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BGS English Revision Podcast

61 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago -

A Bristol Grammar School revision podcast designed to help you revise for the CIE English Literature IGCSE and the Edexcel Language IGCSE.

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Episodes

Literature Paper 1 - Prose - Purple Hibiscus - Violence

April 25, 2024 20:00 - 27 minutes - 18.8 MB

Ms Yemenakis and Mr Forster discuss an extract question on violence in Chapter 11. Don't forget to download the handout here.

Literature Paper 3 - Bonus Bites - Iago as the devil in 'Othello'

April 15, 2024 17:00 - 6 minutes - 4.41 MB

In our Bonus Bites episodes, we explore a single theme, idea, or motif in a short lecture. These are not exemplar essays. Rather, you should think of them as ideas you could transplant into different essays that you write—especially if you are tackling the whole text question. Don't forget to download the handout here. The following lecture is an excerpt from Alexander G. Gonzalez’s essay ‘The Infection and Spread of Evil: Some Major Patterns of Imagery and Language in Othello (1985). I wi...

Literature Paper 3 - Bonus Bites - Animal Imagery in 'Othello'

April 15, 2024 17:00 - 12 minutes - 8.77 MB

In our Bonus Bites episodes, we explore a single theme, idea, or motif in a short lecture. These are not exemplar essays. Rather, you should think of them as ideas you could transplant into different essays that you write—especially if you are tackling the whole text question. Don't forget to download the handout here. The following lecture is an excerpt from Alexander G. Gonzalez’s essay ‘The Infection and Spread of Evil: Some Major Patterns of Imagery and Language in Othello (1985). I wi...

Literature Paper 3 - Bonus Bites - Religious language and imagery in 'Othello'

April 15, 2024 16:00 - 11 minutes - 7.94 MB

In our Bonus Bites episodes, we explore a single theme, idea, or motif in a short lecture. These are not exemplar essays. Rather, you should think of them as ideas you could transplant into different essays that you write—especially if you are tackling the whole text question. Don't forget to download the handout here. The following lecture is an excerpt from Alexander G. Gonzalez’s essay ‘The Infection and Spread of Evil: Some Major Patterns of Imagery and Language in Othello (1985). I wi...

Literature Paper 3 - Bonus Bites - The motif of light and dark in 'Othello'

April 15, 2024 16:00 - 10 minutes - 7.33 MB

In our Bonus Bites episodes, we explore a single theme, idea, or motif in a short lecture. These are not exemplar essays. Rather, you should think of them as ideas you could transplant into different essays that you write—especially if you are tackling the whole text question. Don't forget to download the handout here. The following lecture is an excerpt from Alexander G. Gonzalez’s essay ‘The Infection and Spread of Evil: Some Major Patterns of Imagery and Language in Othello (1985). I wi...

Literature Paper 3 - Bonus Bites - The motif of infection in 'Othello'

April 15, 2024 16:00 - 8 minutes - 6.14 MB

In our Bonus Bites episodes, we explore a single theme, idea, or motif in a short lecture. These are not exemplar essays. Rather, you should think of them as ideas you could transplant into different essays that you write—especially if you are tackling the whole text question. Don't forget to download the handout here. The following lecture is an excerpt from Alexander G. Gonzalez’s essay ‘The Infection and Spread of Evil: Some Major Patterns of Imagery and Language in Othello (1985). I w...

Literature Paper 1 - Prose - Purple Hibiscus - Father Amadi

April 15, 2024 10:00 - 16 minutes - 11.7 MB

Two of our Year 11 students, Amelie and Evie, present a podcast on the presentation of Father Amadi. Don't forget to download the handout here. This is a great way to revise. Why don't you take a past question on the novel and write your own essay plan along the same lines? You could even record a podcast with a friend if you wanted. Here are a few questions you could try: PH - Ending.docx; PH- Papa's-Death-Phone-Call.docx; PH - The-Painting.docx; PH - Tense-and-Shocking-Moment-(Feet).docx...

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - Ted Hughes - 'Snowdrop'

March 12, 2024 09:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MB

Ms Yemenakis and Ms Yemenakis discuss 'Snowdrop'. Don't forget to download the handout here.

