Always use direct
quotations to prove
what you are saying.
Point: Hamlet cannot
really be insane.
R
E
Proof: “The Mouse-trap.
P
Marry, how? Tropically. This E
play
A
is the image of a murder
T
done in Vienna: Gonzago is P
the duke's name; his wife,
R
Baptista: you shall see
O
anon.”
C
E
Explanation: How could an
S
insane man so cleverly plan a
S
play that exposes a criminal?
Use literary terms
to your advantage.
Hamlet’s characterization
indicates why he cannot
be considered insane.
The skull that Hamlet
speaks to is a symbolic
item foreshadowing the
tragic conclusion of the
play.
Everybody talks about whether Hamlet was pretending
to be insane.
Why not demonstrate
that Hamlet’s insanity is a
commentary on national
corruption?
Shoot for original
ideas about the
literature.
Hamlet’s sanity is still
argued amongst literary
critics because the text
can be read in multiple
ways.
There is no
“right” answer.
There is such a thing as misreading
a text. So use caution in
interpretation.
Use the basic rules of writing to
make sure a good idea is well
presented.
Snowdrops