Hamlet Assignment
Hey guys!
So like I told you in our last class, you will have a big assignment to complete for the next 2 and 1/2 weeks since we won’t be seeing one another! Since we’ve been focusing on essay writing during the past 3 weeks, I would like you to finish reading Act I and read up until the end of Act III. Remember, since you do not have the No Fear Shakespeare books, utilize this website for help: http://nfs.sparknotes.com/hamlet/ (it’s the electronic version of No Fear Shakespeare Hamlet!). On the blog, I would like each of you to answer and provide the following:
1. A brief summary of each Act you’ve read (I-III). Each summary should be about 3-4 sentences (think of one solid paragraph).
2. Write three open-ended questions for each Act.
… some of you may be thinking, “What is an open-ended question?” We’ve done this in class, but just to remind you, here you go… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed-ended_question
3. You will be responsible to help your classmates answer atleast 2 of these open-ended questions… with my help of course!
Also, make sure that you finish working on your Othello essays. These will be due the Wednesday that we return from vacation. Any questions, please post on the blog or e-mail me at CShannon@schools.nyc.gov. Enjoy your vacation!
-Miss. Shannon
Shakespeare's Seminar 
February 22, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Act 1 starts off with a conversatiion between Barnardo and Francisco (two watchmen). The act also contains Claudius speaking alot, I can tell he is the antagonist.
In act 2 Polonius gives Renaldo a task to hand someone money, to me it seems like he is evil, towards the end it seems like a rivalry is starting to build
February 22, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Act I
Act I was very infromative and interesting. I learned that the king Hamelt’s father, hamlet Senior just died and is walking around in ghost form. While Hamlet’s mother is married to his uncle, Claudius, who is the new king. Hamlet doesn’t like his mother and uncle being married.Now, Barnardo and Francisco and Horatio have seen the ghost who looks likke the king, but it didn’t talk to them. So they told Hamlet of what they saw. Then, Hamlet went and talked to the ghost, who told Hamlet of how Claudius killled him. He told Hamlet to get revenge and he agreed. Lastly, Laertes back to france, and Laertes and Polonius warned Ophelia of being too close with Hamlet.
Open-Ended Questions
1) After readiing ActI, what do you think the theme of the book is and why?
2) What is your opinion of Claudius, the new king?
3)If you were in Hamlets position, would you have agreed to stay with the kIng and Queen instead of going back to school, why or why not?
Act II
Act II was very interesting.Polonius sent Reynldo to france to give Laertes money and some letter, and to see how he is doing. Hamlet begins to act crazy, and Polonius thinks it’s due to his love for Ophelia, so he goes to tell the king and Queen. Meanwhile, the king and Queen sent Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to cheer Hamlet up. But, Hamlet beats around the bush about what is bothering him and he enjoys a little performance by players. Lastly, Polonius, the King and the Queen set up a plan to test whether Hamlet is really crazy over his love for Ophelia.
Open-ended Questions
1)Why do you think that Hamelt is acting crazy, all of a sudden?
2)After reading Act II, What do you think of Polonius and why?
3)What do you predict of Hamlet’s revenge plan?
Act III
In Act III Polonius and the King found out that Hamlet might not be crazy, due to his love for Ophelia, because of his attitude towards her. Then, Hamlet uesd a play to try to get the King to comfess to his crime by performing hoe he killed the late king. The King stoped the play and went to pray in his room for fogiveness. Hamlet approched his mother about her wedding his uncle, and killed Polonius, when he heard him snooping.
Open-ended Questions
1)What do you think about the Queen marrying her brother in-law?
2)If you were Hamlet, would you have killed the king while he was praying, why or why not?
3)How can Polonius’s death affect Hamlet and everyone else?
February 23, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Well just to start off, this book is so amazing so far. I really wonder what influenced Shakespeares plays. His writing is always so captivating. It constantly “reels” you in.
Act I- So this act is basically about the ghost and why he has come to Elisinore. This act was very interesting because the ghost left us all (including myself as the reader) with a cliff hanger. I say this because the ghost kept comming and going. The ghost never said anything. It was as if he were waiting for a certain person, Hamlet maybe? When Hamlet came to see for himself he went to talk with the ghost although Horatio and Macellus were scared for him to go alone. This is where Hamlet finds out how his father really dies. Although this was the first act, I believe that this was the turning point for Hamlet. I say this because this is where he realizes that he needs to finish this fight for his dead father and even more for his family. Polonious has also found out about his daughters “love”with Hamlet.
