Body Paragraphs for Close-Reading Essay

The number one rule to remember is to stay away from plot summary. Instead of writing a book report, we want to write an analytical essay.

One helpful way to accomplish this is to follow the TREAT model:

T- Topic sentence (Make sure this connects with your Thesis Statement)

R- Reasoning (This is basically the transition into your quote as you show the reasoning behind your claim in the topic sentence.)

E- Evidence (direct quote)

A- Analysis (see steps A, B, and C below).

T- Tie it together

All literature-analysis or close-reading essays follow the TREAT model in some form. The most important part of this model is the “Analysis” step- this is what you will be graded on most heavily in literature-based essays.

When analyzing direct quotes, you want to try and accomplish three steps:

A.    Consider what the purpose is of the actual quote by discussing its subtleties of the topics and ideas expressed. Basically, what is the author saying without directly saying it? (Ultimately, what is the point of including this quote? What is Shakespeare really trying to say or express? What are the larger ideas shown in this specific part of the text?)

B.    Assess how the quote is said; considering how the word choice, sentence structure, diction, tone, or devices used by the author contribute to the meaning of the passage. Look specifically at the language. This is what you will focus on!

C.    Connect this analysis of the passage back to the significance of the text as a whole. What were you originally trying to say in your thesis statement, and how does this point you are making with the quote help contribute to your original argument?

Make sure to never tell the reader simply what is occurring in the quote- this is just plot summary. 

  




Feel free to change up the formula. Often, writers will include two quotes per paragraph. Just make sure to transition into your quote and analyze it. Never leave a quote unanalyzed; it will get very lonely.

Read both sample body paragraphs. Assess how well they use the TREAT model. Provide edits and determine what the paragraphs get right, and what they get wrong.

Thesis Statement: In the soliloquy immediately following Hamlet’s “trap” for Claudius, Shakespeare has Hamlet use supernatural imagery and violent diction to further portray him as an unstable man on the cusp of murderous and irreversible action as he is slowly losing his grip on reality.

Sample Body Paragraph One:

            At one point in the play Hamlet talks about how much he is craving vengeance and blood for his father’s death. First Hamlet says “’Tis now the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn and hell itself breaths out Contagion to the world” (3.2.419-421). Here Hamlet is saying that it is the time of the night when evil events can occur. He feels that the evilness of hell can be unleashed into the rest of the world through the graveyards. This shows that he feels that he can commit these evil acts too, which is why he is finally ready to kill Claudius. He even states that he is in such a vengeful state that he could “drink hot blood” and commit violent acts during this night that “the day would quake on” (3.2.422-424). Hamlet is obviously in an unstable state since he is speaking with such violent and supernatural language. After delivering this speech, it is not a shock that he kills the wrong person just two scenes later.

Sample Body Paragraph Two: 

Through the supernatural imagery used by Hamlet in this soliloquy, it is apparent that the usually peaceful Danish prince is on the verge of violence as he prepares to commit a murder which he is mentally unprepared for. In the opening lines of the speech, images of supernatural and wicked occurrences jump out to the reader as Hamlet states: “’Tis now the very witching time of night,/ When churchyards yawn and hell itself breaths out/ Contagion to the world” (3.2.419-421). As is common with most supernatural events, Hamlet emphasizes the darkness of the night as it provides Hamlet with cover to commit any evil or murderous actions. By describing the night as “witching,” Hamlet makes clear that this is no ordinary night but a mysterious and eerie night full of over-powering and mischievous forces that set the mood for murder. Hamlet continues these images by personifying churchyards as they “yawn” and “breathe out” hell itself. These images all help convey a sense of the paranormal as Hamlet speaks of these possessive and wicked powers taking over the castle during this night. But it isn’t the castle which these powers are taking over, but Hamlet’s mind itself. The “contagion” that Hamlet speaks of is not of evilness roaming over the land, but the evilness and suspension of morality in his own consciousness. As a man who has never taken a life and is much more comfortable reading books on philosophy than fighting in battles, Hamlet is simply not equipped to commit murder. Hamlet can only take on this murderous mindset if he creates a make-believe world in his mind full of the supernatural and evilness of the damned. Since this soliloquy takes place immediately after Hamlet produces a fictional play of his father’s death, and after Hamlet has been acting mad himself for two acts, it comes as no surprise that Hamlet is living in his own fantasy of vengeance and death – thus portraying him as a man distancing himself further from reality, which in turn makes killing a much simpler act, but also adds to his unstable and dangerous state of mind. 

