Hamlet assignment 2022
Hamlet assignment 2022
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Option 1: Choose your own Hamlet
Option 1: Choose your own Hamlet
Option 2: Character Sketch
Option 2: Character Sketch
One of the many reasons that Hamlet still fascinates audiences, actors and directors today is because there are so many ways to interpret it. There are BIG questions (is Hamlet crazy?) and smaller ones (why does Polonius keep hiding behind things, for goodness' sake?). Pull together your understanding of the play: create your own Hamlet by answering some/ most/ all of the questions in the play. You can decide how to do this - infographic? flow chart? essay? storyboard? conversation with Ms Potts? Whatever you do, you need to use the play itself (actual lines) to support your choices.
Remember: the goal is that you pause & put together your own understanding of the play, taking the pieces & creating a whole that hangs together. In other words, as always, the goal is learning.
Does the ghost appear physically in Act 1 or does the audience just hear its voice?
How old is Hamlet? 17? 25? 30? (read this for ideas)
Claudius: believes he overthrew a bad king or did it for power and lust?
Gertrude: had an affair with Claudius (aka really loved him)? married him out of necessity? how does she feel about him after Act 3?
Polonius: loony old man or scheming courtier?
Sullied flesh or solid flesh? (I.2)
Hamlet & Ophelia: they definitely had some sort of relationship. Was he just kind of fooling around with her? Did he love her? Does he still? Did they sleep together? What makes you say this?
Nunnery scene: Does Hamlet knows they're spying on him from the beginning? the middle? the end? Or maybe he never knows? Your answer may influence what you think is happening in his relationship with Ophelia: is he breaking up with her? protecting her?
Ophelia: "accidental" drowning because of insanity or suicide?
Does Hamlet actually go crazy or is he pretending right to the end? If he does go crazy, when?
Gertrude: knows the drink is poisoned & drinks anyway or is an unsuspecting victim?
I'm sure there are more. I'll keep adding - or send me your ideas!
Below (scroll down a bit) is a document with character-based questions. It's a lot, so take a deep breath & don't get overwhelmed. FOCUS on your own ideas.
Finally, here's an exemplar:
Choose Your Own Hamlet Exemplar
Create a character sketch for each of the following characters: Hamlet, Claudius, Ophelia, Polonius, Laertes, Gertrude. Your characters sketches will be written. Feel free to actually sketch the characters, but the writing part is key.
Addition: You may choose to analyse & respond to the AI-generated sketches found in the Google Classroom. In this case, you will need to agree/ disagree/ make changes and provide evidence of your reasoning.
What is a character sketch? Here’s a definition:
The primary purpose of a character sketch is to inform, but it can also impress or entertain the reader or praise the subject. . . . The facts, traits, idiosyncrasies and accomplishments of the subject provide the fabric of the character sketch. Anecdotes and quotes are also helpful in portraying the subject. You can stress the subject's personality, appearance, character or accomplishments.
(R.E. Myers, Figures of Speech: A Study and Practice Guide. Teaching & Learning Company, 2008)
Guiding questions are below on the left AND in the Google Classroom.
Option 3: Scene Analysis
Option 3: Scene Analysis
How to start:
Review these materials (scroll down to the slides about the Cinematic Aspects of Film) - or use my less fancy version here - on the cinematic and theatrical codes and conventions of film (e.g., camera shots, angles and framing; editing choices; sound/music; lighting/colour; setting and props; costumes and make-up; casting and acting choices--facial expression, body language and blocking, delivery of lines).
Review your notes on the scene from Hamlet to be viewed.
View the selected scene, paying close attention and making jot notes about the technical aspects of the scene that convey meaning.
View the scene a second time, adding more detail to your notes and zeroing in on elements that seem to be key to the director’s interpretation/vision of Hamlet.
Task:
Analyze this media text by carefully identifying two significant choices made by the film director.
Briefly identify the scene, then clearly name the cinematic and/or theatrical codes and conventions involved with those choices and explain how they foreground specific ideas, topics or themes central to this particular director’s interpretation of Hamlet.
Conclude the analysis with a few comments on how effective the director’s choices are in terms of both engaging the viewer and representing a reading of Hamlet that makes sense to you.
Write out your analysis in thoughtful, well-developed paragraph form (approx. 300-400 words) with effective sentence structure, transitions, and vocabulary.
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