GCSE English RevisionPod

About

RevisionPod - English revision made easy.Follow us on Twitter @GRevisionpodEvery week, Mr Forster and Mr Gallie bring you a dose of high energy revision to help you achieve the best possible marks in your English GCSE's. Each episode will look at a different question from your set texts and explore how we would analyse the language and contextual factors and how you can then use this knowledge to boost your essay writing. Click on the bio of each episode to download your GCSE RevisionPod handout, complete with the question we are discussing, the quotations and vocabulary we use in...

Episodes

• TRAILER FOR BONUS EPISODE - 'Worlds and Lives' episode 1 - 'Thirteen' and 'A Century Later' 2026-02-04

  This bonus episode trailer introduces a comparison of how childhood is presented in the poems 'Thirteen' by Caleb Femi and 'A Century Later' by Imtiaz Dharker. It is part of the 'Worlds and Lives' series for GCSE English revision.

• 'Worlds and Lives' episode 2 - 'A Portable Paradise' and 'Homing' 2026-02-04

  This episode compares how the poems 'A Portable Paradise' by Roger Robinson and 'Homing' by Liz Berry explore the connection between family and identity. A supporting handout is available for download.

• Last Minute Literature RevisionPod 2025-05-08

  This episode of GCSE English RevisionPod offers last-minute literature revision tips focused on improving essay grades. It details the key skills needed to elevate essays from a grade four to a grade nine.

• TRAILER FOR BONUS EPISODE - 'My Name is Leon' episode 4 (of 4) - Leon and Maureen 2025-05-01

  This is a trailer for episode 4 of the bonus series on "My Name is Leon," focusing on the complex relationship between the characters Leon and Maureen. It also provides instructions on how to subscribe for full access to bonus episodes.

• 'My Name is Leon' episode 3 (of 4) - Tufty 2025-05-01

  Episode 3 of GCSE English RevisionPod discusses the character Tufty from 'My Name is Leon'. It questions whether flawed characters can be good role models or if their imperfections make them relatable.

• 'My Name is Leon' episode 1 (of 4) - A happy story? 2025-03-02

  This episode of GCSE English Revisionpod focuses on the novel 'My Name is Leon'. It poses a seemingly simple question about the story, suggesting deeper literary analysis and essay writing opportunities for students.

• 'My Name is Leon' episode 2 (of 4) - Is Leon an admirable character? 2025-03-02

  This GCSE English RevisionPod episode examines if the character Leon is admirable, defining the term 'admirable' to help construct a detailed essay response.

• TRAILER FOR BONUS EPISODE - 'Romeo and Juliet' episode 10 (of 10) - Time 2024-09-30

  This GCSE English RevisionPod episode, the tenth on Romeo and Juliet, examines the effect of the speed of time's passing on the main characters. It covers niche questions relevant to potential essays.

• 'Romeo and Juliet' episode 9 (of 10) - The Friar 2024-09-29

  This GCSE English RevisionPod episode examines the character of the Friar in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, discussing whether he acts as a helpful friend or a traitor and coward within the play.

• 'Romeo and Juliet' episode 8 (of 10) - Fate 2024-09-29

  This GCSE English RevisionPod episode focuses on the theme of fate in 'Romeo and Juliet.' It discusses the concept of predestination and offers guidance on writing essays about this theme, aiming to build listener confidence.

• 'A Christmas Carol' episode 9 (of 9) - The Supernatural 2024-04-30

  This episode of GCSE English RevisionPod explores the supernatural elements in Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol', questioning their necessity for personal improvement and analyzing their impact on imagery and character transformation.

• TRAILER FOR BONUS EPISODE - 'A Christmas Carol' episode 8 (of 9) - Social Message 2024-04-29

  This episode of GCSE English RevisionPod discusses the social message within Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'. The content is presented as material for an essay.

• 'A Christmas Carol' episode 7 (of 9) - Hope 2024-04-28

  This GCSE English RevisionPod episode, titled 'A Christmas Carol' episode 7 of 9 - Hope, examines the theme of hope within Dickens' novella. It discusses how to transform this idea into a high-level essay response.

• 'Romeo and Juliet' episode 7 (of 10) - Change 2024-04-28

  This episode of GCSE English RevisionPod, hosted by Mr Forster and Mr Gallie, discusses constructing an essay on the theme of change in Shakespeare's tragedy, 'Romeo and Juliet'. A handout is available.

• 'A Christmas Carol' episode 6 (of 9) - Happiness 2024-04-28

  This episode of GCSE English RevisionPod analyzes the theme of happiness in 'A Christmas Carol'. It discusses the different ways happiness is presented in the novella and explores its meaning beyond financial wealth.

• TRAILER FOR BONUS EPISODE - 'Romeo and Juliet' episode 6 (of 10) - The Nurse 2024-04-28

  This GCSE English RevisionPod trailer discusses the importance of the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, suggesting she can unlock deeper thematic explorations within the play. Subscribe to hear the full bonus episode.

