About the R&J exam section

You must answer on both parts of the question: 1) the extract and 2) the rest of the text. If you don't, no matter how good your response is, you will be capped at 10 marks on the mark scheme (out of 30)

Assessment Objectives:

A01: 

This tests your ability to come up with your own interpretations (an informed, personal response), as well as your ability to make close reference to the play (including selecting and commenting on short quotations from the extract you have been given). 

A02:  

Analyse the language, form and structure used by a writer to create meanings and effects, using relevant subject terminology where appropriate. Here are some examples of Language, form and structure techniques - here are some examples: 

• Symbolism in the play: dark and light; day and night; flowers; herbs; poison; stars.

• Imagery

• Key character features and contrasts between characters (especially the ideas they represent). 

• Characterisation

• The play as a tragedy 

• Links between different parts (structure), such as making connections back to the prologue. 

• Words to help you make key links: echoes in ideas; foreshadowing; contrasts; reinforcement 

• The development of ideas across the play

• Points of tension in the play and changes in pace (for example, the quickly spiralling events by the end of the play suggests the inevitability of the tragedy, the pull of fate towards the downfall of the characters). 

• How characters speak: word choice, punctuation use, heightened language, aggression, comical language, authority / weakness, power or victim status. 

• Tone and how this changes - where do the ideas darken in the play?

When discussing methods, consider what ideas they convey - this will get you great marks if completed successfully. Think about the big ideas in the text. 

A03:

Ideas, perspectives and attitudes explored in the play: 

• • • The power of society to control and influence individuals (the individual versus society) and the lack of power (agency) that individuals have against the strong forces of society. 

    • The power of society can be seen as: attitudes and expectations; the role of family.

    • Position of women / gender / patriarchy.

• • • Power / hierarchy in society. 

• • • Ideas about fate, freewill and whether we have any real control over the paths set for us. 

• • • Belief in religion, including Heaven and the role of religious characters, such as the friar. 

    • Conceptions of different types of love: base, physical love in a sexualised way; true, meaningful, spiritual / religious love. 

• • • Genre of the play (tragedy and tragic conventions that this play follows).

A04: 

Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation. You are marked out of 4 for this assessment objective. 

Here is the mark scheme for A04:

• 4 marks

• spell and punctuate with consistent accuracy, and consistently use vocabulary and sentence structures to achieve effective control of meaning.

• 2-3 marks

• spell and punctuate with considerable accuracy, and use a considerable range of vocabulary and sentence structures to achieve general control of meaning.

• 1 mark

• spell and punctuate with reasonable accuracy, and use a reasonable range of vocabulary and sentence structures; any errors do not hinder meaning in the response.