Modern Texts is a core part of GCSE English Literature. Revise the key concepts and common mistakes below, then lock them in with the free games.
Key concepts
Post-1914Texts written after the First World War
DystopiaA nightmare future or broken society
AllegoryStory where every element has a deeper meaning
Morality playDrama that teaches a moral lesson
CapitalismEconomy run by private profit and wages
SocialismBelief in shared wealth and responsibility
Stage directionsNotes telling actors how to behave on stage
SymbolismUsing objects to stand for ideas
MicrocosmA small world that stands for a bigger one
ForeshadowingA clue hinting at what's coming
CatalystA character or event that triggers change
MouthpieceA character voicing the author's views
PolemicA strong written attack on a view
DidacticDesigned to teach a moral lesson
Common mistakes to avoid
Questions where students often pick the tempting wrong answer — make sure you know the right one:
What does analysing a novel involve?✗ Summarising the plot of the story. ✓ Examining how the writer uses character, structure, language and themes.
Is the narrator always honest and the same as the author?✗ Yes, the narrator always tells the truth and is the author. ✓ No — narrators can be unreliable and are distinct from the author.
Practise Modern Texts — free games
Test yourself with these quick revision games for this topic:
See all 17 games in the Subjects Arcade →
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