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - Ted Hughes - 'Football at Slack'

March 12, 2024 09:00 - 22 minutes - 15.2 MB

Mr Forster and Ms Yemenakis talk about 'Football at Slack'. Don't forget to download the handout here.

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - Ted Hughes - 'The Other'

February 06, 2024 09:00 - 21 minutes - 15 MB

Mr Evans and Mr Forster talk about the presentation of relationships in 'The Other'. Download the handout here and do check out this documentary if you want to find out more about Hughes's relationships: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGsNXUXIiRo

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - Ted Hughes - 'Relic'

January 30, 2024 12:00 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MB

Ms Yemenakis and Mr Forster discuss the brutality of the natural world in 'Relic'. Don't forget to download the podcast here.

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - Ted Hughes - 'A Memory'

July 06, 2023 19:00 - 22 minutes - 15.6 MB

In this episode Ms Yemenakis talks with two of our Sixth Form English scholars,  Evie and Nat, about 'A Memory'. Don't forget to download the handout here.

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - Ted Hughes - 'Cat and Mouse'

May 05, 2023 11:00 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MB

Ms Yemenakis and Mr Forster explore one of the more tricky poems: 'Cat and Mouse'. Don't forget to download the handout here.

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - Ted Hughes - 'The Horses'

May 05, 2023 11:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MB

Mr Forster and Ms Yemenakis discuss 'The Horses'. Don't forget to download the handout here.

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - Ted Hughes - 'The Jaguar'

May 04, 2023 20:00 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MB

Ms Yemenakis and Mr Forster discuss Ted Hughes' poem, 'The Jaguar'. Don't forget to download the handout here.

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - Ted Hughes - 'Roe Deer'

May 02, 2023 15:00 - 25 minutes - 17.8 MB

Mr Forster and Ms Yemenakis discuss 'Roe Deer'. Don't forget to download the handout here.

Literature Paper 1 - Prose - Purple Hibiscus - Ch 14

March 20, 2023 21:00 - 23 minutes - 16.1 MB

Mr Forster and Ms Yemenakis discuss an extract question on chapter 14 of the novel. Don't forget to download the handout here.

Literature Paper 3 - Journey's End - Opening to Act 2

March 16, 2023 13:00 - 25 minutes - 17.4 MB

Ms Yemenakis and Mr Forster look at the opening to Act 2 of 'Journey's End'. Don't forget to download the handout here.

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - Ted Hughes - 'Telegraph Wires'

March 07, 2023 23:00 - 25 minutes - 17.7 MB

Mr Briggs and Ms Yemenakis discuss Ted Hughes' 'Telegraph Wires'. Here is a link to the handout.

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - Ted Hughes - 'Hawk Roosting'

February 24, 2023 10:00 - 19 minutes - 13.5 MB

Mrs Bale and Mr Forster talk about 'Hawk Roosting'. Don't forget to download the handout here.

Literature Paper 3 - 'Journey's End' - Act 3 - Raleigh's Death

January 27, 2023 09:00 - 20 minutes - 13.8 MB

Ms Whitehead and Ms Yemenakis discuss a question on act 3 of 'Journey's End', looking at Raleigh's death. Don't forget to download the handout here.

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - Ted Hughes - 'The Thought Fox'

January 26, 2023 13:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MB

Mr Biddle discusses 'The Thought Fox' with some of our U6th scholars. Don't forget to download the handout here.

Literature Paper 3 - Journey's End - end of Act 1

January 15, 2023 19:00 - 22 minutes - 15.5 MB

Ms Thomas and Ms Yemenakis discuss another extract from act 1 of Journey's End. Don't forget to download the handout here.

Literature Paper 3 - Journey's End - Act 1 - Raleigh's arrival

January 12, 2023 21:00 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MB

Ms Yemenakis and Ms Thomas discuss an extract from Act 1 of Journey's End. Don't forget to download the handout here

Literature Paper 3 - Journey's End - Act 1

January 12, 2023 21:00 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MB

Ms Yemenakis and Ms Thomas discuss an extract from Act 1 of Journey's End.

