GCSE English Literature (8702)

Paper 1: Shakespeare
Exemplar Questions
 Shakespeare
You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.

Romeo and Juliet

Read the following extract from Act 1 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet, and then answer the
question that follows.

At this point in the play, the Prince is reacting to the latest in a series of fights between the
families of Montague and Capulet.

PRINCE
Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,--
Will they not hear? What, ho! you men, you beasts,
That quench the fire of your pernicious rage
5 With purple fountains issuing from your veins,
On pain of torture, from those bloody hands
Throw your mistemper'd weapons to the ground,
And hear the sentence of your moved prince.
Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word,
10 By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,
Have thrice disturb'd the quiet of our streets,
And made Verona's ancient citizens
Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments,
To wield old partisans, in hands as old,
15 Canker'd with peace, to part your canker'd hate:
If ever you disturb our streets again,
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
For this time, all the rest depart away:
You Capulet; shall go along with me:
20 And, Montague, come you this afternoon,
To know our further pleasure in this case,
To old Free-town, our common judgment-place.
Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.

1. Starting with this speech, explain the extent to which you think Shakespeare presents the Prince
as a strong leader.

Write about:
• how Shakespeare presents the Prince in this extract;
• how Shakespeare presents the Prince in the play as a whole.
[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]
 Shakespeare
You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.

Romeo and Juliet

Read the following extract from Act 1 Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet, and then answer the
question that follows.

At this point in the play, Lord Capulet and Paris are discussing Juliet.

PARIS
But now, my lord, what say you to my suit?
CAPULET
But saying o’er what I have said before:
My child is yet a stranger in the world,
She hath not seen the change of fourteen years;
5 Let two more summers wither in their pride,
Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.
PARIS
Younger than she are happy mothers made.
CAPULET
And too soon marred are those so early made.
The earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she;
10 She’s the hopeful lady of my earth.
But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart,
My will to her consent is but a part;
And she agreed, within her scope of choice
Lies my consent and fair according voice.

2. Starting with this conversation, explain how far you think Shakespeare presents Lord Capulet as
a good father.

Write about:
• how Shakespeare presents Lord Capulet in this extract;
• how Shakespeare presents Lord Capulet in the play as a whole.
[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]
 Shakespeare
You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.

Romeo and Juliet

Read the following extract from Act 1 Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet, and then answer the
question that follows.

At this point in the play, the nurse is remembering Juliet at a baby, when she cared for her.

NURSE
Even or odd, of all days in the year,
Come Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen.
Susan and she--God rest all Christian souls!--
Were of an age: well, Susan is with God;
5 She was too good for me: but, as I said,
On Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen;
That shall she, marry; I remember it well.
'Tis since the earthquake now eleven years;
And she was wean'd,--I never shall forget it,--
10 Of all the days of the year, upon that day:
For I had then laid wormwood to my dug,
Sitting in the sun under the dove-house wall;
My lord and you were then at Mantua:--
Nay, I do bear a brain:--but, as I said,
15 When it did taste the wormwood on the nipple
Of my dug and felt it bitter, pretty fool,
To see it tetchy and fall out with the dug!

3. Starting with this speech, explain how far you think Shakespeare presents the Nurse as more of
a mother to Juliet than Lady Capulet.

Write about:
• how Shakespeare presents Nurse in this extract;
• how Shakespeare presents the differences between the Nurse and Lady Capulet in the play
as a whole.
[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]
 Shakespeare
You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.

Romeo and Juliet

Read the following extract from Act 1 Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet, and then answer the
question that follows.

At this point in the play, Tybalt has just come across Romeo at the Capulet ball.

TYBALT
This, by his voice, should be a Montague.
Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slave
Come hither, cover'd with an antic face,
To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?
5 Now, by the stock and honour of my kin,
To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin.
CAPULET
Why, how now, kinsman! wherefore storm you so?
TYBALT
Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe,
A villain that is hither come in spite,
10 To scorn at our solemnity this night.
CAPULET
Young Romeo is it?
TYBALT
'Tis he, that villain Romeo.
CAPULET
Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone;
He bears him like a portly gentleman;
15 And, to say truth, Verona brags of him
To be a virtuous and well-govern'd youth:

4. Starting with this conversation, explain the extent to which you think Shakespeare presents
Tybalt as a villain.

Write about:
• how Shakespeare presents Tybalt in this extract;
• how Shakespeare presents Tybalt in the play as a whole.
[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]
 Shakespeare
You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.

