What evidence is these in the play to support these opinions? How do you think that Shakespeare has presented Angelo in the play?

. 'Angelo is an arrogant hypocrite'. 2. 'Angelo is a vulnerable and confused man, deserving of our sympathy'. What evidence is these in the play to support these opinions? How do you think that Shakespeare has presented Angelo in the play? If you ask any critic of the play 'Measure for Measure' by William Shakespeare, to give you a simple description of the character of Angelo, they will tell you that he is the villain of the play. He is a man who rules strictly, without mercy, summarised by the Duke, "strict and most biting laws". Yet his hypocrisy was his downfall in the end. Originally classified in the first Folio as a comedy, Measure for Measure is one of the three problem plays, as there are many question raised by the writer. Shakespeare deliberately gives the audience three different characters opinions of Angelo before we can make formulate one ourselves. This is deliberately done to primarily give us a clouded view of the character, and therefore prolong the mystery and uncertainty. This in itself is foreshadowing the actions of the play, as our opinion of Angelo does change throughout the play. The title of the play is a key theme throughout. Originally coming from the bible, "what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again" (Matthew 7:2-3). Which translated means, what you do to others, they will do to you. Which is what Angelo finds out in act V,

  • Word count: 1625
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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"A journey is more than just movement from one place to another. It is about learning and growth." What have you learned about the importance of journeys from your study of Imaginative Journeys?

"A journey is more than just movement from one place to another. It is about learning and growth." What have you learned about the importance of journeys from your study of Imaginative Journeys? BY ELISE THOMPSON A thorough study of journeys reveals that a journey is much more than just movement from one place to another. Journeys are about learning and growth, and they have the potential to teach people about themselves and the society in which they live. An Imaginative Journey is one in which the individual doesn't in fact have to go anywhere in the physical sense. The physical journey is replaced by an expedition that is fuelled by the human capacity to imagine. Imaginative Journeys create endless possibilities. They can offer an escape from the realities of life, and are frequently used to comment on social or human traits and characteristics. Imaginative Journeys are represented in the focus text, "The Tempest" by William Shakespeare, the 2003 calendar cartoon in the Sydney Morning Herald by Michael Leunig, and the Board of Studies Booklet Prescribed text "The Road Not Taken", a poem by Robert Frost. The composers attempt to create a world in which imagination dominates the actions and desires of the characters, as they are taken on a journey of magic and discovery. In "The Tempest", Shakespeare attempts to generate a world where the audience is transported to a

  • Word count: 2747
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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"A Reader privy to Miller's Commentary would view 'The Crucible'very differently to a Theatregoer".

"A Reader privy to Miller's Commentary would view 'The Crucible' very differently to a Theatregoer" In 'The Crucible' by Arthur Miller the commentary and stage directions are very important and they tell the reader a lot of information that they would not know if they had only seen a production of the play at the theatre. This fact, however, does not stop people from going to see the play and also does not stop people producing new versions of it. 'The Crucible' was first performed in America in 1953, then in England in 1954 and since then there have been countless productions of it in theatres worldwide as well as at least two films made of it. One possible explanation as to why the play is so popular is because it is such a powerful and timeless depiction of how intolerance and hysteria can tear a whole community apart, and people can still relate to this. At the beginning of Act 1 there is a very long commentary followed by some stage directions. These portions of text give us a full introduction to the play itself and the setting, and through them the reader learns that Salem is a relatively newly established town (even though the book tells us also that by today's standards the town would "hardly be called a village"). It was also very sombre place with a strict Puritan society and religion played a major part in their lives. Also in the commentary there is a

  • Word count: 1432
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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"A Streetcar Named Desire" written in 1944 by Thomas Lanier Williams.

Marco Wu Class 10° ENGLISH ESSAY Throughout the play "A Streetcar Named Desire" written in 1944 by Thomas Lanier Williams, better known as Tennessee Williams; we can meet various social issues such as homosexuality, loneliness, psychiatric illness and the contrast between the New and the Old America. This are all social issues presented during the life of the author. The protagonist of the play have the characteristics of Tennessee Williams' family, Stanley is like his father, the one who decides everything, as a "KING". Meanwhile Blanche is a mix between his sisters Rose who was mentally ill and his mother who had hysterical attacks, and as we know the author of the play was homosexual who consumed his 1rst experience at age of 28 and declaring it openly during an interview, this connects directly to Blanches' husband who was Homo and killed himself. Once William said "Symbols are nothing but the natural speech of drama...the purest language of plays". In the whole play there is hidden meaning; we know that the initial title of the play was "the moth" which represents Blanche a fragile being, in literature the moth is the soul, therefore the entire play is a big allegory that talks about the way to heaven (Elysian Fields) of the soul. So the

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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"All Things are ready if our minds be so" Explore the dramatic techniques used by Henry V to inspire his men before the battle of Agincourt.

"All Things are ready if our minds be so" Explore the dramatic techniques used by Henry V to inspire his men before the battle of Agincourt. William Shakespeare's play "Henry V" is set in 1415, when Henry becomes King Henry V of England. As a young man Henry enjoyed drinking and the company of women. When he became King Henry changed, he wanted to be taken seriously and to be treated like an adult, so he gave up drinking. Henry was angry and insulted by a birthday present of a box of tennis balls from the King of France, Henry thought the King of France was suggesting that he was still a boy and not a man capable of ruling England. To prove he was a man Henry ordered the invasion of France. Henry's first battle was the Siege of Horfieur Henry V where he inspired his troops with a speech before leading them into battle. Henry said they had to behave like tigers and show no fear only strength. The next battle was the Battle of Agincourt, Henry's troops were exhausted after their last battle and were out numbered five to one. But Henry tries to inspire them again for the last time he starts off talking dramatically about death, "if we are marked to die, we are enough to do our country loss." I think he is saying that if the English are meant to lose the battle then it is better that they die, than thousands more if they wait for help. Then he goes on to

  • Word count: 960
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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"An exploration of the way Shakespeare presents Katerina in the play".

" An exploration of the way Shakespeare presents Katerina in the play" Katerina is the female protagonist of the play and to me the second most interesting character in it, next only to abominable Petruchio. The way Shakespeare presents her is very complex, entertaining and open to interpretation. She had been given many roles in the play; daughter to Baptista, sister to Bianca, fiancée and wife to Petruchio, suitor's worst nightmare, mistress to servants and of course the town Shrew.Kate is a complex character because Shakespeare had presented her so differently from other females of the period he lived in. Namely the time where a woman's highest virtues are her abilities to be obedient, placid, meek, uncomplaining, and discreet, plus their abilities in the homemaking process and those mundane things, like playing the pianoforte, painting and sewing. But Kate, as numerous others of Shakespeare's female protagonists, won't stand these stereotypical assumptions. She is of no 'gentler or milder mould' and is considered very 'froward' and compared to the 'devil' himself. She flaunts convention and isn't averse to quick thinking, wit, physical violence and strong language. Kate is a very determined character who taunts and mocks those people around her when she doesn't get her way. Shakespeare presents Kate's relationship and interaction with her family in a very steroetypical

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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"An impressive opening, a marvellous ending, an indifferent middle". Does this twentieth century comment represent to you a fair summary of Dr. Faustus? Support your views by detailed illustrations of the text.

Elena Solaro 13M "An impressive opening, a marvellous ending, an indifferent middle". Does this twentieth century comment represent to you a fair summary of Dr. Faustus? Support your views by detailed illustrations of the text. The narrative patterns of Dr. Faustus can be said to take on a loose, three-part structure, in which the first part involves the serious business of Faustus conjuring the devil, the middle involves trivial entertainment and the final section, in which the play reaches an intense poetic conclusion. It is arguable that compared to the high drama and passion evident at the beginning and end, the middle of the play has little to offer. However, despite the fact that in Faustus, Marlowe intended to portray the tragic downfall of a great man, he also included the apparently frivolous middle scenes for a specific purpose. The play opens with Faustus alone in his study, contemplating the direction in which he should take his future studies. This first speech is energetic and his words are those of a young man. As Faustus continues to reveal his dissatisfaction with the limits of human knowledge, rejecting each of the various scholarly disciplines available to him, the audience begin to become suspicious of his intentions. When Faustus proclaims that "a greater subject fitteth [his] wit", and that the next step in his education must be necromancy, our worst

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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"And do we blame superstition for what has come to pass? Or is it what we, the English, have come to know as class?"