• 'Macbeth' episode 6 (of 6) - Attitudes to the Supernatural 2024-04-28

  This GCSE English RevisionPod episode examines Macbeth and Banquo's differing attitudes towards the supernatural, offering insights into contemporary beliefs and the role of the witches.

• 'Romeo and Juliet' episode 5 (of 10) - Death 2024-04-28

  This episode of GCSE English Revisionpod focuses on the theme of death in Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'. A handout is available for listeners.

• TRAILER FOR BONUS EPISODE - 'Macbeth' episode 5 (of 6) - To what extent is Macbeth a hero? 2024-04-27

  This trailer discusses the question "To what extent is Macbeth a hero?", exploring the complexity of labeling characters as heroes or villains and the essay writing skills needed to analyze texts holistically.

• TRAILER FOR BONUS EPISODE - 'A Christmas Carol' episode 5 (of 9) - Death 2024-03-13

  This GCSE English RevisionPod trailer previews an episode focusing on the theme of death in 'A Christmas Carol.' Hosts Mr Forster and Mr Gallie discuss how to approach essays on this topic.

• TRAILER FOR BONUS EPISODE - AQA Language Paper 1, Question 2 - Life of Pi 2021-01-13

  This is a trailer for a bonus episode of GCSE English RevisionPod focusing on AQA Language Paper 1, question 2. It explains how to analyze the writer's use of language.

• TRAILER FOR BONUS EPISODE - AQA Language Paper 1, Question 3 - Life of Pi 2021-01-13

  This is a trailer for a bonus episode of GCSE English RevisionPod. The episode will analyze the structure of a text from 'Life of Pi' to understand how the writer engages the reader, focusing on the question of when and why changes occur w…

• 'Romeo and Juliet' episode 4 (of 10) - Juliet 2020-12-30

  This GCSE English Revisionpod episode discusses the character of Juliet from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. A supplementary handout is available for download.

• 'An Inspector Calls' episode 9 (of 9) - Eric 2020-04-24

  This episode of GCSE English Revisionpod focuses on the character Eric from 'An Inspector Calls'. It discusses his actions and how the playwright, J.B. Priestley, presents him, questioning modern audience relatability.

• TRAILER FOR BONUS EPISODE - 'An Inspector Calls' episode 8 (of 9) - Mr and Mrs Birling and pride 2020-04-23

  This trailer previews a bonus episode of GCSE English RevisionPod. It discusses the role of pride in the failure of the older Birlings to understand Priestley's message, specifically how their perceived superiority to Eva Smith contributed…

• 'An Inspector Calls' episode 7 (of 9) - Gerald 2020-04-10

  This episode of GCSE English RevisionPod focuses on the character Gerald from J.B. Priestley's 'An Inspector Calls'. It examines how Gerald, while possessing some positive traits, ultimately fails to grasp the crucial lessons presented in…

• TRAILER FOR BONUS EPISODE - 'An Inspector Calls' episode 6 (of 9) - Gender 2020-04-09

  This GCSE English RevisionPod episode explores how J.B. Priestley's play 'An Inspector Calls' uses the characters of Eva Smith and Sheila to argue for improved treatment of women as a necessary part of creating a better world.

• TRAILER FOR BONUS EPISODE - 'Macbeth' episode 4 (of 6) - Bravery 2020-02-27

  This trailer previews a bonus GCSE English RevisionPod episode focusing on bravery in Shakespeare's Macbeth. Mr. Forster and Mr. Gallie discuss the meaning of bravery as depicted in the play.

• 'A Christmas Carol' episode 4 (of 9) - Social Responsibility 2020-02-17

  This GCSE English RevisionPod episode examines how Charles Dickens portrays the severe outcomes of ignoring social responsibility and the opportunities for redemption in 'A Christmas Carol'.

• 'Jekyll and Hyde' episode 4 (of 4) - The difference between Jekyll and Lanyon 2020-01-03

  This episode discusses the differences and similarities between Jekyll and Lanyon, two men of science, and explores the paradoxes within Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Jekyll and Hyde'.

• 'Macbeth' episode 3 (of 6) - Morality 2020-01-03

  This GCSE English RevisionPod episode, "Macbeth" episode 3, explores the theme of morality in Shakespeare's play. It suggests that the portrayal of morality in Macbeth may be more complex than it initially appears.

• 'Love and Relationships' episode 2 - ‘Follower’ and ‘Mother Any Distance’ 2019-11-01

  This GCSE English RevisionPod episode discusses the poems 'Follower' and 'Mother Any Distance,' examining the evolving dynamics of parent-child relationships. A handout is available for download.

