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O-LevelLiterature in EnglishDrama2010/22 · May/June 2019 · Q925 Marks

Read this passage carefully, and then answer the question that follows it: Juliet: Now, good sweet nurse O Lord, why look'st thou sad? Though news be sad, yet tell them merrily; If good, thou shamest the music of sweet news By playing it to me with so sour a face. Nurse: I am aweary, give me leave a while; Fie, how my bones ache! What a jaunce have I had! Juliet: I would thou hadst my bones and I thy news. Nay, come, I pray thee speak; good, good nurse, speak. Nurse: Jesu, what haste? Can you not stay a while? Do you not see that I am out of breath? Juliet: How art thou out of breath, when thou hast breath To say to me that thou art out of breath? The excuse that thou dost make in this delay Is longer than the tale thou dost excuse. Is thy news good or bad? Answer to that; Say either, and I'll stay the circumstance. Let me be satisfied, is't good or bad? Nurse: Well, you have made a simple choice; you know not how to choose a man. Romeo! no, not he; though his face be better than any man's, yet his leg excels all men's; and for a hand, and a foot, and a body, though they be not to be talk'd on, yet they are past compare. He is not the flower of courtesy, but I'll warrant him as gentle as a lamb. Go thy ways, wench; serve God. What, have you din'd at home? Juliet: No, no. But all this did I know before. What says he of our marriage? What of that? Nurse: Lord, how my head aches! What a head have I! It beats as it would fall in twenty pieces. My back a t'other side – ah, my back, my back! Beshrew your heart for sending me about To catch my death with jauncing up and down! Juliet: I' faith, I am sorry that thou art not well. Sweet, sweet, sweet nurse, tell me, what says my love? Nurse: Your love says like an honest gentleman, and a courteous, and a kind, and a handsome, and, I warrant, a virtuous – Where is your mother? Juliet: Where is my mother! Why, she is within; Where should she be? How oddly thou repliest! 'Your love says like an honest gentleman, Where is your mother?' Nurse: O God's lady dear! Are you so hot? Marry, come up, I trow; Is this the poultice for my aching bones? Henceforward, do your messages yourself. [from Act 2 Scene 5] How does Shakespeare make this such a dramatic and entertaining moment in the play?

  1. (a)How does Shakespeare make this such a dramatic and entertaining moment in the play?[25]

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2019). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [25] demonstrates knowledge by incorporating well-selected reference to the text skilfully and with flair (AO1)
  2. [25] sustains a critical understanding of the text showing individuality and insight (AO2)
  3. [25] responds sensitively and in considerable detail to the way the writer achieves her/his effects (AO3)
  4. [25] sustains personal and evaluative engagement with task and text (AO4)

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About this question

Topic
Drama, O-Level Literature in English (syllabus 2010). Structured question, 25 marks.
Source
O-Level Literature in English, May/June 2019 Paper 2 Variant 2, question 9.

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