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Journal #1
Individuals who sin or do great evil will always be punished according to the nature of their crimes, whether in a court of law or as a result of some karmic retribution.
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Your daily writing is an ongoing assignment and a central part of this study of Hamlet.

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Overwhelming grief
Ghosts
Dramatic devices-carrying a torch on stage
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“we”
Diction/choice of words- wisest sorrow
Order of ideas-Claudius’s progression of handling topics
Subtext- underlying meaning
Antithesis- balancing of two contrasting ideasjuxtaposition

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Apparition-ghost
Canon-church law
Imminent-inevitable
Perilous-dangerous
Portentous-threatening
Prodigal- extravagant, wasteful
Sullied-tarnished
Caluminious-slanderous

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Can you identify these quotes ? Who said it to whom?
“my inky cloak” – literary term?
“O, that this too too solid flesh would melt”meaning?

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Tragic hero
Hamartia
Hubris

Climax
Act III
Crisis-Pivot-Counterstroke
Rising Action
Act II
Falling Action
Act IV
Initial Incident
Act I
Denouement and Resolution
Act V
Castastrope (2nd Climax)
Exposition
Act I

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The Great Chain of Being
Great Chain of Being
God
Angels
Man
Animals
Plants
Rocks

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The imagery in the play supports the theme of decay ,destruction, and corruption in Denmark.
In groups , take each act and locate as many references to decay, destruction, and corruption as possible.
Determine to what extent these images enhance the meaning of the play. Look at figurative language, literary terminology, literary devices
(symbol, metaphor…).
Report to the class.
“Frailty, thy name is woman!”

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How common do you believe the act of revenge is in everyday life? Write about specific incidents…were you involved or did you witness any?

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Revenge
Appearance vs. Reality
Sanity vs. Insanity
Decay and Corruption

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1. Read the soliloquy aloud- 2 times
2. Combine the best paraphrases to piece together what Hamlet is saying.
3. Make the soliloquy physical: use props, drawings, and students posing in a frozen scene.
4. Select physical objects to hold up while certain words are read.
5. Purpose: to illustrate, give meaning to the soliloquy. You can be humorous, but keep your focus in mind.
6. Present for a daily grade.

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How does Shakespeare create suspense in scene 2? 5 references
Imagery, symbolism-Find 4 references to disease or decay
The ghost comes in questionable shape-Find 5 references to the idea that he may not be what he seems
Find 5 references to characters not being what they seem
Find 5 to remembering or forgetting things
Five references to Fate or Providence

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Explain Claudius’s comments to Hamlet regarding his father’s death. Levels of meaning?
Explain Hamlet’s feelings in the soliloquy.
Compare Laertes’ advice to Ophelia with
Polonius’s command to her.
Explain Horatio’s fear of the ghost.
What does Hamlet mean when he says he will put on an “antic disposition”?

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How would you feel if a friend betrayed you?
Discuss an occasion when you thought a friend was not honest with you.
Theme: appearance vs. reality-explain in Act II
What kind of relationship did Hamlet have with his friends during a time of crisis?

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Commission-order
Firmament-sky, heaven
Malefaction-evil deed, crime
Pestilent-destructive, deadly
Promontory-land jutting into sea
Sovereign-supreme in power
Tedious-lifeless, dull

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“This above all-to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
Explicate-explain, interpret
Who said it? To Whom? Regarding what? How is it significant?

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Double entendre-two meanings-one usually bawdy
Pun-two meanings, no sexual connotations
Metaphors
Similes
Alliterations
Anastrophe- inversion of normal order
Parallel constructions
Classical allusions
Diction
Subtextual meanings

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Discuss the meanings and give examples of each new term. Help the class to understand the meanings. After your presentation, explain the meanings of Shakespeare’s language. Why did he use these methods?

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King and Polonius beginning- 170
Hamlet attacks Polonius -170-225 to entrance of
R&G
Hamlet and R&G-225-390
Hamlet, Polonius, and Players 390-560
Hamlet’s soliloquy

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Have you ever felt uncertain about how to act or what action to take in response to a situation? How does Hamlet grapple with difficult decisions?

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Paradox
Perceive
Pious
Resolution visage

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Consider subtext and objective .
Objective: what the character wants in a particular scene. His goal…

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Hamlet knows from the beginning of the scene that Polonius and Claudius are watching him.
Hamlet does not know until later in the scene that he is being watched: the group decides when, based on the script.
Hamlet never knows that he is being watched.

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20 minutes to prepare
Be able to point to evidence in the text to support acting choices.
Discuss textual clues used to support your interpretation after your performance.
After all performances, discuss which version of the nunnery scene you prefer and why.
Be prepared to write a paper comparing your version of the scene to the Branagh version.