May 2025 Edexcel: A Level English Literature Paper 1 – Drama – Merged Question Paper & Mark Scheme

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Centre Number Candidate Number
May 2025 Edexcel: A Level English
Literature Paper 1 – Drama –
Merged Question Paper & Mark

Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE Scheme


Wednesday 14 May 2025
reference
9ET0/01
Afternoon (Time: 2 hours 15 minutes) Paper


English Literature 🟐 🟐


Advanced
PAPER 1: Drama

You must have: Total Marks
Prescribed texts (clean copies only)



Instructions

•• Use black ink or ball-point pen.
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name,

• Answer
centre number and candidate number.
one question in Section A and one question in Section B on your

• Answer
chosen texts.
the questions in the spaces provided

• In your answers, you must not use texts that you have used in your coursework.
– there may be more space than you need.


Information

•• The total mark for this paper is 60.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets
Exam Resource Summary
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
The May 2025 Edexcel A Level English Literature – Paper 1: Drama – Merged Question
Paper & Mark Scheme document integrates the official examination paper with its
Advice
complete mark scheme. This paper evaluates students’ knowledge and analysis of set

••
drama texts, emphasizing characterisation, themes, structure, language, and contextual
Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
influences. The merged format presents each question alongside its marking criteria,
Check your
providing clearanswers if you
guidance have timeexpectations,
on examiner at the end. mark allocation, and question
structure. This resource supports focused revision, development of critical and analytical
writing skills, and practice in producing structured, evaluative responses, making it
essential for preparation for the May 2025 Edexcel A Level English Literature Paper 1
examination.
Turn over


P79553A
©2025 Pearson Education Ltd.
Y:1/1/1/

, SECTION A
Shakespeare




DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Answer ONE question on the text you have studied. Begin your answer on page 6.

TRAGEDY

Antony and Cleopatra
EITHER
1 Explore Shakespeare’s presentation of power in Antony and Cleopatra. You must relate
your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

(Total for Question 1 = 35 marks)

OR
2 Explore how Shakespeare presents messengers in Antony and Cleopatra. You must
relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your
critical reading.




DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
(Total for Question 2 = 35 marks)

Hamlet

EITHER
3 Explore how Shakespeare presents masculinity in Hamlet. You must relate your
discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

(Total for Question 3 = 35 marks)

OR
4 Explore the presentation of pretence in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. You must relate your
discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

(Total for Question 4 = 35 marks)
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA




2

■■■■

, Answer ONE question on the text you have studied. Begin your answer on page 6.

King Lear
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA




EITHER
5 Explore the presentation of the storm scene in Act III Scene ii of Shakespeare’s King
Lear. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from
your critical reading.

(Total for Question 5 = 35 marks)
OR
6 Explore the presentation of social order in Shakespeare’s King Lear. You must relate
your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

(Total for Question 6 = 35 marks)

Othello
EITHER
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA




7 Explore the extent to which Othello is presented as a flawed hero in Shakespeare’s
Othello. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from
your critical reading.

(Total for Question 7 = 35 marks)

OR
8 Explore the presentation of manipulation in Shakespeare’s Othello. You must relate
your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

(Total for Question 8 = 35 marks)
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA




3

■■■■ Turn over

, Answer ONE question on the text you have studied. Begin your answer on page 6.
COMEDY




DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
A Midsummer Night’s Dream

EITHER
9 Explore how Shakespeare makes use of contrast in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. You
must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your
critical reading.

(Total for Question 9 = 35 marks)

OR
10 Explore the presentation of the four young lovers in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer
Night’s Dream. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and
ideas from your critical reading.

(Total for Question 10 = 35 marks)




DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Measure for Measure

EITHER
11 Explore the presentation of the play’s ending in Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure.
You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your
critical reading.

(Total for Question 11 = 35 marks)

OR
12 Explore how Shakespeare presents death in Measure for Measure. You must relate your
discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

(Total for Question 12 = 35 marks)

DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA




4

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