How do I respond to an extract question? Thursday 25th January 2018

Indicative Content from Sample Assessment: Look at the range of techniques referred to. Obviously you could not include them all. The advice is to spend 20-25 minutes on this section so you need to select quotations that offer you room for analysis. Avoid “Dead-End Quotes”.

By focusing closely on the linguistic and literary features used, discuss Shakespeare’s presentation of the relationship between Goneril and Lear in this extract from Act 1 Scene 4.

Some points to consider: Goneril is openly critical of Lear. He responds with exclamatives and rhetorical interrogatives. He says he will leave, showing his childlike thinking. He goes on the attack in the same way he did with Cordelia. The stage directions show are a physical representation of Lear’s pain. 1 4 2 3 5

What indicative content have you found? Lexis and Imagery Grammar and Syntax Form and Structure Phonology

How to respond: This scene task after Lear has divided up his kingdom and banished Cordelia. In keeping with his plan he has taken one hundred knights and gone to stay with Goneril and Albany but there are already ill feelings between the king and his daughter. Immediately, Goneril attacks Lear’s behaviour by using the noun “pranks” to refer to Lear’s behaviour. Her annoyance is clear here as the noun has connotations of childlike behaviour, linking with our impressions of Lear as immature. Their relationship has already begun to change here as Goneril is no longer pay lip service to her father: her true feelings of irritation and lack of patience are evident. After this, ………. Overall, the relationship between Lear and Goneril has changed dramatically in this scene. Although the audience recognised Goneril as being unsympathetic to her father’s intentions, it is in this scene that Lear learns of her ingratitude and impatience. Put the scene in context straight away. Choose quotes in chronological order. Work your way through the extract from start to finish, noting changes in action, tone, plot and language as you go. Finish with a closing statement which summarises your analysis and links back to the question.

Highlight and annotate your AO1 and AO2.