Welcome to Coriolanus: A Study Guide for OCR A Level
Hello! Welcome to your study notes for William Shakespeare’s Coriolanus. This play is part of your Component 01: Drama and Poetry pre-1900 exam. If you’ve ever felt that politics is messy, or wondered why some people are great at their jobs but terrible at talking to others, this play is for you!
Don’t worry if the language seems a bit tough at first. We are going to break it down into bite-sized pieces so you can feel confident heading into your exam. By the end of these notes, you’ll understand the characters, the themes, and why this play still matters today.
1. What is Coriolanus About? (The Big Picture)
Think of Coriolanus as a high-stakes political thriller. It’s set in ancient Rome, but the problems are very modern: class conflict, famine, and war.
The story follows Caius Martius, a brilliant soldier who is given the name "Coriolanus" after winning a massive battle. He is a hero on the battlefield, but a disaster in politics. He hates the "common people" (the Plebeians) and refuses to flatter them to get the job of Consul (the leader of Rome). This leads to his exile, a thirst for revenge, and a tragic ending driven by his relationship with his mother.
Quick Review: The Plot Arc
1. The Riot: Rome is starving; the people are angry.
2. The War: Martius defeats the Volscians at the city of Corioli.
3. The Politics: Martius returns a hero but refuses to "play the game" with the voters.
4. The Exile: The people kick him out of Rome.
5. The Revenge: Martius joins his enemy to destroy Rome.
6. The End: His mother begs him for peace; he agrees but is killed for his "betrayal."
2. Key Characters: Who’s Who?
To understand the play, you need to know the players. Here is a breakdown of the main characters:
Coriolanus (Caius Martius)
He is a machine of war. He is incredibly brave but also incredibly proud. He sees the world in black and white: you are either a hero or a coward. He cannot lie, which makes him a "good" person in one way, but a "bad" politician who can't compromise.
Analogy: Imagine a world-class athlete who is amazing on the field but gets banned because they refuse to be polite to the fans or the media. That is Coriolanus.
Volumnia (The Mother)
One of Shakespeare’s most powerful female characters. She didn't raise Coriolanus to be a "son" in the traditional sense; she raised him to be a warrior. She lives her dreams through his blood and glory. In the end, she is the only person who can control him.
Menenius Agrippa
A witty, older aristocrat (a Patrician). He is Coriolanus's mentor and friend. He tries to act as a bridge between the angry poor people and the stubborn Coriolanus. He uses humour and fables to calm things down.
The Tribunes (Brutus and Sicinius)
These are the politicians who represent the common people. Depending on how you read the play, they are either protectors of democracy or sneaky manipulators who want to take Coriolanus down for their own gain.
Key Takeaway: The play isn't just about one man; it’s about the clash between these different types of people and their conflicting values.
3. Major Themes to Watch For
When you write your essay, you want to focus on these "big ideas":
Class Conflict (Patricians vs. Plebeians)
The play explores the gap between the rich (Patricians) and the poor (Plebeians). The poor are hungry and want a voice; the rich think the poor are uneducated and dangerous. Shakespeare doesn't necessarily take a side—he shows how both sides can be stubborn and selfish.
Pride and Identity
Coriolanus’s hubris (excessive pride) is his hamartia (fatal flaw). He refuses to change his identity to suit his surroundings. He famously says he wants to stand "as if a man were author of himself," meaning he doesn't want to owe anything to anyone—not even his country.
The "Body Politic"
In the very first scene, Menenius tells the "Fable of the Belly." He argues that the Roman state is like a human body: the Senate is the "belly" that distributes food/wealth to the rest of the "limbs" (the people).
Did you know? In Shakespeare’s time, people truly believed a kingdom was like a body, and if the King/Leader was sick, the whole country became sick.
Memory Aid: The 3 P's of Coriolanus
Pride (His flaw)
Politics (The struggle for power)
Parenting (Volumnia’s influence)
4. Shakespeare’s Use of Language (AO2)
To get top marks, you need to talk about how Shakespeare writes. Here are two main things to look for:
1. Imagery of the Body and Disease
The play is full of words like scabs, ulcers, and plagues. When Coriolanus gets angry at the people, he calls them "measles" or "itch." This shows how disgusted the characters are with each other. They don't just disagree; they find each other physically revolting.
2. Animal Imagery
Coriolanus is often compared to a dragon or a lion—noble but solitary and dangerous. The common people are compared to crows, hares, or geese—weak and easily scared. This reinforces the idea that Coriolanus sees himself as a different species from the people he is supposed to lead.
Quick Review Box:
- Metaphor: The "Body Politic" (Rome as a body).
- Tone: Harsh, warlike, and unsentimental.
- Contrast: The rough language of the soldiers vs. the manipulative language of the politicians.
5. Context: Why was it written? (AO3)
Understanding the "real world" at the time Shakespeare wrote this (around 1608) helps you understand the play.
- The Midland Revolt (1607): Just before the play was written, there were real food riots in England because of grain shortages. When the audience saw the Roman citizens screaming for corn, they were thinking of their own lives!
- James I and the "Divine Right": King James I believed kings were chosen by God. Coriolanus’s struggle with "the people" reflects the real-life tension between the King and the growing power of Parliament.
- Plutarch’s Lives: Shakespeare got his historical facts from a book by a Greek writer named Plutarch. However, Shakespeare made the characters much more complex and emotional.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't just list these facts. Always connect them back to the play. For example: "Shakespeare uses the opening famine scene to tap into the real fears of his 1608 audience, who were experiencing similar food riots."
6. Different Interpretations (AO5)
The examiners love it when you show that a scene can be read in different ways. There is no "right" answer!
The Political Reading
- Pro-Coriolanus: He is a hero being destroyed by "rats" (the commoners) and "snakes" (the Tribunes). He is too honest for a corrupt world.
- Anti-Coriolanus: He is a dangerous tyrant who hates the poor and cares more about his own glory than the lives of his citizens.
The Psychoanalytical Reading
Many critics focus on the "weird" relationship between Coriolanus and Volumnia. Some argue he never grew up and is just trying to please his "scary" mother. His final decision to spare Rome is a moment of vulnerability where he finally chooses love over war, even though he knows it will kill him.
Key Takeaway: Is Coriolanus a "villain" or a "victim"? The best essays argue that he is both.
7. How to Tackle the Exam Question
For Section 1 of Component 01, you will likely be given an extract from the play. Don't panic!
Step-by-Step Guide:
1. Read the extract twice. What is happening? Who is speaking?
2. Find the "Shift." Where does the mood change? Does someone stop being polite and start being angry?
3. Zoom in on Language. Pick 2-3 specific words or metaphors. Why did Shakespeare choose *that* word?
4. Connect to the Whole Play. If the extract shows Coriolanus being proud, mention another scene where his pride got him into trouble.
5. Mention the Audience. How would a person in 1608 feel watching this compared to a person today?
Encouraging Note: You don't need to remember every single line. If you can remember 5-10 "golden quotes" and explain them well, you are on your way to a great grade!
Final Summary: The Essentials
Coriolanus is a tragedy about a man who is built for war but broken by peace. His inability to communicate with "the people" leads to a cycle of pride, anger, and betrayal. Through his story, Shakespeare asks us: Can a great leader also be a "man of the people"? And what happens to a society when the leaders and the citizens stop speaking the same language?
Good luck with your studies—you've got this!