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GCSE English Literature · key term
An elaborate entertainment combining poetry, music, costume and dance, often using mythological figures to celebrate an important occasion.
Used by AQA, Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas
Paper 1
A masked entertainment involving dancing and performance.
Revise: Act 2Lorenzo plans to use her as a torchbearer during the masque. Jessica is an active organiser of her escape, not merely someone Lorenzo rescues.
An elaborate court entertainment combining music, dance, acting and spectacular design, often using mythological figures to celebrate a ruler or royal occasion.
Use context to explain a detail, such as the masque’s celebration of marriage or Prospero’s insistence on chastity, rather than adding a separate background paragraph.
Link context to specific evidence: Miranda’s proposal challenges expectations of female modesty, while Prospero’s warning before the masque reinforces chastity.
Part (a): explain how the masque’s rhyme, music and dance create harmony before its abrupt interruption changes the mood. Name enjambment when analysing meaning that runs across verse line endings.
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An elaborate entertainment combining poetry, music, dance and spectacle, popular at the Jacobean court.
An elaborate entertainment combining music, poetry, costume and dance, popular at royal courts. Its mythological figures often celebrated the patron or a special occasion.
An elaborate entertainment combining poetry, music, costume and dance, often associated with royal courts. Prospero’s spirits perform one to celebrate Miranda and Ferdinand’s betrothal.
A ceremonial entertainment combining music, dance and spectacle. Prospero’s masque celebrates Miranda and Ferdinand’s betrothal.
An elaborate entertainment combining poetry, music, dance and costume, often performed at court. In The Tempest, spirits perform a masque celebrating Ferdinand and Miranda's betrothal.
Paper 1
An elaborate court entertainment combining music, dance, acting, costumes and scenery, often using mythological figures to celebrate a ruler or a royal occasion.
Revise: ContextA masque was an elaborate court entertainment combining music, dance, costumes, scenery and acting. Mythological figures often celebrated royal power, marriage or prosperity. Ben Jonson wrote important Jacobean masques, while Inigo Jones designed their spectacular settings and costumes.
An elaborate entertainment combining poetry, music, dance and spectacle, often performed at court.
A courtly entertainment combining poetry, music, elaborate costumes and dance, often using mythological figures to celebrate an occasion or honour a powerful patron.
An entertainment combining music, dance, costume and stylised speeches, often associated with royal courts. Prospero uses spirits to perform one for Miranda and Ferdinand.
An elaborate entertainment combining music, dance and symbolic figures, often associated with royal or aristocratic courts.
An elaborate entertainment combining music, dance, costumes and often mythological figures, associated with court culture.
Paper 2
A celebration or entertainment involving disguise, masks and often music.
Revise: Act 2The lovers plan to use the preparations for a masque as cover, with Jessica acting as a torchbearer.
Component 1
A masked entertainment involving disguise, music and performance.
Revise: Act 2In Act 2 Scene 4, Lorenzo receives the letter and explains that Jessica has prepared a boy’s costume and will bring gold and jewels. His friends are arranging a masque, whose disguises provide cover for the escape. Jessica is actively organising the elopement, not merely waiting to be rescued.
A courtly entertainment combining music, dance, poetry and elaborate spectacle, often using mythological figures to celebrate an occasion or ideal.
A festive entertainment involving disguise, costumes and sometimes music or dancing.
