How does Shakespeare make Dogberry and the Watch so entertaining? Support your answer by close reference to the play.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2010). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [25] These characters only appear a few times but they add significantly to the plot and structure of the play as well as to the range of characters.
2. [25] Their simplicity contrasts with the sophistication of the central characters and a great deal of humour is derived from their attempts to relate to the more noble characters and from their sense of their own importance, exemplified most clearly in Dogberry's verbosity and mangling of the language.
3. [25] They play a crucial part in the unmasking of Don John and therefore indirectly in the vindication of Hero.
4. [25] Their appearances give relief at moments of high tension, but they also create further expectations relating to the point at which their discoveries will be revealed.
5. [25] The emphasis is on personal response and good answers will focus not only on the characterisation but only on the role.
6. [25] It may be tempting for some candidates to recite some of Dogberry's linguistic faux-pas, but for a high mark candidates should go beyond this.
7. [25] Refer to the band descriptors in arriving at your mark.