long-standing feud between the warring households strengthens their family loyalty and justifies much of the violence throughout the play. The emphasis on loyalty and honour to kin also creates a conflict for Romeo and Juliet, who rebel against their families.
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Character |
Impact |
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Servants |
The servants are loyal and dedicated to the honour of the families they serve:
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Juliet |
To prove his commitment to her, Juliet demands Romeo prove his “bent of love be honourable” and that “thy purpose marriage”:
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Romeo |
Romeo does not engage in a duel with Tybalt at first because of his loyalty to Juliet, but his loyalty to Mercutio eventually drives him to kill Tybalt:
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Tybalt |
Tybalt’s obsession with family honour and his desire to kill Romeo for attending the Capulet ball highlight the hatred between the Capulets and Montagues. |
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Mercutio |
Duelling was an established way of restoring honour between two parties in disagreement and Mercutio steps in to fight Tybalt, when Romeo refuses, to protect Romeo’s honour:
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Lord Capulet |
Juliet’s refusal to marry Paris results in Lord Capulet’s threat to disown her as he perceives her act of defiance as a sign of dishonour:
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Why does Shakespeare use the theme of honour in his play?
1. Setting and atmosphere
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Shakespeare establishes honour as a central value which governs many characters’ lives
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Creates tension and violence as honour is tied to family pride and revenge
2. Plot driver
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Drives the conflict between the characters as the desire to defend family honour results in the death of Mercutio and Tybalt
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Influences the tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet as their rejection of family honour leads to their demise
3. Audience appeal
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Appeals to Shakespeare’s audience as they would have associated Italy with powerful families and the obsession with status: a place where a strong sense of family honour could often lead to feuding and acts of revenge
4. Dramatic device
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Heightens the dramatic tension as honour is a constant source of friction between the Montagues and the Capulets
Exam-style questions on the theme of honour
Try planning a response to the following essay questions as part of your revision of the theme of honour:
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How does Shakespeare portray the conflict between honour and love in the play? (You could start with Act 3, Scene 1.)
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To what extent does honour dictate the action of the characters in the play? (You could start with Act 1, Scene 1.)
Sources
Stanley Wells and Gary Taylor (eds), 2005, The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works (Second Edition), Oxford University Press
Responses