Set texts for examination in 2026 – Paper 1 - Section A: Poetry - Songs of Ourselves Volume 1 — Cambridge International IGCSE English Literature
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Set texts for examination in 2026 – Paper 1 - Section A: Poetry - Songs of Ourselves Volume 1 explained
This row names William Blake's poem ‘The Chimney-Sweeper’ as a set poem for Paper 1 Section A in 2026, studied through Songs of Ourselves Volume 1.
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An extended response asks you to build a sustained argument about how Blake shapes meaning, using close reference to the poem's language, form and structure. Work from the poem as printed in your anthology: track who speaks, where a voice shifts, and how images of childhood, labour, religion and consolation are built. Quote only wording you can verify in your copy, and say whether a line is the child speaking, an adult speaker reporting, or the narrator. Plan a clear line of argument, then select two or three short quotations or precise references to support each point, always explaining the effect on a reader rather than listing features.
Your focus
- Analyse how Blake uses language, form and structure to create meaning in ‘The Chimney-Sweeper’.
- Distinguish between the voices in the poem and explain the effect of each.
- Construct a sustained, evidence-based argument in response to an unseen question on the poem.
Set texts for examination in 2026 – Paper 1 - Section A: Poetry - Songs of Ourselves Volume 1 exam tips
Marking Points
- Builds a sustained argument about how Blake shapes meaning through language, form and structure rather than listing poetic features.
- Identifies who speaks at each point and distinguishes the child's voice from an adult speaker or narrator reporting it.
- Supports each claim with a short verified quotation or precise reference and explains its effect on the reader.
- Connects the poem's treatment of childhood, labour and religious consolation to the question actually asked.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Read the question twice and underline the exact focus before planning, so your argument answers it directly.
- 💡Plan for two or three minutes, choosing the moments in the poem that best support your line of argument.
- 💡Leave time to reread your answer and check that every quotation is accurate and every point is explained.
Common Mistakes
- Retells the poem's story without analysing how Blake creates effects; keep every paragraph anchored to a technique and its impact.
- Attributes a line to the wrong speaker; check whether the child, an adult or the narrator is speaking before commenting.
- Quotes long passages without comment; select short phrases and explain precisely what each one achieves.