How to Teach English Language Skills Using Literature Texts (Free Prompts Included)
There’s something really satisfying about a resource that does more than one job.
That’s exactly why I started creating chapter-by-chapter creative writing prompts for the literature texts I was already teaching. My students needed to practise different forms and techniques for English Language, but they were also deep in novels, plays, and poetry for Literature. So I thought, why not do both?
Instead of pulling them old exam questions to write about something random, I could use the chapters and scenes they already knew. That way, they could practise writing in different voices, text types, and styles—while also getting a deeper understanding of character, theme, and structure.
It worked. And it stuck.
Why I Teach Literature and Language Together
In most qualifications, GCSE, IGCSE, and others, students study both English Language and English Literature. It makes sense to teach them in a way that reflects that overlap.
These prompts let me:
◆ Save time by building skills for both exams at once
◆ Encourage students to explore character and theme in new ways
◆ Practise a range of creative writing forms: monologues, letters, articles, diaries, scripts, and more
◆ Push deeper textual understanding without turning everything into an essay
They’re engaging, flexible, and differentiated. Students can choose the task that suits them, or I can assign one based on need.
More importantly, they work. My students get into the text on a much deeper level when they’re asked to write as characters or from within the story world. It’s no longer just analysis - it becomes personal.
What Makes These Writing Prompts Different?
Each chapter or section comes with ten creative tasks. Sometimes it’s a major turning point. Other times, it’s a minor character’s perspective or a small moment we might have otherwise skipped over.
I make sure the prompts cover a mix of:
◆ Text types – articles, diary entries, blogs, letters, scripts, rewritten scenes
◆ Angles – exploring theme, building empathy, extending scenes, switching perspectives
◆ Skill levels – some are more accessible, others offer a real stretch
Worldbuilding, voice, structure, tone - they’re all there. But the best part is how much students enjoy the process. They’re still thinking deeply about the text, but it doesn’t feel like a comprehension task.
And for me? Marking these is a lot more interesting than a stack of identical essays.
Try It for Free
If you want to see if this approach works for your classroom, I’ve made the first chapter or act free in lots of my resources. They’re ideal for a one-off lesson, a homework task, or a creative end-of-unit assessment.
Here’s what’s available to download for free:
◆ Animal Farm – Chapter 1
◆ 1984 - Book 1 Chapter 1
◆ The Hunger Games – Chapter 1
◆ A Christmas Carol – Stave 1
◆ Frankenstein – Letters 1–4
◆ The Night Circus – Part 1
◆ Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – Chapter 1
◆ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – Chapter 1
◆ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – Chapter 1
◆ Picnic at Hanging Rock – Chapter 1
◆ Great Expectations – Chapter 1
◆ War of the Worlds – Book 1, Chapter 1
◆ Much Ado About Nothing – Act 1
◆ Antony and Cleopatra – Act 1
◆ The Odyssey – Chapter 1
◆ Of Mice and Men - Chapter 1
◆ To Kill a Mockingbird - Chapter 1
◆ King Lear - Act 1
You can grab these from my TpT store or check out the growing collection in my website store.
Where to go Next
If you like the free ones, I’ve also created a mega bundle that includes full sets of prompts for a lot of texts, including novels, plays, short stories, and poetry - and the best news is it is still growing! You can use them across a whole scheme or just dip in and out.
Some of the resources are also available in digital format (Google Slides), with more being converted over time, so whether you’re teaching in person or remotely, there’s an option that fits.
There’s a growing collection of resources in my website store, too, and I’ll be adding more every month. If you teach it, I probably have something for it - or it’s on my list!
