M/ENG5001/SEM1/JAN2019/2
ST MARY’S UNIVERSITY
TWICKENHAM, LONDON
BA/BSc Degree Examination students registered for
Level FIVE
Title: Writing the ‘Renaissance’
Code: ENG5001
Semester: ONE
Date: January 8th 2019
Time: 9:30 – 11:30AM
TIME ALLOWED: TWO HOURS
Candidates must answer TWO of the following questions.
1. Either
a. ‘In writing of the early modern period, the distinction between ‘civilised’ and
‘barbarous’ is never a simple one, and sometimes such a distinction cannot be
upheld at all.’
How far do you agree with this statement, referring in your answer either to two
plays, or one play and some other writing.
Or
b. Outline a possible ‘post-colonial’ approach to Othello and The Tempest,
evaluating the main strengths and weaknesses of such an approach.
2. Either
a. So-called ‘metaphysical poetry’ has often been said to be too intellectual and
too complex to express authentic emotion. Discuss this opinion, referring in
your answer to a selection of seventeenth-century poetry.
Or
b. ‘The metaphysical poets borrowed their images from all branches of learning –
science, commerce, war, law, to name but a few – in order to find new ways of
thinking about human experience.’ Write an essay on the imagery used by the
metaphysical poets in a selection of their poetry.
3. ‘In the drama of Shakespeare and his contemporaries, we’re often not sure
who the villain is, and who the hero’.
To what extent do you think this comment true of any two plays?
Page 1 of 2
ST MARY’S UNIVERSITY
TWICKENHAM, LONDON
BA/BSc Degree Examination students registered for
Level FIVE
Title: Writing the ‘Renaissance’
Code: ENG5001
Semester: ONE
Date: January 8th 2019
Time: 9:30 – 11:30AM
TIME ALLOWED: TWO HOURS
Candidates must answer TWO of the following questions.
1. Either
a. ‘In writing of the early modern period, the distinction between ‘civilised’ and
‘barbarous’ is never a simple one, and sometimes such a distinction cannot be
upheld at all.’
How far do you agree with this statement, referring in your answer either to two
plays, or one play and some other writing.
Or
b. Outline a possible ‘post-colonial’ approach to Othello and The Tempest,
evaluating the main strengths and weaknesses of such an approach.
2. Either
a. So-called ‘metaphysical poetry’ has often been said to be too intellectual and
too complex to express authentic emotion. Discuss this opinion, referring in
your answer to a selection of seventeenth-century poetry.
Or
b. ‘The metaphysical poets borrowed their images from all branches of learning –
science, commerce, war, law, to name but a few – in order to find new ways of
thinking about human experience.’ Write an essay on the imagery used by the
metaphysical poets in a selection of their poetry.
3. ‘In the drama of Shakespeare and his contemporaries, we’re often not sure
who the villain is, and who the hero’.
To what extent do you think this comment true of any two plays?
Page 1 of 2
