AQA English Literature Paper 1 Section A: Macbeth

Overview

• Focus on a Shakespeare play, specifically Macbeth in the example.
• Total exam duration: 1 hour 45 minutes.
• Total marks: 64
  • Section A (Shakespeare): 34 marks (including 4 marks for spelling, punctuation, and grammar).
  • Section B (19th-century novel): 30 marks.
• Recommended time on Shakespeare question: 55 minutes (including 5 minutes for technical accuracy).

Examination Format

• Closed book exam.
• An extract provided within the question paper.

Assessment Objectives (AOs)

AO1: Response to Task and Text

• Objective: Read, understand, and respond to texts.
• Skills Required:
  • Maintain a critical style and develop an informed personal response.
  • Use textual references, including quotations, to support interpretations.
• Tips:
  • Know the text well beyond the extract provided.
  • Prioritize answering the question directly and coherently.
  • Develop a conceptualized response with a clear line of argument.

AO2: Writer's Methods

• Objective: Analyze the language, form, and structure used by the writer.
• Skills Required:
  • Use relevant subject terminology.
  • Analyze the writer’s methods relevant to the question.
• Tips:
  • Do not feel compelled to include specific analysis of language, form, or structure unless relevant.
  • Consider the position of the extract within the wider text.
  • Use theories like Freytag’s Pyramid if applicable.

AO3: Context

• Objective: Show understanding of the relationships between texts and contexts.
• Skills Required:
  • Address the context inherently linked to the question.
  • Consider period, setting, genre, and audience responses.

AO4: Technical Accuracy

• Objective: Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose, and effect.
• Skills Required:
  • Ensure accurate spelling and punctuation.

Example Analysis: Macbeth

• Question: Explore how far Shakespeare presents the witches as powerful in the extract and the play as a whole.
• Analysis Tips:
  • Consider all appearances of the witches.
  • Develop a thesis statement about the witches’ power being illusory (appearances vs. reality).
  • Use both extracts and full text to support the argument.

Structural Analysis

• Shakespeare’s Structural Decisions:
  • Examine the organization of scenes and the play's structure.
  • Utilize Freytag’s Pyramid to understand the exposition, climax, etc.
  • Use structural analysis such as dramatic irony and character development.

Language and Form

• Language:
  • Analyze words, phrases, and figurative language for specific effects.
• Form:
  • Consider stage directions, auditory differences, and how scenes will appear to an audience.

Conclusion and Tips

• Focus on answering the question throughout your response.
• Use supporting references but do not over-prioritize memorizing quotes.
• Allow time to check for technical accuracy at the end.

Additional Resources

• For full answers and further guidance, refer to the guide linked in the description.

Remember to keep these points in mind when preparing for your AQA English Literature exam, especially when dealing with Shakespearean texts.