HamletHamlet essay topics, essay topics, etc.etc.

English 12English 12Choosing a TopicChoosing a Topic

Essay Outlining notesEssay Outlining notes

Essay TopicsEssay Topics- Hamlet despised and feared women, as evidenced by Hamlet despised and feared women, as evidenced by

his relationships with his mother as well as Opheliahis relationships with his mother as well as Ophelia- Hamlet offers a definitive view of the nature of man Hamlet offers a definitive view of the nature of man

through his soliloquies through his soliloquies - Hamlet is a spoiled, whiny Prince who gets what he Hamlet is a spoiled, whiny Prince who gets what he

deservesdeserves- Hamlet is a tragic hero (What is his tragic flaw?)Hamlet is a tragic hero (What is his tragic flaw?)- The influence of the Catholic Church on The influence of the Catholic Church on

Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s HamletHamlet- Madness – Examine Hamlet’s feigned madness and Madness – Examine Hamlet’s feigned madness and

Ophelia’s sincere madnessOphelia’s sincere madness- Madness – Hamlet thought he was pretending, but he Madness – Hamlet thought he was pretending, but he

was truly madwas truly mad- Another topic – see me to discussAnother topic – see me to discuss

How about “The Play’s The Thing”How about “The Play’s The Thing”

Shakespeare is the most significant writer of Shakespeare is the most significant writer of plays in the English language, and plays in the English language, and HamletHamlet is is his most important play. In his “play within his most important play. In his “play within a play”, Shakespeare is able to create a a play”, Shakespeare is able to create a cunning plan to illustrate Claudius’ guilt, a cunning plan to illustrate Claudius’ guilt, a moment fraught with tension and intrigue for moment fraught with tension and intrigue for his audience, a platform from which to his audience, a platform from which to comment on the nature of acting and a comment on the nature of acting and a visually intriguing re-enactment of the death visually intriguing re-enactment of the death of Hamlet’s father. Hamlet re-Christens of Hamlet’s father. Hamlet re-Christens The The Murder of GonzagoMurder of Gonzago as as The MousetrapThe Mousetrap, and , and the play within the play becomes a pivotal the play within the play becomes a pivotal moment in this seminal work of drama.moment in this seminal work of drama.

““The Play’s the Thing” paper…supportThe Play’s the Thing” paper…support

1.1. Hamlet meets the players and is Hamlet meets the players and is convinced of their talent. “Can you play convinced of their talent. “Can you play The Murder of Gonzago?” The Murder of Gonzago?” (II, ii, 547-548)(II, ii, 547-548)

2. Hamlet makes arrangements for a 2. Hamlet makes arrangements for a scene to be added to the play. “You scene to be added to the play. “You could, for a need, study a speech of some could, for a need, study a speech of some dozen lines, which I would set down and dozen lines, which I would set down and insert it, could you not?” (II, ii, 550-552) insert it, could you not?” (II, ii, 550-552) With this plan hatched, he utters those With this plan hatched, he utters those famous lines: “The play’s the famous lines: “The play’s the thing/wherein I’ll catch the conscience of thing/wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King. (II, ii, 616-617)the King. (II, ii, 616-617)

More support…More support…3. One of the lines of the play 3. One of the lines of the play The Murder The Murder

of Gonzagoof Gonzago relates closely to Gertrude’s relates closely to Gertrude’s circumstances. The Player Queen tells circumstances. The Player Queen tells her first husband that she loves him too her first husband that she loves him too much to ever re-marry: “Both here and much to ever re-marry: “Both here and hence pursue me lasting strife/ If, once a hence pursue me lasting strife/ If, once a widow, ever I be a wife.” (III, ii, 219-220) widow, ever I be a wife.” (III, ii, 219-220) This makes Gertrude uncomfortable, and This makes Gertrude uncomfortable, and when asked her opinion of the when asked her opinion of the performance, she utters one of her most performance, she utters one of her most famous lines: “The lady doth protest too famous lines: “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” (III, ii, 227)much, methinks.” (III, ii, 227)

More supportMore support4.4. After the stage direction where the After the stage direction where the

character of Lucianus “pours poison in the character of Lucianus “pours poison in the sleeper’s ears”, Ophelia notes that “The sleeper’s ears”, Ophelia notes that “The King rises.” (III, ii, 261) At that point, King rises.” (III, ii, 261) At that point, Hamlet has the proof he needs that Hamlet has the proof he needs that Claudius in fact murdered his father.Claudius in fact murdered his father.

5.5. This moment is fraught with tension, as This moment is fraught with tension, as the players are interrupted and the King the players are interrupted and the King and his entire court abruptly leave the and his entire court abruptly leave the performance. The King now suspects that performance. The King now suspects that Hamlet knows his secret, and he will now Hamlet knows his secret, and he will now look for ways to rid Denmark of its Prince.look for ways to rid Denmark of its Prince.

More Support6. Hamlet gives a great deal of advice

to the actors at the beginning of Act III, Scene ii. It is clear that this is advice that Shakespeare would like to deliver directly to the performers of his own works. He reminds them to: “Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue.” (III, ii, 1-2) He also reminds the actors to emote, but not to overact.

Conclusion The “play within a play” is a pivotal moment

in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Not only is it the moment where Hamlet is able to “catch the conscience” of the King and gather proof of his father’s murder, but it is also a moment filled with dramatic irony and fraught with tension. It includes some of Shakespeare’s own directions to actors about how to portray his works on stage. Due to its many layers of meaning and its compelling action, this is an unforgettable moment in Hamlet.

Today’s AssignmentToday’s Assignment

- Choose a topicChoose a topic- Begin an initial search for Begin an initial search for

quotationsquotations to support your topic to support your topic (find at least four)(find at least four)

- Fill-out the outline form (Complete Fill-out the outline form (Complete for next class)for next class)

- Coming soon:Coming soon: Writing the Writing the Introduction and Incorporating Introduction and Incorporating QuotationsQuotations