A-level ENGLISH LITERATURE A

A-level ENGLISH LITERATURE A Paper 1 Love through the ages Wednesday 24 May 2023 Afternoon Time allowed: 3 hours Materials For this paper you must have: • an AQA 12-page answer book • a copy of each of the set texts you have studied for Section C. 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 7712/1. • In Section A you will answer one question about a Shakespeare play. • In Section B you will answer the one question about unseen poetry. • In Section C you will answer one question about two texts: one poetry text and one prose text, one of which must be written pre-1900. • Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked. Information • The marks for questions are shown in brackets. • The maximum mark for this paper is 75. • 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 connections across the texts you have studied – explore different interpretations of your texts. Section A: Shakespeare Answer one question in this section. Either 0 1 Othello – William Shakespeare ‘In Othello, the bond between Othello and Iago is stronger than the love between Othello and Desdemona.’ In the light of this view, discuss how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Othello and Iago in this extract and elsewhere in the play. IAGO There are a kind of men so loose of soul That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs: One of this kind is Cassio. In sleep I heard him say: ‘Sweet Desdemona, Let us be wary, let us hide our loves’; And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my hand, Cry ‘O sweet creature!’ and then kiss me hard, As if he plucked up kisses by the roots, That grew upon my lips; then laid his leg Over my thigh, and sighed and kissed, and then Cried ‘Cursèd fate that gave thee to the Moor!’ OTHELLO O monstrous! Monstrous! IAGO Nay, this was but his dream. OTHELLO But this denoted a foregone conclusion. IAGO ’Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream: And this may help to thicken other proofs That do demonstrate thinly. OTHELLO I’ll tear her all to pieces! IAGO Nay, but be wise: yet we see nothing done, She may be honest yet. Tell me but this: Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief, Spotted with strawberries, in your wife’s hand? OTHELLO I gave her such a one: ’twas my first gift. IAGO I know not that: but such a handkerchief – I am sure it was your wife’s – did I today See Cassio wipe his beard with. OTHELLO If it be that – IAGO If it be that, or any that was hers, It speaks against her with the other proofs. [25 marks] OTHELLO O, that the slave had forty thousand lives! One is too poor, too weak for my revenge. Now do I see ’tis true. Look here, Iago – All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven: ’Tis gone. Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell! Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy fraught, For ’tis of aspics’ tongues! IAGO Yet be content. OTHELLO O, blood, blood, blood! IAGO Patience, I say: your mind perhaps may change. OTHELLO Never, Iago. Like to the Pontic sea, Whose icy current and compulsive course Ne’er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on To the Propontic and the Hellespont, Even so my bloody thoughts with violent pace Shall ne’er look back, ne’er ebb to humble love, Till that a capable and wide revenge Swallow them up. Now, by yond marble heaven, In the due reverence of a sacred vow I here engage my words. He kneels IAGO Do not rise yet. He kneels Witness you ever-burning lights above, You elements, that clip us round about, Witness that here Iago doth give up The execution of his wit, hands, heart, To wronged Othello’s service. Let him command, And to obey shall be in me remorse, What bloody business ever. They rise OTHELLO I greet thy love, Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance bounteous; And will upon the instant put thee to’t. Within these three days let me hear thee say That Cassio’s not alive. IAGO My friend is dead; ’Tis done at your request. But let her live. OTHELLO Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her, damn her! Come go with me apart. I will withdraw To furnish me with some swift means of death For the fair devil. Now art thou my Lieutenant. IAGO I am your own for ever. (Act 3, Scene 3) Turn over ► or The Taming of the Shrew – William Shakespeare ‘In the literature of love, it is similarities rather than differences between two lovers that cause most conflict.’ In the light of this view, discuss how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Petruchio and Katherina in this extract and elsewhere in the play. [25 marks] PETRUCHIO Gentlemen and friends, I thank you for your pains. I know you think to dine with me today, And have prepared great store of wedding cheer, But so it is, my haste doth call me hence, And therefore here I mean to take my leave. BAPTISTA Is’t possible you will away tonight? PETRUCHIO I must away today before night come. Make it no wonder. If you knew my business, You would entreat me rather go than stay. And, honest company, I thank you all That have beheld me give away myself To this most patient, sweet, and virtuous wife. Dine with my father, drink a health to me, For I must hence, and farewell to you all. TRANIO Let us entreat you stay till after dinner. PETRUCHIO It may not be. GREMIO Let me entreat you. PETRUCHIO It cannot be. KATHERINA Let me entreat you. PETRUCHIO I am content. KATHERINA Are you content to stay? PETRUCHIO I am content you shall entreat me stay – But yet not stay, entreat me how you can. KATHERINA Now if you love me stay. PETRUCHIO Grumio, my horse. GRUMIO Ay, sir, they be ready – the oats have eaten the horses. KATHERINA Nay then, Do what thou canst, I will not go today, No, nor tomorrow – not till I please myself. The door is open, sir, there lies your way, You may be jogging whiles your boots are green. For me, I’ll not be gone till I please myself. ’Tis like you’ll prove a jolly surly groom That take it on you at the first so roundly. PETRUCHIO O Kate, content thee, prithee be not angry. KATHERINA I will be angry – what hast thou to do? Father, be quiet – he shall stay my leisure. GREMIO Ay marry, sir, now it begins to work. KATHERINA Gentlemen, forward to the bridal dinner. I see a woman may be made a fool If she had not a spirit to resist. PETRUCHIO They shall go forward, Kate, at thy command. Obey the bride, you that attend on her. Go to the feast, revel and domineer, Carouse full measure to her maidenhead, Be mad and merry, or go hang yourselves. But for my bonny Kate, she must with me. He seizes her, as though to protect her from the rest of the company, to whom he speaks Nay, look not big, nor stamp, nor stare, nor fret, I will be master of what is mine own. She is my goods, my chattels, she is my house, My household stuff, my field, my barn, My horse, my ox, my ass, my any thing, And here she stands. Touch her whoever dare! I’ll bring mine action on the proudest he That stops my way in Padua. Grumio, Draw forth thy weapon, we are beset with thieves, Rescue thy mistress if thou be a man. Fear not, sweet wench, they shall not touch thee, Kate. I’ll buckler thee against a million. Exeunt Petruchio, Katherina, and Grumio BAPTISTA Nay, let them go, a couple of quiet ones. GREMIO Went they not quickly, I should die with laughing. TRANIO Of all mad matches never was the like. LUCENTIO Mistress, what’s your opinion of your sister? BIANCA That being mad herself, she’s madly mated. GREMIO I warrant him, Petruchio is Kated. (Act 3, Scene 2)