Journey's End - Bonus Bites 1 - Food

December 23, 2022 21:00 - 9 minutes - 6.43 MB

Ms Yemenakis records a short episode on the motif of food in Journey's End.  The Bonus Bites podcasts are designed to look at a single motif or theme in a text, rather than tackling a specific exam question. 

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - Ted Hughes - 'Wind'

October 16, 2022 18:00 - 18 minutes - 12.5 MB

Ms Yemenakis and Mr Forster discuss the following question: Q) How does Hughes vividly portray the power of nature in ‘Wind’? Don't forget to download the handout here.

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - Ted Hughes - 'Harvest Moon'

September 26, 2022 16:00 - 21 minutes - 15.1 MB

Ms Yemenakis and Mr Forster discuss the following question: Q) How does Ted Hughes vividly present the moon in ‘The Harvest Moon’? Don't forget to download the handout here.

Othello - Female Characters

May 04, 2022 17:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MB

Ms Yemenakis and Mr Forster discuss a whole-text question on the presentation of female characters in Othello. Don't forget to download the handout here.

Othello 5.2 - A Disturbing Moment

May 04, 2022 17:00 - 25 minutes - 17.3 MB

Mr Forster and Ms Yemenakis discuss what makes Act 5, Scene 2 so disturbing. Don't forget to download the handout here.

Othello - Female Characters

May 04, 2022 17:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MB

Ms Yemenakis and Mr Forster discuss a whole-text question on the presentation of female characters in Othello. Don't forget to download the handout here.

Othello Act 3.3 - A Significant Moment

March 31, 2022 15:00 - 24 minutes - 16.5 MB

Mr Briggs and one of our English scholars, Maddy, discuss a pivotal scene in Othello: Act 3, Scene 3. Don't forget to download the handout here.

Othello Act 4.3 - A Moving Moment

March 31, 2022 15:00 - 22 minutes - 15.5 MB

Ms Yemenakis and Mr Evans discuss the willow scene. Here is the handout.

Othello Act 2.1 - A Revealing Moment

March 29, 2022 23:00 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MB

Mr Biddle and Ms Yemenakis have recorded an episode that should really stretch your understanding of the play: a fascinating discussion about precisely what makes Act 2, Scene 1 a revealing moment. Don't forget to download the handout here.

Othello Act 1.3 - Othello's speech

March 29, 2022 22:00 - 20 minutes - 14 MB

Mrs Bale and Mr Forster discuss the presentation of Othello in Act 1, Scene 3. Don't forget to download the revision handout here.

Othello Act 1.3 - Iago

March 25, 2022 13:00 - 23 minutes - 16.3 MB

Mr Forster and one our of English Scholars, Loreta, discuss the presentation of Iago in Act 1, Scene 3 of Othello. Click here to download the revision handout.

Othello Act 1.1 - Iago

March 25, 2022 09:00 - 24 minutes - 16.8 MB

Ms Yemenakis and one of our English Scholars, Isla, discuss the presentation of Iago in Act 1, Scene 1 of Othello. Don't forget to click on this link to see the handout, which includes the question, essay plan, and key vocabulary.

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - 'Sonnet 43'

February 22, 2021 22:00 - 25 minutes - 17.4 MB

Ms Yemenakis and Jasleen discuss the following question: Q) How does Elizabeth Barrett Browning powerfully express the strength of her love in 'Sonnet 43'? https://drive.google.com/file/d/1byJ0-cV6G5LIMKcp33uUdKh72qpSrNVs/view?usp=sharing

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - 'Muliebrity'

February 05, 2021 16:00 - 21 minutes - 15 MB

Ben and Mr Forster discuss the following question: How does Bhatt use words and images to create vivid scenes in her poem 'Muliebrity'? Here is the handout with the plan and the key vocabulary: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MmWcW9K-zUrrHTOnrwEPeCkcExzyVOo1/view?usp=sharing

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - 'Sonnet 29'

February 04, 2021 15:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MB

Aniella joins Mr Forster today for an episode on Edna St Vincent Millay's 'Sonnet 29': How does Millay use words and images to convey powerful emotions in Sonnet 29? https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VEV6zQofL0XNsIM06ZTliLcO9D082wcT/view?usp=sharing

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - 'Amends'

