AP Literature and Composition
Hamlet Process Essay
Due: Monday, December 7th
Write a well-organized, multi-paragraph critical analysis essay about Hamlet by William Shakespeare.
All essays require the writer to examine the entire play.
The first paragraph, the introduction, must contain the author and title. Typically, this information appears
in the first sentence. A one-sentence thesis appears as the last sentence of the introduction. The
following body paragraphs prove your answer by offering evidence from the text (quotes, paraphrase) and
your analysis (commentary). Each body paragraph is governed by a topic sentence. The final paragraph
is the conclusion; this paragraph makes a judgment based on what you proved in the essay. Do NOT
merely give plot or summarize your essay. Your essay requires strong analysis/commentary. Use the
language of the prompt to guide your answer and discussion. All essays must follow the MLA format
(including a works cited page) and must be submitted to turnitin.com. The turnitin.com receipt must be
attached to the back of the essay on the day that the essay is due.
The essay must be between 2-3 pages. Papers less than 2 FULL pages will be considered too short and
will fail. Any paper that does not satisfy the minimum requirements of the assignment will fail.
All essays are due at the beginning of class on Monday, December 7th. If you are on campus for any part
of the day, including extracurricular activities, the hard copy of the essay is due along with the
turnitin.com receipt. If you are absent the entire day, including extracurricular activities, the essay must
be submitted to turnitin.com by 7:15 am on the due date. Failure to submit an essay on time will result
in a late grade (see campus late work policy). The hardcopy of the essay and the turnitin.com receipt are
due the first day you return to school, whether you have English class that day or not.
Choose from the following topics. Remember that your essay must respond specifically to the prompt.
1.) The eighteenth-century British novelist Laurence Stern wrote, “No body, but he who has felt it, can
conceive what a plaguing thing it is to have a man’s mind torn asunder by two projects of equal
strength, both obstinately pulling in a contrary direction at the same time.”
Choose a character from Hamlet whose mind is pulled in conflicting directions by two compelling
desires, ambitions, obligations, or influences. Then, in a well-organized essay, identify each of the
two conflicting forces and explain how this conflict with one character illuminates the meaning of
the work as a whole.
2.) Suicide is an important theme in Hamlet. Discuss how the play treats the idea of suicide morally,
religiously, and aesthetically, with particular attention to Hamlet’s two important statements about
suicide: the “O, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt” soliloquy (I.ii.129–158) and the “To be, or
not to be” soliloquy (III.i.56–88). Why does Hamlet believe that, although capable of suicide, most
human beings choose to live, despite the cruelty, pain, and injustice of the world? Finally, connect
Hamlet’s attitude toward death to the meaning of the work as a whole.
Writing Workshop: (handwritten work is NOT accepted)
Monday, November 30th (Bring two TYPED copies of your intro. w/thesis statement and first body paragraph). The work
must be emailed by 3 pm if you will be absent. Please keep in mind that you must attend tutorials to earn full credit for
the workshop.
AP Literature and Composition
Hamlet Process Essay
Due: Monday, December 7th