Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Name: __________________________
Advanced Placement English Literature
Short Essay One
Due Monday, September 8th, 2008
Select one of the topics from the following list. Write an essay of less than 500 words that examines
how Shakespeare addresses the topic in the first three or four acts of Hamlet.
 How does Hamlet feel toward his mother?
 How does Shakespeare develop Hamlet’s relationship with Ophelia and how does this development
affects the audience’s understanding of their feelings for one another?
 Is Hamlet more accurately described as an emotionally weak character who is not prepared for the
task put on him by the ghost or as a strong character who capably acts in a difficult set of
circumstances?