"And do we blame superstition for what has come to pass? Or is it what we, the English, have come to know as class?" 'Blood Brothers' is a musical based on superstition and class, and Willy Russell has used various techniques to make a point to the audience that social class makes a difference in our society. This is why he asks the question above. In this play some things occur because of superstition, but most are due to the social class of the characters. The first few lines have great significance to the rest of the play, as they create suspense and confusion towards the audience. First of all, Russell creates dramatic irony with the audience, as he explains the whole story in the form of a short poem. This is then repeated at the end of the play, just before the question above is asked. The quote "How one was kept and one given away" is very significant, as this is the main story of the play. The audience now know what is going to happen - "An' did never you hear how the Johnstones died," and they see "a re-enactment of the final moments of the play- the deaths of MICKEY and EDWARD", but they do not know how it happened. This leaves the audience in suspense, and confused as to why the twins died, "Never knowing that they shared one name". The first line the narrator speaks is "So did y' hear the story of the Johnstone twins?" and this rhetorical question is directed at

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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"By close analysis of the language, form and structure of this extract, discuss the presentation of Richard's view of his situation."

Richard II Extract Based Question- Act III Scene iii lines 142-170 PLUS 176-183. "By close analysis of the language, form and structure of this extract, discuss the presentation of Richard's view of his situation." This poignant monologue from Richard is a series of thoughts which he speaks aloud as he ponders on what it to become of him. Richard is a king with extremes of emotion, and so a monologue from him is always full of poetic devices and ornamentation of language, as he conveys his emotions rather than facts. In this case, his violent change of mood leaves his desperate and depressed, as he begins to convince himself that Bolingbroke has usurped his throne once and for all, and Richard prepares to resign himself to either an existence of poverty and shame, or an untimely and undignified death. The repetition of the word "king" emphasises Richard's pride of his title, and his bitterness in losing it. The word is used sarcastically as Richard remarks on the king doing what he "must", when it should be the king giving orders. The line "A god's name, let it go" could hint that Richard is relieved to no longer be king, as "let it go" could suggest dropping a burden. However, the line is ambivalent as it could also show Richard finding it difficult to let go and move on. The word "let" in any case however, shows Richard's acknowledgement that it is his responsibility to

  • Word count: 847
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"

Williams is attributed with furthering "Domestic Realism" in Modern American Drama. Discuss his exploration of the emotional burdens of ordinary life within the domestic setting. Consider how the: Dialogue, setting and stage directions add to the effectiveness of the family dynamics exposed. Throughout the play of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" various members of the family are at loggerheads. However, this comes to a climax in this passage as Big Daddy's imminent death is confirmed and the question of the heir to the estate becomes an important issue. The Oxford Companion to American Literature describes the play as "depicting bitter, abnormal family tensions". These family tensions are clearly seen in this passage. Big Daddy is dying and the only characters who appear to be more concerned about his death than the estate are Big Mama and Maggie, "Precious Mommy. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry". Maggie is sorry for the death of Big Daddy and all the petty arguments surrounding it. "Big Daddy is not going to die" This denial of what the doctors have claimed as inevitable is evidence of her not wanting Big Daddy to die. Mae and Gooper, however, seem to be desperate to get rid of him. "Eventualities have to be considered and now's the time". This is inhumane of Gooper and he is wrong when he claims, "now's the time". Big Mama is still discovering Big Daddy is going to die and Gooper is

  • Word count: 1057
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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