A-level
ENGLISH LITERATURE A
Paper 1 Love through the ages
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.
IB/G/Jun22/E6 7712/1
, 2
Section A: Shakespeare
Answer one question in this section.
Either
0 1 Othello – William Shakespeare
‘It is Desdemona’s naivety about men that brings about her downfall.’
In the light of this view, discuss how Shakespeare presents Desdemona in this extract and
elsewhere in the play.
[25 marks]
DESDEMONA
My lord shall never rest.
I’ll watch him tame and talk him out of patience;
His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
I’ll intermingle everything he does
With Cassio’s suit. Therefore be merry, Cassio,
For thy solicitor shall rather die
Than give thy cause away.
Enter Othello and Iago
EMILIA
Madam, here comes my lord.
CASSIO
Madam, I’ll take my leave.
DESDEMONA
Why, stay and hear me speak.
CASSIO
Madam, not now: I am very ill at ease,
Unfit for mine own purposes.
DESDEMONA
Well, do your discretion. Exit Cassio
IAGO
Ha! I like not that.
OTHELLO What dost thou say?
IAGO
Nothing, my lord; or if – I know not what.
OTHELLO
Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?
IAGO
IB/G/Jun22/7712/1
, 3
Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it
That he would sneak away so guilty-like,
Seeing you coming.
OTHELLO I do believe ’twas he.
DESDEMONA
How now, my lord?
I have been talking with a suitor here, A
man that languishes in your displeasure.
OTHELLO
Who is’t you mean?
DESDEMONA
Why, your Lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord,
If I have any grace or power to move you, His
present reconciliation take.
For if he be not one that truly loves you,
That errs in ignorance, and not in cunning,
I have no judgement in an honest face.
I prithee call him back.
OTHELLO Went he hence now?
DESDEMONA
Yes, faith; so humbled
That he hath left part of his grief with me To
suffer with him. Good love, call him back.
OTHELLO
Not now, sweet Desdemon; some other time.
DESDEMONA
But shall’t be shortly?
OTHELLO The sooner, sweet, for you.
DESDEMONA
Shall’t be tonight, at supper?
OTHELLO No, not tonight.
DESDEMONA
Tomorrow dinner then?
OTHELLO I shall not dine at home.
I meet the captains at the citadel.
DESDEMONA
Why, then, tomorrow night, or Tuesday morn, On
Tuesday noon, or night; on Wednesday morn. I
prithee name the time, but let it not
Exceed three days. In faith, he’s penitent:
And yet his trespass in our common reason –
Save that, they say, the wars must make example
Out of their best – is not almost a fault
T’incur a private check. When shall he come?
Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul
What you would ask me that I should deny,
Turn over ►
IB/G/Jun22/7712/1
ENGLISH LITERATURE A
Paper 1 Love through the ages
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.
IB/G/Jun22/E6 7712/1
, 2
Section A: Shakespeare
Answer one question in this section.
Either
0 1 Othello – William Shakespeare
‘It is Desdemona’s naivety about men that brings about her downfall.’
In the light of this view, discuss how Shakespeare presents Desdemona in this extract and
elsewhere in the play.
[25 marks]
DESDEMONA
My lord shall never rest.
I’ll watch him tame and talk him out of patience;
His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;
I’ll intermingle everything he does
With Cassio’s suit. Therefore be merry, Cassio,
For thy solicitor shall rather die
Than give thy cause away.
Enter Othello and Iago
EMILIA
Madam, here comes my lord.
CASSIO
Madam, I’ll take my leave.
DESDEMONA
Why, stay and hear me speak.
CASSIO
Madam, not now: I am very ill at ease,
Unfit for mine own purposes.
DESDEMONA
Well, do your discretion. Exit Cassio
IAGO
Ha! I like not that.
OTHELLO What dost thou say?
IAGO
Nothing, my lord; or if – I know not what.
OTHELLO
Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?
IAGO
IB/G/Jun22/7712/1
, 3
Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it
That he would sneak away so guilty-like,
Seeing you coming.
OTHELLO I do believe ’twas he.
DESDEMONA
How now, my lord?
I have been talking with a suitor here, A
man that languishes in your displeasure.
OTHELLO
Who is’t you mean?
DESDEMONA
Why, your Lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord,
If I have any grace or power to move you, His
present reconciliation take.
For if he be not one that truly loves you,
That errs in ignorance, and not in cunning,
I have no judgement in an honest face.
I prithee call him back.
OTHELLO Went he hence now?
DESDEMONA
Yes, faith; so humbled
That he hath left part of his grief with me To
suffer with him. Good love, call him back.
OTHELLO
Not now, sweet Desdemon; some other time.
DESDEMONA
But shall’t be shortly?
OTHELLO The sooner, sweet, for you.
DESDEMONA
Shall’t be tonight, at supper?
OTHELLO No, not tonight.
DESDEMONA
Tomorrow dinner then?
OTHELLO I shall not dine at home.
I meet the captains at the citadel.
DESDEMONA
Why, then, tomorrow night, or Tuesday morn, On
Tuesday noon, or night; on Wednesday morn. I
prithee name the time, but let it not
Exceed three days. In faith, he’s penitent:
And yet his trespass in our common reason –
Save that, they say, the wars must make example
Out of their best – is not almost a fault
T’incur a private check. When shall he come?
Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul
What you would ask me that I should deny,
Turn over ►
IB/G/Jun22/7712/1
