Edexcel A Level English Literature Paper 1: Drama June 2025 question paper 9ET0/01

Explore how Shakespeare presents messengers in Antony and Cleopatra. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

Hamlet

EITHER

Explore how Shakespeare presents masculinity in Hamlet. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

OR

Explore the presentation of pretence in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

Answer ONE question on the text you have studied. Begin your answer on page 6.

King Lear

EITHER

Explore the presentation of the storm scene in Act III Scene ii of Shakespeare’s King Lear. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

OR

Explore the presentation of social order in Shakespeare’s King Lear. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

Othello

EITHER

Explore the extent to which Othello is presented as a flawed hero in Shakespeare’s Othello. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

OR

Explore the presentation of manipulation in Shakespeare’s Othello. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

Answer ONE question on the text you have studied. Begin your answer on page 6.

COMEDY

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

EITHER

Explore how Shakespeare makes use of contrast in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

OR

Explore the presentation of the four young lovers in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

Measure for Measure

EITHER

Explore the presentation of the play’s ending in Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

OR

Explore how Shakespeare presents death in Measure for Measure. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

Answer ONE question on the text you have studied. Begin your answer on page 6.

The Taming of the Shrew

EITHER

Explore the extent to which Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew is a dark comedy. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

OR

Explore the ways in which Shakespeare makes use of irony in The Taming of the Shrew. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

Twelfth Night

EITHER

Explore the presentation of deception in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

OR

Explore how Shakespeare makes use of different types of comedy in Twelfth Night. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading.

Explore Hansberry’s use of stagecraft in Les Blancs. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.

Doctor Faustus, Christopher Marlowe

EITHER

Explore the presentation of learning in Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.

OR

Explore the extent to which Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus is a play in which evil characters are made to appear attractive. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.

Answer ONE question on the text you have studied. Begin your answer on page 20.

The Duchess of Malfi, John Webster

EITHER

Explore the extent to which Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi is a play designed to terrify the audience. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.

OR

Explore Webster’s presentation of women in The Duchess of Malfi. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.

The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde

EITHER

Explore how Wilde makes use of uncertainty in The Importance of Being Earnest. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.

OR

Explore the extent to which Wilde challenges traditional values in The Importance of Being Earnest. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.

Answer ONE question on the text you have studied. Begin your answer on page 20.

The Rover, Aphra Behn

EITHER

Explore the extent to which Aphra Behn’s The Rover is mainly about material gain . You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.

OR

Explore Behn’s use of settings in The Rover. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.

A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams

EITHER

Explore the extent to which Williams makes use of the conventions of tragedy in A Streetcar Named Desire. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.

OR

Explore the presentation of insecurity in Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.

Answer ONE question on the text you have studied. Begin your answer on page 20.

Sweat, Lynn Nottage

EITHER

Explore how Nottage presents the relationship between Chris and Jason in Sweat. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.

OR

Explore the impact of the final scene in Nottage’s Sweat. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.

Waiting for Godot, Samuel Beckett

EITHER

Explore the presentation of human endurance in Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.

OR

Explore the extent to which Beckett’s Waiting for Godot can be considered a comedy. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors.