Author: cara oconnor

English Faculty Casual Lesson

Date:
21st May 2012

Period:
2

Class:
12 E 1

Day:
Monday

Room:
31

Teacher:
O’Connor

Lesson Outcome / Explain how Hamlet can be said to be obsessed with words and thinking. / Identify and explain the quotes/evidence from the play that supports this.	Lesson Outline / Mark roll / Read handout to students. / Assist them to complete the questions and summary / Check they have completed their work and sign off on it / Class trivia.
Homework / Students compose ONE pimped paragraph that argues that Hamlet is obsessed with words and thinking, using evidence and quotes from the play and also including literary or dramatic techniques.	Do Now

Texts/Equipment Needed:
Roll
Handouts / Pens / Books
Whiteboard markers
Hamlet plays

Beginning of lesson checklist:

BBC on board / Mark the roll	send roll to the front office

End of lesson checklist:

Furniture tidied / Rubbish cleaned up / Orange late slip completed and sent to Rolls Office / Whiteboard cleaned / Books returned to staffroom	Worksheets collected / Lights and fans turned off / Keys and resources returned / Windows and door locked

Comments:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Teacher: ________________

Lesson 1 - Hamlet Interpretations
Monday, 21st May 2012

One difficulty in interpreting Hamlet arises out the intimate nature of the obstacles that confront the hero. Most of the conflict Hamlet must overcome results from his internal struggle*, not from external obstacles*. Critics argue that Hamlet’s inability to make up his mind makes him a tragic figure. Truthfully, however, Hamlet’s “wild and whirling words” are the culprits that imprison him. Hamlet must find a way to turn his ideas - the persevering words that never allow him silence* - into action. In Hamlet, words control the hero to the end - until he knows he is dead and can end the discussion and finally act. Like a composer who hears music playing incessantly in his head, Hamlet struggles to swim through a constant stream of words to his death, where he sighs that, “The rest is silence.”
What evidence can you find of Hamlet’s ‘internal struggle’? ( 4 minimum)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What evidence can you find of Hamlet’s ‘external obstacles’? (4 min)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Find 3 quotes from the play that support the idea that Hamlet is constantly bombarded by ‘words’ and/or ‘thinking’.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Summarise what interpretation you get from reading this passage.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 1 - Hamlet Interpretations
Monday, 21st May 2012 ANSWERS

One difficulty in interpreting Hamlet arises out the intimate nature of the obstacles that confront the hero. Most of the conflict Hamlet must overcome results from his internal struggle*, not from external obstacles*. Critics argue that Hamlet’s inability to make up his mind makes him a tragic figure. Truthfully, however, Hamlet’s “wild and whirling words” are the culprits that imprison him. Hamlet must find a way to turn his ideas - the persevering words that never allow him silence* - into action. In Hamlet, words control the hero to the end - until he knows he is dead and can end the discussion and finally act. Like a composer who hears music playing incessantly in his head, Hamlet struggles to swim through a constant stream of words to his death, where he sighs that, “The rest is silence.”
What evidence can you find of Hamlet’s ‘internal struggle’? ( 4 minimum)
1) Hamlet struggles with the moral implications of his quest. He realises he must fulfil the request of the ghost, but he is acutely aware that murdering his uncle constitutes a sinful act. His fear that this action is wrong paralyses him and prevents him from fulfilling it. His moral, Christian beliefs add to his internal struggle.
2) Also, he internally struggles with the deceptiveness of the court. We see in the Gibson film version that Hamlet knows of Ophelia and Polonius’ deceit and betrayal. “Where is your father?” He can not do anything about the degrading values of the court and this frustrates him to the extreme internally.
3) Hamlet’s obsession with ‘words’ and thinking leaves him feeling confused and frustrated, especially as ‘action’ is prized and celebrated in his world. All others around him can spring to action - Claudius, Laertes, Fortinbras, even Polonius and Gertrude, yet he is the only one who fails to act. His words immobilise him and he agonises over what he perceives as cowardice because he cannot stop himself from thinking. Consider the Brannagh film version - he emphasises the phrase, “words” in his second soliloquy to exemplify his frustration and irritation.
What evidence can you find of Hamlet’s ‘external obstacles’? (4 min)
1) Claudius is his main external obstacle. He cannot really kill the rightful monarch of Denmark, for to do so would be committing high treason and essentially condemn Hamlet to hell. Everyone else in Denmark believes Claudius is the rightful king, and that Hamlet Senior died from a snake bite; Hamlet doesn’t really have a leg to stand on. He is still a Prince, but must follow the orders of the monarchs.
2) Hamlet vows to affect madness - “put antic disposition on” - to wear a mask that will enable him to observe the interactions in the court, but he finds himself more confused than ever. By acting mad, some critics have argued he really does go mad.

Lesson 1 - Hamlet Interpretations
Monday, 21st May 2012 ANSWERS

Hamlet’s other external obstacle is Ophelia. He says he “did love her once” but now cannot trust or believe her. Ophelia’s deceit is the final straw; he has no-one he can turn to, for the whole court is against him.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are the other obstacles. Hamlet quickly becomes aware that they are at court to spy on him and report back to the King and Queen. They are another hurdle for Hamlet to jump over and manipulate, as he attempts to cognitively and emotionally deal with all the issues going on at court.
Find 3 quotes from the play that support the idea that Hamlet is constantly bombarded by ‘words’ and ‘thinking’.
Hamlet says to Polonius: “Words, words, words.”
Hamlet in his second soliloquy says, “unpack my heart with words”.
Horatio: “These are but wild and whirling words, my lord.”
Claudius: “My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to heaven go.”
GertrudeL “O, speak to me no more! These words like daggers enter in my ears.”
Hamlet: “Thinking too precisely on th’ event...Oh, from this time forth, My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!”
Summarise what interpretation you get from reading this passage.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 1 - Hamlet Quick Trivia
Monday, 21st May 2012

Class to get into teams of 4.
Ten questions. 1 point for each answer. They CANNOT use their plays or their notes. Only their memory/background knowledge.
What were the names of the two messengers sent to Norway at the beginning of the play?
Voltimand and Cornelius.
Who do the messengers see in Norway?
Fortinbras’ sick and bed-ridden uncle.
What is the name of the university that Hamlet attends?
Wittenberg.
Where is this university?
Germany.
Where does Laertes go to school?
France.
What is the name of the royal castle where the play is set?
Elsinore.
Who are the three guards on duty in the beginning of the play?
Marcellus, Barnardo and Francisco.
What is the name of the servant Polonius sends to spy on Laertes?
Reynaldo
Polonius says to his son before he leaves, “Neither a borrower nor a ______________ be.”
lender
Who says this quote, “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”?
Marcellus