Name: _______________

Final due date: ____________

Hamlet Analytical Essay

The Mission: Throughout our reading of Hamlet, we’ve been exploring the
way that gender affects the opportunities and choices available to
characters. For this essay, your prompt is to choose one character and
make an argument about (1) how their gender shapes the choices available
to them in the text and (2) how they either challenge or fail to challenge the
expectations of their gender.

Possible characters:
 Ophelia
 Gertrude
 Laertes
 Horatio
 Hamlet
 Note: this is not an exhaustive list! If you’d like to choose a different
character, just check in with me first.

Requirements:
 Minimum of 750 words
 Must choose one character from the text to focus on
 Must have a clear thesis that fully responds to the prompt
 Must include at least 5 quotes from the text to support the thesis
 Must cite either the Lois Tyson article or another source on feminist
literary criticism
 Essay Rubric

Room for Growth Meets Expectations Exceeds Expectations

Ideas/Knowledge of
Text
 Includes a thesis
that is nuanced,
thoughtful, and
fully responds to
the prompt
 Demonstrates
understanding of
text
 Includes specific
textual evidence
that is relevant to
central claim
Focus/Organization
 Clear, logical
organization of
ideas
 Paragraphs tie
back to the thesis
claim
 Focused argument
throughout
Analysis
 Analysis is
thoughtful and
detailed
 Analysis goes
beyond
summarizing text
 Analysis proves
thesis
Language/Conventions
 Few errors in
spelling or
mechanics
 MLA format used
consistently
 Grammatical
errors do not
obscure meaning
Process
 All drafts are
submitted on time
 Feedback and edits
are incorporated
 into final draft

Overall grade and final comments: