1.5 Writing Critical Essays

• One of the key skills for this exam is to understand Shakespeare's major plays
• What type of evidence should be used in supporting paragraphs?

  Textual evidence
• What is the main theme in Macbeth?

  Ambition
• What does King Lear's division of his kingdom lead to?

  Tragedy
• Shakespeare uses metaphors and imagery to enhance descriptions.

  True
• Analyzing character relationships helps in understanding Shakespeare's themes.

  True
• Lady Macbeth manipulates Macbeth to achieve her goals.

  True
• Macbeth's ambition leads to his downfall.

  True
• What are the key literary devices in Macbeth?

  Soliloquies, symbolism, dramatic irony
• Match the play with its key literary device:

  A Midsummer Night's Dream ↔️ Magical realism

  King Lear ↔️ Imagery

  Macbeth ↔️ Symbolism
• What does the imagery of blood symbolize in Macbeth?

  Guilt and consequences
• What is the purpose of a thesis statement in a critical essay?

  To present the main argument
• What is an example of a strong thesis statement for Hamlet?

  "Hamlet's delay in seeking revenge highlights the complexity of moral decision-making."
• What are the key themes in Hamlet?

  Revenge, grief, morality
• Who is the mischievous character in A Midsummer Night's Dream?

  Puck
• Shakespeare's plays often use metaphors and imagery to enhance description.
• Steps to develop a critical essay thesis statement

  1️⃣ Formulate a clear thesis statement

  2️⃣ Develop supporting arguments

  3️⃣ Use evidence from the text

  4️⃣ Provide analysis
• What are two key elements to identify in Shakespeare's work?

  Themes and literary devices
• Managing time effectively is crucial during an essay exam.


  True
• Romeo and Juliet are star-crossed lovers from feuding families.


  True
• Match the Shakespearean play with its key literary devices.

  Hamlet ↔️ Soliloquies, metaphors, imagery

  Macbeth ↔️ Symbolism, dramatic irony

  Romeo and Juliet ↔️ Dramatic irony, foreshadowing

  A Midsummer Night's Dream ↔️ Puns, allegory, magical realism
• Dramatic irony in Macbeth highlights the contrast between appearance and reality
• What drives Macbeth's tragic arc?

  Thirst for power
• What are three key themes in King Lear?

  Loyalty, madness, power
• What are the key themes in Romeo and Juliet?

  Love, fate, family feud
• What is a soliloquy used for in Shakespeare's plays?

  To reveal inner thoughts
• In King Lear, the storm is a powerful symbol of chaos and madness
• Evidence from the text is essential for supporting arguments in a critical essay.


  True
• What does Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy reveal about his character?

  His contemplation of life
• Macbeth's lust for power leads to his downfall.
• King Lear's division of his kingdom leads to tragedy.
• What literary device is used in Macbeth to create dramatic tension?

  Dramatic irony
• Match the literary device with its example:

  Metaphor ↔️ "The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune"

  Imagery ↔️ "Out, damned spot"

  Symbolism ↔️ The storm in King Lear
• What should each body paragraph in a critical essay focus on?

  Specific supporting argument
• What does the blood imagery in Macbeth symbolize?

  Guilt and consequences
• The thesis statement in an introduction outlines the key arguments to be discussed.
• Which soliloquy in Hamlet is evidence of his moral deliberation?

  "To be, or not to be"
• Using textual evidence is crucial for crafting a compelling critical essay
• Integrating textual evidence requires appropriate introductory phrases.

  True
• Match the element of a supporting paragraph with its purpose:

  Topic Sentence ↔️ Introduces the main point

  Evidence ↔️ Supports the topic sentence

  Analysis ↔️ Explains how evidence relates