AS
ENGLISH LITERATURE B
Paper 1A Literary genres: Drama: Aspects of tragedy
Thursday 16 May 2024 Morning Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
7716/1A
, 2
Section A
Answer one question from this section.
Either
0 1 Othello – William Shakespeare
Explore the significance of aspects of dramatic tragedy in the following passage in
relation to the play as a whole.
You should consider the following in your answer:
• the presentation of Iago’s villainy
• the interaction between Othello and Desdemona
• other relevant aspects of dramatic tragedy.
[25 marks]
IAGO (aside) He takes her by the palm. Ay, well said,
whisper. With as little a web as this will I ensnare as
great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do. I will
gyve thee in thine own courtship. You say true, ’tis so
indeed. If such tricks as these strip you out of your
lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kissed your
three fingers so oft, which now again you are most apt
to play the sir in. Very good: well kissed, an excellent
courtesy! ’Tis so indeed. Yet again your fingers to your
lips? Would they were clyster-pipes for your sake!
Trumpet
(Aloud) The Moor! I know his trumpet.
CASSIO ’Tis truly so.
DESDEMONA
Let’s meet him and receive him.
CASSIO Lo, where he comes!
Enter Othello and attendants
OTHELLO
O, my fair warrior!
DESDEMONA My dear Othello!
OTHELLO
It gives me wonder great as my content
To see you here before me. O, my soul’s joy!
If after every tempest come such calms,
May the winds blow till they have wakened death,
And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas,
Olympus-high, and duck again as low
As hell’s from heaven. If it were now to die,
’Twere now to be most happy; for I fear
My soul hath her content so absolute
That not another comfort like to this
Succeeds in unknown fate.
, 3
DESDEMONA The heavens forbid
But that our loves and comforts should increase,
Even as our days do grow.
OTHELLO Amen to that, sweet Powers!
I cannot speak enough of this content;
It stops me here; it is too much of joy.
They kiss
And this, and this the greatest discords be
That e’er our hearts shall make.
IAGO (aside) O, you are well tuned now!
But I’ll set down the pegs that make this music,
As honest as I am.
OTHELLO Come, let’s to the castle.
News, friends; our wars are done; the Turks are drowned.
How does my old acquaintance of this isle?
Honey, you shall be well desired in Cyprus:
I have found great love amongst them. O my sweet,
I prattle out of fashion and I dote
In mine own comforts. I prithee, good Iago,
Go to the bay and disembark my coffers;
Bring thou the Master to the citadel;
He is a good one, and his worthiness
Does challenge much respect. Come, Desdemona,
Once more well met at Cyprus!
Exeunt all except Iago and Roderigo
(Act 2, Scene 1)
Turn over for the next question
Turn over ►
, 4
or
0 2 King Lear – William Shakespeare
Explore the significance of aspects of dramatic tragedy in the following passage in
relation to the play as a whole.
You should consider the following in your answer:
• the presentation of Lear
• the ways the Fool responds to Lear
• other relevant aspects of dramatic tragedy.
[25 marks]
Storm still. Enter Lear and the Fool
LEAR
Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage! Blow!
You cataracts and hurricanoes, spout
Till you have drenched our steeples, drowned the cocks!
You sulphurous and thought-executing fires,
Vaunt-curriers of oak-cleaving thunderbolts,
Singe my white head! And thou all-shaking thunder,
Strike flat the thick rotundity o’the world,
Crack Nature’s moulds, all germens spill at once
That makes ingrateful man!
FOOL O nuncle, court holy-water in a dry house is better
than this rain-water out o’door. Good nuncle, in; ask thy
daughters’ blessing. Here’s a night pities neither wise
men nor fools.
LEAR
Rumble thy bellyful! Spit, fire! Spout, rain!
Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire are my daughters.
I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness;
I never gave you kingdom, called you children.
You owe me no subscription; then let fall
Your horrible pleasure. Here I stand, your slave,
A poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man.
But yet I call you servile ministers,
That will with two pernicious daughters join
Your high-engendered battles ’gainst a head
So old and white as this. O, ho! ’Tis foul!
FOOL He that has a house to put’s head in has a good head-
piece:
The cod-piece that will house
Before the head has any,
The head and he shall louse;
So beggars marry many.
The man that makes his toe
What he his heart should make,
Shall of a corn cry woe,
And turn his sleep to wake.
