AQA GCSE English Literature: Key Quotes You Must Know for Every Text (2025), Part 6
Article 24 in the GCSE English Literature Mastery Series
Welcome to the final installment of our “Key Quotes You Must Know” series, specially designed to help AQA GCSE English Literature students master every set text. In this sixth and final part, we dive into three essential contemporary texts: Princess and the Hustler by Chinonyerem Odimba, Anita and Me by Meera Syal, and Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman. These texts, part of AQA’s modern prose and drama offerings, explore identity, race, class, coming-of-age, and belonging with vibrancy and emotional depth.
Let’s unpack the key themes and must-know quotes that will help you impress examiners and boost your grades in 2025.
🟣 1. Princess and the Hustler by Chinonyerem Odimba
Set in 1963 Bristol, this powerful play explores racism, self-worth, activism, and family, told through the eyes of a 10-year-old girl named Princess during the Bristol Bus Boycott.
🔑 Key Themes:
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Racism and Civil Rights
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Family and Identity
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Dreams vs. Reality
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Community and Resistance
💬 Key Quotes and Analysis:
1. “They say we’re not good enough to drive the buses.”
Context: Princess overhears adults discussing the Bristol Bus Boycott.
Analysis: This line encapsulates the structural racism of the 1960s. It’s a crucial quote showing how even children like Princess are affected by systemic injustice.
Use in essays: Great for discussing the theme of racism and injustice.
2. “I want to be a star, not some bus driver!” – Princess
Context: Princess dreams of fame and escape from her current life.
Analysis: Highlights the theme of dreams vs. reality and how children often cling to ideals amid hardship.
Use in essays: Useful when analysing ambition and the contrast between Princess’s world and her dreams.
3. “We are the voices of change.” – Mavis
Context: Mavis, Princess’s mother, becomes more involved in the boycott.
Analysis: This line showcases the strength of black women in leading social justice efforts. It’s a direct link to empowerment and solidarity.
Use in essays: Vital for discussing activism, resistance, and black identity.
4. “I know now I don’t need a man to be somebody.” – Mavis
Context: As Mavis grows independent, she rejects her reliance on men.
Analysis: Marks a feminist turn in the play and can be linked to Princess’s own evolving self-worth.
Use in essays: Brilliant for discussing female empowerment and self-identity.
5. “The Hustler don’t cry. The Hustler don’t break.” – Wendell (The Hustler)
Context: Wendell tries to act tough, hiding his pain.
Analysis: The quote is deeply ironic—his name is metaphorical, but his emotional repression is real.
Use in essays: Useful when discussing masculinity, facades, and emotional depth.
📌 Top Tip:
Link Princess’s innocence and ambition to the harsh reality of her environment. Her evolution mirrors the community’s rising awareness and fight for justice.
🟣 2. Anita and Me by Meera Syal
A semi-autobiographical coming-of-age novel set in 1970s Midlands, Anita and Me is told from the perspective of Meena Kumar, a British-Indian girl navigating her identity in a predominantly white working-class community.
🔑 Key Themes:
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Cultural Identity and Belonging
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Racism and Prejudice
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Friendship and Betrayal
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Coming of Age
💬 Key Quotes and Analysis:
1. “I wasn’t white, but I wasn’t foreign either.” – Meena
Context: Meena reflects on her place in society.
Analysis: Expresses her internal conflict and liminal identity. She belongs nowhere completely.
Use in essays: Central to themes of identity, race, and belonging.
2. “Anita was my passport to the world.” – Meena
Context: Meena idolises Anita and sees her as a bridge into English life.
Analysis: Shows how Meena sees whiteness and Englishness as aspirational. Also shows the danger of assimilation.
Use in essays: Ideal when discussing friendship and cultural assimilation.
3. “I wanted her life, not her friendship.” – Meena (about Anita)
Context: A moment of self-realisation.
Analysis: Indicates envy, social aspiration, and a painful truth about their dynamic.
Use in essays: Great for exploring class, desire, and self-awareness.