The Introduction Paragraph

Follow the ACT model in creating a concise and clear introductory paragraph:

      Appropriate Opener: Make sure you begin your introduction with a relatively smooth sentence that is not overly dramatic. Should have a connection with the text.

       Concepts/ Context: Make sure you introduce the concepts (the big ideas or literary topics) you will be talking about. Set up the context for the essay. Introduce the author and text you will be discussing. Name drop, title drop, and topic drop. Do not give a summary of the plot!

       Thesis: The end of your introductory paragraph should be your thesis statement which should be the general argument and purpose of your paper. Should have at least some specificity.

Common Mistakes in the Intro Paragraph:

    1)      Vomit-inducing opening sentences:

“Throughout human history people have felt sad…”

“According to Webster’s dictionary definition of madness…”

“Every individual on this planet is unique…”

    2)     Explaining too much plot and providing unnecessary details:

“The remarkable play Hamlet is a story about a Danish Prince who is immensely sad, and has a lot going on. For example he has parent issues with his mom who just married his uncle. And his dating life is problematic since he is now ignoring Ophelia, who is the daughter to Polonius, who is a really nosy old man, sort of like my neighbor Mr. Willowshanks….”

    3)     Thesis Statements that are too general or don’t make connections:

“In this soliloquy, Hamlet uses unique and interesting literary devices to enhance his complex state of mind.”

“In this soliloquy, Hamlet uses supernatural imagery and a violent tone.”

                         A Sample Intro Paragraph:

As is common with many of Shakespeare’s tragic heroes, characters in his plays often face dilemmas so demanding and emotionally draining that they crumble under the weight of these burdens and descend into a state of madness. Such is the case with Hamlet in his self-titled play as he becomes obsessed with killing King Claudius in hopes to avenge his father’s death. Immediately following his “trap” of Claudius, in which he had actor’s reenact his father’s death in front of the King, Hamlet becomes manically overcome with excitement as he now has unquestionable cause to kill the King. In his soliloquy immediately following this “trap,” Shakespeare has Hamlet use supernatural imagery and violent diction to further portray him as an unstable man on the cusp of murderous and irreversible action as he slowly loses his grip on reality.

Hamlet Close-Reading Essay

Prompt:

·         Pick one of the following soliloquies or monologues from the play Hamlet. In a well-organized essay, analyze how the character’s use of language (literary/poetic devices, diction, imagery, figurative language, etc…) helps to convey his complex state of mind.

Text Options:

·         Claudius Act 1 Scene 2 Monologue (Though yet of Hamlet…)

·         Hamlet Act 1 Scene 2 Soliloquy (O, that this too, too sullied flesh…)

·         Hamlet Act 1 Scene 5 Soliloquy (O all you host of heaven…)

·         Hamlet Act 2 Scene 2 Monologue (I have of late, but wherefore I know not…)

·         Hamlet Act 2 Scene 2 Soliloquy (O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I…)

·         Hamlet Act 3 Scene 1 Soliloquy (To be or not to be…)

·         Claudius Act 3 Scene 3 Soliloquy (O, my offense is rank…)

Requirements:

·         2-4 Pages

·         MLA Format and Citations.

·         Use formal voice (no “I,” “me,” or “us;” do not refer to the reader either).

·         Rough Draft hardy copy (intro and first body paragraph) due Friday 10/23

·         Final Draft due on Turnitin.com Tuesday 11/3 at 9:00pm

·         Final Draft hard copy due block period 11/4 or 11/5

Hamlet Unit Outline Part 2

10/12-10/16	Pass out essay prompts. Literary Terms Hamlet is sent to England	Hamlet Film Clip Review Prompt Brainstorm session with soliloquy. Complex State of Mind Analyzing the speech.	Thesis Statements Intro Paragraphs Sample Close Reading Intro Paragraph Act 4 Scene 5 Mad Ophelia  and the Return of Laertes	Act 4 Scene 7: Ophelia's Death Claudius's Plan
10/19-10/23	Ophelia Instagram Activity	Alas Poor Yorrick Bring in Drafts of intro paragraph Peer Review Quoting Shakespeare	Body Paragraphs of Close Reading Essay The Awkward Funeral Act 5 Scene 2: Conclusion of Hamlet	Rough Draft Due (Intro and first body paragraph) Study Guide Packets Due A Reduced Telling of Hamlet
10/26-10/30	The 17th Century	Hand back Rough Drafts (Final draft due 11/3 on turnitin.com at 9:00pm) Computer Lab	Computer Lab	Film-clip Friday

An Update from Ndotto!

