How do I do a language analysis of an unseen extract from Hamlet?

Language analysis questions may seem daunting, but as long as you have a good understanding and knowledge of the text then there is no need to worry. Teachers and examiners are looking for answers that are confident, well-argued and thought-provoking in their style. This means providing a lively, original response - not just churning out a set of facts and face-value language analysis. That is boring, and will stop you from achieving high marks. Instead you should use lots of quotations and analysis, and respond to the immediacy and the vibrancy of the language. Unlike an essay, there is no need for a lengthy introduction or conclusion. What your teachers and examiners want to see is a very focussed response that gets straight into the details of the language, your introduction should outline the context of the extract in regards to the play as a whole, and the conclusion should essentially summarise the key themes of the scene. The best answers will be able to dig deep into the text, and bring out subtle nuances of meaning and subtext. Furthermore the use of advanced technical and theatrical terms, and the ability to explain the effects of them will allow you to achieve top marks. And finally, being able to link imagery, wordplay etc. to emotion/mood, specific characters, action and (perhaps most importantly) the wider themes of the play is essential to unpack the deeper meaning of the text. Once you master these things, the actual writing will be easy. While you shouldn't be too formulaic with your writing, an easy structure to follow could be be to pick the quote you want to analyse, analyse it using the techniques above, explain what is meant and what is suggested and then explain how it is important to the play as a whole (key themes, characters etc).