40+ of the Best Free Teaching Resources for GCSE English Set Texts

Just because these literary works are considered classics, doesn't mean the average teen will be excitedly poring over the pages. You're going to need more than mere words to get every student involved, and these resources are ready to help

- by Teachwire

Whether you’re delving deep into the delights of Shakespeare, getting political with Orwell or studying the social satire of Austen, grab yourself some of the best free resources around for your GCSE set texts.
6 | A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

You’ll find an absolutely massive study guide which is packed with way too much to even mention, an excellent insight from the British Library about the social consciousness within Dickens’ work and a persuasive writing exercise designed to convince Scrooge about the merits of Christmas.
Everything you could need for this text, bar maybe a cooked goose, is here.
5 | Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare

There are conversation starters, a character map to keep up with the Capulets and Montagues, a look at Shakespearean structure, and a study of the play’s intentions through its portrayal of Juliet and how she is introduced to the audience.
6 | A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

You’ll find an absolutely massive study guide which is packed with way too much to even mention, an excellent insight from the British Library about the social consciousness within Dickens’ work and a persuasive writing exercise designed to convince Scrooge about the merits of Christmas.
Everything you could need for this text, bar maybe a cooked goose, is here.
4 | Animal Farm by George Orwell

These resources include some great videos that cover the historical context that the book alludes to, and some handy guides as to the real-life characters and events represented by Napoleon, Boxer and Manor Farm.
There’s a look at propaganda and its techniques, and Orwell himself, as well as a study of how he uses propaganda and persuasion throughout the text.
5 | Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare

There are conversation starters, a character map to keep up with the Capulets and Montagues, a look at Shakespearean structure, and a study of the play’s intentions through its portrayal of Juliet and how she is introduced to the audience.
6 | A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

You’ll find an absolutely massive study guide which is packed with way too much to even mention, an excellent insight from the British Library about the social consciousness within Dickens’ work and a persuasive writing exercise designed to convince Scrooge about the merits of Christmas.
Everything you could need for this text, bar maybe a cooked goose, is here.
3 | Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

These various resources include teaching guides, group tasks and discussions, key quotation slideshows, videos and an interview with the author.
4 | Animal Farm by George Orwell

These resources include some great videos that cover the historical context that the book alludes to, and some handy guides as to the real-life characters and events represented by Napoleon, Boxer and Manor Farm.
There’s a look at propaganda and its techniques, and Orwell himself, as well as a study of how he uses propaganda and persuasion throughout the text.
5 | Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare

There are conversation starters, a character map to keep up with the Capulets and Montagues, a look at Shakespearean structure, and a study of the play’s intentions through its portrayal of Juliet and how she is introduced to the audience.
6 | A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

You’ll find an absolutely massive study guide which is packed with way too much to even mention, an excellent insight from the British Library about the social consciousness within Dickens’ work and a persuasive writing exercise designed to convince Scrooge about the merits of Christmas.
Everything you could need for this text, bar maybe a cooked goose, is here.
You’ll find these, and lots more, here.
2 | Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Plus there are videos of the likes of Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart delivering the famous ‘Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow monologue for you to compare, and a study guide for the recent film adaptation starring Michael Fassbender.
3 | Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

These various resources include teaching guides, group tasks and discussions, key quotation slideshows, videos and an interview with the author.
4 | Animal Farm by George Orwell

These resources include some great videos that cover the historical context that the book alludes to, and some handy guides as to the real-life characters and events represented by Napoleon, Boxer and Manor Farm.
There’s a look at propaganda and its techniques, and Orwell himself, as well as a study of how he uses propaganda and persuasion throughout the text.
5 | Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare

There are conversation starters, a character map to keep up with the Capulets and Montagues, a look at Shakespearean structure, and a study of the play’s intentions through its portrayal of Juliet and how she is introduced to the audience.
6 | A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

You’ll find an absolutely massive study guide which is packed with way too much to even mention, an excellent insight from the British Library about the social consciousness within Dickens’ work and a persuasive writing exercise designed to convince Scrooge about the merits of Christmas.
Everything you could need for this text, bar maybe a cooked goose, is here.
1 | Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Get your hand fan ready and prepare to swoon as everyone’s favourite rich and brooding bachelor enters your classroom.
These resources take you inside Jane Austen’s house where you can learn about the expectations of men and women when the book was written, and you can discuss how Austen satirises these expectations in the novel, through various characters’ views on love and marriage, and how class is portrayed.
You’ll find these, and lots more, here.
2 | Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Plus there are videos of the likes of Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart delivering the famous ‘Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow monologue for you to compare, and a study guide for the recent film adaptation starring Michael Fassbender.
3 | Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

These various resources include teaching guides, group tasks and discussions, key quotation slideshows, videos and an interview with the author.
4 | Animal Farm by George Orwell

These resources include some great videos that cover the historical context that the book alludes to, and some handy guides as to the real-life characters and events represented by Napoleon, Boxer and Manor Farm.
There’s a look at propaganda and its techniques, and Orwell himself, as well as a study of how he uses propaganda and persuasion throughout the text.
5 | Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare

There are conversation starters, a character map to keep up with the Capulets and Montagues, a look at Shakespearean structure, and a study of the play’s intentions through its portrayal of Juliet and how she is introduced to the audience.
6 | A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

You’ll find an absolutely massive study guide which is packed with way too much to even mention, an excellent insight from the British Library about the social consciousness within Dickens’ work and a persuasive writing exercise designed to convince Scrooge about the merits of Christmas.
Everything you could need for this text, bar maybe a cooked goose, is here.