Analysis of an Argument for the Impact of Other Characters on Hamlet’s Tragic Flaw and Fall

One title page w/ essay title in center and name, course title, and date at bottom center; minimum of 6 typed pages (2 pages per subtopic) of text
This essay will analyze three main ways in which a minor character influences Hamlet’s tragic flaw and fall. Define Hamlet’s chief flaw and his fall. Each student will be assigned one minor character to analyze. Students will first isolate passages in the play in which their minor character either speaks to or about Hamlet and scenes in which their character acts in such a way as to influence Hamlet’s flaw and fall. Students will analyze these passages for cause and effect. How do the minor characters’ words and actions lead to Hamlet’s despair of human virtue and ultimately to his death?

Choose three major ways in which the minor character influences Hamlet’s flaw and fall. Arrange these causes in ascending order of importance or chronological order. Show the connection between cause (minor character’s words and deeds) and effect (Hamlet’s despair and death). Give two examples of each cause and its effects. Use brief quotations for support and document correctly.

As you analyze your minor character, extend your views by studying 5 scholarly publications (chapters in books or articles in academic journals) related to your minor character’s influence on Hamlet. Use the MLA database and the college catalog called Scotty to locate the books and journals. Begin early the search for critical supporting articles. Do not use the articles as a substitute for your own thinking about the topic. Use the articles to expand and support your views. Document correctly any ideas, paraphrases, summaries, or quotes taken from the play and the critics.
Imagine you are doing a paper on Hamlet (which you are!) and you want to write about the role of the ghost in the play.

1. Go to http://www.erskine.edu/academics/library.

2. In the middle of the library front page, click “Databases.”

a. On the “Databases” page, click “MLA International Bibliography” in the “Quick Links” list (left side of page).

b. If you get a login request, sign in using your last name and the number on your student ID.

c. Note: The MLA International Bibliography is going to be your most important source for research on the Hamlet paper.

3. Find an article that might be useful using the following procedure:

a. In the first search bar, type in “Hamlet.”

b. In the second search bar, type in “ghost.”

c. Before you search, scroll down and click the “Linked full text” check box on the left. This will return only results that you can access from your computer.

d. Click “Search.”

4. Pick an article that looks interesting to you. Click on that article’s title.

a. On the article’s page, click “Cite” in the far right column.

b. Scroll down until you find the citation in MLA format.

5. Copy and paste that citation into the document you will turn in.

6. Close the citation popup, then click “Back” or “Result List” (above the article title) to return to the search results.

7. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you have citations for five articles.

8. Upload your document of citations on turnitin.com

Note: when you’re writing your Hamlet paper, make sure you open and save the full text of any article you want to use before exiting your search!