Oxford Cambridge and RSA
GCSE
English Literature
H072/01: Shakespeare and poetry pre-1900
*1329627051*
AS Level
Thursday 15 May 2025 – Morning
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must
be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer one question in Section 1 and one in Section 2.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 60.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• This document has 12 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025 [601/4726/X] DC (DE) 337083/6
, OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
Section 1 – Shakespeare Question Page
Coriolanus 1 3
Hamlet 2 3
Measure for Measure 3 4
Richard Ill 4 4
The Tempest 5 4
Twelfth Night 6 5
Section 2 – Poetry pre-1900 Question Page
Geoffrey Chaucer: The Merchant’s Prologue and Tale 7 6
John Milton: Paradise Lost Books 9 & 10 8 8
Samuel Taylor Coleridge: Selected Poems 9 9
Alfred, Lord Tennyson: Maud 10 10
Christina Rossetti: Selected Poems 11 12
Section 1 – Shakespeare
Coriolanus
Hamlet
Measure for Measure
Richard III
The Tempest
Twelfth Night
Answer one question from this section.
You should spend about 45 minutes on this section.
1 Coriolanus
Either
(a) ‘A play in which all the characters put themselves first.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of the play Coriolanus? [30] Or
(b) ‘Menenius is generally right about things.’
, How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of the role of Menenius Agrippa in the
play
Coriolanus? [30]
2 Hamlet
Either
(a) ‘In the play Hamlet retaliation does more harm than good.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of the play Hamlet? [30]
Or
(b) ‘Ophelia is drawn into a corrupt world through no fault of her own.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of the role of Ophelia in the play Hamlet
3 Measure for Measure
Either
(a) ‘A kind of debate between law and liberty.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of Measure for Measure? [30] Or
(b) ‘The only characters who deserve our sympathy are Claudio and Lucio.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of the roles of Claudio and Lucio in
Measure for Measure?
4 Richard III
Either
(a) ‘A tragedy with plenty of laughs.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of the play Richard III? [30] Or
(b) ‘Richard’s disability is the key to his character and behaviour.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of the role of Richard in the play Richard
III?
[30]
5 The Tempest
Either
(a) ‘The play suggests that everyone needs forgiveness.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of The Tempest? [30]
, Or
(b) ‘As a trio Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo carry real menace.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of the roles of Caliban, Stephano and
Trinculo in The Tempest? [30]
6 Twelfth Night
Either
(a) ‘A play that focuses more on the pains than the pleasures of love.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of Twelfth Night? [30] Or
(b) ‘Olivia is frequently surprised at the depth of her own feelings.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of the role of Olivia in Twelfth Night?
[30]
GCSE
English Literature
H072/01: Shakespeare and poetry pre-1900
*1329627051*
AS Level
Thursday 15 May 2025 – Morning
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink.
• Write your answer to each question in the Answer Booklet. The question numbers must
be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Answer Booklet.
• Answer one question in Section 1 and one in Section 2.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 60.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• This document has 12 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
© OCR 2025 [601/4726/X] DC (DE) 337083/6
, OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
Section 1 – Shakespeare Question Page
Coriolanus 1 3
Hamlet 2 3
Measure for Measure 3 4
Richard Ill 4 4
The Tempest 5 4
Twelfth Night 6 5
Section 2 – Poetry pre-1900 Question Page
Geoffrey Chaucer: The Merchant’s Prologue and Tale 7 6
John Milton: Paradise Lost Books 9 & 10 8 8
Samuel Taylor Coleridge: Selected Poems 9 9
Alfred, Lord Tennyson: Maud 10 10
Christina Rossetti: Selected Poems 11 12
Section 1 – Shakespeare
Coriolanus
Hamlet
Measure for Measure
Richard III
The Tempest
Twelfth Night
Answer one question from this section.
You should spend about 45 minutes on this section.
1 Coriolanus
Either
(a) ‘A play in which all the characters put themselves first.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of the play Coriolanus? [30] Or
(b) ‘Menenius is generally right about things.’
, How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of the role of Menenius Agrippa in the
play
Coriolanus? [30]
2 Hamlet
Either
(a) ‘In the play Hamlet retaliation does more harm than good.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of the play Hamlet? [30]
Or
(b) ‘Ophelia is drawn into a corrupt world through no fault of her own.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of the role of Ophelia in the play Hamlet
3 Measure for Measure
Either
(a) ‘A kind of debate between law and liberty.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of Measure for Measure? [30] Or
(b) ‘The only characters who deserve our sympathy are Claudio and Lucio.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of the roles of Claudio and Lucio in
Measure for Measure?
4 Richard III
Either
(a) ‘A tragedy with plenty of laughs.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of the play Richard III? [30] Or
(b) ‘Richard’s disability is the key to his character and behaviour.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of the role of Richard in the play Richard
III?
[30]
5 The Tempest
Either
(a) ‘The play suggests that everyone needs forgiveness.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of The Tempest? [30]
, Or
(b) ‘As a trio Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo carry real menace.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of the roles of Caliban, Stephano and
Trinculo in The Tempest? [30]
6 Twelfth Night
Either
(a) ‘A play that focuses more on the pains than the pleasures of love.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of Twelfth Night? [30] Or
(b) ‘Olivia is frequently surprised at the depth of her own feelings.’
How far and in what ways do you agree with this view of the role of Olivia in Twelfth Night?
[30]
