A gobbet is a short extract from a text which is set for commentary or translation in an examination.[1] It is also sometimes used to refer to the question containing the gobbet, or commentary itself.[2] It is typically seen in humanities subjects such as classics, history, literature, philosophy, and religion. Gobbets differ from essays in being focused on the examination of a single text, not needing to make an argument, and often not referring to additional sources.
The outline of a gobbet will vary, but it is usually a brief piece of analysis where the student must identify the source of the passage, place it in a wider context, and explain important names, terms, and references in the passage.[3] The Durham University's Theology and Religion department suggests a gobbet answer should be around 500 words in length;[4] the University of Exeter's "Hercules Project" suggests that a gobbet answer should be around one quarter of the length of an essay.[5]
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