Hamlet

1. Hamlet Critical Essay Tips

2. Don’t Use Contractions • Do not use don’t, can’t, isn’t, doesn’t

3. Use apostrophes to indicate possession • Hamlet’s misery is revealed in his first soliloquy. • Shakespeare’s characterisation of Claudius helps generate sympathy for Hamlet. • But not for ‘it’.

4. Add Apostrophes • Shakespeares use of antithesis highlights the ghosts ambiguous nature.

5. Do Not Dwell on 1.2 • Some essays have two pages on Act One, Scene Two. • Avoid this. • Deal with Hamlet’s initial isolation and first soliloquy in same paragraph.

6. Include More Discussion of Claudius • Almost evil personified • Metaphor used to compare him to serpent (biblical allusion) • Method of murder of Old Hamlet is a metaphor for how he poisons • Skilful, manipulative character who will do anything to achieve his desires.

7. Characterisation of Claudius • Manipulation of empty rhetoric in 1,2 ( appearance and reality) • Description of him as snake/ serpent by the Ghost • Commits regicide, fratricide and incest- great sins to Shakespeare’s audience. • Driven on by ambition. (Look at his soliloquy for this).

8. 'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, A serpent stung me. So the whole ear of Denmark Is by a forgèd process of my death Rankly abused. But know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father’s life Now wears his crown. Metaphor used to highlight how Denmark is infected/ corrupted by Claudius’ actions. Serpent is symbolic here. Represents the destruction of Adam’s happiness in the Garden of Eden and the introduction of sin into the world. Claudius is ‘the serpent’ who now wears the crown.

9. Include Linkage in Topic Sentences • The reasons for Hamlet’s procrastination are indirectly reflected on in ‘To be, or not to be’. • It is only in the final scene that Hamlet finally takes action against Claudius.

10. Avoid Retelling the Plot • Particularly for the final scene, do not just retell what happens. • Included no more than a couple of sentences explaining the events. • Instead analyse how events, dialogue, irony, symbolism etc. create sympathy for Hamlet.

11. The clash between Hamlet’s heroic nature and the poisonous nature of the society surrounding him is brought to a tragic climax in the play’s final scene. Along with several other characters, Hamlet and Claudius meet their death at the play’s end. However, the manner in which they meet them reveals much about their respective values. Hamlet is no longer the tortured soul we see for much in the play. He now has trust in God’s providence: • “There’s a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, ’tis not to come. If it be not to come, it will be now. If it be not now, yet it will come—the readiness is all.” • He also realises that there is a time when it is correct to take action; that it would be worse to allow Claudius to continue to spread his ‘canker’ through Danish society. Shakespeare’s great irony in the final scene is that Claudius, both literally and metaphorically, dies as a result of his own poison. In contrast, Hamlet through killing Claudius helps to cleanse Demark of the infection that his rule has brought. By giving his life to do so, he becomes a true tragic hero.

12. Too Many Hamlets Spoil the Sentence • Do not write: ‘Hamlet’s first soliloquy creates sympathy for Hamlet.’ • Hamlet’s first soliloquy encourages the audience to feel sympathy for him.

13. Vary your Analysis • This shows, this shows, this shows, this shows . . . • Shakespeare’s use of imagery is effective because • I felt sympathy for Hamlet at this point because • This highlights . . . • Shakespeare’s use of irony . . .