Critical Lens Essays
HAMLET and THE SCARLET LETTER
IN GENERAL--THE TASK
 You are given a statement about literature
 You put that statement into your own words
 You agree or disagree with the statement
 You support your position with details from
literature you have read
YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Agree or disagree with of the following statement using
details from Hamlet and The Scarlet Letter to
support your opinion.
 “The ultimate measure of people is not where they
stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but
where they stand at times of challenge and
controversy.”
--Martin Luther King, Jr.
REQUIREMENTS
Your paper should:
1. Be typed and at least 2 pages long.
2. Provide a clear exploration of the lens.
3. Indicate whether you agree or disagree with the lens.
4. Discuss details from Hamlet and The Scarlet Letter to
support your argument.
5. Discuss at least 2 different literary techniques to
support your argument.
6. Have well developed paragraphs including topic
sentences, supporting details, and explanation of
details.
DUE DATE
Your critical lens essay on Hamlet and The
Scarlet Letter will be due:
TUESDAY JUNE 10, 2014
ORGANIZATION
 You might have 4 paragraphs




Intro
Body 1 (about first text)
Body 2 (about second text)
Conclusion
ORGANIZATION
I.
Intro
A. Lens
B. Exploration of the lens -- thesis
C. Indicate whether you agree/disagree
D. Title, Author, Genre Information
EXPLORING THE LENS

Explore the lens – Things to keep in mind
1.
Figure out what big idea the lens expresses.
2.
Consider not just the idea but its consequences.
For example, what are the possible results if this
idea is or is not understood by characters?
3.
Spend time developing an idea that is uniquely
yours rather than simply restating the idea of
someone else.
4.
Think about how it will apply to literature
5.
Write a few sentences that explore the big idea
and its consequences.
6.
Don’t go word by word and replace with
synonyms.
EXPLORING THE LENS
“The bravest of individuals is the one who obeys
his or her conscience.”
Don’t simply say:
The most courageous of people is the one who
follows her or his morals.
This is a good place to begin but it’s too simple.
How can we better explore this idea?
EXPLORING THE LENS
1. Think about why it takes bravery to obey one’s
conscience.
2. Think about the benefits of obeying one’s
conscience.
3. Think about the consequences of not obeying
one’s conscience.
4. Think about why so many people are so quick
to go against what they know is right?
5. Keep the literature in mind.
EXPLORING THE LENS
When we explore deeply we end up with this:
The most courageous of people is the one who
follows her or his morals. Doing what is right can
be more difficult because evil is often the easy
way out. Although it is often more difficult to do
what is right, the best people are willing to put
forth the extra effort. If they don’t, they know it
will come back to hurt them in the end.
Agree / Disagree
 Usually easier to agree
 Don’t make reference to yourself.
 Combine this with the TAG information
 Don’t say “the quote”, “the statement”, “the lens”
 Make reference to your interpretation
 Agreeable means nice, not that you agree.
Example:
Two works of literature that show how the best people
obey their conscience are The Scarlet Letter, a novel
by Hawthorne, and Hamlet, a play by Shakespeare.
Sample Intro – Put it all together
J.F. Clarke once said, “The bravest of individuals is the
one who obeys his or her conscience.” This means
that the most courageous of people is the one who
follows her or his morals. Doing what is right can be
more difficult because evil is often the easy way out.
Although it is often more difficult to do what is right, the
best people are willing to put forth the extra effort. If
they don’t, they know it will come back to hurt them in
the end. Two works of literature that show how the best
people obey their conscience are The Scarlet Letter, a
novel by Hawthorne, and Hamlet, a play by
Shakespeare.
Body Paragraphs: Topic Sentence
II and III Body Paragraphs
A. Topic Sentence (1 sentence)
Should explain that the first text supports
idea expressed in your exploration--thesis.
Example:
Hester, the main character in The Scarlet Letter,
is a strong example of a character whose
bravery is revealed through her always
following her conscience no matter how difficult
it is.
Body Paragraphs: Choosing details
B. Supporting Details (8-10 sentences)
1. Determine what kind of details you need to
support point in topic sentence.
2. Choose appropriate specific details from text.
Detail set 1  Characters following morals
(Hester refusing to name father, fighting to keep Pearl, telling
Dimmesdale truth, pleading with Chillingworth to spare Dimmesdale)
Detail set 2  Bravery of these acts
(faces ridicule of town, forced to live as an outcast, endures the hate
of Chillingworth, stands up to Governor, does not hide “A”)
Body Paragraphs:
Literary Techniques
1. Look at the details you have chosen to
support the point made in your topic sentence.
2. Determine which literary technique is
represented in those details.
3. Explain how detail is an example of that
literary technique.
Ex.: Hester does not hide her “A”.
Symbolism “A” represents her sin; she does
not try to deny what she has done; shows
bravery by doing what is right.
Body Paragraphs:
Transition and Explaining details
1. In between sets of details have a sentence of
transition. (Although Hester followed her conscience it
was not easy.)
2. Once finished providing details, explain HOW they
support the point you make in your topic sentence.
A. This can be done after each detail set
OR
B. This can be done at the end after all details sets
Example: Hester obeying her conscience and conspicuously
showing the town her “A” showed a lot of bravery on her part.
She gracefully accepted her punishment and never hid who she
truly was even when it would have been much easier to do so.
Organization
IV. Conclusion
A. Restate thesis
B. Summarize main points
C. Explore the importance of your point; how does your
analysis contribute to a better understanding of the
texts and their characters?
Example:
Only the bravest characters are capable of standing up to the
pressure to take the easy way out and obey their conscience.
Hester and Hamlet experienced tremendous conflicts internal
and external in order to do what they knew was right. Through
this we come to understand how truly strong Hester Prynne is
and how much Hamlet matures from the beginning of the play.
FOR RIGHT NOW:
Begin working on your essay:
1. Choose a lens
2. Explore the lens
3. Decide which detail sets you will need to
support your point.
4. Decide which literary techniques you will use
to support your point.
5. BEGIN WRITING.