4. “The world we belonged to didn’t understand the one we came from.” – Meena
Context: A reflection on cultural clash.
Analysis: A poetic encapsulation of the immigrant experience.
Use in essays: Powerful for discussing immigration, cultural tension, and the generational divide.
5. “Papa always said you had to know where you came from to know where you were going.” – Meena
Context: Her father’s wisdom anchors her understanding of heritage.
Analysis: This is a thematic cornerstone. Roots and history are vital to identity.
Use in essays: Perfect for essays on cultural pride and self-discovery.
📌 Top Tip:
Contrast Meena’s naïve admiration for Anita with her eventual self-empowerment. Her journey is about reclaiming her identity, not just surviving prejudice.
🟣 3. Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman
Told through the voice of Harri, an 11-year-old Ghanaian boy living on a London estate, Pigeon English is a poignant exploration of childhood, gang violence, immigration, and morality.
🔑 Key Themes:
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Innocence vs. Violence
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Urban Decay and Crime
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Immigration and Identity
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Loss of Innocence
💬 Key Quotes and Analysis:
1. “You could see the blood. It was darker than you thought.” – Harri
Context: Harri witnesses the aftermath of a stabbing.
Analysis: A chilling juxtaposition of childish curiosity with brutal violence.
Use in essays: Critical for showing loss of innocence and desensitisation to crime.
**2. “The pigeon said, ‘Don’t worry. You’re doing well.’”
Context: The pigeon serves as Harri’s internal voice or conscience.
Analysis: A symbol of hope and morality in a dark world. The pigeon’s voice contrasts with Harri’s harsh reality.
Use in essays: Perfect for exploring symbolism, naivety, and guidance.
3. “Everyone wants to be the winner. Nobody wants to be the victim.” – Harri
Context: Harri reflects on life and survival.
Analysis: Shows the pressure to conform to a violent culture. Even children are trapped by toxic masculinity and fear.
Use in essays: Strong for themes of power, violence, and survival.
**4. “It’s the rules. If someone says you’re in, you’re in.”
Context: Harri gets involved with local boys.
Analysis: Demonstrates how gang culture works. Peer pressure is a dominant force.
Use in essays: Important when exploring group identity, coercion, and urban challenges.
5. “They won’t get away with it. I’m going to find out who did it.” – Harri
Context: He takes it upon himself to investigate a murder.
Analysis: Reflects his innocence and desire for justice, even in the face of danger.
Use in essays: Good for analysing childlike heroism, morality, and naivety.
📌 Top Tip:
Use Harri’s narrative voice as a literary device. His naïve yet observant tone helps readers engage emotionally with the text and contrasts powerfully with the grim environment.
📚 How to Use These Quotes in Your Exam
To maximise your marks in your AQA GCSE English Literature exam:
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Memorise and adapt these quotes for multiple questions—most are versatile across themes.
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Blend analysis with context—especially for race, class, and immigration, which are rooted in historical and cultural settings.
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Compare within and across texts, if you get a comparison question.
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Practice PEEL (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link) paragraphs using these quotes.
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Understand narrative voice and form: whether it’s Harri’s childlike lens, Meena’s witty narrator, or the stage directions in Princess and the Hustler, form matters!
Final Words
These three texts—Princess and the Hustler, Anita and Me, and Pigeon English—each offer a deeply human look into the lives of marginalised voices. Whether it’s a young girl in 1960s Bristol, a British-Indian teen in the 1970s Midlands, or a Ghanaian boy in a modern London estate, each protagonist brings a unique perspective to universal themes of identity, justice, and belonging.
As this marks the final part of our 6-part series on key quotes for AQA English Literature, we hope you’ve found this an invaluable guide on your journey to exam success. Whether you’re crafting essays, preparing for mocks, or planning revision strategies, remember: literature is about empathy, understanding, and finding your voice.
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Good luck in your 2025 GCSEs — and don’t forget: the right quote, at the right time, could be the key to unlocking a grade 9.