Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9–1)
Monday 11 May 2026
Morning (Time: 1 hour 45 minutes)
Paper
reference 1ET0/01
English Literature
PAPER 1: Shakespeare and Post-1914 Literature
Questions and Extracts Booklet
Do not return this Booklet with the Answer Booklet.
Turn over
P81989A
©2026 Pearson Education Ltd.
P:1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/
*P81989A*
, BLANK PAGE
2 P81989A
, Answer the question on ONE text from Section A and ONE text from Section B.
The extracts for use with Section A are in this question paper.
SECTION A – Shakespeare Page
1(a) and 1(b) – Macbeth 4
2(a) and 2(b) – The Tempest 6
3(a) and 3(b) – Romeo and Juliet 8
4(a) and 4(b) – Much Ado About Nothing 10
5(a) and 5(b) – Twelfth Night 12
6(a) and 6(b) – The Merchant of Venice 14
SECTION B – Post-1914 Literature Page
EITHER
British Play
7 OR 8 – An Inspector Calls: J B Priestley 16
9 OR 10 – Hobson’s Choice: Harold Brighouse 17
11 OR 12 – Blood Brothers: Willy Russell 18
13 OR 14 – Journey’s End: R C Sherriff 19
15 OR 16 – The Empress: Tanika Gupta 20
17 OR 18 – Refugee Boy: Benjamin Zephaniah
(adapted by Lemn Sissay) 21
OR
British Novel
19 OR 20 – Animal Farm: George Orwell 22
21 OR 22 – Lord of the Flies: William Golding 23
23 OR 24 – Anita and Me: Meera Syal 24
25 OR 26 – The Woman in Black: Susan Hill 25
27 OR 28 – Coram Boy: Jamila Gavin 26
29 OR 30 – Boys Don’t Cry: Malorie Blackman 27
P81989A 3
Turn over
, SECTION A
Shakespeare
Answer the question on ONE text from this section.
You should spend about 55 minutes on this section.
You should divide your time equally between parts (a) and (b) of the question.
Macbeth – from Act 2 Scene 2, lines 1 to 30
In this extract, Lady Macbeth awaits Macbeth’s return and fears that their plans to kill King
Duncan have failed and that they may be found out.
LADY MACBETH
That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold.
What hath quenched them hath given me fire. – Hark!
– Peace!
It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman,
Which gives the stern’st goodnight. He is about it!
5 The doors are open, and the surfeited grooms
Do mock their charge with snores. I have drugged
their possets –
That death and nature do contend about them,
Whether they live or die.
MACBETH (Calling from a distance)
Who’s there? – What, ho!
LADY MACBETH
Alack! I am afraid they have awaked,
10 And ’tis not done. The attempt and not the deed
Confounds us! – Hark! – I laid their daggers ready:
He could not miss them! – Had he not resembled
My father as he slept, I had done’t. – My husband!
Enter Macbeth (with two bloodstained daggers).
MACBETH
I have done the deed. – Didst thou not hear a noise?
LADY MACBETH
15 I heard the owl scream, and the crickets cry.
Did you not speak?
MACBETH
When?
LADY MACBETH
Now.
MACBETH
As I descended?
4 P81989A
Monday 11 May 2026
Morning (Time: 1 hour 45 minutes)
Paper
reference 1ET0/01
English Literature
PAPER 1: Shakespeare and Post-1914 Literature
Questions and Extracts Booklet
Do not return this Booklet with the Answer Booklet.
Turn over
P81989A
©2026 Pearson Education Ltd.
P:1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/
*P81989A*
, BLANK PAGE
2 P81989A
, Answer the question on ONE text from Section A and ONE text from Section B.
The extracts for use with Section A are in this question paper.
SECTION A – Shakespeare Page
1(a) and 1(b) – Macbeth 4
2(a) and 2(b) – The Tempest 6
3(a) and 3(b) – Romeo and Juliet 8
4(a) and 4(b) – Much Ado About Nothing 10
5(a) and 5(b) – Twelfth Night 12
6(a) and 6(b) – The Merchant of Venice 14
SECTION B – Post-1914 Literature Page
EITHER
British Play
7 OR 8 – An Inspector Calls: J B Priestley 16
9 OR 10 – Hobson’s Choice: Harold Brighouse 17
11 OR 12 – Blood Brothers: Willy Russell 18
13 OR 14 – Journey’s End: R C Sherriff 19
15 OR 16 – The Empress: Tanika Gupta 20
17 OR 18 – Refugee Boy: Benjamin Zephaniah
(adapted by Lemn Sissay) 21
OR
British Novel
19 OR 20 – Animal Farm: George Orwell 22
21 OR 22 – Lord of the Flies: William Golding 23
23 OR 24 – Anita and Me: Meera Syal 24
25 OR 26 – The Woman in Black: Susan Hill 25
27 OR 28 – Coram Boy: Jamila Gavin 26
29 OR 30 – Boys Don’t Cry: Malorie Blackman 27
P81989A 3
Turn over
, SECTION A
Shakespeare
Answer the question on ONE text from this section.
You should spend about 55 minutes on this section.
You should divide your time equally between parts (a) and (b) of the question.
Macbeth – from Act 2 Scene 2, lines 1 to 30
In this extract, Lady Macbeth awaits Macbeth’s return and fears that their plans to kill King
Duncan have failed and that they may be found out.
LADY MACBETH
That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold.
What hath quenched them hath given me fire. – Hark!
– Peace!
It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman,
Which gives the stern’st goodnight. He is about it!
5 The doors are open, and the surfeited grooms
Do mock their charge with snores. I have drugged
their possets –
That death and nature do contend about them,
Whether they live or die.
MACBETH (Calling from a distance)
Who’s there? – What, ho!
LADY MACBETH
Alack! I am afraid they have awaked,
10 And ’tis not done. The attempt and not the deed
Confounds us! – Hark! – I laid their daggers ready:
He could not miss them! – Had he not resembled
My father as he slept, I had done’t. – My husband!
Enter Macbeth (with two bloodstained daggers).
MACBETH
I have done the deed. – Didst thou not hear a noise?
LADY MACBETH
15 I heard the owl scream, and the crickets cry.
Did you not speak?
MACBETH
When?
LADY MACBETH
Now.
MACBETH
As I descended?
4 P81989A
