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O-LevelLiterature in EnglishDrama2010/22 · Oct/Nov 2016 · Q725 Marks

Read this passage carefully, and then answer the question that follows it: Williams: We see yonder the beginning of the day, but I think we shall never see the end of it. Who goes there? King: A friend. Williams: Under what captain serve you? King: Under Sir Thomas Erpingham. 5 Williams: A good old commander and a most kind gentleman. I pray you, what thinks he of our estate? King: Even as men wreck'd upon a sand, that look to be wash'd off the next tide. Bates: He hath not told his thought to the King? 10 King: No; nor it is not meet he should. For though I speak it to you, I think the King is but a man as I am: the violet smells to him as it doth to me; the element shows to him as it doth to me; all his senses have but human conditions; his ceremonies laid by, in his nakedness he appears but a man; and though his affections are higher mounted than ours, yet, when they stoop, they stoop with 15 the like wing. Therefore, when he sees reason of fears, as we do, his fears, out of doubt, be of the same relish as ours are; yet, in reason, no man should possess him with any appearance of fear, lest he, by showing it, should dishearten his army. 20 Bates: He may show what outward courage he will; but I believe, as cold a night as 'tis, he could wish himself in Thames up to the neck; and so I would he were, and I by him, at all adventures, we were quit here. 25 King: By my troth, I will speak my conscience of the King: I think he would not wish himself anywhere but where he is. Bates: Then I would he were here alone; so should he be sure to be ransomed, and a many poor men's lives saved. 30 King: I dare say you love him not so ill to wish him here alone, howsoever you speak this, to feel other men's minds; methinks I could not die anywhere so contented as in the King's company, his cause being just and his quarrel honourable. 35 Williams: That's more than we know. Bates: Ay, or more than we should seek after; for we know enough if we know we are the King's subjects. If his cause be wrong, our obedience to the King wipes the crime of it out of us. 40 Williams: But if the cause be not good, the King himself hath a heavy reckoning to make when all those legs and arms and heads, chopp'd off in a battle, shall join together at the latter day and cry all 'We died at such a place' – some swearing, some crying for a surgeon, some upon 45 their wives left poor behind them, some upon the debts they owe, some upon their children rawly left. I am afeard there are few die well that die in a battle; for how can they charitably dispose of anything when blood is their argument? Now, if these men do not die well, it will be a 50 black matter for the King that led them to it; who to disobey were against all proportion of subjection. [from Act 4 Scene 1]

  1. (a)In what ways does Shakespeare make this moment in the play so striking?[25]

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2016). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [25] sustains a critical understanding of the text showing individuality and insight
  2. [25] responds sensitively and in detail to the way the writer achieves effects
  3. [25] incorporates well-selected reference to the text skilfully and with flair

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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, Oct/Nov 2016 Paper 2 Variant 2, question 7.

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