For students heading into GCSE, and parents who want to keep up
If your teenager (and by extension, you) is about to start GCSE English Literature, this is the paper to get ahead on. And the long summer holidays is the time to do it. Paper 1 typically covers two of the biggest texts in the curriculum: a Shakespeare play and a 19th-century novel. That might mean Macbeth and A Christmas Carol, Romeo and Juliet and Jekyll and Hyde, or, in some Edexcel cases, a modern(ish) play like An Inspector Calls paired with Shakespeare. Either way, the themes are rich: ambition, guilt, justice, identity, power. Iconic texts every one and I’d bet good money you studied at least one of them at GCSE (O Level).
This isn’t a reading list disguised as revision. It’s a summer-friendly mix of films, podcasts, and context boosters designed to help students feel confident come September and give parents a way into the texts that will dominate the conversation by mock season.
Ambition, Witches, and Regicide
Macbeth
Watch: Macbeth – starring David Tennant and Cush Jumbo
A gripping, modern take filmed on stage at the Donmar. Stark lighting and tense performances bring the play’s psychological unravelling to the forefront. Read more my review.
Listen: You’re Dead to Me – Shakespeare
Greg Jenner and guests unpack Shakespeare’s world with wit and insight. A quick, clever listen that’s far more memorable than a revision guide.
Ghosts, Greed, and Redemption
A Christmas Carol
Watch: The Muppet Christmas Carol
Yes, seriously. Michael Caine plays Scrooge (so already worth it) and much of Dickens’ original language remains intact. It's a surprisingly effective way to grasp structure, tone, and transformation - all with the help of singing vegetables.
Listen: You’re Dead to Me – Charles DickensA smart, funny dive into Dickens’ life, social conscience, and the Victorian context behind the ghosts. If you’re unsure where to begin with background knowledge, start here.
Science, Secrets, and Split Selves
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Watch: Doctor Jekyll (2023), starring Eddie Izzard
This eerie modern reimagining brings Stevenson’s tale into the present day, with all the tension and transformation intact. A great intro to the novella’s enduring questions about identity, control, and human nature. Also it's Eddie Izzard...
Read: The Glass Scientists (webcomic/graphic novel)
A steampunk take on Jekyll and his scientific misfits. Witty, dramatic, and packed with ethical messiness - ideal for students who enjoy character-driven stories with a visual twist.
Guilt and Social Conscience
An Inspector Calls
Listen: History Extra – The Edwardians
Unpacks the inequality, tradition, and unrest bubbling beneath Priestley’s play. Ideal for understanding why it’s still being staged - and studied - today.
Listen: An Inspector Calls on Moscow - BBC Sounds
The context for An Inspector Calls is everything - and sometimes gets lost - so have a listen to this fabulous radio drama and find out why J. B. Priestley choose to stage the first night in Moscow…
For Parents (and those students heading for the 9s)
Watch: The Secret Life of Books – BBC/YouTube
This thoughtful series explores why classics like Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and Great Expectations still resonate. Great for co-watching, especially if one of these is on your school’s 19th-century text list.
Why It’s Worth It
Understanding the world behind these Paper 1 texts, whether it’s Macbeth’s Scotland, Dickens’ London or the shadowy streets of Brumley - helps students move from basic comprehension to high-level insight. The best answers don’t just spot techniques; they link them to big ideas and deeper meanings.
Coming next time: Summer Enrichment – Paper 2
Poetry and Modern Texts, for when the ghosts and daggers are (mostly) done.
