11.2.1

Specification B

Test yourself on Specification B

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Approaching AQA English Literature: Specification B

Within Specification B, you can either study Aspects of Comedy or Aspects of Tragedy. If you study Othello, then you are completing the Aspects of Tragedy route.

The exam

The exam

  • In AS, you will be studying the drama in the Drama paper. This is Paper 2.
  • In this examination, students may take a copy of their set text into the examination.
  • These texts must not be annotated and must not contain additional notes or materials.
Literary Genre of Aspects of Tragedy

Literary Genre of Aspects of Tragedy

  • In the A Level, students again look at the literary genre of Aspects of Tragedy.
  • It is noted that Tragedy is a long-established literary genre.
  • This paper is a closed book examination.
  • Students are not permitted to take a copy of their set texts into the examination.
Tragic hero or heroine

Tragic hero or heroine

  • At the core of all the set texts in this part of the Specification is a tragic hero or heroine who is flawed in some way, who suffers and causes suffering to others. In all texts, there is an interplay between what might be seen as villains and victims.
Tragic features

Tragic features

  • Some tragic features will be more in evidence in some texts than in others.
  • Students will need to understand how particular aspects of the tragic genre are used and how they work in the four chosen texts.
  • The absence of an ‘aspect’ can be as significant as its presence.
Jump to other topics
1

Context

1.1

Introduction

1.1.1Specifications
1.2

Background

1.2.1Shakespeare1.2.2Love1.2.3Tragedy1.2.4Historical Context
1.3

Othello

1.3.1Setting1.3.2Social Issues
2

Act One: Summaries & Themes

2.1

Act and Scene Summaries

2.1.1Structure2.1.2The Exam
2.2

Scene One

2.2.1Key Events2.2.2Key Themes2.2.3Key Ideas
2.3

Scene Two

2.3.1Key Events2.3.2Key Themes2.3.3Key Ideas
2.4

Scene Three

2.4.1Key Events2.4.2Key Events 22.4.3Key Themes2.4.4Key Ideas
3

Act Two: Summaries & Themes

3.1

Scene One & Two

3.1.1Scene One: Events3.1.2Key Events 23.1.3Key Ideas: Love & Tragedy3.1.4Scene Two: Events
3.2

Scene Three

3.2.1Key Events3.2.2Key Ideas
4

Act Three: Summaries & Themes

4.1

Key Events

4.1.1Scene One & Two4.1.2Scene Three4.1.3Scene Three: Key Ideas4.1.4Scene Four
5

Act Four

5.1

Scene One

5.1.1Key Events5.1.2Key Ideas
5.2

Scene Two

5.2.1Key Events5.2.2Key Ideas
5.3

Scene Three

5.3.1Key Events5.3.2Key Ideas
6

Act Five

6.1

Scene One

6.1.1Key Events6.1.2Key Ideas
6.2

Scene Two

6.2.1Key Events6.2.2Key Ideas
7

Character Profiles

7.1

Major Characters

7.1.1Othello7.1.2Iago7.1.3Desdemona7.1.4Emilia7.1.5Cassio
7.2

Minor Characters

7.2.1Roderigo & Brabantio7.2.2Other Characters
8

Key Themes

8.1

Love & Tragedy

8.1.1Love8.1.2Love 28.1.3Tragedy8.1.4Tragedy 2
8.2

Other Key Themes

8.2.1Public versus Private8.2.2Appearance & Reality
9

Writing Techniques

9.1

Writing Techniques

9.1.1Structure9.1.2Genre9.1.3Form & Language9.1.4Language & Imagery
10

Critical Debates

10.1

Criticism & Performance

10.1.1Shakespeare's Legacy10.1.2Traditional10.1.3Modern & Contemporary
10.2

Approaches

10.2.1Feminist Approach10.2.2Psychoanalytic Approach10.2.3Marxist Approach
11

Approaching AQA English Literature

11.1

Specification A

11.1.1Specification A11.1.2Love Through the Ages
11.2

Specification B

11.2.1Specification B11.2.2Aspects of Tragedy
12

Issues of Assessment

12.1

The Exams

12.1.1AOs12.1.2Mark Scheme

Practice questions on Specification B

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What literary genre is Othello?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What type of exam is the A Level English Literature exam?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    What are the requirements for set texts taken into the AS English Literature exam?True / false
Answer all questions on Specification B

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Love Through the Ages

Aspects of Tragedy