Critical Essay Technique
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Respond to the task without simply repeating
it
Brief outline of what your argument will be
Do not include ‘In this essay, I will discuss . .
.’
Do not include a list of techniques
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In ‘Hamlet’, William Shakespeare depicts his
tragic hero as tormented by both internal and
external conflicts. Hamlet is torn between the
need to revenge his father’s death and his
contemplative, intellectual nature. This
conflict frames the development of Hamlet’s
character, leading to a series of conflicts with
other characters, and ultimately his tragic
death.
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Clearly introduce your paragraph’s topic
Should contain linkage to previous paragraph
Some should link to your task
Should demonstrate the logical development
of your argument
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For me, the play’s most important conflict is
the clash between Hamlet’s contemplative
nature and his desire to revenge his father’s
death.
In the play’s most famous soliloquy,
Shakespeare depicts the conflict between the
passive and active aspects of Hamlet’s
character.
In addition to his internal struggles, Hamlet is
depicted as suffering a series of conflicts with
other characters.
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Point / Topic sentence
Brief expansion/ explanation (not retelling
large chunks of the plot)
Evidence (Quotations/ dialogue or stage
directions)
Analysis (Including identification of
techniques used by Shakespeare where
appropriate)
Evaluation (Giving your personal response/
saying how effective Shakespeare has been)
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Clear topic sentence (including linkage form
point two onwards)
A few, clear sentences of context that resist
the temptation to retell large chunks of the
plot. This is the perfect place to you use
embedded quotations.
Relevant, well-chosen quotations
Analysis/ Evaluation of how the dramatic
techniques used by Shakespeare link back to
your task.
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At least two per paragraph.
Lots of short, embedded quotations.
Some longer quotations but not too many.
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Less than two lines.
Form part of a sentence
In Hamlet’s first soliloquy, Shakespeare
reveals that his tragic hero worships his
recently deceased father. He compares him to
‘Hyperion’- the Titan god of light. He also
reflects on the corruption in the ‘unweeded
garden’ that Denmark has become under
Claudius’ rule.
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For quotations of two lines or more.
Colon to introduce quotation.
Take a new line.
Use quotation marks.
Write out the quotation exactly as it is in the
play, including where the lines start.
Include analysis after your quotation,
explaining the importance of your quotation
to the point you are making and discussing
the effectiveness of any relevant techniques.
This conflict is exacerbated by his uncertainty over
the Ghost’s identity:
“Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damned,
Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell,
Be thy intents wicked or charitable,” (Act One,
Scene Five)
Shakespeare uses antithesis here to highlight the
ambiguous nature of the Ghost: Hamlet is unsure
if it really is his father’s spirit and not an evil spirit
instead. This relates to one of the play’s most
important themes: the difficulty in distinguishing
between reality and appearances.
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Keep it brief
Respond to your task
Reiterate your essay’s main points
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Themes are the ideas presented by a text
Theme is not a technique
Techniques such as plot, characterisation and
setting are used to convey the play’s theme.
Most plays will have several themes
Even if your question does not explicitly ask
you to, you should discuss the text’s themes.
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The Impossibility of Certainty /The difficulty
in distinguishing between reality and
appearances.
The connection between the legitimacy of a
ruler and the health of the society they rule.
The moral legitimacy of suicide in a world of
suffering
The nature of revenge
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Choose the theme which you feel is most
important in Hamlet Act One.
Make a note of where it is relevant to your
essay