The Explorative Study: Comparing and using secondary sources

Creative Critical Coursework

The redraft is due in today, 3rd April 2009.

Comparing Desire in "Hamlet" and Doctor Faustus"

The focus of your Explorative Study is a comparison between the two plays and how they treat the theme of human desire. We will begin by brainstorming how they can be compared - thinking closely about similarities and differences in the presentation of this theme in the plays.

For example:

• Hamlet desires knowledge about his father's killer, Faustus also desires knowledge
• But the kind of knowledge Faustus is seeking is different - it is of the universe and cosmos
• Hamlet desires justice for his father's murder, Faustus to become a 'deity'

How many similarities and differences can you find?

Using Secondary Sources

As part of your study, you are expected to refer to what other readers/critics have said about the plays - not at length but by using some quotations to support your answer.

We will look at one example of another reader Joseph Pearce taken from: The Quest for Shakespeare by Joseph Pearce.

Explorative Study

You have the rest of the afternoon to work on this, seeing me if necessary.

Early finish :)...

Homework

Don't forget you have a final deadline to meet for this coursework of 5th May. I would like to see a draft in the first week back after Easter.