We are studying Hamlet as part of AQA English Literature B Unit 2 (LITB2) "Dramatic Genres". The genre we are focusing on, of course, is tragedy. The department's guidelines for the unit are here.

You need to know about tragedy as a genre and as a dramatic tradition in which Shakespeare plays a huge part. You need to know about Greek tragedy - Sophocles, Euripides, and so on - and about Aristotle's theories on the subject. You need to know about the Latin writer Seneca and his influence on Renaissance work such as Shakespeare's. You also need to see how the genre of tragedy has been modified and developed by later writers.

Here is our presentation on the theme of 'revenge tragedy'.

Your study of Hamlet will be assessed by a coursework essay, which will be a study of the dramatic/ tragic genre as demonstrated in the play. The piece will be between 1200 and 1500 words long. This is how the examination board advises you to complete this coursework:

Typically candidates will:
• write in essay form and construct arguments relevant to the task(s)
• offer textual evidence in support of their arguments
• use critical vocabulary relevant to discussions of tragedy and the chosen texts
• show awareness of how dramatic form and structure contribute to the tragic genre
• show awareness of some of the details of represented speech, including imagery in Shakespeare and the
representation of social status in Shakespeare and other plays
• cross reference to other plays as part of their discussion of tragedy
• show awareness of different interpretations in areas such as status of tragic heroes and defi nitions and sub
defi nitions of their chosen texts within the tragic genre
• show awareness of literary and cultural contexts within notions of tragedy
• show awareness of other appropriate contexts (such as social, moral, religious and political) that may be
applicable.

Here is how the examination board defines a top-band essay (the numbers refer to the specification's assessment objectives):

AO1 use of appropriate critical vocabulary and technically fluent style/ well structured and coherent
argument
AO1 always relevant with very sharp focus on task and confidently ranging around texts
AO2 exploration and analysis of key features of form and structure with perceptive evaluation of how they
shape meanings
AO2 exploration and analysis of key aspects of form and structure with perceptive evaluation of how they
shape meanings
AO3 detailed and perceptive understanding of issues raised in connecting texts through concept of tragedy
AO3 perceptive consideration of different interpretations of texts with sharp evaluation of their strengths and
weaknesses and with excellent selection of supportive references
AO4 excellent understanding of ways of contextualising ‘tragedy’ as a dramatic genre
AO4 excellent understanding of a range of other contextual factors with specific, detailed links between
context/texts/task