AS PAST PAPERS - Theme 3: Heroes & Villains
AS Sample Paper
(1) “Life is not simple, and people can’t be boxed into being either heroes or villains.” Discuss
how an actor could use vocal and facial expressions in their interactions with others to characterise
the complex personality traits of a hero. Justify your ideas with examples from at least 3 scenes from
the performance text you have chosen for this question. [20]
(2) Explain how an actor could use body language to emphasise the social status of a villain in the
opening scenes of the performance. Justify your ideas with examples from the opening scenes of the
performance text you have chosen for this question. [20]
AS June 2017
(1) “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of
overwhelming obstacles.” Discuss how the use of costume design could communicate a
character’s heroism. Justify your ideas with examples from at least 3 scenes from the performance
text you have chosen for this question. [20]
(2) Discuss how an actor(director) could use both vocal control and variations in vocal usage to
emphasise the motivations and decisions behind a villain’s actions. Justify your ideas with examples
from the opening scenes of the performance text you have chosen for this question. [20]
AS June 2018
(1) “Heroes and villains are stereotypes from fairytales.”
Choose a leading character from the performance text you have studied. As a director, what advice
would you give the actor playing this role to make the character more than just a stereotype? Give
examples from at least 3 scenes from the performance text you have chosen for this question. [20]
(2) In the performance text you have studied, how should the presentation of suffering contribute to
the overall stage effect of the Drama? Explain how this can be achieved with examples from at least 3
critical situations in the performance text you have chosen for this question. [20]
AS June 2019
(1) “There is no such thing as a pure hero – they all have a touch of villainy about them.”
Choose a leading character from the performance text you have studied. As an actor playing the role,
what qualities would you wish to communicate that might be both heroic and villainous, and how
would you do this? Justify ideas with examples from at least 3 scenes from the performance text you
have chosen for this question. [20]
(2) As a set designer, explain how your set would reflect the social context of the performance text
you have studied within an overall design concept for the play. Justify your ideas with examples from
the opening scenes from the performance text you have chosen for this question. [20]
AS June 2022
(1) Select a character with villainous qualities from a performance text you have studied. Explain how,
in the opening scenes, an actor could play this role to reveal inner selfishness to the audience. [20]
(2) Explain how actors could be directed to communicate empathy in a performance text you have
studied. Refer to at least 3 scenes in your answer. [20]
AS June 2023
(1) As a director, how would you show a conflict of wills in the opening scenes of a performance text
you have studied? [20]
(2) How could an actor play a character hiding villainous intentions in at least three scenes in a
performance text you have studied? [20]
, A LEVEL DRAMA NOTES
FRANKENSTEIN SCENE SUMMARY
Sc Synopsis HERO VILLAIN
1 The Creature awakens none none
and detaches itself
from the frame and the
tubes. Lights
2 The Creature is trying none none
to walk but the “body
and the brain” are
“uncoordinated”
3 The Creature is playing Victor - (tragic hero) feels the potential Victor - from the Creature’s point of view, his
“with a kettle, sitting of the Creature to cause destruction and master abandons him and treats him like a
on the floor” just like a thus attempts to contain it before disease “Victor is curious, but then repulsed
normal baby before deserting it despite his ambition coming by the filthy slimy being sprawled in front of
seeing Victor who is to life him”
horrified and runs “He pulls the cloak from his shoulders
away. and throws it over the Creature, and Creature - is the creature a source of
runs from the building” achievement or destruction “The Creature
lunges at Victor as if to embrace him, or
maybe to strangle him - who knows?”
4 The Creature Creature - demonstrates how his power Client - beating up the prostitute “a woman is
“unintentionally” saves can be used for good “Oh, thank you, screaming”- embodies the acts of cruelty
a prostitute named mister, thank you! One good turn ingrained in society which inspire the
Gretel from getting deserves another” Creature
beaten up
Gretel - represents society as the villain who
judges and shuns the Creature “She goes to
kiss him - but then she sees his face” - the
exterior was used to judge the interior
5 The Creature is Creature - (tragic hero) forced to endure Man - humanity at large is villainised as the
attacked by “several being shunned and abused “on the vague descriptions attribute these qualities
townsmen” outskirts of town”: outsider. to society who “throw stones at him”
6 The Creature wakes up Creature - (tragic hero) doesn’t deserve none
in a beautiful garden. the cruel treatment he receives: “He’s
Adam in the Garden of Eden - an
innocent.”