ENGLISH LITERATURE B
Paper 1A Literary genres: Drama: Aspects of tragedy
Thursday 16 May 2024 Morning Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes
7716/1A
, 2
Section A
Answer one question from this section.
Either
0 1 Othello – William Shakespeare
Explore the significance of aspects of dramatic tragedy in the following passage in
relation to the play as a whole.
You should consider the following in your answer:
• the presentation of Iago’s villainy
• the interaction between Othello and Desdemona
• other relevant aspects of dramatic tragedy.
[25 marks]
IAGO (aside) He takes her by the palm. Ay, well said,
whisper. With as little a web as this will I ensnare as
great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do. I will
gyve thee in thine own courtship. You say true, ’tis so
indeed. If such tricks as these strip you out of your
lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kissed your
three fingers so oft, which now again you are most apt
to play the sir in. Very good: well kissed, an excellent
courtesy! ’Tis so indeed. Yet again your fingers to your
lips? Would they were clyster-pipes for your sake!
Trumpet
(Aloud) The Moor! I know his trumpet.
CASSIO ’Tis truly so.
DESDEMONA
Let’s meet him and receive him.
CASSIO Lo, where he comes!
Enter Othello and attendants
OTHELLO
O, my fair warrior!
DESDEMONA My dear Othello!
OTHELLO
It gives me wonder great as my content
To see you here before me. O, my soul’s joy!
If after every tempest come such calms,
May the winds blow till they have wakened death,
And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas,
Olympus-high, and duck again as low
As hell’s from heaven. If it were now to die,
’Twere now to be most happy; for I fear
My soul hath her content so absolute
That not another comfort like to this
Succeeds in unknown fate.
, 3
DESDEMONA The heavens forbid
But that our loves and comforts should increase,
Even as our days do grow.
OTHELLO Amen to that, sweet Powers!
I cannot speak enough of this content;
It stops me here; it is too much of joy.
They kiss
And this, and this the greatest discords be
That e’er our hearts shall make.
IAGO (aside) O, you are well tuned now!
But I’ll set down the pegs that make this music,
As honest as I am.
OTHELLO Come, let’s to the castle.
News, friends; our wars are done; the Turks are drowned.
How does my old acquaintance of this isle?
Honey, you shall be well desired in Cyprus:
I have found great love amongst them. O my sweet,
I prattle out of fashion and I dote
In mine own comforts. I prithee, good Iago,
Go to the bay and disembark my coffers;
Bring thou the Master to the citadel;
He is a good one, and his worthiness
Does challenge much respect. Come, Desdemona,
Once more well met at Cyprus!
Exeunt all except Iago and Roderigo
(Act 2, Scene 1)
Turn over for the next question
Turn over ►
, 4
or
0 2 King Lear – William Shakespeare
Explore the significance of aspects of dramatic tragedy in the following passage in
relation to the play as a whole.
You should consider the following in your answer:
• the presentation of Lear
• the ways the Fool responds to Lear
• other relevant aspects of dramatic tragedy.
[25 marks]
Storm still. Enter Lear and the Fool
LEAR
Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage! Blow!
You cataracts and hurricanoes, spout
Till you have drenched our steeples, drowned the cocks!
You sulphurous and thought-executing fires,
Vaunt-curriers of oak-cleaving thunderbolts,
Singe my white head! And thou all-shaking thunder,
Strike flat the thick rotundity o’the world,
Crack Nature’s moulds, all germens spill at once
That makes ingrateful man!
FOOL O nuncle, court holy-water in a dry house is better
than this rain-water out o’door. Good nuncle, in; ask thy
daughters’ blessing. Here’s a night pities neither wise
men nor fools.
LEAR
Rumble thy bellyful! Spit, fire! Spout, rain!
Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire are my daughters.
I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness;
I never gave you kingdom, called you children.
You owe me no subscription; then let fall
Your horrible pleasure. Here I stand, your slave,
A poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man.
But yet I call you servile ministers,
That will with two pernicious daughters join
Your high-engendered battles ’gainst a head
So old and white as this. O, ho! ’Tis foul!
FOOL He that has a house to put’s head in has a good head-
piece:
The cod-piece that will house
Before the head has any,
The head and he shall louse;
So beggars marry many.
The man that makes his toe
What he his heart should make,
Shall of a corn cry woe,
And turn his sleep to wake.
