To the end now!!!

Our plan to the end:

This week we work on Hamlet projects.

Week of 4/24 - Hamlet Project Presentations
         M - work day    T - Mattie    W - Sarah   Block - Zoe & Grace

Week of 5/1 - Work week for the Teach-a-Play Project
        M - Brie presents Hamlet project

Week of 5/8 - Present Teach-a-Play Projects
       M - Grace Much Ado About Nothing
       T - Sarah  Twelfth Night
       W - Zoe A Midsummer Night's Dream 
       Block - Brie  Antony and Cleopatra
       Block - Mattie Othello

Week of 5/15 - Dead Week. Time to memorize your 2 sonnets OR a soliloquy of your choice.

Week of 5/22 - Finals. Your final is a performance of your chosen sonnets or soliloquy. Put your own spin on the interpretation and performance of the piece.

Hamlet Projects are up!!!

Ladies, here are the Hamlet Projects just in case you want to jump ahead

Below is a list of project ideas.  Choose your projects so that their value adds up to 100 points.

Creative Writing:  

• 50 pts. Autobiography— Write a 3-5 page autobiography of one of the characters (as though you are the character)
•  25 pts. Resume/Cover letter—McDonalds is hiring employees for several positions.  Three characters from the play are applying.  Each of the three (in your voice) needs to write a cover letter addressing “your” strengths and skills.  Also, each of the three will write a resume, being sure to list skills and experience.   Specify for what job each is applying.  These documents need to be formatted properly.  Look up proper techniques.
•  50 pts. Pick a character from Hamlet and pick a character from any other novel or Shakespearean play you have read.  Describe a meeting between the two of them (where and when and how it would take place) and write forty lines of dialogue between them.
• 50 pts. Autobiography— Write a 3-5 page autobiography of one of the characters (as though you are the character.)

Art:

• 25 pts. Caricatures-draw caricatures of two characters, exaggerating the most noticeable physical characteristics and personality traits of each. (Note- this project can be done more than once. So you could get 50 pts for two characters, etc…)
•  25 pts. Interior Design—you have been hired to “decorate” a private room of Elsinore Castle.  Choose a color scheme and the artwork that truly “represents” the atmosphere or owner of the room.  The artwork can be from any time period.  Each room should have at least two pieces of art.  Your designs can be drawn, painted, created as a model (think shoe box) or done on the computer. (This project can be done more than once too.)
• 50 pts. Board game/Computer game-create a board game or computer game based on the characters and events of the play.  Include clearly written instructions on how to play.  For a board game, include a board and playing pieces.  The game should “teach” what happens in the play.

Media Performance:

• 75 pts. A Video Production- For this project you must pick a few scenes and script, shoot, and edit the film. You must include one of the major soliloquys from the play. Consider costumes, music and who you’d like to recruit. I can give up to two people full credit for this project with a director role and an editor role. Actors from any of my classes can receive extra credit.
• 50 pts. Evening News-film the evening news special that would occur at the end of the play.  You will probably need the following: anchorman, on-scene reports, cameramen, witnesses.

Combination Projects:

•   25 pts. Mental Health Issues—research Hamlet or Ophelia’s mental condition.  Provide a diagnosis and then prescribe a course of treatment.  Projects can be presented via Power point or in written article form. (You can gain 50 pts. if you do both characters.)
• 50 pts. CD Case Design and Music Selection-create a CD with ten songs as either a soundtrack or a mixtape given from Hamlet to Ophelia.  Each song should have a 1/2-page explanation of why you chose that song. (or 25 pts. for five songs)

Analysis

• 25 pts. A Lot Like Me - Which character is most like you? Why? Your explanation should be around two pages.  Remember to describe the character well.  Give evidence – examples of things the character has done or said that support your description.  Also, give evidence of what it is about you that is similar to the character—these might be examples of things you have said and done.
• 25 pts. Take Home Theme – Write your own final thoughts about the thematic meaning or just your final thoughts about the beauty of this play. This 2-3 page analysis should include a personal reflection with specific references to the play.

