Senior English

Mrs. Phillips

Name:

Hamlet Acts I III Formative Assessment

The purpose of this writing assignment is for you to practice analyzing themes in Hamlet, paying special
attention to the literary features of the text. Also, this will be an opportunity for you to receive feedback on two
important skills: Selecting evidence and developing a detailed analysis.
Step One: Select a theme from the following list.
Faith - God
Death - Afterlife
Trust
Appearance - Acting - Performing
Love - Relationships
Revenge
Crime - Murder
Ghost - Devil
Decision-making - Hesitation - Doubt
Deception - Secrecy
Madness
Fate - Chance - Coincidence
Ambition
Baiting others - Fishing for information
Privacy
Other: Feel free to come up with your own theme, if youd like to explore other ideas.
Step Two: Identify three quotes one from each act in which literary features work to develop the theme
you have selected. For each quote, write two to three sentences explaining how the literary device works to
develop the theme. Be sure to pay special attention to the language Shakespeare uses, and how specific
details of the text work to develop the theme.
Here is a list of literary devices to consider:
Figurative Language (similes, images, metaphors, and symbols)
Diction (word choice)
Structure (how form contributes to meaning)
Style (parallel constructions, antithesis, etc.)
Tone (how the text develops or reveals a feeling or attitude)
Repetition (repeated use of words)
Alliteration (repeated use of sounds)
Step Three: Write a paragraph that answers the following question:
Based on your analysis of Acts I - III, what point might Shakespeare be making about your selected theme?
You should make clear connections to the evidence you selected and analysis you developed in Step Two.
While we cannot confidently determine Shakespeares commentary on any theme until we read the entire play,
your ideas in this paragraph should be reflective of a possible thesis about a major theme.

Theme:
Act I Quote
Lines:

Literary Device:
Analysis:

Act II Quote
Lines:

Literary Device:
Analysis:

Act III Quote

Lines:

Literary Device:
Analysis:

Based on your analysis of Acts I - III, what point might Shakespeare be making about your selected
theme?

Evidence

Analysis

Exceeds Standard (A)

__ Writer includes highquality, persuasive evidence
to prove thesis
__ Writer pays close
attention to language,
selecting evidence that
showcases literary features
of the text

Meets Standard (B)

__ Writer includes adequate
evidence to prove thesis, but
some quotes are not
particularly pertinent or
insightful
__ Writer sometimes selects
evidence that showcases
literary features of the text

Approaches Standard (C)

__ Writer includes evidence,
however, some may be
illogical or unrelated to thesis
__ Writer selects evidence
that includes literary features,
however, devices may not
clearly relate to thesis

__ Writer uses detailed,

logical analysis to support
thesis
__Analysis is perceptive,
paying close attention to the
subtleties and language of
the text

__Writer offers an adequate

analysis, but may not fully
develop important ideas
necessary to prove thesis
__ Analysis is thoughtful, but
may sometimes ignore
literary features of the text

__Writer offers relevant

analysis, however, it is often
surface-level, or sometimes
illogical
__Analysis includes minimal
consideration of literary
features, or makes illogical
connections

Begins Standard (D)

__ Writer includes
evidence that does not
support thesis, or does
not include any textual
evidence
__ Writer provides little
to no consideration of
literary features when
selecting evidence
__ Writer offers a
summary of the text, or
analysis is irrelevant/
illogical
__ Analysis does not
consider literary features
of the text