Coriolanus

    OCR
    A-Level

    The tragedy charts the precipitous fall of Caius Marcius Coriolanus, a Roman general of peerless martial valour but catastrophic political ineptitude. Following his single-handed conquest of Corioles, he seeks the consulship but is undone by his visceral contempt for the plebeians and the machinations of the tribunes, Sicinius and Brutus. Banished from Rome for his refusal to compromise his rigid code of honour, he allies with his arch-rival, Tullus Aufidius, to lead a Volscian army against his home city. Rome is spared only when Coriolanus yields to the emotional manipulation of his mother, Volumnia, choosing familial duty over military vengeance. This concession proves fatal, as Aufidius exploits the moment of mercy to assassinate Coriolanus, leaving the protagonist destroyed by the very intransigence that defined his greatness.

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    Objectives
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    Exam Tips
    4
    Pitfalls
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    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • AO1: Construct a coherent, argumentative response that directly addresses the critical proposition (e.g., 'Coriolanus is a victim of his mother').
    • AO2: Analyze the dramatic function of the extract, focusing on language (e.g., martial imagery, beast metaphors) and structure (e.g., verse vs. prose).
    • AO5 (mapped to AO3 slot): Evaluate diverse interpretations, such as psychoanalytic readings of Volumnia's influence or Marxist readings of the class struggle.
    • AO1: Demonstrate precise textual knowledge of the wider play to support or challenge the view presented in the prompt.

    Example Examiner Feedback

    Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

    • "You have identified the martial imagery; now explain how this shapes the audience's perception of Coriolanus's isolation."
    • "You mentioned the Midlands Rising; ensure this context is used to debate the play's political stance (AO5), not just as a history fact."
    • "Integrate the extract analysis more fluidly—don't treat it as a separate question from the wider essay."
    • "Excellent use of critical vocabulary; try to offer a counter-argument to this interpretation to show higher-level evaluation."

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • AO1: Construct a coherent, argumentative response that directly addresses the critical proposition (e.g., 'Coriolanus is a victim of his mother').
    • AO2: Analyze the dramatic function of the extract, focusing on language (e.g., martial imagery, beast metaphors) and structure (e.g., verse vs. prose).
    • AO5 (mapped to AO3 slot): Evaluate diverse interpretations, such as psychoanalytic readings of Volumnia's influence or Marxist readings of the class struggle.
    • AO1: Demonstrate precise textual knowledge of the wider play to support or challenge the view presented in the prompt.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡Use the extract as a springboard: identify a key theme in the passage and trace its trajectory through the whole play.
    • 💡Memorize 3-4 critical positions (e.g., Bradley, Bloom, or a theoretical lens) to satisfy the AO5 requirement.
    • 💡Ensure the conclusion explicitly weighs the validity of the prompt's proposition.
    • 💡Balance your time: do not spend more than 20 minutes on the close reading of the extract; the wider argument carries equal weight.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Isolating the extract analysis from the wider essay argument (Part A and B must be integrated).
    • Asserting historical context (e.g., 1607 Midlands Rising) without linking it to the critical interpretation (AO5).
    • Describing characters as real people rather than analyzing them as dramatic constructs created by Shakespeare.
    • Failing to challenge or evaluate the critical view provided in the prompt (passive agreement).

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

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