Though this be madness, yet there is method in't

In case you haven't had enough examination feedback, I'm sharing even more: this time on t he first part of the exam question which invited you to discuss the passage from Act 1 Scene 2, lines 65-120, exploring Shakespeare's use of language and its dramatic effects.  This scene is a gift, as it offers Hamlet’s first words and actions of the play. Because it is Shakespeare, of course they are rich with imagery and ideas that set up all sorts of themes and conflicts for the rest of the play - so there is plenty to discuss. You are interested in how Shakespeare shapes meaning through the interplay of language, form and structure . It is, in many ways, easier to deal with all three together, since that word 'interplay' is quite important. Form is really concerned with aspects of genre that appear within a text, as well as the 'form,' or type, of the text itself, in this case a play, and specifically, a Shakespearian tragedy. Form might also inclu...

The second section of this year's 'entrance' exam question on Hamlet was a traditional essay question and asked: (b) ‘In the world of Hamlet trust is a rare commodity.’ Using your knowledge of the play’s opening scenes, show how far you agree with this view. Remember to support your answer with reference to different interpretations. The first thing you need to do is form a hypothesis which engages with the statement that  ‘In the world of Hamlet trust is a rare commodity.’ Is trust rare? Who trusts whom? Who doesn't? What happens at the start of the play to set this up? What kind of overarching idea do you have? But it is also worth thinking about 'trust' in more hopeful terms. Where are the moments and relationships of trust? Could this actually form the thrust of your argument? Or at least some kind of 'counter' to a bland acceptance of the statement. Horatio's presentation as a trustworthy character, reinforced by the ending? The strong all...