Introduction
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This lesson is designed for students to gain a deeper understanding of
two great tragic heroes in British Literature: Shakespeare’s Hamlet and
Milton’s Satan. Students will do a character study for both via the
Internet and print sources. Students will compare and contrast their
character traits, motivations, circumstances, etc.
12th Grade English/Language Arts
Academic Standards for Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening: PA
Department of Education
 1.1.11.A, 1.2.11.A, 1.2.11.B, 1.3.11.A, 1.3.11.B, 1.4.11.A, 1.4.11.B, 1.4.11.C,
1.5.11.A, 1.5.11.B, 1.6.11.A, 1.6.11.C, 1.6.11.D, 1.6.11.E, 1.6.11.F, 1.8.11.B,
and 1.8.11.C
Students will have access to classroom computers during designated class
times to conduct research, create PowerPoint presentations, etc.
Students will have access to the Portfolio consisting of books on the
topic.
Introduction
As a class, we have read William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and John Milton’s
Paradise Lost: Book 1. You have been introduced to the concept of the
tragic hero in literature. All tragic heroes possess a fatal flaw that is the
cause of their fall from a high position. Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Milton’s
Satan are two such tragic heroes. They both possess the fatal flaw of
pride, however they each possess two different types of pride: Hamlet
possesses intellectual pride and Satan, false pride.
Satan only sees the qualities that he and Hamlet have in common and
therefore believes that the two men are alike. Hamlet completely disagrees
and can only see their differences.
In groups of four, two members will research Hamlet’s character – his
strengths, weaknesses, motivations, actions, inaction, circumstances, etc.
The other two members will research the same for Satan. Both groups must
keep ALL data gathered in binders for each character (to be combined
neatly in one binder at the end and handed in). All information must be well
documented and organized.
Investigation
Explore the websites below as well as the Portfolio in the classroom.
Remember, these sources are just to get you started. Each group must have
at least 4 additional websites – 2 for Hamlet and 2 for Satan – as well as 4
additional print resources – 2 and 2 as well. Be sure to document
EVERYTHING and keep your binders organized – this will help when it is
time to create the final product.
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http://www.shakespeare.com
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http://www.absoluteshakespeare.com
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This site offers printer friendly essays and advice on how to cite
them.
http://www.planetpapers.com
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This site offers character lists, summaries and analysis of many works
of literature.
http://www.literatureclassics.com
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This site has great summaries of each Book of Paradise Lost. It would
behoove you to at least read these summaries and find out what
happens in the rest of the epic. It also has links to research.
http://www.gradesaver.com
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This site is devoted to the life, literature and times of John Milton.
It also provides articles.
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~milton/reading-room/pl/note/index.shtml
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This site provides several links to resources.
http://www.richmond.edu/~creamer/milton/
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Click on Hamlet for a complete study guide, character analysis and
essays.
http://virtual.park.uga.edu/cdesmet/freshsem/resource.htm
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This site provides a wealth of information and study guides to
Shakespeare’s works.
This site contains some student essays.
http://www.enotes.com
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If you are really ambitious this site charges $9.95, but provides
excellent information on many works of literature.
Gathering and Sorting
As mentioned, the above websites and the Portfolio are stepping-stones.
Students should search for additional information on the Internet and at
the library that relates to the characters, the authors and the stories
themselves. I will be checking your binders to see how much information
you’ve gathered on:
 William Shakespeare
 Hamlet (the play)
 Hamlet (the character)
 John Milton
 Paradise Lost (all books)
 Satan
Portfolio
Please access the Portfolio that I have in the classroom. If you find
helpful websites and/or print materials, please add them to the index card
box provided in the Portfolio box. On a 3X5 index card put:
 All group members’ names
 The URL of the website OR
 The title, author and publication information of the print
material including the library in which you found it
In your binder, keep a list of all items your team has contributed to the
index card box of the Portfolio.
Sharing
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Meet in your group and share the research gathered on both characters
As a group, create a master chart of the characters’ similarities and
differences (make sure you include this in your binder)
As a group, come to a consensus on which character is correct – Satan,
who believes he and Hamlet are alike or Hamlet, who believes they have
nothing in common
As a group, decide which project (of the three below) that your group will
complete in order to present your position
Create a 10-minute PowerPoint presentation presenting the
similarities and differences between the characters. Detail both
sides of the argument and summarize your team’s position giving
specific reasons for your choice. You will present it in class.
 Write a dialogue (minimum of 5 pages) between Hamlet and Satan
in which both characters state their positions. At the end of the
conversation/argument there must be a clear winner reflecting the
position your group is taking. Two members will enact the dialogue
in class (may be read, not memorized). Try to include a narrator
and supporting character to include the other to members.
 Perform a 10 minute scripted debate in which two members take
Hamlet’s position and two take Satan’s. There must be a clear
winner at the end.
Each group must hand in a printed copy of their presentation, dialogue or
debate script.
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Evaluation
You will receive 5 separate grades that will be averaged together for a
final group grade.
 Binder grade – see attached Research Rubric
 Paper grade – written printout of presentation is handed in and free from
errors
 Presentation grade – see attached Presentation Rubric
 Overall CyberQuest Performance – see attached WebQuest rubric
 Group Performance grade – see attached Team Work Rubric
Portfolio
Alexander, Peter. Hamlet: Father and Son. London: Oxford UP, 1955.
Bevington, David, ed. Twentieth Century Interpretations of Hamlet. New
Jersey: Prentice Hall, Inc., 1968.
Barker, Arthur E. Milton: Modern Essays In Criticism. New York: Oxford
UP, 1965.
Broadbent, J.B. Some Graver Subject: An Essay On Paradise Lost. New
York: Barnes and Noble, Inc., 1960.
Cantor, Paul A. Shakespeare: Hamlet. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1989.
Conklin, Paul S. A History of Hamlet Criticism. New York: Humanities Press,
1957.
Crossman, Robert. Reading Paradise Lost. London: Indiana UP, 1980.
Davis, Arthur G. Hamlet and the Eternal Problem of Man. New York: St.
John’s UP, 1964.
Diekhoff, John S. Milton’s Paradise Lost: A Commentary on the Argument.
New York: Humanities Press, 1958.
Fish, Stanley Eugene. Surprised by Sin: The Reader in Paradise Lost.
Berkeley: University of California Press, 1967.
Grace, William, J. Ideas in Milton. Indiana: University of Notre Dame
Press, 1968.
Leavenworth, Russel E., ed. Interpreting Hamlet. California: Chandler
Publishing Company, 1960.
Lewis, C.S. A Preface to Paradise Lost. London: Oxford UP, 1942.
MacCaffrey, Isabel Gamble. Paradise Lost as Myth. Cambridge: Harvard UP,
1959.
Steadman, John, M. Milton and the Renaissance Hero. London: Oxford UP,
1967.
Summers, Joseph H. The Muses’ Method: An Introduction to Paradise Lost.
Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1970.