Senior English: Shakespeare Unit – Embedded Assessment
Choice 1: Speech Analysis
Examine a speech from the play that your group read. YOU MUST INCLUDE ONE OR MORE
CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES IN YOUR ANALYSIS (Feminist, Marxist, Archetypal). Your
analysis should include the following elements (more or less in order; see below for specific
structuring of the essay):
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The speech’s context (where it is, who is speaking to whom, on what occasion)
A paraphrase of the actually meaning of the speech, literally
An analysis of the language of the speech, explaining the ways in which the character’s
use of language reveals who he or she is. The best speeches take us into a rich, even
psychological inner life of the character.
Conclude with a sense of the significance of this characterization—why does it matter?
In making this evaluation, you may consider such matters as the following: What themes most
compel this character? Focus on figurative language as it organizes and structures the
speech: the repeated or dominant metaphors or similes (repeated), myths that are
referenced, and personifications. What about other allusions and references?
Further, are there ironies in the speech or situation? What kind of relationship does the character
establish with the audience? With other characters? Are there important ironies at work here,
and how do they qualify our understanding of the character? How does the character see him or
herself? What features of context and language reveal aspects of the character that go farther
than the character’s apparent knowledge? What do we know about the character’s persona in
relation to deeper matters of psyche? You may also want to analyze the diction of the speech as
a revelation the character. What kinds of syntax? In what ways is the movement of mind or
thinking process of the character revealed in the syntax?
I am especially looking for your ability to identify and analyze figurative language and its
relation to theme and character. The other elements are useful (diction, syntax), but the
heart of the essay lies in the themes, figurative language, and significance to character.
Structural Elements of the Paper (largely re-iterated from above: please note well):
How to structure your essay as literary criticism? It should include the following: a strong
introduction, including a first sentence that makes the reader want to read the paper; a thesis
statement, that clearly frames the ideas of the paper, that states an arguable assertion about the
passage and character; a brief context for the speech; a short summary of the literal meaning of
the speech; your analysis of the speech, beginning with matters of content, figurative language
(metaphor, simile, metonymy, personification, allusion, reference, myth, irony and paradox);
elements of language are also important, but secondary (diction, sentence structure, scansion); a
clear statement of significance in reference to the character.
Type out the original speech from the Shakespeare text and attach it to your analysis.
Include the title of the play, the act and scene, and lines.
Senior English: Shakespeare Unit – Embedded Assessment
Choice 2: Research Paper
In your research paper, you will focus on a specific theme or topic, read background materials,
and prepare a clearly focused paper. You are to read thoroughly on a topic, examine the sources
critically, and become an expert on the issue. YOU MUST INCLUDE ONE OR MORE
CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES IN YOUR RESEARCH PAPER (Feminist, Marxist, Archetypal).
Instructions:
In the essay, you will use the sources to identify a central theme, discuss the perspectives of the
critics, identify a central or interesting issue (one which the critics/sources have varying
perspectives on), give brief summaries of the critics, and provide your own reading of the play in
the light of the sources. This is not a “source dump.” This is not about using sources to give a
pile of lifted information. This IS about reading closely, using the sources to identify and think
through an issue, and providing your own perspective on the issue. Whether you are writing
specifically about a critical perspective and connecting it to your research topic, or writing more
of a historical analysis essay, you will still draw your own conclusions (create a thesis and
defend it throughout).
Your introduction, central issue identification, and summary and evaluation of sources will be
about half your essay. Use the resource provided “basic essay structure sheet.” You’ll need to
provide your own views, now educated in the issue.
A list of topics is provided. Choose one of the topics. You’ll need to focus, and develop a thesis
or argument. Conduct thorough and credible research to support your essay. You must include a
properly-formatted works cited page with your essay (MLA).
Shakespeare’s life, focusing on one of these:
Children and Parents
Marriage
Shakespeare as Existentialist
Life in London
Shakespeare Stoicism
Lost Years
Shakespeare and Macchiavelli
Authorship question: defend a theory
Shakespeare and Psychoanalysis
Shakespearean Stage (and modern Globe)
Shakespeare and Revenge Tragedy
The fool and Renaissance folly
Shakespeare and Death
Madness
Kings and Authority
Witchcraft
Shakespeare and Renaissance Magic
Battle of the Sexes and Love
Melancholy in the Renaissance
Courtly love tradition
Humanism (Image of Man, Humanity)
Women and gender
Dreams and Imagination
Chastity
Shakespeare and Metaphor/Language
Fathers and Daughters
Colonialism and New World
Masculine Identity
Loss and Restoration as motif
Mothers—absent?
Weddings and Marriages—their image in
Fathers, Patriarchy
plays
Female Friendship
***if you have another idea please clear it with me before you start!