January 21, 2021 16:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MB

Ms Yemenakis and Mr Forster discuss the following question: How does Adrienne Rich use words and images to create striking effects in ‘Amends’? Don't forget to download the handout here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1REAlkC1U5Rotqx9VgATHdzbHSaXugi3w/view?usp=sharing

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - 'She Dwelt Among the Untrodden Ways'

December 11, 2020 17:00 - 25 minutes - 17.6 MB

In this episode, Ms Yemenakis and one of our Sixth Form Scholars, Ben, discuss the following question: Q) How does Wordsworth powerfully portray a sense of love and loss in ‘She Dwelt Among the Untrodden Ways’? Click here for the handout: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w7tvn29yBWMIvl0ZuH8-w4gKfALIzLuR/view?usp=sharing

Literature Paper 1 - Stories of Ourselves - The Moving Finger

December 11, 2020 17:00 - 36 minutes - 25.1 MB

Mr Briggs and Ms Thomas discuss the following question: Q) In what ways does Edith Wharton create a vivid impression of the second Mrs Grancy and her portrait in ‘The Moving Finger’? Here is the handout: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X-hro-HDy67p-tTD36KowERMTXhNoZLK/view?usp=sharing

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - 'Those Winter Sundays'

December 04, 2020 17:00 - 18 minutes - 13.1 MB

One of our English Scholars, Ella, joins Mr Forster today to discuss the following question: Q) How does Hayden make ‘Those Winter Sundays’ such a poignant poem? The handout for the episode can be accessed here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18LnKlzzU3NqkfpD-XTFmIu7OEnDCFfcq/view?usp=sharing

Literature Paper 1 - Stories of Ourselves - Journey by Patricia Grace

October 16, 2020 15:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MB

Ms Thomas and Mr Briggs discuss the following question on Patricia Grace's short story, 'Journey' from Songs of Ourselves: How does Grace movingly portray the old man at this point in the story? Don't forget to download the handout here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JH6uhJymePIjVRFibwYHkCIBr-vveD4-/view?usp=sharing

1. Literature Paper 1 - Stories of Ourselves - Journey by Patricia Grace

October 16, 2020 15:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MB

Ms Thomas and Mr Briggs discuss the following question on Patricia Grace's short story, 'Journey' from Songs of Ourselves: How does Grace movingly portray the old man at this point in the story? Don't forget to download the handout here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JH6uhJymePIjVRFibwYHkCIBr-vveD4-/view?usp=sharing

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - 'Little Boy Crying'

October 07, 2020 06:00 - 19 minutes - 13.3 MB

Ms Yemenakis and Mr Forster discuss the following question: Explore the ways in which Mervyn Morris vividly conveys the feelings of the father in ‘Little Boy Crying’. Don't forget to download the revision handout that goes with this episode: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15JU8OXP-28Zf-gD3e0fTuq_sM42Om860/view?usp=sharing

Literature Paper 3 - 'Macbeth' - Choice

March 17, 2020 14:00 - 23 minutes - 16.3 MB

Ms Yemenakis, Mr Hofman, and Mr Forster discuss the following question for Literature Paper 3: To what extent does Shakespeare suggest that Macbeth’s choices in the play are driven entirely by the disturbing power of the witches? Don't forget to download the handout to add it to your revision folders: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14kTlLv3obrEcVxBnKhQDoOmydyHMDfqJ/view?usp=sharing

Bonus Bites 2 - Borrowed Robes in 'Macbeth'

March 13, 2020 16:00 - 11 minutes - 7.72 MB

Mr Briggs explores the significance of 'borrowed robes' in 'Macbeth'. Download the handout here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UvJkpxl4kfYvUVv4LgKc4MKoVj7CStZs/view?usp=sharing

Literature Paper 1 - Poetry - 'Rising Five'

March 05, 2020 21:00 - 21 minutes - 15.1 MB

Analysis of 'Rising Five'. Ms Yemenakis, Mr Briggs, and Mr Forster answer the following question: Explore how Norman Nicholson powerfully portrays feelings about the passing of time in ‘Rising Five’. Don't forget to download the revision handout that goes with this episode: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1vbOgILZArw2qPKvFmzNmfJeZDQV1k0_5