Hamlet Essay

Instructions: Write a reaction paper about the book. You must include three
examples from the novel as well as specific quotations and page numbers.

Throughout the play, Hamlet claims to be feigning madness, but his portrayal of a madman is so intense and so
convincing that many readers believe that Hamlet actually slips into insanity at certain moments in the play. Is
Hamlet actually crazy or is he merely pretending?

Requirements:
Must be AT LEAST 5 paragraphs double spaced.

Must include AT LEAST 3 direct passages or quotes from the book. (Not including

intro and con)

Must be in correct MLA format.*

1. Correct heading
2. Proper parenthetical citations
3. No first person (I you we my)
4. No second person (you, our)
5. No dead words (see handout)
6. No Contractions
7. Should be written in PRESENT TENSE, not past.
8. MUST follow outline
9. Correct Works Cited Page

*Required for grading. If these specific items are wrong, you will receive a 0.

Grading Rubric

/100
___/10 Introduction
Attention Getter
Topic Sentence (Introduce your topic)
Statement of Problem
Thesis Statement
Main point Preview
___/10 First Main Point
Statement of Topic
Explanation of Event
Evidence of Event
Quote
Explanation of quote
Transition
___/10 Second Main Point
Statement of Topic
Explanation of Event
Evidence of Event
Quote
Explanation of quote
Transition
___/10 Third Main Point
Statement of Topic
Explanation of Event
Evidence of Event
Quote
Explanation of quote
Transition
___/10 Opposing Viewpoint
Topic Sentence
Explanation
Quote
Explanation of quote
Example
Explanation of Example
Final Quote or Example
Final Explanation
Transition
___/10 Conclusion
Restate Thesis
Restate Main Points
Restate Problem
Memorable Ending
___/20 6 Trait Writing
(Word Choice, Voice, Sentence Fluency,
Conventions, Ideas, Organization)
Content _____/9
_____/3 Specific supporting examples
(from the text3 total)
_____/3 Quotes from the text (3 total)
_____/3 Page numbers included-proper
citation (3 total)
Sentence Fluency _____/5
_____/2 Appropriate transitions (3)
_____/3 Sentences flow (does not seem
copied and pasted)
Word Choice/Voice _____/6
_____/2 Third person; no first or second
person pronouns (you, we, I, us)
_____/2 Factual and/or persuasive in
nature
_____/2 Varied Vocabulary
Conventions _____/10
_____/3 Correct grammar & punctuation
(no dead words)
_____/2 No Contractions
___/20 MLA Formatting
Double Spaced
Times New Roman, 12 pt
Correct Heading
Pagination
Parenthetical Citations
3 FULL pages required length (10pts)
Works Cited page (10pts)
 Is Hamlet sane or a crazy?

Title: Must be original and centered at the top of your

essay_________________________________

Introduction - Paragraph 1:

Attention Getter (Sentence 1): Insert one quote from Hamlet (remember
transitional words and phrases!):
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC Sentence (Sentence 2): Background Info = tell about Hamlet and about
the story. ____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Statement of Problem: Explain your problem. Basically you will be stating that
there is a debate among readers of this book about whether Hamlet is to be
considered sane or crazy.
_________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

THESIS Sentence /Transition Sentence (Sentence 3): Make a thesis statement

about your selected topic. Your thesis would be something that states that Hamlet is
either sane OR crazy (select ONE only) This will also include a preview of your main
points.

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Body - Paragraph 2:

TOPIC Sentence (Sentence 1) Introduce your first example: Ex Hamlet

demonstrates sanity/insanity by
_____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Explanation of event (Sentence 2): He does this in Act _____ when

_____________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
(say what event has happened)

Evidence of event (Sentence 3-5): Explain why this event was either sane or
crazy. This explanation should be about 3 sentences long or more . You should
include a quote from this part of the play to back up what you are saying.
You should make sure it is cited (Shakespeare #).
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Relation to Thesis (Sentence 7): Explain how the quote/example ties to the
topic sentence and overall thesis. You need to discuss how this proves
Hamlet is sane or how it proves he is crazy.
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Transition Sentence (Sentence 8): This sets up your next paragraph. Ex. This is
not the only instance in which Hamlet shows sanity,
_________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Body - Paragraph 3:

TOPIC Sentence (Sentence 1) Introduce your second example: Ex Hamlet

is again a crazy when
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Explanation of event (Sentence 2): He does this in act _____ when

_____________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Evidence of event (Sentence 3-5): Explain why this event was either sane or
crazy. This explanation should be about 3 sentences long or more . You should
include a quote from this part of the play to back up what you are saying.
You should make sure it is cited (Shakespeare #).
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Relation to Thesis (Sentence 7): Explain how the quote/example ties to the
topic sentence and overall thesis. You need to discuss how this proves
Hamlet is sane or how it proves he is crazy.
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Transition Sentence (Sentence 8): This sets up your next paragraph. Ex. This is
not the only instance in which Hamlet shows sanity,
_________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Body - Paragraph 4:

TOPIC Sentence (Sentence 1) Introduce your third example: Ex Finally,

Hamlet is proven to be insane when
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Explanation of event (Sentence 2): Ex-He does this in act _____ when
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Evidence of event (Sentence 3-5): Explain why this event was either sane or
crazy. This explanation should be about 3 sentences long or more . You should
include a quote from this part of the play to back up what you are saying.
You should make sure it is cited (Shakespeare #).
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Relation to Thesis (Sentence 7): Explain how the quote/example ties to the
topic sentence and overall thesis. You need to discuss how this proves
Hamlet is sane or how it proves he is crazy.
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Transition Sentence (Sentence 8): This sets up your next paragraph. Ex. This is
not the only instance in which Hamlet shows sanity,
_________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Conclusion - Paragraph 5:

Restatement of Problem (Sentence 1): Explain your problem. People are not
sure if Hamlet is actually insane or if he is sane and faking it.
_________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC Sentence (Sentence 2): Reword the thesis.

_______________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

Restate Main Points (Sentence 3): Explain which events you discussed (3 main
points)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Memorable Ending (Sentence 4): End your paper with another quote from the
story that relates to your thesis.

Good Quotes You Might Use:

HAMLET
O, that this too too sullied flesh would melt,
Thaw and resolve itself into a dew,
Or that the Everlasting had not fixed
His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God, God,
How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable
Seem to me all the uses of this world!

HAMLET
How strange or odd some'er I bear myself
(As I perchance hereafter shall think meet
To put an antic disposition on)

HAMLET
[] The spirit that I have seen
May be the devil, and the devil hath power
T' assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps,
Out of my weakness and my melancholy,
As he is very potent with such spirits,
Abuses me to damn me.

POLONIUS
He knew me not at first; he said I
was a fishmonger. He is far gone. And truly, in my
youth, I suffered much extremity for love, very near
this.

HAMLET
I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is
southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw.