English Paper 2 was a suitably challenging exam that rewarded preparation and critical thinking.
The questions on the Single Text, King Lear, were likely demanding for some students due to wordy phrasing and the absence of a named character prompt.
Here, students were expected to engage with broader themes and issues in the play, such as the portrayal of characters as both “victims and persecutors,” and the conflict between “a world of justice and order and a world of chaos and cruelty.”
The Comparative Study section was more straightforward. One ‘Theme or Issue’ question invited students to examine how characters’ behaviour across texts revealed “interesting lessons about a theme or issue”—an open-ended prompt encouraging thoughtful comparisons.
The Unseen Poem, As Far as Turn Back, by Irish poet Pat Boran, was engaging and accessible. The task evaluating the poet’s use of language as “both clever and skilful” offered a clear analytical focus while allowing room for interpretation.
All students were likely pleased with the selection of prescribed poets, including the much-anticipated Eavan Boland, Derek Mahon, and Patrick Kavanagh, alongside Tracy K. Smith and T.S. Eliot.
Again, these questions encouraged creative responses and allowed students to showcase their appreciation of each poet’s work. Overall, this was a demanding but fair paper that rewarded application and thorough preparation.
