Paper 2 Section B/C: Elizabethan England, c1568–1603

June 2022

Q1: How convincing is Interpretation A about the theatre in Elizabethan England?

Explain your answer based on your contextual knowledge and what it says in Interpretation A.

Answer:

For example, the interpretation is convincing because despite some opposition the theatre had support from the Queen and aristocracy. They sponsored acting companies to perform plays and they performed at court for the Queen. Elizabethan government knew that entertainment like the theatre was popular with the people, and so long as the plays were controlled it was useful propaganda. As we watch and enjoy Shakespearean plays today we can understand why Elizabethan theatre was popular because it reflected universal and common themes about human life. more than one aspect of the interpretation. For example, it is convincing because the city authorities in London were worried about the spread of disease when so many people came together in theatres like the Globe or the Rose. They were also concerned about increases in crime because all sorts of people – the rich and the poor came together to enjoy the plays. There was also opposition from the Puritans who thought that the plays were immoral and going to the theatre was ungodly as people would rather go to the theatre than to church to pray. Despite this opposition the theatre remained popular because it entertained and excited people. For example, the interpretation is convincing because it says that the Elizabethan theatres like the Globe were built outside the City in Southwark and were popular. People enjoyed plays written by William Shakespeare such as Romeo and Juliet. Answers may show understanding/support for interpretation, but the case is For example, lots of people enjoyed going to the theatre in Elizabethan times. There were new plays by William Shakespeare.

Q2: Explain what was important about Queen Elizabeth I’s court.

Answer:

the consequences of the stated development (the court of Queen Elizabeth) in the broader historical context (Elizabethan England). This is supported by For example, the Elizabethan Court was the centre of Elizabethan government and power. Elizabeth used it to project and exercise her power. The court moved around and went wherever the Queen went, so it was not a place but a collection of people. Elizabeth’s main palace was at Whitehall in London but she regularly toured around to other palaces such as Windsor and visited the great houses belonging to nobles around the country. These were the major landowners and all the time she had with her the Privy Council who advised her on military and foreign affairs, religion and the Queen’s security. For example, the Elizabethan Court was important because it was the centre of patronage. If you were at court you could be given titles, power and other rewards for which the Queen and nobles expected loyalty and support. Patronage also worked from the aristocracy downwards to their supporters. If you were banished from court then you had no access to patronage from those above you. Essex was one of the Queen’s favourites and she used patronage to make him a Privy Councillor in 1595. He had the monopoly of sweet wine in England which meant he could put a tax on anyone importing the wine which made him rich. For example, the Royal Court had Elizabeth at the centre. She spent a lot of time in her private rooms with her ladies in waiting. They came from the richest families in England and they provided her with all the gossip about what was happening with the courtiers. The court was a centre of entertainment because the Queen loved dancing and music as well as ceremony to impress people. the identified consequences, supporting by factual knowledge and For example, the Court contained the Privy Council which ran the country. It had Elizabeth’s main advisers like William Cecil and Francis Walsingham. The court was also a social and fashionable thing with about 1000 people and where the Queen was entertained. For example, the Court was where Queen Elizabeth met all the important people such as William Cecil.

Q3: Write an account of how the Spanish Armada was defeated.

Answer:

reasoning supported by a range of accurate and detailed factual knowledge and understanding. For example, an explanation of different impacts/ consequences of change in the broader historical context. For example, the defeat of the Spanish Armada was due to the superior leadership of the English and the inferior resources of the Spanish. The technology of the English gave them an advantage in the confined space of the channel where the fast, agile English ships could run rings round the slow, heavy lumbering Spanish galleons. The leadership of the English was down to Vice Admirals Drake and Hawkins who are both experienced and would use their initiative whereas the Duke of Medina Sidonia had little experience of sailing and was reluctant to change the plan that Philip II had given him which was to meet up with the Duke of Parma and transport his 27,000 troops across the channel on barges. Crucially, a lack of communication meant that Parma got tired of waiting for the Armada and sent his troops away thus delaying the Armada by several days. For example, the defeat of the Spanish Armada was due to the mistakes of the Spanish. They had large warships that were unsuited to the English Channel because they were slow and less manoeuvrable. They did not meet up at the right time with the Spanish soldiers in the Netherlands and failed to prepare for a battle at sea. They had the wrong cannonballs for the cannons and were led by Medina Sidonia who was inexperienced in naval battles and overrode the advice of some of his more experienced ship’s captains. simple understanding of consequence(s) with supported with factual For example, the Spanish Armada was defeated because it was poorly organised and did not have a good leader in the Duke of Medina-Sidonia who had no experience of the sea. They underestimated the English navy and organised themselves for an invasion but they had bad communications with the Spanish army in the Netherlands. For example, the Armada was defeated because of the fire ships which broke up the Spanish fleet when it was anchored.

Q4: ‘Religion was the main reason for helping the poor in Elizabethan England.’

How far does a study of Lord Burghley’s almshouse support this statement? Explain your answer. You should refer to Lord Burghley’s almshouse and your contextual knowledge. and AQA will be happy to rectify any omissions of acknowledgements. If you have any queries please contact the Copyright Team.

No answer found in mark scheme.