OCR GCSE 9-1 ENGLISH LITERATURE
J352/02 EXPLORING POETRY AND
SHAKESPEARE 2025 ACTUAL PAPER
MERGED WITH MARK SCHEME
OCR GCSE 9-1 ENGLISH LITERATURE J352/02 EXPLORING POETRY AND
SHAKESPEARE 2025 ACTUAL PAPER MERGED WITH MARK SCHEME
, 1
Tuesday 20 May 2025 – Morning
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.
*1386213348*
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.
© OCR 2025 [601/4872/X] DC (DE) 332343/5
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
BLANK PAGE
© OCR 2025 J352/02 Jun25
, 2
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 2025 J352/02 Jun25 Turn over
, 3
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
or taffeta, which gown tonight? She fans herself 5
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 with tall men, puzzled by my
faint, persistent scent beneath her French 10
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
my red lips part as though I want to speak. 15
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 2025 J352/02 Jun25
J352/02 EXPLORING POETRY AND
SHAKESPEARE 2025 ACTUAL PAPER
MERGED WITH MARK SCHEME
OCR GCSE 9-1 ENGLISH LITERATURE J352/02 EXPLORING POETRY AND
SHAKESPEARE 2025 ACTUAL PAPER MERGED WITH MARK SCHEME
, 1
Tuesday 20 May 2025 – Morning
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.
*1386213348*
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.
© OCR 2025 [601/4872/X] DC (DE) 332343/5
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
BLANK PAGE
© OCR 2025 J352/02 Jun25
, 2
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 2025 J352/02 Jun25 Turn over
, 3
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
or taffeta, which gown tonight? She fans herself 5
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 with tall men, puzzled by my
faint, persistent scent beneath her French 10
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
my red lips part as though I want to speak. 15
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 2025 J352/02 Jun25
