Make your work count for points with our free to read Leaving Cert “Hamlet” essays and full notes.

What do I actually need to know?

For any single text, you should know:

  • themes
  • style/techniques/imagery
  • plot (after you’ve read the play once, you can watch a 10 minute Youtube video to refresh your memory)
  • quotations (a minimal list that should get you through)
  • practice sample essays

Here is our video on “Hamlet” for Leaving Cert to get you started.

What’s at stake?

The Single text question offers 60 marks. Compare this to: Comparative 70, Prescribed Poetry 50, Unseen Poetry 20. That’s 15% of your English grade.

How much to write?

Suggested length 4-5 A4 pages. Suggested time 50 minutes.