Introduction to Unit 1 Section A: The Passage-Based Response

Welcome to your study guide for Unit 1, Section A of the OxfordAQA International A-level English Literature course. This section focuses on Elizabethan and Jacobean tragedy. In this part of the exam, you will be given a printed extract (a passage) from the play you have studied, and you will be asked to explore its significance within the context of the whole play.

This can feel a bit daunting because you have to balance a close-up look at the words in front of you with a "big picture" understanding of the entire tragedy. Don't worry, though! This guide will break down exactly what the examiners are looking for and how you can master the skills needed for a top-tier response.

What is "Elizabethan and Jacobean Tragedy"?

The syllabus focuses on plays written during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. These plays are famous for their intense emotions, high stakes, and often violent endings. Depending on which year you are sitting your exam, your set text will be one of the following:

  • William Shakespeare: Othello, King Lear, or Hamlet
  • John Webster: The Duchess of Malfi
  • Christopher Marlowe: Doctor Faustus (B text) (Available for exams up to January 2028)
  • Thomas Middleton: The Changeling (Available for exams from June 2028 onwards)

The Assessment Objectives (AOs)

In this 25-mark question, three Assessment Objectives are weighted equally (33.3% each). This means you need to balance your skills:

AO1: Understanding and Interpretation. This is about showing you understand the meanings in the text, the genre of tragedy, and how different readers might interpret the scene.

AO2: Authorial Methods. This is the "how" part. You must analyze how the playwright uses language, structure, and dramatic devices to create meaning. Tip: Always remember it is a play, not a novel!

AO3: Personal and Argued Response. You need to express your own ideas clearly using literary terminology and a logical structure.

Core Aspects of Tragedy to Look For

When you read the passage in the exam, look for these "tragic aspects" mentioned in the syllabus. You don't need to cover all of them, but you should identify which ones are most relevant to the extract:

  • The Tragic Hero/Heroine: Are they showing a flaw, pride (hubris), or folly? Are they currently "blind" to the truth, or are they gaining insight?
  • The Tragic Villain: Is there an opponent engaging in a contest of power?
  • The Journey: Is the character moving from order to disorder? Is this the climax (the peak of tension) or the catastrophe (the final disastrous end)?
  • Fate vs. Choice: Does the passage suggest the hero's end is inevitable, or are they making choices that lead to their downfall?
  • Pity and Fear: How is the audience supposed to feel? Are we meant to feel sorry for the character or terrified by what is happening?
  • The Presence of Violence and Revenge: Elizabethan and Jacobean plays often involve physical or psychological suffering.

Analyzing the Play as a "Drama" (AO2)

Because this is a drama text, the examiners want to see that you understand how it works on a stage. When looking at the passage, consider these dramatic elements:

  • Dialogue, Monologues, and Soliloquies: Is the character speaking to others, or are they alone on stage revealing their inner thoughts (a soliloquy)?
  • Asides: Does a character speak directly to the audience while others are "unable" to hear them?
  • Verse and Prose: Does the character speak in formal poetry (verse) or everyday language (prose)? Usually, a shift from verse to prose shows a character's mental breakdown or a change in social status.
  • Staging and Movement: Think about the characters' physical presence. Who is on stage? Who is absent? Is there any dramatic action or non-verbal effects like music or lighting?

What does "Significance" mean?

The exam question will often ask you to "explore the significance" of the passage. In OxfordAQA terms, significance means more than just being "important." It involves:

  1. How the passage fits into the genre of tragedy.
  2. How the authorial methods (language/drama) work in this specific moment.
  3. How contexts (the social or historical world of the play) help us understand the scene.
  4. What interpretations we can find (different ways of looking at the same moment).

Step-by-Step Approach to the Question

1. Contextualize the passage: Briefly mention where in the play this scene occurs. What has just happened? What is about to happen? This shows you know the whole text.

2. Identify the Tragic Elements: State clearly which aspects of tragedy are most visible in this extract (e.g., "In this passage, we see the protagonist’s descent into isolation...").

3. Zoom in on Methods (AO2): Pick out specific words, metaphors, or dramatic devices. Instead of just saying "the character is angry," say "Shakespeare uses staccato dialogue and violent imagery to illustrate the character's mental disorder."

4. Zoom out to the Whole Play: Connect the passage to the rest of the play. If the hero is being proud in the passage, remind the examiner how this hubris eventually leads to their catastrophe in the final act.

Quick Review: Top Tips for Success
  • Don't treat it like a poem: Always mention the stage, the audience, or the actors' movements.
  • Use the terminology: Words like soliloquy, hubris, sub-plot, and resolution show the examiner you are an expert.
  • Focus on the "Why": Don't just list methods; explain why the playwright used them to affect the audience.
  • Keep it "Closed Book" ready: Since Unit 1 is a closed-book exam, you need to know your play well enough to discuss the "wider context" without having the full script in front of you.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The "Plot Summary" Trap: Don't just retell what is happening in the scene. The examiner knows the story! Instead, analyze how the story is being told.

Ignoring the Audience: Tragedy is designed to move an audience through pity and fear. Always consider how the people watching the play would react to the scene.

Focusing only on the passage: You must link the extract to the rest of the play. If you only talk about the 20-30 lines provided, you cannot access the higher marks for understanding the "significance" of the text as a whole.

For more information on writing style and technical terms, see the chapters on "Authorial methods and literary terminology (AO2, AO3)" and "Genre, significance and context in argument (AO1)".