Outside Essay Topic Sheet
"The Scene's the Thing"
ENGL 205-010 (02F)

Due: Friday, December 6 at class time

Length: 4-5 pages, typed (using 10-12 point font with margins of 1" all around)

Special requirements: Use the Oxford English Dictionary as part of your analysis; also, number your pages, by hand if necessary

Through an analysis of images and figurative language, explain the function of a scene in either Shakespeare's Hamlet or Twelfth Night. From Hamlet you may select the following scenes: 3.1, 3.4, 4.5, or 5.1. From Twelfth Night you may select 3.4, 4.2, or 5.1. You must show how your chosen scene furthers the tragedy or comedy. (For definitions of the terms "images" and "figurative language," see the on-line Glossary of Terms.

The goal of this project is to get you to focus closely on specific language (close reading) and to help you develop skills you can use in any kind of analysis. Assume that every word Shakespeare included in his scenes (and in his plays generally) contributes thematically to the atmosphere, mood, and themes of his plays. As part of your analysis, consult the Oxford English Dictionary (OED, 2^nd ed.) when you suspect certain words have special meanings. The OED is in the Morris Library (and in many libraries around Delaware) and is also on line from Morris Library:

http://dictionary.oed.com/

You will need to learn how to use that resource; but that is part of the assignment for this paper. Once you learn the skill of using that dictionary, all of your subsequent papers for English courses (and some other subjects) should be enriched.

Ask me if you are in any doubt about how to proceed with this project.