7 “The Creature wanders none none
through the woods” -
food
8 The Creature finds Creature - baby: “A soliloquy of grants Victor - “a battered notebook: Frankenstein’s
Victor’s journal and and wails” journal” - neglect
tries to read it
9 Gustav and Klaus are none Gustav - shunning the monster “Piss off!
cooking in the woods Bugger off!”
and the Creature finds
them
,10 Gustav and Klaus come none Gustav and Klaus - “They attack the Creature
back to beat the and beat him savagely.”
creature
11 The Creature goes back Creature - (tragic) has nowhere he none
to trudging the woods belongs as he is forever an outcast “the
Creature howls with pain”, “shrieking in
anguish”
12 The Creature observes De Lacey - the first person to show none
Agatha and Felix before kindness to the Creature “I won’t hurt
going into the house you”
and meeting De Lacey “When people are not oppressed ,
they’re full of brotherly love; but when
times are hard … Well, then you find out
who your friends are, don't you.”
13 Agatha and Felix are none none
working on the field
which
“has to be cleared”
14 De Lacey is teaching De Lacey - exhibits patience and none
the Creature to read understanding “Don't be afraid”
and write “De Lacey feels the Creature’s head. The
Creature is at first tense but then
relaxes”
15 Agatha and Felix find Creature - exhibited selfless act when he none
the field ploughed by ploughed the field for free
Creature Agatha: “It’s incredible. It’s a miracle.”
16 De Lacey teaches the De Lacey - believes in the creature “You none
Creature Original Sin: have a good heart”
injustice and morality Creature - “me not do bad things” =
childish, good at heart
17 Agatha and Felix think Creature - he is happy when he sees how none
fairies have been happy Agatha and Felix are
helping out and Felix [They kiss and exit. The Creature smiles
calls out to the happily to himself]
Creature to come out
18 De Lacey and Creature De Lacey - continues to have faith “You “Creature suddenly shoves De Lacey”-
talk - Creature are a good man. Someone will love you, doesn’t help Delacey recover and continues
becomes angry whoever you are.” talking about “I have been reading Plutarch” -
the more civilised he becomes the more
Creature - “What is love?” - he is still likely he is to commit savage acts
innocent and shaped by his neglectful
and oppressive past
19 The Creature dreams of Creature - When he sees his potential None
a female version of partner he “kneels lovingly by her” and
himself, who would soothes her with beautiful words
love and accept him. “Heaven’s last best gift”
They dance together.
20 The Creature reads De Lacey- Creature confronts him “You
, Victor’s journal, De Lacey - “No man is a monster” promised” -accusing and De Lacey laments
learning he lives in Creature - (tragic hero) doesn’t fight “Dear God, what have I done?”
Geneva with his family. back just accepts his fate Felix - “lashes the Creature, who cowers
Agatha & Felix discover under his blows” - despite being able to
the Creature, and are retaliate
terrified of him: they Agatha - “Thrash it! Kill it!”
beat him with sticks
and chase him out of
the house despite De
Lacey’s protests.
21 Angry and hurt, the none Creature - He burns down De Lacey’s house
Creature wonders with Agatha, Felix and De Lacey inside it.
aloud what humans do “Heroes, Romans - what do they do? … They
when they feel this way revenge.”
–
they revenge, he says.
He burns down De
Lacey’s house with
Agatha, Felix and De
Lacey inside.
22 In Geneva, Creature - (tragic hero) traumatised Creature - William refuses to take him to his
Frankenstein’s brother, from his experience with De Lacey Don't brother, and “The Creature gags him”
William, is playing hide look at me” repeated- insecurity
and seek with William - “You’re revolting” even children
Elizabeth. After reject the Creature
discovering he is
Frankenstein’s brother,
asks him to come with
him. William refuses,
and the Creature
kidnaps him.
23 That night, a search Frankenstein - still cares about his father
party looks for William, and may regret his actions “He’s my Frankenstein - distracted by Creature “What
amid rumours of a brother! Let me join the search! I must!” do they mean =- a monster”
monster in the
mountains.
Victor finds William’s
dead body in a boat on
the lake, alongside
pages from his journal.
24 Victor hunts down the Frankenstein - tries to kill him to Frankenstein - tries to kill him to eliminate
Creature in the eliminate his harm “You killed my his harm + fascinated by him
mountains and tries to brother” - remorse “I’m sorry, I-” “Why then did you create me? To prove that I
kill him, but the could” “There is no dialogue with killers! C:
Creature overpowers Creature - blames Victor for his Yet you’d kill me if you could”
him. He asks Victor to suffering “You abandoned me” “For I was
make a female Creature cast out like Satan though I did no Creature - “I was good, I wanted to be good!”
for him to love, wrong””Why is your killing justified and - fell into his bad side - “I will work at your
promising to disappear mine not” destruction” - pure malice
with her forever. Victor
reluctantly agrees.
25 Back at his house, Frankenstein - resolved to destroy the M. Frankenstein -Victor has become blinded
Victor tells his father Creature “I must go” by scientific pursuit - moral compass clouded