• 'Love and Relationships' episode 1 - 'Winter Swans' and 'Neutral Tones' 2019-09-08

  This GCSE English Revisionpod episode focuses on the 'Love and Relationships' poetry cluster, specifically analyzing 'Winter Swans' and 'Neutral Tones'. The discussion examines how romantic feelings are depicted within the poems' bleak set…

• AQA Language Paper 2 - Question 5 - Writing to Argue and Persuade 2019-06-06

  Mr. Gallie guides students through AQA Language Paper 2, Question 5, which focuses on writing to argue and persuade. Resources for opinion-based writing and speeches are provided.

• AQA Language Paper 2 - Question 4 - Comparing Writers' Viewpoints 2019-06-06

  This GCSE English RevisionPod episode focuses on Question 4 of the AQA Language Paper 2, specifically how to compare writers' viewpoints. It provides guidance for students preparing for their exams.

• AQA Language Paper 2 - Question 2 - Comparison and Inference 2019-06-04

  This episode of GCSE English RevisionPod focuses on Question 2 of the AQA Language Paper 2, specifically addressing comparison and inference. A revision pack is available for download.

• AQA Language Paper 2 - Question 3 - Language Analysis 2019-06-04

  This episode of GCSE English RevisionPod focuses on question 3 of the AQA Language Paper 2, which involves language analysis. The episode provides practice opportunities for these skills and directs listeners to a downloadable revision pac…

• AQA Language Paper 1 - Question 5 - Creative Writing 2019-05-24

  This episode of GCSE English RevisionPod provides advice on revising for the AQA Language Paper 1, Question 5, focusing on Creative Writing. It suggests listening for tips and provides links to a crucial handout and a general Language Pape…

• AQA Language Paper 1 - Question 4 - Evaluation 2019-05-10

  This GCSE English RevisionPod episode focuses on Question 4 of the AQA Language Paper 1, explaining strategies to achieve the available marks.

• AQA Language Paper 1 - Question 3 - Structural Analysis 2019-05-02

  This episode of GCSE English RevisionPod covers Question 3 of the AQA Language Paper 1, focusing on structural analysis. It advises listeners to examine the overall shape and structure of an extract and consider how the writer directs focu…

• AQA Language Paper 1, Question 2 - Language Analysis 2019-04-25

  This episode of GCSE English RevisionPod covers AQA Language Paper 1, Question 2, focusing on language analysis. It encourages listeners to transition from literature to language study and provides downloadable resources and a handout for…

• 'An Inspector Calls' episode 5 (of 9) - Responsibility 2019-04-04

  This GCSE English Revisionpod episode focuses on the theme of responsibility in 'An Inspector Calls', relating it to both personal actions and crucial GCSE revision. A handout is available for download.

• 'An Inspector Calls' episode 4 (of 9) - Eva Smith 2019-04-04

  This episode focuses on Eva Smith, a pivotal character in J.B. Priestley's 'An Inspector Calls', despite never appearing onstage. It is the fourth of nine episodes in the GCSE English RevisionPod series.

• 'Macbeth' episode 2 (of 6) - Lady Macbeth 2019-04-01

  This GCSE English RevisionPod episode delves into Shakespeare's presentation of Lady Macbeth. It explores whether she is depicted as a malevolent, witchlike figure, a product of a patriarchal society, or a combination of both.

• 'Macbeth' episode 1 (of 6) - Choice 2019-03-18

  This episode of GCSE English RevisionPod examines the theme of choice in Shakespeare's Macbeth, posing the question of whether the protagonist is governed by fate or his own ambition. It also touches upon a discussion of Mr Forster and fav…

• Unseen Poetry episode 3 (of 3) - ‘Harm’ and ‘The Hunchback in the Park’ 2019-03-12

  This GCSE English RevisionPod episode analyzes the poems ‘Harm’ and ‘The Hunchback in the Park’. Handouts for analyzing unseen poems and for these specific poems are provided.

• Unseen Poetry episode 2 (of 3) - ‘Stop all the Clocks’ and ‘Remember’ 2019-03-08

  This episode of GCSE English Revisionpod focuses on analyzing the unseen poems 'Stop all the Clocks' and 'Remember'. Listeners are encouraged to pause and attempt their own analysis before listening to the hosts.

• Unseen Poetry episode 1 (of 3) - 'Valentine' and 'A Red, Red Rose' 2019-03-05

  This episode of GCSE English RevisionPod focuses on unseen poetry, specifically analyzing 'Valentine' and 'A Red, Red Rose' to build skills for literature exams. Downloadable handouts are available.

• 'Power and Conflict' episode 9 (of 9) - 'Checking Out Me History' and 'The Emigree' 2019-03-01

  The final episode of GCSE English Revisionpod, this installment focuses on the representation of identity within the poems 'Checking Out Me History' and 'The Emigree'.

• 'Power and Conflict' episode 8 (of 9) - 'Remains' and 'War Photographer' 2019-02-27

  GCSE English RevisionPod episode 8 focuses on the poems 'Remains' and 'War Photographer', examining how regret is presented within them.