How do I answer a question about the presentation of something, like the Ghost in 'Hamlet'?

When you're asked about the presentation of a particular aspect of a play you are being asked to think about how the author may have intended the aspect to be interpreted. The best way to start is to think about its basic function. In 'Hamlet' the ghost of Old Hamlet has a dramatic function, to spur Hamlet into action and avenge his father's murder. But it is easy to forget when reading plays for English class that the play is also a visual format. The Ghost has a very physical presence in the play. So not only is it an important dramatic feature, but also contributes to the tone and atmosphere of the play as a visual spectacle. The ghost also evokes controversial religious debates of Shakespeare's time. Shakespeare's inclusion of this supernatural element must be considered for the wider implications it may have. This also links back to the form of drama, as censorship played a part in the topics of plays in Shakespeare's day. In the IB oral exam, like the play, you are reliant on the spoken word. Even though it's quite rare for the examination of this subject it is not something to worry about and I even think it can be a positive thing as it can feel easier to express your response to a particular aspect of a play if you can focus on the effect it had on you as an audience member. I would recommend trying to find and watch one or more clips of the ghost scenes from past productions to get a sense of how the presentation of the ghost in Shakespeare's writing is interpreted on the stage. In thinking about the presentation of something, especially in a play, it has to be considered in conjunction with various elements that come together, for example both the language and that which is visual in a production. Even key props can be just as important as the language of a speech for Shakespeare's intended effect. The particular presentation of something by a particular author can have different interpretations, but a key starting point is to consider its function, and to do this it has to be looked at in the context of the literary medium.