Here is what the elephant orphanage sent me from Kenya!

Dear David Achimore,

Inseparable best friends Ndotto and Lasayen love to play and spend endless hours kicking a football, mud bathing and frolicking in soft red earth


Most Sincerely,

Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick D.B.E.
http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org

Hamlet Study Guide Questions

Act One Scene One Question:

   1)       Think about someone asking the question “Who’s there?” In what ways can you interpret the meaning of “being there?”

Act One Scene One Summary: Trick or Treat

Horatio (an educated friend of Hamlet’s), is dragged out to the gates of the castle by two watchmen/ soldiers. They have been trying to convince Horatio that they have seen the ghost of the Old King (Hamlet Sr. who died two months ago). When the ghost appears Horatio, who is a logical and usually calm man, freaks out and is convinced the ghost is a bad sign- possibly foreshadowing something sinister. The prince of Norway, Fortinbras, wants to invade Denmark and take back land that was lost from the previous king, so Horatio guesses the ghost could be warning the nation of Denmark. Horatio decides that the best course of action is to tell prince Hamlet that his dead father’s ghost is roaming around.

Act One Scene Two Questions

   2)     Explain the difference between a monologue and a soliloquy:

   3)     Find two quotes that show Claudius’ fake and political personality in his opening monologue. Explain how each quote supports this assertion:

a.      

b.      

Hamlet’s first Soliloquy:

   4)     What do you notice about Hamlet’s speech in the video in terms of his body language, mood, and tone? How would you characterize him?

   5)     Read through the soliloquy and “ball-park” the text on the right hand margin. What three key topics does Hamlet cover in his first Soliloquy (133-164)?

·          

·          

·          

Rest of Scene 2 Summary:

After Hamlet gives his soliloquy, Horatio enters the room and tells him that he saw his dead father’s ghost. Not sure whether if this is the truth or not, Hamlet decides he will stand watch at the gates the next night to see if the ghost is real.

Act One Scene Three Questions:

   6)     Read Laertes’s long monologue. What are two reasons he tells Ophelia to be cautious in starting up a relationship with Hamlet?

   7)     Do you believe that Laertes is actually concerned for his sister, or is he just a controlling brother? Why?

   8)     After Laertes tells Ophelia to remember the advice he gave her about Hamlet, she replies to him in lines 92-93 “Tis in my memory locked/ And you yourself shall keep the key of it.” What does this quote say about her relationship with her brother? What does this quote say about Ophelia’s own opinion about herself?

A Brief Summary of Scene 5:

Hamlet is joined by Horatio and Marcellus and is immediately surprised when he sees the ghost of his dead father. In order to see if it is really his ghost, or just an evil demon, Hamlet decides to follow it into the woods to speak to it. Horatio tries to stop him and states the following:

What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord,

Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff

That beetles o’er his base into the sea

And there assume some other horrible form,

Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason

And draw you into madness?

Ignoring Horatio’s concerns, Hamlet follows the ghost and learns from it that it was Claudius who poisoned the dead king. The ghost then tells Hamlet to seek revenge by killing Claudius, but not before giving Hamlet two pieces of advice: Don’t blame your mother, and don’t lose your mind!!!

   9)     What does Hamlet make Horatio and Marcellus promise? What does he warn them about concerning his future behavior (lines 187-200)?

Act Two Scene One:

At the beginning of the scene Polonius speaks to a character named Reynaldo (someone we never see again) and tells him to spy on his son, Laertes, while in France. The purpose of this conversation is to show how Polonius is a rather sneaky father. Then Ophelia comes to her father and reports what happened when Hamlet came to her bedroom.

