AS
ENGLISH LITERATURE B
AQA AS English Literature B Paper 1B Literary genres:
Drama: Aspects of comedy (7716/1B) Study Guide 2026
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 12-page answer book.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7716/1B.
• Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked.
• You must answer one question from Section A and one question from Section B.
Information
• The maximum mark for this paper is 50.
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
• In your response you need to:
– analyse carefully the writers’ methods
– explore the contexts of the texts you are writing about
– explore the connections across the texts you have studied
– explore different interpretations of your texts.
7716/1B
, 2
Section A
Answer one question from this section.
Either
0 1 The Taming of the Shrew – William Shakespeare
Explore the significance of aspects of dramatic comedy in the following passage in
relation to the play as a whole.
You should consider the following in your answer:
• the setting and mood of the banquet
• the roles of the women
• other relevant aspects of dramatic comedy.
[25 marks]
Enter Baptista with Vincentio, Gremio with the
Pedant, Lucentio with Bianca, Petruchio with
Katherina, Hortensio with the Widow; followed by
Tranio, Biondello, and Grumio, with the Servingmen
bringing in a banquet
LUCENTIO
At last, though long, our jarring notes agree,
And time it is when raging war is done
To smile at scapes and perils overblown.
My fair Bianca, bid my father welcome,
While I with self-same kindness welcome thine.
Brother Petruchio, sister Katherina,
And thou, Hortensio, with thy loving widow,
Feast with the best, and welcome to my house.
My banquet is to close our stomachs up
After our great good cheer. Pray you, sit down,
For now we sit to chat as well as eat.
They sit
PETRUCHIO
Nothing but sit and sit, and eat and eat!
BAPTISTA
Padua affords this kindness, son Petruchio.
PETRUCHIO
Padua affords nothing but what is kind.
HORTENSIO
For both our sakes I would that word were true.
PETRUCHIO
Now, for my life, Hortensio fears his widow.
WIDOW
Then never trust me if I be afeard.
PETRUCHIO
You are very sensible, and yet you miss my sense:
I mean Hortensio is afeard of you.
WIDOW
He that is giddy thinks the world turns round.
ENGLISH LITERATURE B
AQA AS English Literature B Paper 1B Literary genres:
Drama: Aspects of comedy (7716/1B) Study Guide 2026
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 12-page answer book.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7716/1B.
• Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked.
• You must answer one question from Section A and one question from Section B.
Information
• The maximum mark for this paper is 50.
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
• In your response you need to:
– analyse carefully the writers’ methods
– explore the contexts of the texts you are writing about
– explore the connections across the texts you have studied
– explore different interpretations of your texts.
7716/1B
, 2
Section A
Answer one question from this section.
Either
0 1 The Taming of the Shrew – William Shakespeare
Explore the significance of aspects of dramatic comedy in the following passage in
relation to the play as a whole.
You should consider the following in your answer:
• the setting and mood of the banquet
• the roles of the women
• other relevant aspects of dramatic comedy.
[25 marks]
Enter Baptista with Vincentio, Gremio with the
Pedant, Lucentio with Bianca, Petruchio with
Katherina, Hortensio with the Widow; followed by
Tranio, Biondello, and Grumio, with the Servingmen
bringing in a banquet
LUCENTIO
At last, though long, our jarring notes agree,
And time it is when raging war is done
To smile at scapes and perils overblown.
My fair Bianca, bid my father welcome,
While I with self-same kindness welcome thine.
Brother Petruchio, sister Katherina,
And thou, Hortensio, with thy loving widow,
Feast with the best, and welcome to my house.
My banquet is to close our stomachs up
After our great good cheer. Pray you, sit down,
For now we sit to chat as well as eat.
They sit
PETRUCHIO
Nothing but sit and sit, and eat and eat!
BAPTISTA
Padua affords this kindness, son Petruchio.
PETRUCHIO
Padua affords nothing but what is kind.
HORTENSIO
For both our sakes I would that word were true.
PETRUCHIO
Now, for my life, Hortensio fears his widow.
WIDOW
Then never trust me if I be afeard.
PETRUCHIO
You are very sensible, and yet you miss my sense:
I mean Hortensio is afeard of you.
WIDOW
He that is giddy thinks the world turns round.
