AQA_2024: AS English Literature B - Paper 2B Literary Genres: Prose and Poetry: Aspects of Comedy. (Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme).

AQA_2024: AS English Literature B - Paper 2B Literary Genres: Prose and Poetry: Aspects of Comedy. (Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme). AS ENGLISH LITERATURE B Paper 2B Literary genres: Prose and Poetry: Aspects of comedy Friday 24 May 2024 Materials Morning Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes For this paper you must have:  an AQA 12-page answer book  a copy of the set text(s) you have studied. These texts must not be annotated and must not contain additional notes or materials. Instructions  Use black ink or black ball-point pen.  Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7716/2B.  Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked.  You must answer one question from Section A and one question from Section B. Information  The maximum mark for this paper is 50.  The marks for questions are shown in brackets.  You will be marked on your ability to: – use good English – organise information clearly – use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.  In your response you need to: – analyse carefully the writers’ methods – explore the contexts of the texts you are writing about – explore the connections across the texts you have studied – explore different interpretations of your texts. For AS English Literature B Paper 2B: Literary Genres: Prose and Poetry: Aspects of Comedy, focus on the following key areas: 1. Key Themes of Comedy:  Social Critique and Satire: Many comedies use humor to critique society, class, and human nature. In The Importance of Being Earnest (Wilde), the play mocks social conventions and the obsession with marriage and identity. Similarly, Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare) critiques the social roles assigned to women.  Mistaken Identity and Deception: A common comedic device, often creating confusion and misunderstandings. In Twelfth Night (Shakespeare), Viola’s disguise as Cesario leads to mistaken identities and comic situations.  Romantic Comedy and Courtship: Many comedies explore love and relationships, often through humorous obstacles. In Pride and Prejudice (Austen), the witty interplay between Elizabeth and Darcy contrasts with more traditional romantic tropes.  Farcical Situations and Exaggeration: Comedies often involve improbable or exaggerated situations for humorous effect. In The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde uses absurd situations (e.g., the invented identities) to expose societal norms.  Disruption and Restoration of Order: Comedy frequently involves the disruption of social norms, followed by a return to order. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare), magical mischief causes chaos, but balance is restored by the play’s conclusion. 2. Key Texts:  The Importance of Being Earnest (Wilde): Focus on how Wilde uses wit and irony to critique Victorian society and the institution of marriage.  Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare): Analyze the relationship between Beatrice and Benedick, and how their witty banter challenges gender expectations and romantic conventions.  Twelfth Night (Shakespeare): Explore the comedic elements of mistaken identity, disguise, and love triangles, and how they address issues of gender and identity.  Pride and Prejudice (Austen): Study how Austen uses humor and irony to expose the limitations of social class and the romantic ideals of the time.  A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare): Consider the role of magic and fantasy in the play’s comedic resolution and its commentary on love and society. 3. Literary Techniques:  Wordplay and Wit: In comedies like The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde uses puns, epigrams, and sharp dialogue to create humor and satirize social norms.  Irony and Satire: Comedies often involve ironic situations where characters are unaware of the absurdity of their actions. Pride and Prejudice uses irony to comment on societal expectations and characters’ misconceptions.  Character Types: Comedies often feature stock characters such as the clever servant, the foolish suitor, or the witty heroine. In Twelfth Night, characters like Malvolio and Feste contribute to the comic tone.  Exaggeration and Farce: Plays like The Importance of Being Earnest rely on exaggerated situations, misunderstandings, and improbable scenarios for comedic effect. 4. Exam Strategy:  Compare Themes: Be prepared to compare how different comedies address common themes like social critique, romance, and mistaken identity.  Focus on Key Scenes: For texts like Much Ado About Nothing, focus on pivotal moments such as the "merry war" between Beatrice and Benedick or the comical misunderstandings in Twelfth Night.  Character Analysis: Pay attention to the role of characters in generating comedy. For example, how does Wilde use the character of Algernon to expose the absurdities of Victorian society? 7716/2B IB/G/Jun24/G4001/E3 2 Section A Answer one question from this section. Either 0 1 The Nun’s Priest’s Tale – Geoffrey Chaucer Explore the significance of the ending of The Nun’s Priest’s Tale to the comedy of the poem. In your answer you need to analyse closely Chaucer’s authorial methods and include comments on the extract below. From The Nun’s Priest’s Tale ‘Thou shalt namoore, thurgh thy flaterye, Do me to singe and winken with min eye; For he that winketh whan he sholde see, Al wilfully, God lat him nevere thee!’ ‘Nay,’ quod the fox, ‘but God yeve him meschaunce That is so undiscreet of governaunce That jangleth whan he sholde holde his pees!’ Lo, swich it is for to be recchelees, And necligent, and truste on flaterye! But ye that holden this tale a folye, As of a fox, or of a cok and hen, Taketh the moralitee, goode men. For Seint Paul seyth that al that writen is, To oure doctrine it is ywrite, iwys. Taketh the fruit, and lat the chaf be stille. Now, goode God, if that it be thy wille (As seyth my lord), so make us alle goode men, And bringe us to thy heighe blisse! Amen. [25 marks] IB/G/Jun24/7716/2B 3 or 0 2 Poetry Anthology: Comedy Explore the significance of the endings of poems to the comedy of Poetry Anthology: Comedy. You must refer to Tam o’Shanter. A Tale and at least one other poem. In your answer you need to analyse closely the poets’ authorial methods and include comments on the extract below. From Tam o’Shanter. A Tale Now, do thy speedy utmost, Meg, And win the key-stane of the brig; There at them thou thy tail may toss, A running stream they dare na cross. But ere the key-stane she could make, The fient a tail she had to shake! For Nannie, far before the rest, Hard upon noble Maggie prest, And flew at Tam wi’ furious ettle; But little wist she Maggie’s mettle – Ae spring brought off her master hale, But left behind her ain gray tail: The carlin claught her by the rump, And left poor Maggie scarce a stump. Now, wha this tale o’ truth shall read, Ilk man and mother’s son, take heed: Whene’er to drink you are inclin’d, Or cutty-sarks run in your mind, Think, ye may buy the joys o’er dear, Remember Tam o’ Shanter’s mare. Turn over for the next question [25 marks] Turn over ► IB/G/Jun24/7716/2B 4 or 0 3 Betjeman selection – John Betjeman Explore the significance of the endings of poems to the comedy of Betjeman selection. You must refer to A Subaltern’s Love-song and at least one other poem. In your answer you need to analyse closely Betjeman’s authorial methods and include comments on the extract below. [25 marks] From A Subaltern’s Love-song Miss Joan Hunter Dunn, Miss Joan Hunter Dunn, I can hear from the car-park the dance has begun. Oh! full Surrey twilight! importunate band! Oh! strongly adorable tennis-girl’s hand! Around us are Rovers and Austins afar, Above us, the intimate roof of the car, And here on my right is the girl of my choice, With the tilt of her nose and the chime of her voice. And the scent of her wrap, and the words never said, And the ominous, ominous dancing ahead. We sat in the car park till twenty to one And now I’m engaged to Miss Joan Hunter Dunn. IB/G/Jun24/7716/2B 5 Section B Answer one question from this section. Either 0 4 Emma – Jane Austen Explore the view that ‘Mr and Mrs Elton are simply figures of fun’. Remember to include in your answer relevant analysis of Austen’s authorial methods. [25 marks] or 0 5 Small Island – Andrea Levy Explore the view that ‘readers laugh at Hortense rather than sympathise with her’. Remember to include in your answer relevant analysis of Levy’s authorial methods. [25 marks] or 0 6 Wise Children – Angela Carter Explore the significance of the events that take place in America to the comedy of Wise Children. Remember to include in your answer relevant analysis of Carter’s authorial methods. [25 marks] END OF QUESTIONS