1. Describe Hamlet’s behavior as Ophelia reports it. How does Polonius respond?

Act Two Scene Two:

The King and Queen have summoned two of Hamlet’s college buds to the castle to spy on him and find out what’s going on with his weird behavior. Polonius then tells the King and Queen that he has figured out why Hamlet is acting so strange - he is madly in love with Ophelia. He decides to talk to him to see how he reacts.

2. Describe Hamlet’s behavior during his encounter with Polonius. And during his encounter with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

3. Paraphrase Hamlet’s “Metaphysical” monologue  (“I have of late…”). Focus on his view of mankind. What does this tell you about Hamlet’s current state of mind? Is this all just part of his antic disposition? Or is this how he really feels?

Rest of Act two Scene two Summary:

A traveling band of actors arrive to the castle which brings much joy to Hamlet (he is after all quite the Renaissance man). He asks the lead actor to deliver a speech retelling a tale of the Trojan War. The actor does and his words are so powerful and full of emotion that he brings himself to tears. This has an effect on Hamlet as he sees how much passion the actor has for life. Hamlet then asks the lead actor to put on a play for the castle that will show a death similar to his father’s. He also wants to add a few lines to the play. The actor agrees. Hamlet then delivers another soliloquy conveying his own disdain for himself since he lacks the passion to actually kill Claudius.

Act Three Scene One

   1.        Read the “To Be or Not to Be” soliloquy. Look at both its style and substance. List all the ways how this soliloquy is different from Hamlet’s previous ones?

   2.  What does Hamlet say is the ultimate reason why humans decide to stay alive? What does he say keeps determined people from taking action in their lives? How is this true in Hamlet’s case?

   3.      Following her unfortunate conversation with Hamlet, Ophelia is left hurt and confused. After reading her short soliloquy, explain her current state of mind. Use a quote in your response.

Act Three Scene Two:

What follows the advice to the players conversation is the play within the play scene, which really doesn’t make sense unless you see it performed. Hamlet’s production is about to be put on and he is “that guy” in the theater who talks during the performance. It gets awkward. But when he additional lines he added get performed, Claudius freaks out and leaves; thus proving that he did in fact kill his brother. Hamlet is delighted that his plan worked and he prepares to kill Claudius.

Act Three Scene Three

1. In Claudius’ first monologue the reader saw a smart, calculating politician who seemed to be in love. In this Act’s Soliloquy, the reader witnesses a much different villain. Describe Claudius’s feelings in this speech. What concerns Claudius in his soliloquy? What kind of villain is he?

2. Why does Hamlet not kill Claudius when he has the chance? Do you think this is a rational reason for not killing the King?

Act Three Scene Four:

3. How does Hamlet act after he kills Polonius? Does he seem remorseful at all? What might this tell you about his mental state?

4. What might be significant that Hamlet is the only one who sees the ghost in this scene? What might this tell us about his mental state?

Act Four Scenes One and Two Summary:

Gertrude reports Polonius’s death to Claudius, who sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find Hamlet and recover the body. Hamlet refuses to tell them where he stashed the body, so they bring him to Claudius.

Act Four Scene Three

1. Explain the worm metaphor. What does Hamlet’s explanation of Polonius’ situation suggest about Hamlet’s state of mind?

Act Four Scene Four:

2. When Hamlet compares himself to Fortinbras’ men, what does he realize?

Act Four Scene Five:

3. How has Polonius’ death affected Ophelia?

4. How does Hamlet’s desire for revenge differ from Laertes’?

Act Four Scene Six:

We find out that during the trip to England, Hamlet managed to read the sealed letters and switch the names on them so that they will execute Rosencrantz and Guildenstern instead of him. Hamlet then hops on a pirate ship and makes his way back to the castle.

Act Four Scene Seven:

5. Describe the conditions surrounding Ophelia’s death. What do they suggest about her? Would you argue that she actually killed herself? Use a quote somewhere in your response.

Act Five Scene One

   6.       Why do you think Shakespeare adds in this Yorrick speech? What does it reveal about Hamlet?

Act Five Scene Two

   7.       After everyone is dead, and while Hamlet succumbs to the poison in his body, he recites his final line: “The rest is silence” (5.2.289-295). In what ways can we interpret these final four words?