Tag: Shakespeare
Hamlet
Sample Essays
Leaving Cert Hamlet Sample Answer
“Ophelia and Gertrude are significant characters in the play, Hamlet, despite having no power over their own destinies” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? In your answer, you should refer to the play to support your points. In Hamlet, the women of Elsinore — Gertrude and Ophelia — occupy a world defined by Read More …
Staging a Scene
A common question in the Junior Cycle exam is being asked to stage a scene, either from an unseen extract you have just read or a scene from your studied Shakespearean text. When you are answering this question, you must back up your decisions with references to your drama extract or text. A good way Read More …
The Merchant of Venice-Act 1, Scene 2
The story now moves to Belmont and we are introduced to Portia, the lady, who Bassanio told us, is ‘richly left.’ She is attended by her servant Nerissa and tells her that she is tired of the world. Nerissa tells her that she would be miserable if her problems were as great as her vast Read More …
Act 2 Othello Summary
The act begins with news of a huge storm that has destroyed the Turkish fleet and that the war is already over. One of the gentlemen tells the others that Michael Cassio has arrived in Cyprus but that Othello is still at sea as they were separated. Iago criticises women in this scene to both Read More …
Othello Act 1 Summary
Act 1 begins with with Roderigo criticising Iago for not telling him about the marriage between Desdemona and Othello. Iago tells him that he did not know about the marriage and that he hates Othello, despite the fact that he is his ensign. We learn that Iago hates Othello because he promoted Michael Cassio to Read More …
Act 3 Scene 3 King Lear
Gloucester confides in Edmund that he is worried about what Goneril and Regan did to Lear. Gloucester tells Edmund that he has received news of a conflict between Albany and Cornwall. He also informs him that a French army is invading and that part of it has already landed in England. Gloucester feels that he Read More …
Act 2 Scene 6
Romeo is with the Friar in his cell as they await Juliet’s arrival. Friar Laurence is a very prophetic warning to Romeo tells him, “These violent delights have violent ends…..love moderately; long love doth so, too swift arrives as tardy as slow.“ He is telling Romeo that love should be constant and even if you Read More …
King Lear: Act 3, Scene 2
The next scene follows Lear as he wanders around the heath challenging the weather to take him on. He asks the weather to do its worst as he thinks about the cruelty of his two daughters. ‘Blow, wind and crack your cheeks! Rage! Blow!’ The fool begs Lear to go back and talk to his Read More …