2026 AQA AS ENGLISH LITERATURE A 7711/1 Paper Merged Question Paper + Mark Scheme

2026 AQA AS ENGLISH LITERATURE A 7711/1 Paper Merged Question Paper + Mark Scheme

Section A: Shakespeare
Answer one question from this section.
Either
0 1 Othello – William Shakespeare
Read the extract from Othello, provided below, and respond to the following:
• How does Shakespeare present aspects of love in this extract?
• Examine the view that, in this extract and elsewhere in the play, lago easily turns
Othello from a loving husband into a suspicious fool.
[25 marks]
OTHELLO By heaven, I’ll know thy thoughts.
IAGO
You cannot, if my heart were in your hand,
Nor shall not, whilst ’tis in my custody.
OTHELLO
Ha!
IAGO O, beware, my lord, of jealousy!
It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss
Who certain of his fate loves not his wronger,
But O, what damnèd minutes tells he o’er,
Who dotes yet doubts, suspects yet fondly loves!
OTHELLO
O misery!
IAGO
Poor and content is rich, and rich enough;
But riches fineless is as poor as winter,
To him that ever fears he shall be poor.
Good God, the souls of all my tribe defend
From jealousy!
OTHELLO Why, why is this?
Think’st thou I’d make a life of jealousy,
To follow still the changes of the moon
With fresh suspicions? No, to be once in doubt
Is once to be resolved. Exchange me for a goat,
When I shall turn the business of my soul
To such exsufflicate and blown surmises,
Matching thy inference. ’Tis not to make me jealous
To say my wife is fair, loves company,
Is free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well:
Where virtue is, these are more virtuous.
Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt,
For she had eyes and chose me. No, Iago,
I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And on the proof, there is no more but this:
Away at once with love or jealousy!