Shakespeare
Study Guide
‘Measure for Measure’
By William Shakespeare
English Literature A-Level
Exam Board: OCR
Anish Shah
, Table of Contents:
Measure for Measure Mark Scheme and Assessment Objectives ............................................ 3
Practice Essay Questions............................................................................................................ 4
Plot Summary ............................................................................................................................. 5
Close Analysis Techniques:........................................................................................................ 9
Structure: .................................................................................................................................. 12
Genre:........................................................................................................................................ 13
Character Analysis ................................................................................................................... 14
The Duke........................................................................................................................................................... 14
Angelo ............................................................................................................................................................... 15
Isabella .............................................................................................................................................................. 16
Claudio .............................................................................................................................................................. 17
Lucio ................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Escalus .............................................................................................................................................................. 19
Mariana ............................................................................................................................................................ 20
Minor Characters ............................................................................................................................................. 21
Thematic Analysis..................................................................................................................... 22
Justice and Judgement ..................................................................................................................................... 22
Religion ............................................................................................................................................................. 23
Love, Lust, and Sex .......................................................................................................................................... 24
Marriage ........................................................................................................................................................... 25
Society ............................................................................................................................................................... 26
Appearance vs. Reality, Disguise, Deception ................................................................................................... 27
Power and Corruption ...................................................................................................................................... 28
Gender............................................................................................................................................................... 29
Humanity .......................................................................................................................................................... 30
Critical Interpretations ............................................................................................................. 31
Individual Critics .............................................................................................................................................. 31
Literary Criticisms ............................................................................................................................................ 34
Dramatic Productions ...................................................................................................................................... 36
2
, Measure for Measure Mark Scheme and Assessment Objectives
Assessment Objectives:
Q1a. Close Analysis Passage and Dramatic Effects (15 Marks)
Discuss the following passage (40 Lines) from Act X, Scene X, exploring Shakespeare’s use of
language and its dramatic effects.
Q1b. Whole Play Question (15 Marks)
‘Statement’. Using your knowledge of the play as a whole, discuss how far you agree with this
view
3
, Practice Essay Questions
1. ‘A play of problem without solutions’. How far do you agree with this summary of
Measure for Measure?
2. ‘The themes of freedom and restraint are central to the play’. Using your knowledge of
the play as a whole, show far you agree with this view.
3. ‘Measure for Measure presents a society bound together only by paranoia.’ Using your
knowledge of the play as a whole, show far you agree with this view.
4. ‘A play about the difficult relationship between justice and mercy.’ Using your knowledge
of the play as a whole, show far you agree with this view.
5. ‘Shakespeare never forgets the funny side to Vienna.’ Using your knowledge of the play
as a whole, show far you agree with this view.
6. ‘A play in which power is invariably misused.’ Using your knowledge of the play as a
whole, show far you agree with this view.
7. ‘The conclusion of the play – like the rest of it – is full of uncomfortable moral choices.’
Using your knowledge of the play as a whole, show far you agree with this view.
8. ‘The women in the play are always dominated by the men.’ Using your knowledge of the
play as a whole, show far you agree with this view.
9. ‘A play in which death and life achieve only a fragile balance.’ Using your knowledge of
the play as a whole, show far you agree with this view.
10. ‘A play containing nothing but deception and façade.’ Using your knowledge of the play
as a whole, show far you agree with this view.
4
Study Guide
‘Measure for Measure’
By William Shakespeare
English Literature A-Level
Exam Board: OCR
Anish Shah
, Table of Contents:
Measure for Measure Mark Scheme and Assessment Objectives ............................................ 3
Practice Essay Questions............................................................................................................ 4
Plot Summary ............................................................................................................................. 5
Close Analysis Techniques:........................................................................................................ 9
Structure: .................................................................................................................................. 12
Genre:........................................................................................................................................ 13
Character Analysis ................................................................................................................... 14
The Duke........................................................................................................................................................... 14
Angelo ............................................................................................................................................................... 15
Isabella .............................................................................................................................................................. 16
Claudio .............................................................................................................................................................. 17
Lucio ................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Escalus .............................................................................................................................................................. 19
Mariana ............................................................................................................................................................ 20
Minor Characters ............................................................................................................................................. 21
Thematic Analysis..................................................................................................................... 22
Justice and Judgement ..................................................................................................................................... 22
Religion ............................................................................................................................................................. 23
Love, Lust, and Sex .......................................................................................................................................... 24
Marriage ........................................................................................................................................................... 25
Society ............................................................................................................................................................... 26
Appearance vs. Reality, Disguise, Deception ................................................................................................... 27
Power and Corruption ...................................................................................................................................... 28
Gender............................................................................................................................................................... 29
Humanity .......................................................................................................................................................... 30
Critical Interpretations ............................................................................................................. 31
Individual Critics .............................................................................................................................................. 31
Literary Criticisms ............................................................................................................................................ 34
Dramatic Productions ...................................................................................................................................... 36
2
, Measure for Measure Mark Scheme and Assessment Objectives
Assessment Objectives:
Q1a. Close Analysis Passage and Dramatic Effects (15 Marks)
Discuss the following passage (40 Lines) from Act X, Scene X, exploring Shakespeare’s use of
language and its dramatic effects.
Q1b. Whole Play Question (15 Marks)
‘Statement’. Using your knowledge of the play as a whole, discuss how far you agree with this
view
3
, Practice Essay Questions
1. ‘A play of problem without solutions’. How far do you agree with this summary of
Measure for Measure?
2. ‘The themes of freedom and restraint are central to the play’. Using your knowledge of
the play as a whole, show far you agree with this view.
3. ‘Measure for Measure presents a society bound together only by paranoia.’ Using your
knowledge of the play as a whole, show far you agree with this view.
4. ‘A play about the difficult relationship between justice and mercy.’ Using your knowledge
of the play as a whole, show far you agree with this view.
5. ‘Shakespeare never forgets the funny side to Vienna.’ Using your knowledge of the play
as a whole, show far you agree with this view.
6. ‘A play in which power is invariably misused.’ Using your knowledge of the play as a
whole, show far you agree with this view.
7. ‘The conclusion of the play – like the rest of it – is full of uncomfortable moral choices.’
Using your knowledge of the play as a whole, show far you agree with this view.
8. ‘The women in the play are always dominated by the men.’ Using your knowledge of the
play as a whole, show far you agree with this view.
9. ‘A play in which death and life achieve only a fragile balance.’ Using your knowledge of
the play as a whole, show far you agree with this view.
10. ‘A play containing nothing but deception and façade.’ Using your knowledge of the play
as a whole, show far you agree with this view.
4
