Pearson Edexcel A Level · English Literature (9ET0)

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Measure for Measure, The Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night: Practice Questions

5 multiple-choice questions marked as you go, and 5 written questions with worked solutions. All on A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Measure for Measure, The Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night.

10 questions31 marksFree, no account

Question 1

1 mark

In Twelfth Night, how does the character of Malvolio represent a subversion of the typical 'festive comedy' atmosphere?

Question 2

1 mark

In Twelfth Night, how does the treatment of Malvolio complicate the play's status as a 'festive comedy'?

Question 3

1 mark

In The Taming of the Shrew, Petruchio's 'taming' methods are frequently compared to what contemporary Elizabethan practice?

Question 4

1 mark

In Twelfth Night, how does the character of Feste contribute to the play's exploration of the 'instability of language'?

Question 5

1 mark

In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, what is the significance of the ‘Wood outside Athens’ in relation to the ‘Law of Athens’?

Question 6

4 marks

Identify the dramatic function of the 'bed-trick' in Measure for Measure regarding the play's resolution of moral conflict.

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Question 7

6 marks

How does Shakespeare use the motif of 'substitution' in Measure for Measure to interrogate the stability of judicial authority?

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Question 8

3 marks

In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, how does the physical layout of the setting typically symbolize the shift from Athenian law to natural chaos?

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Question 9

5 marks

In Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, the character of Viola acts as a catalyst for the disruption of traditional social hierarchies and gender roles. Explore how Shakespeare presents the transformative power of disguise in the play.

In your response, you must:
a) Analyse the dramatic techniques used to present Viola’s disguise as Cesario.
b) Evaluate how the use of disguise reflects the play's themes of identity and self-deception.
c) Incorporate critical perspectives on the fluid nature of gender in Elizabethan comedy.

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Question 10

8 marks

In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the forest is often interpreted as a 'liminal space' where the constraints of Athenian law (the nomos) are suspended. Discuss how Shakespeare uses the contrast between the City and the Woods to explore the irrationality of love.

Consider the following in your answer:
a) The linguistic differences between the lovers in Athens versus their interactions in the woods.
b) The role of the supernatural (the Fairies) as agents of psychological projection.
c) Critical interpretations regarding the 'darker side' of the forest and its association with chaos and transformation.

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