Explore the ways that parent-child relationships are used in William Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Begin by determining: what are the major parent-child relationships within the text? Student might answer: Hamlet and the Ghost Hamlet and Gertrude Ophelia and Polonius Laertes and Polonius Continue by working out: what themes are evident in these relationships? Student might answer: Hamlet and Ghost - Hamlet reveres the Ghost and puts his life on the line to defend his father Hamlet and Ghost - The Ghost also manipulates Hamlet into doing what he wants Hamlet and Gertrude - Possible themes of incest (closet scene), disrespect, power struggle (e.g. why didn't Hamlet become king?)Ophelia, Laertes and Polonius - Polonius is over controlling, but the reactions of Laertes and Ophelia to the death of Polonius show us that they did truly love him In a continued discussion we would begin to dissect different quotations that might be used within these topics, as well as critical analysis of Hamlet as a text. Finally, we'd determine a judgement (Line of Argument) and structure the essay. It's this critical analysis and thought processes of understanding how to break down a question that is crucial in A-Level English Literature.