English Literature GCSE
Problem Play
What Problem Play means in English Literature GCSE, as defined for OCR, Pearson Edexcel.
Definitions of Problem Play
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
A play that deals with contentious social issues and has a complex, ambiguous tone that does not fit neatly into the traditional categories of comedy or tragedy. *The Merchant of Venice* is a classic example.
A play that cannot be easily classified as tragedy or comedy, often dealing with dark moral issues.
Topics that use Problem Play
- The Merchant of Venice (OCR GCSE)
- The Merchant of Venice (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
Related terms
Using Problem Play in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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