Hamlet: Secret Shakespeare
You have dissected and distilled Shakespeare for four years of high school. Now,
it is time to see if you truly understand what makes Shakespeare, ‘Shakespeare.’
Craft a tragedy of your own that, upon careful analysis by a scholar, would be
considered not only heavily influenced by Shakespeare, but might even be
considered a modern incarnation of The Bard himself.
To those ends, the assessment for Hamlet asks you to produce a dramatic
product (play, film, cartoon, comic book, opera, ballet, other?) that demonstrates
the thematic elements of the play, incorporates the language of the play, and
employs traditional Shakespearean dramatic techniques. This is not a modern
retelling of Hamlet or a shortened version. It is inspired by Hamlet, much in the
way Shakespeare was inspired by his forbearers and contemporaries.
There is another caveat: you must essentially create two endings. Your play
must include what I call a ‘crunch’ point – a moment that, depending on how the
actors depict it, could completely change the entire rest of the play. There are
two ways to execute this. One: choose that moment and then write a
completely parallel ending. Two: craft your entire narrative, choose that
moment, and then show how, even though the words remain the same, the
play’s meaning completely changes from then onward.
Shakespearean
themes
(i.e. truth,
secrecy,
power, parent
vs. child, etc.)
(Reading – LT)
Shakespearean
techniques (i.e.
soliloquy,
oxymoron,
tragic flaw,
etc.)
(Reading – IE)
Shakespearean
vocabulary
(Vocab)
Dramatic
storytelling
Methinks The
Bard Wrote It!
Methinks The
Bard
Influenced It!
Methinks The
Bard Was
Thought of in
a Way…
Methinks The
Bard Would
Roll Over in
His Grave
4 or more
themes evident
3 themes evident
2 themes evident
1 theme evident
Uses 5 or more
techniques
effectively
Uses 4
techniques
effectively
Uses 3
techniques
effectively
Uses 2 or fewer
techniques
effectively
Uses 5 or more
vocab/root words
effectively
Script presents a
logical, detailed
Uses 4
vocab/root words
effectively
Script presents a
logical narrative
Uses 3
vocab/root words
effectively
Script
demonstrates 1-3
Uses 2 or fewer
vocab/root words
effectively
Script
demonstrates
(Writing)
Dramatic
Presentation
(Media)
Professional
Quality
(MUGS &
Appearance)
narrative and
follows a
consistent,
professional
format for the
chosen medium
Finished product
completely
conveys the
intended ideas
(including
alternate
endings) with
little to no room
for improvement
Stratford-UponAvon Worthy (no
distracting
typos/errors)
and mostly
follows
consistent,
professional
format for the
chosen medium
Finished product
conveys the
intended ideas
(including
alternate
endings) with 1
area of concern
needs in terms of
detail or
professional
format
more than 3
needs in terms of
detail or
professional
format
Finished product
conveys the
intended ideas
(including
alternate
endings) with 2
areas of concern
Finish product
does not convey
the intended
ideas (including
alternate
endings) and/or
has 3 areas of
concern
Sandy River
Players Worthy
(1 distracting
typo/error)
Room 307 After
School Worthy (2
distracting
typos/errors)
In a Dark Closet
Worthy
(3 or more
distracting
typos/errors)