Lesson Plan
Lindsay Charles
December 1st, 2008
TEKS:
8A- establish and adjust purpose for reading such as to find out, to understand, to interpret, to
enjoy, and to solve problems
8H- use study strategies such as note taking, outlining, and using study-guide questions to better
understand texts
9C- read British and other world literature, including classic and contemporary works
12A- compare and contrast elements of texts such as themes, conflicts, and allusions both within
and across texts
Objective: I will explore the world of Hamlet through literary analysis and discussion.
1)Begin class by reviewing Acts 1-4 of Hamlet
-Since students are returning to school after having a week off for Thanksgiving Break, I will
briefly review and summarize with them the events that have taken place in Hamlet so far.
2)Discuss Act 4, Scene 7
-Discuss with the class the various plans Laertes and Claudius discuss about killing Hamlet
-When discussing Ophelia’s suicide, show students various art depictions of
Ophelia and ask them if they think these are correct representations of Ophelia.
3)Discuss Act 5, Scene 1
-Ask class to definition of comic relief. Then ask them how they think the scene with the
clowns is an example of comic relief.
-5.1.1-5- It was determined that Ophelia did not commit suicide, therefore she can have a
Christian burial.
-5.1.22-24- Clown says that if Ophelia was not a noblewoman, she would not have been
allowed a Christian burial.
-5.1.119-268- Hamlet drives the comic dialectic. He mulls again over the nature of life and
death, and the great gulf between the two states.
-Tell students the definition of the word dialectic
-Dialectic= a method of examining an idea in which every question posed poses a new
question.
-5.1.200- Funeral procession for Ophelia
-5.1.202- “maim’ed rites”
-the ritual is broken; something is wrong with it
-notion of broken rituals happens throughout Hamlet
-At the first scene, there is a changing of the guard, and the wrong man asks the question
-The mourning for King Hamlet’s funeral isn’t done right, wasn’t appropriately
ceremonious
-Did Polonius’ funeral quickly, unceremoniously
-Ophelia’s funeral not done right
-All these things lead us to a community that is in turmoil
-5.1.208-216- Priest states that this funeral should not be taking place b/c Ophelia committed
suicide. She will be buried in sacred ground, but there will be in requiem (funeral) mass or
Lesson Plan
Lindsay Charles
other Christian burial traditions.
3)Discuss Act 5, Scene 2
-5.2.13-64- Hamlet tells Horatio the contents of the letter R&G carried to England. He
explains to Horatio how he switched the letters and that R&G go to their deaths.
-5.2.74-81- Hamlet sees his own cause (revenge) in Laertes
-Ask students what the definition of the word “foil” is.
-Then ask them how Laertes is a foil to Hamlet
-Comic Relief: 5.2.85-102- Hamlet messes with Osric, constantly telling him to take on and
off his hat.
-“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” – Osric is one of the things wrong with
Denmark. He is superficial, fashionable, frivilous
-5.2.105-125- Osric tells Hamlet of the bet Claudius and Laertes have made.
-5.2.148-154- Hamlet has some misgivings; he says they are misgivings that would trouble a
woman
-Point out to students that once again women are seen as fragile, weak beings
-5.2.157-161- Hamlet speaks about being ready for death.
-Ars Moriendi- the art of death; people used to write these books on how to die
-Seneca & Stoicism
-Seneca- 1st century philosopher and playwright; great tragedian
-His plays were HUGELY influential on English playwrights in the 1580s
-Hamlet shifts from a Catholic theology to Stoicism and is then able to bestow his revenge
-Osric brings Laertes's challenge, Hamlet accepts. The king has bet heavily on Hamlet,
probably to divert suspicion. But Hamlet decides to go forward anyway. "We defy
augury" -- Hamlet is not going to let his apprehensions interfere with his showing
courage and doing what he must.
-5.2.197- Hamlet says that he will be Laertes’ foil.
-Tell students that this is where the literary term originated from
-Have students read aloud the remainder of the play to see how everyone dies.
-At the end only Horatio is left to tell the story
-Ask students if they think Horatio will tell a biased version of the events.
-5.2.319-329- “Tell My Story”
-“accidental judgments, casual slaughters”
-This always happens in tragedies: someone is always left to recount the story to
others
-Horatio’s role is to tell Hamlet’s story
-Horatio tells his version of the story, of accident and error, instead of providential
-Horatio was given a partial view of events
-He doesn’t really learn a moral from Hamlet, what we get is an example of survival