Questions for Act I:
1. Now that you have read the first act of Hamlet and having read other Shakespeare plays, what is one similarity that you find in Hamlet and in what other book has it been present?
2. In your opinion, do you think that Hamlet is ready to fight this battle although it means going against his royal family including his mother?
3. Now that we see incest within this book, if you were in Hamlets position would you be able to forgive your mother, farmore to live with her?
Act II- In this act we are introduced to Hamlets two childhood friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. They have come to make Hamlets life better. The new king has also recieved news from the ambassadors. Polonious has also brought Hamlets and his daughters issue to the King. This should also be a special time for Hamlet because he has his childhood friends and his favorite actors. Polonious also sends someone to dig up the dirt on his son and see if he is doing what he said he went to do.
Questions for Act II:
1. Being a young adult, what would you do if you were Laertes and you were to find out that your father has sent someone to dig up the dirt on you?
2. What do you think was the real cause of Hamlets craziness on Ophelia. Does this relate to the information the ghost has given him? If so state how or why?
3. Do you think that the new king (uncle-father) knows that Hamlet is aware of what really happened? Is this why he called Hamlets childhood friends?
Act III- OH MY GOSH! AWESOME! This act is my favorite so far. Polonious dies! Ha, thats what he gets for being so nosey. Hamlet is so smart for pulling off his trick with the play. He did this to get the guilt out of his uncle-father. His plan actually worked. He actually got the guilt out of his uncle-father and his mom. This act was so amazing. Shakespeare rocks!
Questions for Act III:
1. Do you think Hamlet went to far when he spoke with his mother? If so how would you make things diffeent if you were in Hamlets position?
2. Do you think that Gertrude will actually use Hamlets words as advice and try to back away from the new king?
3. What do you think Hamlet will do when he goes to England? Do you think he will actually end up going?
March 2, 2009 at 5:34 pm
ACTI
A nice intro of the book. At the beginning, the ghost, the king Hamlet of Denmark appear in front of a watchman named Horatio. king Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle, replaced King Hamlet and married Gertrude, hamlet’s mother. Because of that Hamlet doesn’t trust king Claudius. But the the new king and his wife do not understand why Hamlet his still thinking about his father’s death. Hamlet on his side thinks that it was to fast for his mother and king Claudius to get married therefore he ‘s not for the marriage of the couple. Laertes, the son of lord Chamberlain Polonius inform his sister,Ophelia, to not fal in love with young Hamlet because he will hurt her. Polonius also added that Ophelia must not pay attention to Yong hamlet cause he will use her. Hmlet meet with his father ghost and decided to follow him. He learn from the ghost that KIng Claudius poisoned his father, King Hamlet. The ghost tell Hamlet to avenge him but not hurt his mother because they can’t judge her act.
Open-ended Quesrtion:
1)What is your first impression about Hamlet?
2)What do you think about his mother? and why?
3)Do you think Hamlet want to hurt Polonius’ daughter?
ActII
Polonius sent Reynaldo to France to spy in Laertes who is at Paris. Ophelia informed her father that she mey Hamlet but he looked different. Polonius believes that odd attitude is due to his daughter rejection. But gertrude inform him that it’s because she married Kng Claudius and his father just past away.Young Hamlet on his side try to find out if what he heard from his father ghost is actually true.
Open-ended Questions:
1) Who can you compare Hamlet to in the play Othello?
2)What caused Hamlet odd behavior?
3)what do u think Hamlet has in mind?( Seun)
ACTIII
Hamlet plans a play to discover his father’s killer. Hamlet pretend that he doesn’t know about what King Claudius did to King hamlet. So he stick to the plan. Hamlet distrust Ophelia. He think that here behavior toward him is similar to his mother. Because of that Ophelia thinks this time that Hamlet is really crazy. Hamlet trying to revange his father murder Polinius, his girlfriend’s father, who he thought was Claudius. He tells his mother that two dead people his enough now and that she need to end er relationship with Claudius but doesn’t explain her why.
Open-Ended Question:
1)Why did Hamlet wanted to kill Claudius even though he was not sure about him killing his father, King Hamlet?
2)Do you think that Gertrude will end her relationship over her son?
3)Why Hamlet didn’t tell his mother the reason why he wanted to kill Claudius?