ALL PAST QUESTIONS FOR MEASURE FOR MEASURE:
Year Part A Passage Part B Essay Theme
2016 A1 S3 Duke/Friar ‘A play in which power is invariably misused.’ Power
(Sample)
2017 A2 S2 ‘A play about the difficult relationship between Justice and
Isabella/Angelo justice and mercy.’ Mercy
2018 A4 S3 ‘Shakespeare never forgets the funny side to life Comedy
Pompey/Abhorson in Vienna.’
2019 A3 S1 ‘For a play that ends happily, Measure for Death
Isabella/Claudio Measure has a lot to say about death.’
2020 A5 S1 ‘The conclusion of the play - like the rest of it - is Morality
(end of play) full of uncomfortable moral choices.’
2021 A4 S1 ‘The women in the play are dominated by the Gender
Mariana/Duke men.’
2022 A3 S2 ‘The play deals with many kinds of dishonesty.’ Dishonesty
Lucio/Duke
2023 A2 S4 ‘The effects of sexual behaviour are significant Sexual
Isabella/Angelo throughout the play.’ Behaviour
2024 A1 S4 ‘The play explores the importance of honesty Honesty,
Isabella/Lucio and purity in love relationships.’ Purity, Love
Questions used for passages so far:
Act 1 Act 2 Act 3 Act 4 Act 5
S3, 2016 sample S2, 2017 S1, 2019 S3, 2021 S1, 2020
S4, 2024 S4, 2023 S2, 2022 S3, 2018
I wonder which Act will be used this year…
, MEASURE FOR MEASURE PRACTICE QUESTIONS
ACT 1 QUESTION:
1A:
Answer both parts (a) and (b).
(a) Discuss the following passage from Act 1 Scene 1, exploring Shakespeare’s use of
language and its dramatic effects. [15]
DUKE Escalus. 1
ESCALUS My lord.
DUKE Of government the properties to unfold,
Would seem in me to affect speech and discourse;
5
Since I am put to know that your own science
Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice
My strength can give you: then no more remains,
But that to your sufficiency as your Worth is able,
And let them work. The nature of our people, 10
Our city's institutions, and the terms
For common justice, you're as pregnant in
As art and practise hath enriched any
That we remember. There is our commission, 15
From which we would not have you warp. Call hither,
I say, bid come before us Angelo.
[Exit an Attendant
What figure of us think you he will bear?
20
For you must know, we have with special soul
Elected him our absence to supply,
Lent him our terror, dress'd him with our love,
And given his deputation all the organs 25
Of our own power: what think you of it?
ESCALUS If any in Vienna be of worth
To undergo such ample grace and honour,
30
It is Lord Angelo.
DUKE Look where he comes.
[Enter ANGELO
ANGELO Always obedient to your grace's will, 35
I come to know your pleasure.
DUKE Angelo,
There is a kind of character in thy life,
40
That to the observer doth thy history
Fully unfold. Thyself and thy belongings
Are not thine own so proper as to waste
Thyself upon thy virtues, they on thee.
Heaven doth with us as we with torches do, 45
Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues
Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike
As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd
But to fine issues, nor Nature never lends 50
Year Part A Passage Part B Essay Theme
2016 A1 S3 Duke/Friar ‘A play in which power is invariably misused.’ Power
(Sample)
2017 A2 S2 ‘A play about the difficult relationship between Justice and
Isabella/Angelo justice and mercy.’ Mercy
2018 A4 S3 ‘Shakespeare never forgets the funny side to life Comedy
Pompey/Abhorson in Vienna.’
2019 A3 S1 ‘For a play that ends happily, Measure for Death
Isabella/Claudio Measure has a lot to say about death.’
2020 A5 S1 ‘The conclusion of the play - like the rest of it - is Morality
(end of play) full of uncomfortable moral choices.’
2021 A4 S1 ‘The women in the play are dominated by the Gender
Mariana/Duke men.’
2022 A3 S2 ‘The play deals with many kinds of dishonesty.’ Dishonesty
Lucio/Duke
2023 A2 S4 ‘The effects of sexual behaviour are significant Sexual
Isabella/Angelo throughout the play.’ Behaviour
2024 A1 S4 ‘The play explores the importance of honesty Honesty,
Isabella/Lucio and purity in love relationships.’ Purity, Love
Questions used for passages so far:
Act 1 Act 2 Act 3 Act 4 Act 5
S3, 2016 sample S2, 2017 S1, 2019 S3, 2021 S1, 2020
S4, 2024 S4, 2023 S2, 2022 S3, 2018
I wonder which Act will be used this year…
, MEASURE FOR MEASURE PRACTICE QUESTIONS
ACT 1 QUESTION:
1A:
Answer both parts (a) and (b).
(a) Discuss the following passage from Act 1 Scene 1, exploring Shakespeare’s use of
language and its dramatic effects. [15]
DUKE Escalus. 1
ESCALUS My lord.
DUKE Of government the properties to unfold,
Would seem in me to affect speech and discourse;
5
Since I am put to know that your own science
Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice
My strength can give you: then no more remains,
But that to your sufficiency as your Worth is able,
And let them work. The nature of our people, 10
Our city's institutions, and the terms
For common justice, you're as pregnant in
As art and practise hath enriched any
That we remember. There is our commission, 15
From which we would not have you warp. Call hither,
I say, bid come before us Angelo.
[Exit an Attendant
What figure of us think you he will bear?
20
For you must know, we have with special soul
Elected him our absence to supply,
Lent him our terror, dress'd him with our love,
And given his deputation all the organs 25
Of our own power: what think you of it?
ESCALUS If any in Vienna be of worth
To undergo such ample grace and honour,
30
It is Lord Angelo.
DUKE Look where he comes.
[Enter ANGELO
ANGELO Always obedient to your grace's will, 35
I come to know your pleasure.
DUKE Angelo,
There is a kind of character in thy life,
40
That to the observer doth thy history
Fully unfold. Thyself and thy belongings
Are not thine own so proper as to waste
Thyself upon thy virtues, they on thee.
Heaven doth with us as we with torches do, 45
Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues
Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike
As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd
But to fine issues, nor Nature never lends 50
