Themes
Exam responses that are led by themes are more likely to reach the highest levels of the mark scheme. Exploring the ideas of the text, specifically in relation to the question being asked, will help to increase your fluency and assurance in writing about the play.
Your exam question could be on any topic. However, having a really good grasp of the following themes and, importantly, why Shakespeare explores these themes, will enable you to produce a “conceptualised response” in your exam. This list is not exhaustive and you are encouraged to identify other ideas within the novel.
Exam Tip
It is crucial that you develop the skills to find your own ideas, and arrive at your own meanings and interpretations of the text. Try to take a more exploratory approach to your reading of the play, as the examiner will reward you highly for this. For instance, you could begin to develop your own interpretations by using sentence starters such as: ‘Shakespeare may have used the character of Beatrice to highlight ideas about …’