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hamlethw.rtfDrama Assignment
Essentially, the questions below call for you to do a character analysis where you identify the character’s negative traits.
- In act 4 scene 2, we learn of Ophelia’s death. Who is most responsible, Ophelia or Polonius? What are her negative qualities that lead to her death? What are his negative qualities that lead to her madness and death? Focus on one character or the other. Not both.
Or
- In act 3 scene 4, Polonius is killed. It can be argued that Polonius is responsible for his own death. What are his negative personality traits that get him killed?
Focusing on three scenes, do a character analysis of either Polonius or Ophelia to reveal his or her negative character traits. See my document “Elements of an Essay” in the Content section. Also see “Quoting Drama” (pages 13-14) in my MLA/Research document in the Content section.
Select the three scenes that you feel best reveal either Polonius’ or Ophelia’s negative character traits.
Polonius’s major scenes are the following:
- Act I, Scene III (with Laertes and with Ophelia—treat as two scenes)
Act II, Scene I (with Renaldo an later Ophelia—treat as two scenes)
Act II, Scene II (with king and queen)
Act III, Scene I (The very beginning of the nunnery scene and the very end of it)
- Act III, Scene III (lines 29-35 where he discusses his plan with the king) and Act III, Scene IV (lines 1-6 where he tells the queen what to do and then gets himself killed)
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Ophelia’s major scenes are the following
- Act I, Scene III (with Polonius)
Act II, Scene I (with Polonius)
Writing tips
(See my document on paragraph structure “Elements of the Essay” in the Content section for more details as to what elements each paragraph should contain)
Introduction: In your introduction, word your overview of the text to focus on the character you’ll discuss and end the overview focusing on the issue of the character’s death and how that character’s own flaws are the cause.
Body paragraphs: Start body paragraphs by setting up topic and purpose: What scene will you focus on (topic) (although don’t refer to act 2 scene 3; refer to what happens—In the meeting between Ophelia and her father (topic), we see she runs to him whenever she has a problem because Polonius’ control over her has created a young woman who can’t think for herself (purpose)) and what will you reveal (purpose)?
- Quote from the text and explain quotes.
Focus on the language or the image in the quote to explain without repeating the exact language of the quote. Don’t follow quotes with “this means” or "this is showing.” These phrases don’t refer to anything specific in the quotes. What specifically in the quote is leading you to your conclusion? Clearly refer back to it without repeating the exact wording of the text, unless the author’s/character’s specific word choice is important. When discussing words, put them in italics. (Example: In this scene, Polonius uses the word me five times, which stresses who he is really concerned about.)
Example: Polonius tells Ophelia, “You speak like a green girl” (1.3.XXX). Referring to her as green suggests he sees her like an unripe piece of fruit. By comparing her to something that is too young, he is saying that she is too young to understand.
The quote above is followed by an explanation of what Polonius means; however, It does not explain what one of his character traits or personality flaws is.
New Example: Polonius tells Ophelia, “You speak like a green girl” (1.3.XXX). Polonius is suggesting that she green like a piece of fruit that is too young and unripe, and, thus, she is too immature to understand relationships. Polonius sees her as naive because he sees himself as more intelligent than others. He has an egotistical view of himself as intellectually superior to others.
This explanation clarifies what the quote means, but it also reveals a negative character trait that Polonius possesses:
- Each scene may reveal more than one negative character trait.
End the paragraph with a point—what personality flaws have you revealed about the character you’re discussing?
CONCLUSION: Get back to the issue of the character’s responsibility for his or her own death and sum up and explain how the character’s negative traits lead to his or her death.
