2025 OCR GCSE English Literature J352/02 Exploring poetry and
Shakespeare
Complete Question paper with Marking Scheme Combined
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must be
clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• All questions in Section A have two parts, (a) and (b). Answer both parts of the question on the
poetry cluster you have studied.
• Answer one question on the text you have studied in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 80.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 16 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 2
BLANK PAGE
© OCR J352/02
2025 Jun25
, 3
Contents Page
Section A – Poetry across time Question Page
Love and Relationships 1 4
Conflict 2 6
Youth and Age 3 8
Section B – Shakespeare Questions Page
Romeo and Juliet 4/5 10
The Merchant of Venice 6/7 11
Macbeth 8/9 12
Much Ado About Nothing 10/11 13
© OCR J352/02 Turn over
2025 Jun25
, 4
Section A Poetry
across time
Answer both parts of the question on the poetry cluster you have studied.
1 Love and Relationships
Read the two poems below and then answer both part (a) and part (b). You
should spend about 45 minutes on part (a) and 30 minutes on part (b).
(a) Compare how these poems present a relationship where one person feels more strongly than the other.
You should consider:
• ideas and attitudes in each poem
• tone and atmosphere in each poem
• the effects of the language and structure used. [20]
AND
(b) Explore in detail one other poem from your anthology which presents an unequal relationship.
[20]
Warming Her Pearls by Carol Ann Duffy Next
to my own skin, her pearls. My mistress
bids me wear them, warm them, until evening when
I’ll brush her hair. At six, I place them round her
cool, white throat. All day I think of her,
resting in the Yellow Room, contemplating silk 5
or taffeta, which gown tonight? She fans herself
whilst I work willingly, my slow heat entering each
pearl. Slack on my neck, her rope.
She’s beautiful. I dream about her
in my attic bed; picture her dancing 10
with tall men, puzzled by my faint, persistent scent beneath her
French perfume, her milky stones.
I dust her shoulders with a rabbit’s foot, watch
the soft blush seep through her skin
like an indolent sigh. In her looking-glass 15
my red lips part as though I want to speak.
Full moon. Her carriage brings her home. I see her
every movement in my head…Undressing, taking
off her jewels, her slim hand reaching
for the case, slipping naked into bed, the way 20
she always does… And I lie here
awake, knowing the pearls are cooling
even now
in the room where my mistress sleeps.
All night I feel their absence and I burn.
© OCR J352/02
2025 Jun25
Shakespeare
Complete Question paper with Marking Scheme Combined
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must be
clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• All questions in Section A have two parts, (a) and (b). Answer both parts of the question on the
poetry cluster you have studied.
• Answer one question on the text you have studied in Section B.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 80.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended response will be assessed in questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document has 16 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 2
BLANK PAGE
© OCR J352/02
2025 Jun25
, 3
Contents Page
Section A – Poetry across time Question Page
Love and Relationships 1 4
Conflict 2 6
Youth and Age 3 8
Section B – Shakespeare Questions Page
Romeo and Juliet 4/5 10
The Merchant of Venice 6/7 11
Macbeth 8/9 12
Much Ado About Nothing 10/11 13
© OCR J352/02 Turn over
2025 Jun25
, 4
Section A Poetry
across time
Answer both parts of the question on the poetry cluster you have studied.
1 Love and Relationships
Read the two poems below and then answer both part (a) and part (b). You
should spend about 45 minutes on part (a) and 30 minutes on part (b).
(a) Compare how these poems present a relationship where one person feels more strongly than the other.
You should consider:
• ideas and attitudes in each poem
• tone and atmosphere in each poem
• the effects of the language and structure used. [20]
AND
(b) Explore in detail one other poem from your anthology which presents an unequal relationship.
[20]
Warming Her Pearls by Carol Ann Duffy Next
to my own skin, her pearls. My mistress
bids me wear them, warm them, until evening when
I’ll brush her hair. At six, I place them round her
cool, white throat. All day I think of her,
resting in the Yellow Room, contemplating silk 5
or taffeta, which gown tonight? She fans herself
whilst I work willingly, my slow heat entering each
pearl. Slack on my neck, her rope.
She’s beautiful. I dream about her
in my attic bed; picture her dancing 10
with tall men, puzzled by my faint, persistent scent beneath her
French perfume, her milky stones.
I dust her shoulders with a rabbit’s foot, watch
the soft blush seep through her skin
like an indolent sigh. In her looking-glass 15
my red lips part as though I want to speak.
Full moon. Her carriage brings her home. I see her
every movement in my head…Undressing, taking
off her jewels, her slim hand reaching
for the case, slipping naked into bed, the way 20
she always does… And I lie here
awake, knowing the pearls are cooling
even now
in the room where my mistress sleeps.
All night I feel their absence and I burn.
© OCR J352/02
2025 Jun25
