AP Final Essay: Intros and Thesis Statements

Defining Hamlet is not necessarily about providing a list of adjectives. Hamlet is a complex character; your list could be quite long and provide few organized ideas about the man. Instead, defining Hamlet is more about moving one characteristic or role or title to the head of the line. Hamlet the Son or Hamlet the Avenger or Hamlet the Lover. Better yet, qualify these titles. Hamlet the Honorable Son; Hamlet the Lazy Avenger; etc. Remember, we still want the list of adjectives because we do not want to ignore the complexity. Instead, we want to filter these descriptions through your provided title.

Ex: If Hamlet is a lazy avenger, then we will observe the many times he procrastinates. That's easy. In addition to this, however, we must qualify the moments where Hamlet shows progress, good old-fashioned forward momentum, and perhaps the central ideas in the second and fourth soliloquies.

Now, gentle student, all of this leads us to our opening paragraph. How to begin? What to say in that very first sentence? Some suggestions:

DO NOT begin this essay with a generalization announcing how complex characters can be many things to many people. They can; we know; you can do better.

DO announce your central idea in general terms. (Ex: If Hamlet is lazy, then you may begin with a comment on laziness; if Hamlet is dishonorable, then you may want to comment on dishonor, etc.)

DO NOT begin this essay remarking how Hamlet the play or William Shakespeare the author is known far and wide as the best of the best, and how you agree with this. They are; we know; you can do better.

DO announce both the title of the play and its author somewhere before your thesis.

Finally, DO create a thesis that clearly states what your chosen definition (your characteristic, role, title, etc.) is, perhaps why it emerges as the primary defining trait.

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

"Define Hamlet"

Maybe it is a rotten prompt for an essay. But maybe not, gentle student. Outside of the fact that any writing prompt this time of year is awful, maybe not. Because this one allows for a lot of wiggle room, because Hamlet is vast.

Does he contradict himself? Very well then, he contradicts himself. He is large. He contains multitudes.

Thank you, Uncle Walt, well said. Because the truth of the matter is: Hamlet has much depth. There are several character traits, both strengths and flaws, consistent and irrationally not, to discover and discuss. There are mountains and mountains of scholarship dedicated to this very thing, that of all Shakespeare's creations, Hamlet just might be the most human. And, therefore, for our services, the best character to plumb.

And before we get swallowed up by the options, let us organize. A few tips to get you started and thinking in the right direction:

1. If you had to describe Hamlet in a word, what's the word? How about for just Act 1? How about for just Act 1 scene 5 while talking with his ghost-dad? How about a second word (or synonym) for just Act 1 scene 5 while talking with ghosty? How about for his second soliloquy? How about for his third? And a synonym? And another synonym? Make a list.

Finally, how about organizing all of these words? Which words corroborate? Which contradict? Is it a contradiction? How can we qualify these contradictions? If we take this tip seriously, then the connections you make here will write the paper.

2. Visit the "Hamlet" tab on this blog. It's more than just the full text of the play; embedded within are several clips from several different versions of the play. Drama is meant to be seen. Go watch.

Next up: introduction paragraphs and thesis statements