Romeo and Juliet

Read the following extract from Act 2 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet, and then answer the
question that follows.

At this point in the play, Romeo is in the orchard, watching Juliet on her balcony.

ROMEO
He jests at scars that never felt a wound.

JULIET appears above at a window

But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?

It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
5 Who is already sick and pale with grief,
That thou her maid art far more fair than she:
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
10 It is my lady, O, it is my love!
O, that she knew she were!
She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that?
Her eye discourses; I will answer it.
I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks:
15 Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?

5. Starting with this soliloquy, explain how far you think Shakespeare presents Romeo as a
hopeless romantic.

Write about:
• how Shakespeare presents Romeo in this extract;
• how Shakespeare presents Romeo in the play as a whole.
[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]
 Shakespeare
You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.

Romeo and Juliet

Read the following extract from Act 2 Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet, and then answer the
question that follows.

At this point in the play, Romeo is confessing his love for Juliet to Friar Lawrence.

ROMEO
Thou chid'st me oft for loving Rosaline.
FRIAR LAURENCE
For doting, not for loving, pupil mine.
ROMEO
And bad'st me bury love.
FRIAR LAURENCE
Not in a grave,
5 To lay one in, another out to have.
ROMEO
I pray thee, chide not; she whom I love now
Doth grace for grace and love for love allow;
The other did not so.
FRIAR LAURENCE
O, she knew well
10 Thy love did read by rote and could not spell.
But come, young waverer, come, go with me,
In one respect I'll thy assistant be;
For this alliance may so happy prove,
To turn your households' rancour to pure love.
ROMEO
15 O, let us hence; I stand on sudden haste.
FRIAR LAURENCE
Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.

6. Starting with this exchange, explore Shakespeare’s ideas about the role and status of the
Church.

Write about:
• how Shakespeare presents Church in this extract;
• how Shakespeare presents Church in the play as a whole.

[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]
 Shakespeare
You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.

Romeo and Juliet

Read the following extract from Act 3 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet, and then answer the
question that follows.

At this point in the play, Mercutio and Tybalt fight, and Mercutio is fatally wounded.

MERCUTIO
Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives; that I mean to make bold
withal, and as you shall use me hereafter, drybeat the rest of the eight. Will you
pluck your sword out of his pitcher by the ears? Make haste, lest mine be about
your ears ere it be out.
TYBALT
5 I am for you. Drawing
ROMEO
Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.
MERCUTIO
Come, sir, your passado. They fight

TYBALT under ROMEO's arm stabs MERCUTIO, and flies with his followers

MERCUTIO
I am hurt.
A plague o' both your houses! I am sped.
10 Is he gone, and hath nothing?
BENVOLIO
What, art thou hurt?
MERCUTIO
Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis enough.
Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a surgeon.

7. Starting with this conversation, explain how far you think Shakespeare presents Mercutio as a
character of contrasts.

Write about:
• how Shakespeare presents different aspects of Mercutio’s character in this extract;
• how Shakespeare presents different aspects of Mercutio’s character in the play as a whole.

[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]
 Shakespeare
You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.

Romeo and Juliet

Read the following extract from Act 3 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet, and then answer the
question that follows.

At this point in the play, Lady Capulet and Montague are trying to persuade the Prince to punish
the other family for Mercutio and Tybalt’s deaths.

LADY CAPULET
He is a kinsman to the Montague;
Affection makes him false, he speaks not true.
Some twenty of them fought in this black strife,
And all those twenty could but kill one life.
5 I beg for justice, which thou, Prince, must give.
Romeo slew Tybalt; Romeo must not live.
PRINCE
Romeo slew him; he slew Mercutio.
Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?
MONTAGUE
Not Romeo, Prince; he was Mercutio's friend;
10 His fault concludes but what the law should end,
The life of Tybalt.
PRINCE
And for that offence
Immediately we do exile him hence.
I have an interest in your hate's proceeding,
15 My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding;
But I'll amerce you with so strong a fine
That you shall all repent the loss of mine.

8. Starting with this exchange, explain how Shakespeare presents attitudes to and the role of
justice.

Write about:
• how Shakespeare presents justice in this extract;
• how Shakespeare presents justice in the play as a whole.
[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]
 Shakespeare
You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.

Romeo and Juliet

Read the following extract from Act 3 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet, and then answer the
question that follows.

At this point in the play, Romeo fights Tybalt in revenge for Tybalt having killed Mercutio.

BENVOLIO
Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.
ROMEO
Alive, in triumph! and Mercutio slain!
Away to heaven, respective lenity,
And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!

Re-enter TYBALT

5 Now, Tybalt, take the villain back again,

That late thou gavest me; for Mercutio's soul
Is but a little way above our heads,
Staying for thine to keep him company:
Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him.
TYBALT
10 Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here,
Shalt with him hence.
ROMEO
This shall determine that.

They fight; TYBALT falls

BENVOLIO
Romeo, away, be gone!
The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain.
15 Stand not amazed: the prince will doom thee death,
If thou art taken: hence, be gone, away!
ROMEO
O, I am fortune's fool!

9. Starting with this exchange, explain how Shakespeare presents different types of conflict in the
play.

Write about:
• how Shakespeare presents conflict in this extract;
• how Shakespeare presents different ideas about conflict in the play as a whole.
[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]
 Shakespeare
You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.

Romeo and Juliet

Read the following extract from Act 3 Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet, and then answer the
question that follows.

At this point in the play, Juliet is resisting her father’s attempts to get her to marry Paris.

LADY CAPULET
Ay, sir; but she will none, she gives you thanks.
I would the fool were married to her grave!
CAPULET
Soft! take me with you, take me with you, wife.
How! will she none? doth she not give us thanks?
5 Is she not proud? doth she not count her blest,
Unworthy as she is, that we have wrought
So worthy a gentleman to be her bridegroom?
JULIET
Not proud, you have; but thankful, that you have:
Proud can I never be of what I hate;
10 But thankful even for hate, that is meant love.
CAPULET
How now, how now, chop-logic! What is this?
'Proud,' and 'I thank you,' and 'I thank you not;'
And yet 'not proud,' mistress minion, you,
Thank me no thankings, nor, proud me no prouds,
15 But fettle your fine joints 'gainst Thursday next,
To go with Paris to Saint Peter's Church,
Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither.
Out, you green-sickness carrion! out, you baggage!
You tallow-face!

10. Starting with this exchange, explain how far you think Shakespeare presents Juliet as a faithful
daughter.

Write about:
• how Shakespeare presents Juliet in this extract;
• how Shakespeare presents Juliet in the play as a whole.
[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]
 Shakespeare
You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.

Romeo and Juliet

Read the following extract from Act 4 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet, and then answer the
question that follows.

At this point in the play, Juliet is expressing her displeasure at her impending marriage to Paris.

JULIET
O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris,
From off the battlements of yonder tower;
Or walk in thievish ways; or bid me lurk
Where serpents are; chain me with roaring bears;
5 Or shut me nightly in a charnel-house,
O'er-cover'd quite with dead men's rattling bones,
With reeky shanks and yellow chapless skulls;
Or bid me go into a new-made grave
And hide me with a dead man in his shroud;
10 Things that, to hear them told, have made me tremble;
And I will do it without fear or doubt,
To live an unstain'd wife to my sweet love.

11. Starting with this exchange, explain Shakespeare’s presents of attitudes to women.

Write about:
• how Shakespeare presents the role of women in this extract;
• how Shakespeare presents the role of women in the play as a whole.
[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]
 Shakespeare
You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.

Romeo and Juliet

Read the following extract from Act 4 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet, and then answer the
question that follows.

At this point in the play, Friar Lawrence describes a plan to Juliet for her to fake her own death to
avoid marrying Paris.

