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Appearance vs. Reality – theme in Hamlet
Go over discussion questions for Act 1
Homework:
 Study for Unit 6 exam

Due Wednesday:
 A Man for All Ages worksheet (side 1)
 Decoding Hamlet (Act 1)
 Discussion questions
 *these are up on SharePoint if you lost yours*
One of the many themes in Hamlet …
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Tiger Woods
 Wholesome image, in
reality he was not the
person the public
thought he was
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Online dating
 Profile pictures
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Mr. & Mrs. Smith
 Your average looking
couple – but really are
spies
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Get into partners, or groups of 3
 One handout per group (on desk)
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Many of the characters say and do things outwardly that
do match their true intentions. Write down one example
from each of the five scenes where you feel that
appearance does not match reality.
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Please cite lines from the play
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You have about 10 minutes to work on this, then we will
come back together as a class and go over some
important lines from Act 1
APPEARANCE
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Gertrude
 Upset about her husband’s death, just
REALITY
Quickly remarries
 Tells Hamlet to stop grieving
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like Hamlet is
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Polonius
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 Gives loving advice to his children
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Hamlet
 Depressed
“To thine own self be true” is
conflicting
He really is depressed
 In love, according to Ophelia
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 Love for Ophelia
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Claudius
 Sad about the death of King Hamlet
 Happy to have Hamlet back in Denmark
Takes the crown and marries
Gertrude
 Is he being genuine?
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Use of puns
 “A little more than kin and less than kind” (1.2.67)
▪ Hamlet’s first line of the play
 “I am too much in the sun” (1.2.69)
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Hamlet’s first soliloquy (1.2.133)
 What lines discuss suicide? How does he feel about the world?
 What are the causes of his pain?
 How does Claudius compare to his father?
 In what lines do you see misogyny (dislike, hatred, or distrust
of women)?
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“To thine own self be true” (1.3.85)
 Polonius gives very different advice to children
 How does his advice to Ophelia contract his
advice (quote above) to Laertes?
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Identify examples of antithesis in Claudius’
speech (1.2.1-37)
 Explain what emotions and/or conflicts these lines
convey to the audience.
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The description of the Ghost (1.4.43-61)
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Homework:
 Study for Unit 6 exam

Due Wednesday:
 A Man for All Ages worksheet (side 1)
 Decoding Hamlet (Act 1)
 Discussion questions