Essay Outline
An image of Image of outline of a body on the road, scrime-scene style…appropriate for the subject of Macbeth
An outline is a means of organizing the material for your essay in such a way that the direction of your arguments can be charted.
Thus, the outline is a skeleton of the essay; it provides form and structure. If the outline is sound, the essay will likewise be
sound. Once you have organized your material in outline form, you have a plan for the essay itself. You always know where you are in
your argument, as well as where you have been and where you are going. In the outline you decide what to say; thus, in writing the
essay you need to concentrate on how to make your argument clear. The result should be an organized essay.
There are two formats for an outline: the sentence and the point formats. As their names imply, the former is less abbreviated than the
latter. Generally, the point outline is preferable since it is less cumbersome and forces you to condense your ideas in a phrase.
Remember, however, that too much abbreviation can lead to confusion. If your outline is too sparse, it may exclude necessary material.
The outline is for your use. Find a balance that is suitable for you.
Remember the diagram of the essay structure. The body of the essay is a point by point proof of the thesis. Your outline lists your
points (and subpoints) in the order in which you choose to deal with them. When you write your essay, you expand your points into
paragraphs. Look at the following sample outline for the Macbethessay:
Example Essay Outline
TITLE—MIGHT, RIGHT, AND BLOOD INMACBETH
Introduction
Thesis: The image of blood changes meaning in the play. It contrasts those who have right on their side with those who exercise might
[ruthless power]. [Note that the outline begins with the thesis.]
I. It is praiseworthy to shed blood for a rightful cause. [The student argues for violence, given just cause]
“Wounds become” a defender of the rightful king. (might for right)
I.ii., discussion of honour. [notice the specific references to scenes in the play]
Macbeth promoted, honoured for defending king.
II. It is possible to exercise power or might against rightful authority [the plot to kill Duncan]
A. Killing the king.
1. “Bloody business” (II.I.48).
2. “More than bloody deed.” (II.IV.21). [here exercising might or power is discussed]
B. Fulfillment of prophecy: “Macbeth shall be king.”
1. He is king by misusing might and shedding blood.
III. Shedding blood upsets the rightful blood line for the monarchy. [a crucial point: who should be king?]
A. Donalbain’s “fountain of blood/Is stopped, its very source is stopped.” (II.iii.93-4).
B. Donalbain becomes Macbeth’s “bloody cousin” (III.i.29).
1. relation of the king.
2. in line to be murdered: “The nearer in blood/The nearer “bloody” (II.iii.136-7).
C. Macbeth’s blood line will not produce a king by either might or right.
1. Witches’ prophecy.
2. Macbeth’s dream of Banquo (IV.i.123-124).
D. Additional blood (Banquo’s) does not make might right.
IV. The result of shedding blood wrongly is “bloody” guilt and more bloodshed.
A. Smear Duncan’s grooms with blood—false guilt.
B. Blood on the face of Banquo’s murderer—guilt.
C. “Bloody” hand of night cannot hide guilt (III.ii.48).
D. Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking.
1. Wash blood (guilt) from hand (II.ii.59-60).
E. “Kill the king”—bloody instructions. Kill Banquo (Banquo in “bloody distance” to Macbeth) (III.i.116).
1. guilt—Banquo heard prophecy; he suspects Macbeth’s guilt.
2. Banquo is in line to be killed.
3. lineage—Banquo’s sons will be kings. Battle result—more bloodshed.
V. The blood cycles continue and blood-right prevails.
A. Macbeth’s sons never wear the crown.
B. “Blood will have blood.” (III.iv.122).
1. Might will have guilt.
2. Right will have might.
3. Guilt will have might.
C. Duncan, the rightful king, ultimately has might and right.
1. “Who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?”
(V.i.35-37).
a. After right is killed by might, guilt lives.
b. Right prevails. Duncan has right even when dead.
D. The initial paradox of “fair is foul and foul is fair” is ultimately expanded to “right is might and might is right.”
Conclusion
Thesis restated: Blood imagery is a touchstone for the merits of the actions in Macbeth. In their
proceedings, characters are exercising either might [wrongly] or right [rightly].
Final note: the Roman numerals (1 – V) indicate the likely paragraphs that the student will eventually write. The letters and numbers
that follow illustrate the ideas and proofs that the student will bring into play in supporting his or her arguments.
Essay Outline Assignment
Compile all your hard-won evidence into an organized outline that will help you write a fantastic essay. Hand it into Dropbox. This is
ultimately to help you write an amazing essay, but this outline is a graded assignment: it is designed to assess your ability to
organize content.
Essay Topics
Question A
The American novelist, John Irving, says said about his work The World According to Garp, that it is a life-redeeming work in which
everybody dies. Comment on the extent to which the same might be said of Hamlet.
Question B
Locate a copy of Tragedy and Philosophy by Walter Kaufmann. Read the relevant sections of the text (Chapter 9) and decide which of the
philosopher’s views comes closest to your own regarding Hamlet.
Question C
One of the inevitable and time-honoured questions asked about Hamlet focuses on the question of his insanity, whether he has put on an
“antic disposition” or whether he is truly insane. Discuss whether you believe Hamlet is putting on an “antic disposition” or whether
you believe he is truly insane. Consider the following questions in preparing your response, but do not answer them specifically.
What is sanity or insanity?
How people know whether they are sane or insane?
If an individual lives entirely on his or her own, how can that person determine whether she or he is insane or sane?
Does one have to be insane to take another person’s life? To commit murder?
Is Hamlet sane or insane during this act of the play?
Question D
While many have discussed Shakespeare’s work in Freudian analyses, C.G. Jung, one of Freud’s younger colleagues also interests many
readers. Click on the link below, which contains an essay by Dr. C. George Boeree on Jungian personality theory. Read the short
sections, “Introversion” and “Extraversion” and “The Functions.” The second link, “The Personality Theory of Carl Jung,” provides
similar information in a different format. Read the articles, then decide and argue (in proper essay format) how Jung’s theories might
be applied to three major characters in the play.
Carl Jung Personality Theories
The Personality Theory of Carl Jung