O-LevelLiterature in EnglishDrama2010/11 · May/June 2010 · Q1325 Marks

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: Richard III Read this extract, and then answer the question that follows it: Gloucester: Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York; And all the clouds that lour'd upon our house In the deep bosom of the ocean buried. Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths; 5 Our bruised arms hung up for monuments; Our stern alarums chang'd to merry meetings, Our dreadful marches to delightful measures. Grim-visag'd war hath smooth'd his wrinkled front, And now, instead of mounting barbed steeds 10 To fright the souls of fearful adversaries, He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber To the lascivious pleasing of a lute. But I - that am not shap'd for sportive tricks, Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass 15 I - that am rudely stamp'd, and want love's majesty To strut before a wanton ambling nymph I - that am curtail'd of this fair proportion, Cheated of feature by dissembling nature, Deform'd, unfinish'd, sent before my time Into this breathing world scarce half made up, 20 And that so lamely and unfashionable That dogs bark at me as I halt by them Why, I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, 25 Unless to spy my shadow in the sun And descant on mine own deformity. And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover To entertain these fair well-spoken days, I am determined to prove a villain And hate the idle pleasures of these days. 30 Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous, By drunken prophecies, libels, and dreams, To set my brother Clarence and the King In deadly hate the one against the other; 35 And if King Edward be as true and just As I am subtle, false, and treacherous, This day should Clarence closely be mew'd up – About a prophecy, which says that G Of Edward's heirs the murderer shall be. 40 Dive, thoughts, down to my soul. Here Clarence comes. What do you think makes this such a memorable beginning to the play? Support your ideas with details from Shakespeare's writing.

(a)What do you think makes this such a memorable beginning to the play? Support your ideas with details from Shakespeare's writing.[25]

Mark scheme

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

[25] No doubt this speech will have been well prepared and much discussed.
[25] Matters regarding the way in which the detail of Richard's situation, physique and character is swiftly revealed to the audience will hopefully loom large in most answers.
[25] However, perhaps we should be looking for some sense of the dramatic effect and of the playwright at work before giving reasonable reward.
[25] Hopefully candidates will pay attention to the features which are intended clearly to engage an audience's interest, such as the leering, witty and mocking tone of a speech which bodes so ill for peace and stability in a kingdom latterly full of internal strife.
[25] It is, of course, attention to the words themselves and their dramatic memorability which will help define answers.
[25] High marks should not be given to answers which do not in some way respond with relish to Shakespeare's words.
[25] Refer to the band descriptors in arriving at your mark.

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