Hamlet & Philosophy
Day 1: Below are 7 quotes from Hamlet. Please complete columns one and two today. For each
quote, paraphrase & contextualize the quote: what does it mean, and in what context is it said in the
play? In the second column, respond to the quote—is this an idea with which you agree or disagree?
Why?
Day 2: After the presentation of philosophical schools of thought, complete the 3 rd column and submit
to turnitin.com by Friday morning at 7:00 A.M.
1) "'Tis a fault to Heaven,
A fault against the dead, a fault to nature,
To reason most absurd." – Claudius, on Hamlet’s mourning
Paraphrase/context of quote
Your opinion: do you agree or
disagree with the idea(s)
represented here? Why?
Philosophical school of thought
associated with the quote
2) "This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man." – Polonius to Laertes
Paraphrase/context of quote
Your opinion: do you agree or
disagree with the idea(s)
represented here? Why?
Philosophical school of thought
associated with the quote
Hamlet & Philosophy
3) "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." – Hamlet to Horatio
Paraphrase/context of quote
Your opinion: do you agree or
disagree with the idea(s)
represented here? Why?
Philosophical school of thought
associated with the quote
4) "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." – Hamlet
Paraphrase/context of quote
Your opinion: do you agree or
disagree with the idea(s)
represented here? Why?
Philosophical school of thought
associated with the quote
5) “What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! How infinite in faculty! in form and moving
how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of
the world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust?” – Hamlet
Paraphrase/context of quote
Your opinion: do you agree or
disagree with the idea(s)
represented here? Why?
Philosophical school of thought
associated with the quote
Hamlet & Philosophy
6) "A ministering angel shall my sister be.” – Laertes on Ophelia
Paraphrase/context of quote
Your opinion: do you agree or
disagree with the idea(s)
represented here? Why?
Philosophical school of thought
associated with the quote
7) "There's a divinity that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them how we will." – Hamlet
Paraphrase/context of quote
Your opinion: do you agree or
disagree with the idea(s)
represented here? Why?
Philosophical school of thought
associated with the quote