'Intemperance' shows Mark Antony embracing Cleopatra as she drops a pearl into her goblet of wine. Mark Antony was one of the three triumvirs, rulers of Rome . He and Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, were lovers. John Lempriere's ' Classical Dictionary', first published in 1788 and well known to many artists and writers of Stothard's day, notes that 'Cleopatra was a voluptuous and extravagant woman, and in one of the feasts she gave to Antony at Alexandria, she melted pearls in her drink to render her entertainment more sumptuous and expensive.'. This picture relates to a large-scale decorative scheme which Stothard painted for the staircase at Burghley House, Northamptonshire.

�He hath given his empire; up to a whore.� - Caesar

�Our leader's led, and we are women's men.�

Essay Questions back to top

Section A - The Context Question back to top

May 2005 Paper

Using Act 5 Scene 2 lines 1 - 40

• look closely at the language, imagery and tone of the passage;
• comment on what this passage suggests about Cleopatra as a tragic character in the play.

January 2006 Paper

Using Act 2 Scene 2 lines 1 - 44

Read the following passage. How does it contribute to your view of the way in which the character of Cleopatra is presented? In the course of your answer:

• look closely at the language, imagery and tone of the passage;
• comment on what the passage suggests about royal status in the play.

May 2006 Paper

Using Act 3, Scene 13 lines 1 - 43

Read the following passage. How does it contribute to your view of the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra?In the course of your answer:

• look closely at the language, imagery and tone of the passage;
• comment on what the passage suggests about the influence of Cleopatra and Antony in the play.

Others

Using Act 4 Sc 15 Lines 10 � 96 

Examine this extract closely, where Antony dies.  You must discuss the following: 

• Explore the theme of the public and private, in particular between that of Antony and Cleopatra.

• Discuss Shakespeare's use of language to represent this.

 Relate this scene to the rest of the play.

 Using Act 4 Sc 6 and Act 4 Sc 9. 

Using these two short extracts, where Enobarbus leaves Antony and joins Caesar's forces: 

• Discuss the treatment of loyalty in these scenes, to what extent is Enobarbus' loyalty important to these scenes and the other major characters?

• How does Shakespeare's language reflect the dramatic presentation of this? 

How is loyalty presented in other relationships in the play?

Using Act 2 Scene 5, Lines 1 � 66

This extract is set in Alexandria, where Cleopatra finds out that Antony has married Octavia.

• Discuss the treatment of the comic in this scene.  What do we learn about Cleopatra's character here?

• How are these aspects reflected in the language?

How is this scene a reflection of Cleopatra in the rest of the play?

Section B - General Essay Questions back to top

June 2005

• explain clearly how Shakespeare presents the character of Antony;
• comment on ways in which his love for Cleopatra affects his judgement and actions in the play as a whole.

b)  How far do you agree that the contrast between Rome and Egypt is central to the play Antony and Cleopatra?In the course of your answer:

• explain clearly how Shakespeare contrasts Rome and Egypt;
• comment on ways in which this contrast contributes to the play as a whole.

January 2006

How far do you agree that Antony is responsible for his own fate? In the course of your answer:

• explain clearly how Shakespeare presents Antony's conduct and motives;
• comment on what the play suggests about the significance of his suicide.

(b) Give your opinion of the role and significance of Octavius in Antony and Cleopatra. In the course of your answer:

• explain clearly how Shakespeare presents the character of Octavius;
• comment on what the play suggests about his relationship with Antony.

June 2006

(a) How far do you see faulty judgement as central to the concerns and effects of the play Antony and Cleopatra? In the course of your answer:

• explain clearly how Shakespeare presents important decisions in the play;
• comment on what the play suggest about judgement and emotion.

(b) Give your opinion of the role and significance of Enobarbus in Antony and Cleopatra. In the course of your answer:

• explain clearly how Shakespeare presents the character of Enobarbus;
• comment on what the play suggest about loyalty.

Others

1. 'Octavius calls Antony "the old ruffian."  This description is horribly apt, even though we dislike Octavius the more for using it.'  Discuss Shakespeare's presentation of Antony in the play.

2. "Octavius, as presented in the play has plenty of 'judgement' but not much 'blood.' " Use this comment as a starting point in a discussion of Octavius in the play.

3. "Antony seeks power merely for himself, and uses it for his own pleasure and for that reason fails to impress us as heroic and noble."  Discuss.

4. The play consists of forty two scenes - an enormous number.  Is it possible to account for this apparently haphazardly structured play?

5. "The oddest thing about the ending of the play is that it isn't painful in the expected way of tragedy.  In fact the overwhelming sense is one of reconciliation rather than loss."  Discuss the ending the play in the light of this comment.

6. "In the first three acts people converse, discuss, accuse one another, mock, describe, drink, meet and part.  It is only in scenes four and five that a sense of history and military conflict begins to lift eh play onto a tragic plane."  Discuss.

7. "Shakespeare is forces to leave Octavia and Antony's marriage to her a mere sketch without life and detail because otherwise Antony's mistreatment of her would affect our feelings towards him as a noble hero."  Discuss.

8. "Enobarbus is torn between personal loyalty and reason.  The latter dictates his betrayal of the man he loves only for his own heart to tell him that his life without Antony is like the Earth without the sun.  Death, therefore, is all that is left him."  Discuss.

9. "It is through the language and imagery of the play that Egypt and Rome are conjured up.  The style of the play has been called 'happy' and 'valiant' and certainly there is a glow and beauty in the language that is unique.  Discuss.

10. "One of the greatest achievements of the play is to convey the sense of epic scale, distance and geographical sweep without losing the intensity of focus on characters and their relationships."  Discuss.