Argue

Question 1 of 1

Before going any further, let's take a moment—and a deep breath. Re-read the work you have produced thus far by clicking back to the Paraphrase, Observe, Contextualize, and Analyze steps. Using your observations and analyses in the preceding steps, write one paragraph that conveys your interpretation of the passage. State the main thesis of your interpretation—that is, the central claim you are arguing for—and then support that thesis by presenting the evidence you gathered in the first four steps.

This fifth step is the moment that your unified interpretation of the passage comes into view. In many ways, this is the culmination of the close reading process; indeed, this step will often result in the germ of a persuasive essay. And, since your observations and analyses should also add up to an interpretive conclusion about the passage as a whole, it is okay if this paragraph integrates and builds on your responses to the previous step. Finally, if you are struggling to make strongly argumentative claims, please take a look at the Pause & Practice exercise on "The Literary Thesis."

Horatio: O day and night, but this is wondrous strange!

Hamlet: And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

But come.

Here as before, never, so help you mercy,

How strange or odd some'er I bear myself

(As I perchance hereafter shall think meet

To put an antic disposition on),

That you, at such times, seeing me, never shall,

With arms encumbered thus, or this head-shake,

Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase,

As "Well, we know," or "We could, an if we would"

Or "If we list to speak," or "There be, and if they might"

Or such ambiguous giving out, to note

That you know aught of me—this do swear,

So grace and mercy at your most need help you.

(Act I, Scene 5, 163-79)

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Related Questions

Horatio: O day and night, but this is wondrous strange!

Hamlet: And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
But come.
Here as before, never, so help you mercy,
How strange or odd some'er I bear myself
(As I perchance hereafter shall think meet
To put an antic disposition on),
That you, at such times, seeing me, never shall,
With arms encumbered thus, or this head-shake,
Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase,
As "Well, we know," or "We could, an if we would"
Or "If we list to speak," or "There be, and if they might"
Or such ambiguous giving out, to note
That you know aught of me—this do swear,
So grace and mercy at your most need help you.
(Act I, Scene 5, 163-79)