Themes
Having a thorough grasp of the following themes, and crucially, how and why Shakespeare explores these themes will enable you to produce a “conceptualised response” in your exam. Linking carefully to the structure of the plot and what we know about the attitudes of the time period will give you access to the very highest marks on the mark scheme.
Exam Tip
Examiners want to see students connecting themes to the plot structure: how the theme is presented in the beginning, how it develops and how it is shown at the end. This will ensure you are analysing structure as well as theme. By considering the plot as a story arc driving home the messages within the themes, your analysis should explore how the characters and themes develop, and, especially, why Shakespeare chose to end the play as a tragedy. Using structural terms, such as foreshadowing and juxtaposition, will strengthen your analysis of the way the themes develop.