DATE:
BLOCK:
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
1 (AP Lit & Comp)
WORK COLLECTED/CHECKED/DUE:
1. Read Act II of Hamlet and complete your wiki log (20 points)
CLASSWORK:
1. Question of the Day sheet for the week of April 13, 2015 (#67)
 In a complete sentence, what is the name of the castle at which the action takes
place?
2. Daily Edits Set #10, sentence #3 (#69)
3. Hamlet Character List (#66)
 Standing conversation partners
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HAMLET
OPHELIA
CLAUDIUS
GERTRUDE
POLONIUS
4. Hamlet Close Reading of Claudius’ speech worksheet (#72)
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Discussed directions at the end of class yesterday. This was NOT homework.
Do individually for about 15 minutes. After that, meet with your OPHELIA partner for
15 minutes and discuss what you came up with for each section. Remember to LISTEN
and THINK ABOUT what your partner says!
The use of the royal “we” [get a lot!]
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Everyone looks up to Hamlet, to whom everyone looks up. Claudius is
trying to tell Hamlet that what Hamlet does affects everyone, so be
careful.
Claudius is trying to overpower Hamlet, and Claudius is speaking to
Hamlet as if Hamlet were just another subject in the kingdom.
Hamlet’s not being Claudius’ actual son. Hamlet is more of a distraction
than an actual entity to take care of. Using “we” instead of “I,” Claudius
is putting the burden of dealing with Hamlet on other people. To
Claudius, Hamlet is just another political piece.
Hamlet is an obligation that comes with Claudius’ being crowned king.
Hamlet is part of a business deal.
Claudius doesn’t think of Hamlet as part of Claudius’ family.
“My cousin” and “my son” at first: after Hamlet talks about how
everything is miserable.
Claudius is REALLY Hamlet’s father. Hamlet’s grief is a problem for the
kingdom.
Claudius is making it abundantly clear that HE is the king now.
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Previous answers:
 Claudius wants to comfort Hamlet (“we” as in the family)
 He doesn’t feel the need to be private with Hamlet (distant) because
Hamlet ISN’T his son
 Since King Hamlet was a public figure, his death was a public issue.
Claudius was addressing it as such.
 He doesn’t consider Hamlet his son (lack of emotional connection).
Doesn’t know how to talk to him, so he talks down to him
 Claudius is suggesting that Denmark and the royal family have moved on
from King Hamlet’s death, and Hamlet should do the same
 Claudius is belittling Hamlet: why AREN’T you over it? Masculinity vs.
femininity: get over it!
 Claudius is making Hamlet feel as though Hamlet’s included in the
country’s issues (Hamlet can trust him, but Claudius has other intentions)
 Claudius is trying to mask his lack of emotional connection to Hamlet.
Claudius is trying to hide himself within the kingdom.
Antithesis:
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King Hamlet’s death upset the balance of the kingdom. Sadness in the
wedding because those sad feelings are still lingering from King Hamlet’s
death.
It makes the reader feel pity towards Hamlet because no one else seems to feel
the same way about his father’s death. This brings suspicion upon Claudius
because he seems as though he’s acting as though he’s upset, but he isn’t
really upset.
It evokes confusion because you don’t know whether you’re supposed to feel
happy or sad because these contrasting things are happening at the same time.
There’s a combination of celebration and mourning that Claudius wants
people to feel. It’s expected that people mourn the king, but Claudius wants
people to celebrate because the marriage is (supposedly) a happy occasion.
It’s a feeling of uneasiness, showing that things aren’t quite as they seem in
Denmark. Claudius is acting in a way; he seems upset, but he’s not.