*** Want to propose another idea? Text or email me. 831/454-6483***

            (I may not check the email if you don’t text me J)

***All of these projects will be presented.  You must be able to explain any choices you made to the group. ***

Block Day, April 6 ~ There's the rub...

Taming of the Shrew Comparison Papers due

Today we should discuss the play, get tea, and maybe read a little outside.




Break HW: Journals for the rest of Hamlet (These will help us to discuss the play in more detail upon return.)

J10 - Act 4
4.1 What is Claudius's main fear in the immediate aftermath of Polonius' death?  What does this say about him?
4.2 no questions
4.3 What image does Hamlet use (ll. 19-29) to warn Claudius he's only king temporarily?  What statement is Shakespeare making about royalty and people in general? 
4.4 Hamlet's soliloquy (ll. 32-66) is self-critical; summarize his main fault.  What conclusion does he come to?  Do you think it will change his behavior?
4.5 Ophelia's songs during her first appearance in 4.5 deal with love, death and sex. Why? What do they tell us about her at this moment? Also, what do we learn about Laertes in this scene? 
4.6 Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet explaining how he escaped from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. His actions show what evidence about his changed personality?  
4.7 Considering what’s happened up to this point, Ophelia’s behavior, and Gertrude’s report of events, do you think Ophelia is responsible for what happens to her?  Explain. 
______________________________________________________
J11 - Act 5
5.1 The two clowns/gravediggers are comic relief, but how do parts of their conversation make sense?
5.2
a. You decide – why does Gertrude drink the wine?  [If it’s on purpose, why?  If it’s an accident, does the result have any meaning?]
b. What's the significance of Laertes final speech (5.2. 359-363)?
c. How is Claudius’s death twice poetically just? 

After Act 5 All three sons avenge the deaths of their fathers, but who does it best?  What is wrong with the approach used by the other two?  What do you think is Shakespeare’s message here?

Wednesday, April 5 ~ Hamlet Act 3

Discuss Act 2

Journal 9: Hamlet Act 3 Questions
3.1. After Hamlet’s argument with Ophelia (3.1.96-162),
    a. What does Ophelia think the state of Hamlet’s sanity is? What does this say about her?
    b. What does Claudius think the state of Hamlet’s sanity is? What does this say about him?
    c. What does Polonius think the state of Hamlet’s sanity is?  What does this say about him

3.2.Hamlet and Guildenstern have a fierce argument about playing a recorder, which is a kind of flute. What does the recorder symbolize?  What is Hamlet doing at this point?

3.3 Why doesn’t Hamlet kill Claudius in this scene?  How do Claudius’s last lines in the scene make Hamlet’s decision painfully ironic?

3.4  Analyze Gertrude: What is she thinking when she says, "As kill a king?" and also, what do you think she is thinking, feeling, and planning immediately after this scene?

After reading Act 3: Gertrude never gets a soliloquy, but if she did, what do you think she would reveal?

Tuesday, April 4 ~ Hamlet 2.2

Discuss Hamlet 2.1 and continue working through Scene 2 and J8.

Note: We should read the Fishmonger scene (2.2.1170-218) and his monologue at the end.

Monday, April 3 ~ Hamlet, Act 2

Welcome back Thespians! How did it go?

Discuss the rest of Act 1.

HW: Read Act 2.1 & begin J8

Journal 8: Act 2
2.1
1. Describe Polonius' character considering his speech style and his instructions to Reynaldo.
2. What do you make of Hamlet's behavior? How would you explain his actions at this point?

2.2
3. What reason for refusing Hamlet does Polonius say he gave to Ophelia? (2.2.150-151) Why do you think he gives Gertrude and Claudius a different reason than he gave Ophelia?
4. Is Hamlet's speech in 2.2.327-333 simply for the benefit of Rosencrantz and Guidenstern to overhear or is it sincere? If it is sincere, describe what he is expressing.
5. Hamlet's second soliloquy (2.2.576-634) is about a month after he has spoken with the ghost. Do you think his self criticism is accurate? Also, why do you think he doubts the ghost?

After reading Act 2
6. What do you think of Polonius as a father?
7. Do you think Hamlet is really going mad or is he just acting? Explain with at least three examples from the text.