Other examples
of more effective analysis of the essay question
Example 1
Essay question: 'The introduction
of the players and the discussion of the theatre reflect a major thematic concern
of Hamlet.' Discuss.
This extract is taken from the introduction
to an essay on the above question:
'There are many themes explored
in Hamlet and the introduction of the players could be said to
unite these themes and bring them into focus. These themes are 'appearance'
as opposed to 'reality', 'theatrics' as opposed to 'sincerity', and
'action' as opposed to procrastination. Hamlet’s major thematic
concern apppears to be with appearance versus the underlying reality.
this theme is the very foundation which throws the events in Hamlet
into question. The players are an ironic reminder that Hamlet and the
court are themselves acting their parts, i.e. Hamlet pretending to be
mad, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern pretending to be Hamlet’s worthy friends,
Claudius pretending to be a rightful and just ruler, etc. Many of the
themes explored within Hamlet appear to come together at this
point in the play and it is this reflection, and paradoxically, this
contrast which serves to question the appearance as opposed to the reality.'
Q. Why is this effective?
TUTOR'S REPLY
This introduction indicates how
the student has interpreted the question, and the issues they are going to
look at in the text. From what the student has written here, their interpretation
of what the question means seems to be:
'Do those sections of the play
involving the introduction of the players and the discussion of the theatre
relate and contribute to one of the important themes found elsewhere in Hamlet?'
The question is broken down as
follows:-
which important theme in Hamlet
is foregrounded by the sections of the play involving the introduction of
the players and the discussion of the theatre?
how do these scenes contain
and contribute to that theme (which is found throughout the play as a whole)?
what other functions do these
scenes serve within the play?
Example 2
Discuss the representation of
women in the poetry of this period (1550-1750).
The following extract comes from
the introduction to an essay on the question quoted above:
'I would like to begin this
essay by commenting on the fact that the title can, in fact, be interpreted
in two ways. One interpretation of the title can be seen as the ways
in which women are described in the poetry of this period; the ways
in which appearances and characteristics are discussed. The second explanation
of the title is how women were represented in the writing of poetry
of this time. I will aim to talk about both interpretations of the initial
proposition.'
Q. Why is this effective?
TUTOR'S REPLY
This is a good example of how the
terms of the question can be analysed and a particular interpretation reached.
This is how the student has understood the question:-
how are women depicted in poems
written during this period?
how do women figure in the literary
history of this period (i.e. as authors)? What is their status?
The first point is perhaps the
'obvious' reading of the question, but the student has seen that another valid
interpretation is possible. This helps to enhance the essay’s 'originality'.
