2
Section A
© OCR 2025 H008/21 Jun25
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Source A
Bell krater by McDaniel Painter
Figure 1
1 What kind of mythological creature is Figure 1? [1]
2 State the name of Figure 1. [1]
3 What is the technical name given to the building shown in Source A? [1]
4 Analyse how useful Source A is in telling us how a comedy by Aristophanes might originally have
been staged.
Make four points and support each point with reference to Source A. [8]
© OCR 2025 H008/21 Jun25
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Source B
Aristophanes’ Frogs 33–56
XANTHIAS Ah woe is me, poor wretch! Why didn’t I fight in that sea-battle! Then I
could tell you to bugger off.
DIONYSUS Get down, you idiot. My journey’s taken me right up to this door here, my
first destination.
Slave, I say, slave, slave! 5
HERACLES Who’s that battering the door, flinging himself at it like a centaur? Who
the…say, what is all this?
DIONYSUS Slave.
XANTHIAS What is it?
DIONYSUS Did you notice that? 10
XANTHIAS Notice what exactly?
DIONYSUS How scared he was of me.
XANTHIAS Oh, yes, by Zeus – scared that you’re a maniac.
HERACLES By Demeter, I just can’t stop laughing. I’m biting my lip, but I just can’t
help myself. 15
DIONYSUS My good chap, step forward. I have a favour to ask of you.
HERACLES I can’t stop laughing – look at that lionskin on top of your little yellow
number. What’s the idea? Why these boots and club? Where on earth
were you heading?
DIONYSUS I was sailing with Cleisthenes. 20
HERACLES You fought at sea?
XANTHIAS Yes, and sank – oh, must have been twelve or thirteen enemy ships.
HERACLES The two of you?
DIONYSUS Yes, by Apollo.
XANTHIAS In your dreams… 25
DIONYSUS And while I was on board, reading Andromeda to myself, a sudden desire
filled my heart – you wouldn’t believe how strong it was.
HERACLES Desire? What kind of desire?
DIONYSUS Just a little one – the size of Molon.
5 Which sea-battle is Xanthias referring to in line 1? [1]
6 Why do you think that Xanthias refers to this battle? Make two points. [2]
7 Who was Cleisthenes (line 20)? [1]
8 What was the sudden desire (line 26) felt by Dionysus? [1]
9 Explain how Aristophanes makes the scene in Source B a successful piece of comic drama.
Make four points and support each point with reference to Source B. [8]
10* ‘When the play was first produced, the audience found Aristophanes’ Frogs to be entertaining
because of what they heard, rather than what they saw.’
Explain how far you agree with this statement.
You may use Source(s) A and/or B as a starting point in your answer. [16]
[Section A Total: 40]
© OCR 2025 H008/21 Jun25 Turn over
Section A
© OCR 2025 H008/21 Jun25
, 3
Source A
Bell krater by McDaniel Painter
Figure 1
1 What kind of mythological creature is Figure 1? [1]
2 State the name of Figure 1. [1]
3 What is the technical name given to the building shown in Source A? [1]
4 Analyse how useful Source A is in telling us how a comedy by Aristophanes might originally have
been staged.
Make four points and support each point with reference to Source A. [8]
© OCR 2025 H008/21 Jun25
, 4
Source B
Aristophanes’ Frogs 33–56
XANTHIAS Ah woe is me, poor wretch! Why didn’t I fight in that sea-battle! Then I
could tell you to bugger off.
DIONYSUS Get down, you idiot. My journey’s taken me right up to this door here, my
first destination.
Slave, I say, slave, slave! 5
HERACLES Who’s that battering the door, flinging himself at it like a centaur? Who
the…say, what is all this?
DIONYSUS Slave.
XANTHIAS What is it?
DIONYSUS Did you notice that? 10
XANTHIAS Notice what exactly?
DIONYSUS How scared he was of me.
XANTHIAS Oh, yes, by Zeus – scared that you’re a maniac.
HERACLES By Demeter, I just can’t stop laughing. I’m biting my lip, but I just can’t
help myself. 15
DIONYSUS My good chap, step forward. I have a favour to ask of you.
HERACLES I can’t stop laughing – look at that lionskin on top of your little yellow
number. What’s the idea? Why these boots and club? Where on earth
were you heading?
DIONYSUS I was sailing with Cleisthenes. 20
HERACLES You fought at sea?
XANTHIAS Yes, and sank – oh, must have been twelve or thirteen enemy ships.
HERACLES The two of you?
DIONYSUS Yes, by Apollo.
XANTHIAS In your dreams… 25
DIONYSUS And while I was on board, reading Andromeda to myself, a sudden desire
filled my heart – you wouldn’t believe how strong it was.
HERACLES Desire? What kind of desire?
DIONYSUS Just a little one – the size of Molon.
5 Which sea-battle is Xanthias referring to in line 1? [1]
6 Why do you think that Xanthias refers to this battle? Make two points. [2]
7 Who was Cleisthenes (line 20)? [1]
8 What was the sudden desire (line 26) felt by Dionysus? [1]
9 Explain how Aristophanes makes the scene in Source B a successful piece of comic drama.
Make four points and support each point with reference to Source B. [8]
10* ‘When the play was first produced, the audience found Aristophanes’ Frogs to be entertaining
because of what they heard, rather than what they saw.’
Explain how far you agree with this statement.
You may use Source(s) A and/or B as a starting point in your answer. [16]
[Section A Total: 40]
© OCR 2025 H008/21 Jun25 Turn over
