Grade 9 Romeo and Juliet Extract Question Model Answer (WJEC Eduqas GCSE English Literature)

Romeo and Juliet Extract Question Model Answer

You will always have two questions to answer on the Shakespeare question of your Eduqas English Literature GCSE:

• A question based on an extract from the play

• A “discursive” essay, with no extract

Here, we will focus on showing you how to write a Grade 9 answer for the extract-based question. We have also created a model answer for the discursive essay.

What’s the difference between the extract and discursive questions?

Essentially, the extract question provides you with evidence that you can use in your essay in the form of an extracted scene from Romeo and Juliet, while for the discursive question you will have to provide your own evidence from various points across the play. Therefore, the discursive essay is worth more marks. Remember, though, that even in the extract question, you are expected to know the whole play so that you can place the scene and understand how it shows relationships or ideas. Always consider where the scene takes place, what the audience knows, and how the featured characters or themes develop from this point.

How is the Romeo and Juliet extract question assessed?

The extract question is assessed using an identical mark scheme to the discursive question, with two differences. Firstly, the extract question is worth 15 marks while the discursive question offers 25 marks. Secondly, the extract question does not not offer marks for spelling and grammar while the discursive essay offers 5 marks. For a detailed breakdown of the assessment objectives and advice on how to get top marks for each one, check out our Romeo and Juliet essay student-friendly mark scheme.

How long do I spend annotating the extract?

You have 60 minutes to write, plan and check over both Romeo and Juliet essays, so you should aim to spend about 20 minutes on the extract question, and 40 minutes on the discursive question. When answering the extract question, it is best to consider the scene as a whole. Think about the extract in terms of what is presented to the audience and where it comes in the play. Instead of annotating all the lines, choose relevant evidence that may even go beyond the quotes and extend to staging, for example.

Spend as long as you need on planning your responses, because the better your grasp on your argument, the better your essay will be (and the quicker it will be to write): it can be the case that spending up to 5–7 minutes annotating and planning your essay will result in far more marks than just spending a couple of minutes on the extract. Our advice on how to approach the Romeo and Juliet question is definitely worth looking at to see our suggestions on how to plan your answer.

Grade 9 Romeo and Juliet model answer

Below you will find a sample, top-mark answer for a past Eduqas GCSE Romeo and Juliet extract essay question. This Romeo and Juliet model answer includes annotations that show where and how this answer has achieved maximum marks. It’s an example answer to the following question:

Read the extract below. Then answer the following question:

Look at how Romeo and Juliet speak and behave here. How do you think an audience might respond to this part of the play? Refer closely to details from the extract to support your answer.

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Grade 9 Model Answer

In this scene, Shakespeare portrays Romeo and Juliet’s initial meeting as romantic in a shared sonnet, a traditional love poem. This illustrates, at first, Romeo’s inclination to courtly, hyperbolic love but, later, elevates their love and presents it as pure (AO1). Shakespeare breaks traditional conventions of the sonnet by sharing lines between the couple, which alludes to equality, as well as symbolising the couple’s rebellious, defiant love against their families’ wishes. The audience is presented with an ostensibly light-hearted love scene, but Shakespeare hints — even in this first meeting — that their union may spell danger for the two lovers (AO1).

Shakespeare depicts Romeo’s flirtatious and melodramatic nature through the use of exaggerated humility when describing Juliet. Religious imagery describes Juliet’s hand as a “holy shrine”, of which Romeo says his own “rough” hand is unworthy (AO1). However, Romeo’s clever request to kiss Juliet’s hand follows. It is significant to note that while this intimate speech takes place, the scene on stage is that of a Capulet ball and, thus, Romeo is trespassing on enemy property (AO2). In this way, Shakespeare juxtaposes the witty and romantic moment with the tension of potential danger. 

Juliet’s replies to Romeo’s flirtation further highlight Shakespeare’s characterisation of her as mature and sensible, as well as genuinely humble (AO1). Juliet’s response to Romeo’s request for a kiss is to refer in kind to religion, thus setting up witty, light-hearted conversation between them (AO2). The line “palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss” uses a pun (the “palm” of a hand with the palm leaves that are associated with holy pilgrimage) to gently reject his advances. Here, Shakespeare perhaps sets up their opposing natures, while at the same time the shared lines present them as equals (AO1).

Nevertheless, the sonnet’s extended metaphor of a pilgrim wishing to show devotion signifies humility and purity. Both Romeo and Juliet refer to “sin”, although at this point they are unaware of their status as enemies (AO2). Romeo believes Juliet has “purged” his sin with a kiss, linking to his descriptions of her as a “saint” and a “bright angel”. However, Juliet replies that she has taken his “sin”, perhaps foreboding her sacrifice in the resolution. Certainly, Shakespeare juxtaposes the theme of love and hate closely together here, as he does throughout the play, by ending the romantic sonnet with a disruption, and a shocked Romeo who discovers Juliet is a Capulet too late. Romeo’s darker language relates how his “life” is in the hands of his “foe”, foreshadowing more “unrest” and Romeo’s doomed fate. Shakespeare’s presentation of their kiss may, arguably, foreshadow the tragedy of their forbidden love (AO1). 

Therefore, the extract presents Romeo and Juliet as innocent and impartial in their love (AO1). However, the tension of the scene helps Shakespeare convey the injustice and isolation they experience as a result of the feud, and foreshadow impending disaster to his audience (AO1).

Sources

Shakespeare, William. Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Edited by Peter Alexander, HarperCollins, 1994. Accessed 26 March 2024