In this keynote address to the Association of Departments of English, the speaker likens himself to "the wraith of Hamlet" and, as an "old-time" chairman, offers his advice and general impressions on the role of the English department chairman. Emphasis is given to the importance of the attitude which the chairman has toward himself, the administration, and the faculty. In his attitude toward the direction his department should take, the chairman is advised to be cautious of misguided cries for relevance and of some recent trends in the teaching of literature. About one third of the document consists of advice on how to handle various administrative procedures. (BN)