Hamlet Journals
AP Literature
Hamlet is a long play and quite difficult. It will help you to keep a record of your
reading and our discussions. Thus, I’d like you to keep a Hamlet Journal as you read.
Journals must be typed. This assignment will count as a major grade (and as your
major works chart for this play). Rubric to follow soon.
You must do at least TWO entries per act (two scenes). Journal entries will consist
of the following…..
1. scene summaries (required), clearly labeled and titled
2. class notes (required)
Then choose THREE of the following for each scene/entry—
3. your comments on and reactions to the action in that scene
4. analysis of major or minor characters and how they have changed or contributed
to the scene—you can also discuss their relationships
5. an index of themes and motifs you’ve noticed here with explanations
6. your questions about the scene (as well as how you might answer them at this
point)
7. 2-3 key quotations which you feel are most significant and why
8. Pretend you are directing this scene—what would you do for staging? Acting
notes?
When I grade your journals, I will be looking for a variety of choices in your entries.
Here is an example of a journal entry:
Act II, scene i
1. This scene is when Polonius sends Reynaldo to spy on Laertes. Later, he then has
a conversation with Ophelia about her latest encounter with Hamlet. She tells him
Hamlet approached her in strange manner and acted very odd with her. Polonius
says he will go tell the King about Hamlet’s strange actions.
2. In class we acted out this scene between O and H. Mrs. Clinch raised the question
about Hamlet’s behavior. Is he really mad or just pretending? We also discussed the
fact that Polonius seems like a suck-up to the King.
3. (MY COMMENTS) I think here Hamlet is pretending to be mad. He just wants
Polonius and Ophelia to think he’s crazy so he can get closer to the King. I was
confused though about how Ophelia feels about him. Polonius is such a windbag,
too. He loves to hear himself talk! I just wanted him to shut up!
5. (THEMES) spying: (2.1.3-4); madness (2.1.84 and 110)—both of these themes
are important here and show that the characters may not trust each other. The
madness theme is primarily discovered through Hamlet’s behavior off stage—we
only get Ophelia’s viewpoint here. We don’t actually see what happens.
6. (QUESTIONS) I keep wondering what is Ophelia’s role in all this? Maybe she
should avoid him like her father told her to. Does Hamlet even love her? Does she
love Hamlet? Does Polonius trust anyone?