FRIAR LAWRENCE
Hold, then; go home, be merry, give consent
To marry Paris: Wednesday is to-morrow:
To-morrow night look that thou lie alone;
Let not thy nurse lie with thee in thy chamber:
5 Take thou this vial, being then in bed,
And this distilled liquor drink thou off;
When presently through all thy veins shall run
A cold and drowsy humour, for no pulse
Shall keep his native progress, but surcease:
10 No warmth, no breath, shall testify thou livest;
The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade
To paly ashes, thy eyes' windows fall,
Like death, when he shuts up the day of life;
Each part, deprived of supple government,
15 Shall, stiff and stark and cold, appear like death:
And in this borrow'd likeness of shrunk death
Thou shalt continue two and forty hours,
And then awake as from a pleasant sleep.

12. ‘Friar Lawrence is the biggest villain in the play because of his manipulation of other characters;
he alone is responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet’.

Starting with this speech, explain how far you agree with this statement.

Write about:
• how Friar Lawrence presents himself in this speech;
• how Shakespeare presents Friar Lawrence in the play as a whole.

[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]
 Shakespeare
You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.

Romeo and Juliet

Read the following extract from Act 4 Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet, and then answer the
question that follows.

At this point in the play, Juliet is about to take a potion given to her by the Friar Lawrence in order
to appear dead, and therefore avoid her wedding to Paris.

JULIET
Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again.
I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins,
That almost freezes up the heat of life:
I'll call them back again to comfort me:
5 Nurse! What should she do here?
My dismal scene I needs must act alone.
Come, vial.
What if this mixture do not work at all?
Shall I be married then to-morrow morning?
10 No, no: this shall forbid it: lie thou there.

Laying down her dagger

What if it be a poison, which the friar

Subtly hath minister'd to have me dead,
Lest in this marriage he should be dishonour'd,
Because he married me before to Romeo?
15 I fear it is: and yet, methinks, it should not,
For he hath still been tried a holy man.
How if, when I am laid into the tomb,
I wake before the time that Romeo
Come to redeem me? there's a fearful point!

13. Starting with this speech, explore Shakespeare’s ideas about fate.

Write about:
• how Shakespeare presents fate in this speech;
• how Shakespeare presents fate in the play as a whole.

[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]
 Shakespeare
You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.

Romeo and Juliet

Read the following extract from Act 5 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet, and then answer the
question that follows.

At this point in the play, Romeo awaits news of Juliet during his banishment; he is unaware that
Juliet is believed to have died because of her taking Friar Lawrence’s potion.

JULIET
Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again.
I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins,
That almost freezes up the heat of life:
I'll call them back again to comfort me:
5 Nurse! What should she do here?
My dismal scene I needs must act alone.
Come, vial.
What if this mixture do not work at all?
Shall I be married then to-morrow morning?
10 No, no: this shall forbid it: lie thou there.

Laying down her dagger

What if it be a poison, which the friar

Subtly hath minister'd to have me dead,
Lest in this marriage he should be dishonour'd,
Because he married me before to Romeo?
15 I fear it is: and yet, methinks, it should not,
For he hath still been tried a holy man.
How if, when I am laid into the tomb,
I wake before the time that Romeo
Come to redeem me? there's a fearful point!

14. Starting with this speech, explain Shakespeare’s ideas and suggestions about love.

Write about:
• how Shakespeare presents love in this speech;
• how Shakespeare presents love in the play as a whole.

[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]
 Shakespeare
You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.

Romeo and Juliet

Read the following extract from Act 5 Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet, and then answer the
question that follows.

At this point in the play, Capulet, Montague and the Prince reflect on the consequences of the
recent deaths of Romeo and Juliet.

CAPULET
O brother Montague, give me thy hand:
This is my daughter's jointure, for no more
Can I demand.
MONTAGUE
But I can give thee more:
5 For I will raise her statue in pure gold;
That while Verona by that name is known,
There shall no figure at such rate be set
As that of true and faithful Juliet.
CAPULET
As rich shall Romeo's by his lady's lie;
10 Poor sacrifices of our enmity!
PRINCE
A glooming peace this morning with it brings;
The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head:
Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things;
Some shall be pardon'd, and some punished:
15 For never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.

Exeunt

15. Starting with this exchange, explain how you think Shakespeare presents ideas about death.

Write about:
• how Shakespeare presents death and its consequences in this speech;
• how Shakespeare presents death in the play as a whole.
[30 marks]
AO4 [4 mar