OCR A Level English Literature Comparative and
contextual study (H472/02)
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
May 2026 – Morning
A Level English Literature
H472/02 Comparative and contextual study
Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
Do not use:
• a dictionary
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.
• Answer two questions from the topic you have chosen.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 60.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• This document has 16 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 3
Answer two questions from the topic you have chosen.
Topics Questions Pages
American Literature 1880–1940 1&2 4–5
The Gothic 3&4 6–7
Dystopia 5&6 8–9
Women in Literature 7&8 10–11
The Immigrant Experience 9 & 10 12–13
Turn over
, 4
American Literature 1880–1940
Answer Question 1.
Then answer Question 2(a) or 2(b) or 2(c).
You should spend about 1 hour and 15 minutes on each question.
1 Write a critical appreciation of this passage, relating your discussion to your reading of American
Literature 1880–1940. [30]
Haskins is a struggling farmer who has recently moved to Iowa hoping to improve life for himself
and his family. He has rented a neglected farm and an experienced local farmer called Stephen
Council has been giving him help and advice.
© gutenberg.org, Project Gutenberg. Item removed due to third party copyright restrictions. Link to material - www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/2809/pg2809-images.html#Chapter05
1
field of the cloth of gold: a summit meeting in 1520 between Henry VIII of England and Francis I
of France notable for a magnificent display of wealth by both kings.
, 5
In your answer to Question 2, you must compare at least two texts from the list.
At least one text must be from the two texts at the top of the list in bold.
F Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby
John Steinbeck: The Grapes of Wrath
Henry James: The Portrait of a Lady
Mark Twain: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Theodore Dreiser: Sister Carrie
Willa Cather: My Ántonia
Edith Wharton: The Age of Innocence
William Faulkner: The Sound and the Fury
Ernest Hemingway: A Farewell to Arms
Nella Larsen: Passing
Richard Wright: Native Son
Either
2 (a) F Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby
‘American literature emphasises the importance of second chances.’
By comparing The Great Gatsby with at least one other text prescribed for this topic, discuss
how far you agree with this view. [30]
Or
(b) John Steinbeck: The Grapes of Wrath
‘Self-reliance is a key quality for characters in American literature.’
By comparing The Grapes of Wrath with at least one other text prescribed for this topic,
discuss how far you agree with this view. [30]
Or
(c) ‘American literature shows us a society which lacks compassion.’
By comparing at least two texts prescribed for this topic, discuss how far you have found this
to be the case.
In your answer you must include discussion of either The Great Gatsby and/or The Grapes
of Wrath. [30]
Turn over
contextual study (H472/02)
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
May 2026 – Morning
A Level English Literature
H472/02 Comparative and contextual study
Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
You must have:
• the OCR 12-page Answer Booklet
Do not use:
• a dictionary
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.
• Answer two questions from the topic you have chosen.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 60.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• This document has 16 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 3
Answer two questions from the topic you have chosen.
Topics Questions Pages
American Literature 1880–1940 1&2 4–5
The Gothic 3&4 6–7
Dystopia 5&6 8–9
Women in Literature 7&8 10–11
The Immigrant Experience 9 & 10 12–13
Turn over
, 4
American Literature 1880–1940
Answer Question 1.
Then answer Question 2(a) or 2(b) or 2(c).
You should spend about 1 hour and 15 minutes on each question.
1 Write a critical appreciation of this passage, relating your discussion to your reading of American
Literature 1880–1940. [30]
Haskins is a struggling farmer who has recently moved to Iowa hoping to improve life for himself
and his family. He has rented a neglected farm and an experienced local farmer called Stephen
Council has been giving him help and advice.
© gutenberg.org, Project Gutenberg. Item removed due to third party copyright restrictions. Link to material - www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/2809/pg2809-images.html#Chapter05
1
field of the cloth of gold: a summit meeting in 1520 between Henry VIII of England and Francis I
of France notable for a magnificent display of wealth by both kings.
, 5
In your answer to Question 2, you must compare at least two texts from the list.
At least one text must be from the two texts at the top of the list in bold.
F Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby
John Steinbeck: The Grapes of Wrath
Henry James: The Portrait of a Lady
Mark Twain: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Theodore Dreiser: Sister Carrie
Willa Cather: My Ántonia
Edith Wharton: The Age of Innocence
William Faulkner: The Sound and the Fury
Ernest Hemingway: A Farewell to Arms
Nella Larsen: Passing
Richard Wright: Native Son
Either
2 (a) F Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby
‘American literature emphasises the importance of second chances.’
By comparing The Great Gatsby with at least one other text prescribed for this topic, discuss
how far you agree with this view. [30]
Or
(b) John Steinbeck: The Grapes of Wrath
‘Self-reliance is a key quality for characters in American literature.’
By comparing The Grapes of Wrath with at least one other text prescribed for this topic,
discuss how far you agree with this view. [30]
Or
(c) ‘American literature shows us a society which lacks compassion.’
By comparing at least two texts prescribed for this topic, discuss how far you have found this
to be the case.
In your answer you must include discussion of either The Great Gatsby and/or The Grapes
of Wrath. [30]
Turn over
