Helpful Hints for Writing the Sarcasm Section (and other sections)
The best way to start writing is to go through and find a bunch of places in Hamlet (Acts
1-3) where Hamlet uses sarcasm. Then you are going to come to a conclusion about how
Hamlet's use of sarcasm develops:
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His character. Think about his relationships and his personality. What do
we know about him because of his use of sarcasm?
The play. How does his use of sarcasm operate in the play?
Whatever conclusion you come to on those two questions is what you are going to say in
your topic sentence.
1. Make a statement about how it develops Hamlet's character and how his use of
sarcasm develops the play.
2. Go back to your list of examples that you already found and use them for the
statement-proof-commentary format.
a. What you say for the commentary is going to be you explaining and
connecting the quote to whatever claim you made in your topic sentence.
Remember: always tie it back to your claim.
3. To conclude your paragraph, all you write is a sentence that talks about sarcasm
in the broader sense and mentions your next paragraph topic (insanity) so that you
have your transition.
Guiding Questions for Other Topics:
Insanity:
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Is Hamlet really insane or is he pretending to be insane?
What does your answer to this question say about his personality?
Suicidal Tendencies/Self-Deprecation:
 Hamlet continues to self-deprecate throughout the entire play. What
inferences can you draw about his personality based on his tendency to do
this?
 Hamlet talks about committing suicide and reasons for and against suicide.
What inferences can we draw about his personality and mental state based on
this? What do his reasons for and against suicide say about his character?
Procrastination/Indecision:
 Hamlet has trouble making a plan of action and following through with those
actions. What inferences can you draw about Hamlet’s personality based on
his choices throughout the play?
 Why doesn’t Hamlet just kill Claudius and be finished? What does this show
about Hamlet’s personality?