Previous answers:
 Claudius is happy that King Hamlet died. “Dirge in marriage”: he can see the
negative connotations of his marriage
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“An auspicious and a dropping eye,”
 Claudius is trying to tell people he’s taking up a personal duty, but he’s only
getting personal gain
“with mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage,”
 Mirth in funeral: Claudius was happy at King Hamlet’s funeral, because
Claudius became king
 Dirge in marriage: Prince Hamlet’s view of the marriage of Claudius and
Gertrude
 Similar to the equivocator in Macbeth (says one thing, but means another)
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Dirge in marriage: Prince Hamlet’s view of the marriage of Claudius and Gertrude
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“Have we (as ‘twere with a defeated joy…) I.ii.10
 Even with the big loss of King Hamlet, there is still hope
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He’s trying to ease the troubles of the crowd. “Wisest”: he’s admitting
that he didn’t really like King Hamlet. He’s being smart with his sorrow,
and he’s telling everyone else to do the same. Everyone is too caught up in
King Hamlet’s death to realize what Claudius is saying. It’s impossible
for all of these people NOT to grieve over King Hamlet’s death, but
Claudius is telling them (politely) that it’s been long enough. Aidan
White, S14
“Bear”: you can either bear something forth (like a ring bearer) or you
can bear something on your shoulders (like a burden). Bear something
forth: putting forth an image of grief. Bearing the burden: it’s a chore
for him to act like he’s grieving. Chris Donnay, S14
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Choice of words:
 Wisest sorrow:
 “Wisest” because it’s just the right amount of sorrow
 It’s more serious and less personal. He’s addressing the kingdom, so it’s a public
thing. Everyone needs to know about this (going back to the royal “we”)
 Befitted
 The grief that they’re showing is fitting; it doesn’t need any more than that
 “Wise”
 “careful,” “experienced,” or “aware”: replacing “wise” with any of those makes
it sounds like Claudius is not feeling sorrow but that he’s feeling it because he
SHOULD feel sorrow
 He’s not going to use “deepest” because he’s not actually sorry
 Word choice puts him in a more dominant position
 “Wisest” vs. “deepest”: he’s telling the kingdom to get over it. It’s wiser for them to
look to the present (and future) than dwell in the past
 “Befitted”: he’s equating sorrow to a mask that he can take off once the mourning
period has passed. It’s easily shed, whereas Hamlet’s sorrow is deep and will change
Hamlet.
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Order of ideas he presents:
 The other things affect Claudius, and Claudius wants to make sure everything is back
to normal before he worries about Hamlet.
 Claudius is trying to alienate Hamlet, as it benefits Claudius. If Hamlet is gone,
Claudius could have other heirs to take over. By keeping Hamlet there and not
allowing Hamlet to return to school, Claudius could be plotting something.
 If Hamlet goes back to school, Hamlet could have more time to think about it and
build enemies against Claudius.
 If Claudius lets Hamlet go to school, Claudius and Gertrude lose control over
Hamlet. If your son is depressed, you’d rather keep him in his room instead of telling
him to go out and get a life.
 “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer”
 Claudius is trying to take control from Hamlet (“I’m not letting you go back to
school”)
 The order is subconscious: Hamlet is at the back of his mind, even though Claudius is
pretending to care.
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Claudius is using his own actions as an example to Hamlet; Claudius is being
productive.
Laertes’ going first is done so that Laertes can spread the word about Claudius, the
new king
HANDOUTS/NOTEBOOK UPDATE:
1. Sample AP exam (#5)
2. Method to the Madness of Metaphors (#47)
3. Elements of a Sonnet (#48)
4. Sonnet 18 (#49)
5. Sonnet I (#50)
6. Tone (#56)
7. Hamlet wiki log directions/reading schedule (#65)
8. Hamlet character list (#66)
9. Question of the Day sheet for the week of April 13, 2015 (#67)
10. Daily Edits Set #8 review paragraph (#69)
11. Daily Edits Set #9 (#70)
12. Hamlet I.i.1-80 round robin (#71)
13. Hamlet Close Reading of Claudius’ speech worksheet (#72)
ASSIGNMENTS/REMINDERS:
1. Friday, April 17, 2015: Read Act III of Hamlet and complete your wiki log (20
points)
2. Tuesday, April 21, 2015: Read Act IV of Hamlet and complete your wiki log (20
points)
3. Thursday, April 23, 2015: Read Act V of Hamlet and complete your wiki log (20
points)
4. Monday, April 27, 2015: tentative date for Hamlet assessment, which will involve the
use of laptops, so feel free to bring your own.
5. Friday, May 1, 2015: Act 80 day (students out at 11:00 AM). Senior Prom night.
6. Monday, May 4, 2015: Surrrrrrrrrrre, you’ll be here.
7. Monday, May 4, 2015 through Friday, May 15, 2015: AP testing window
8. Wednesday, May 6, 2015: English Literature & Composition AP exam (morning
session)
9. Monday, May 11, 2015 through Friday, May 22, 2015: Standardized Quiz #2 window
10. Wednesday, May 13, 2015 through Wednesday, May 27, 2015: Keystone Testing
window
11. Tuesday, May 19, 2015: No school (in-service day for teachers)
12. Friday, May 22, 2015: Final deadline for SLO essay revisions (more details later)
13. Monday, May 25, 2015: No school (Memorial Day)
14. Wednesday, June 3, 2015: Senior Final Exams for blocks 1 & 2 (regular school day)
15. Thursday, June 4, 2015: Senior Final Exams for blocks 3 & 4 (regular school day)
16. Monday, June 8, 2015: Graduation at Villanova at 7:30 PM!