Blog Post Due 1/31

1. Read and annotate the Gertrude essay

----For Period 3 - I forgot to give you the essay, you can find it here: http://tinyurl.com/4fvv3cg

----If you still can't get it, google: "The Character of Hamlet's Mother" -Carolyn Heilbrun

2. Write an AP style thesis prompt to which you can imagine Heilbrun (author of the essay) was responding.

Steps 1 and 2 do not require a response on the blog

3. Write a thesis response to the following prompt:

Consider Hamlet's internal conflict as it is expressed in the Act II, scene ii soliloquy. Much of his meaning is in the patters created by the diction, the rehetorical questions, the catalogue of self-directed insults, and the imagery; none of which elicits an answer to his conflict. How do these patterns lead to Hamlet's short-term solution to his conflict?

4. Find two 3-4 line (only) pieces of evidence that you think will be perfect for supporting your thesis statement.

Steps 3 and 4 will be answered/posted on the blog.

Good luck with the rest of finals!

-RMH

GAH!

I don't feel like time-wise I should have you attack this prompt with just a day's notice (though 80% of you do it night before anyway), so no blog prompt.

Make sure to bring your journals, we're turning them in tomorrow!

Best,

RMH

Claudius, Gertrude, and King Hamlet

As written by Mr. Duncan...

Hamlet draws his general condemnation of women's fidelity from his mother Gertrude's "incestuous" marriage with the despised Claudius. I think we can assume that the Prince never cared much for his uncle, but by now he has grown to hate the man who replaced his idolized and adored father both as King and as husband to Gertrude.
The Ghost complains of "my most seeming-virtuous Queen," who fell for the blandishments of an "adulterate beast" of a brother whose "witchcraft of wit" and "traitorous gifts" stole her heart and loyalty away. Young Hamlet also takes a share in the Ghost's assessment of Claudius: a satyr in comparison with the Hyperion that was King Hamlet.

Let's examine the evidence in the play to build a character study of the late King of Denmark. Look at the Ghost's words, Horatio's dialogue with Marcellus, Hamlet's private thoughts in his first soliloquy and brief exchange with Horatio…etc. What sort of man, King, husband and father was King Hamlet?
Look then at what you know of Claudius beyond Hamlet's disdain and loathing: what qualities in him attracted Gertrude in the first place, and why? Why did she not adore King Hamlet as his son did?

This will take some thought. You might be smart to make a first entry assessing King Hamlet, then return a day later and post a comment on Gertrude and Claudius.

For Tuesday...

...I was disappointed with the amount of reading that was accomplished before our meeting on Friday. It is ridiculous to try and discuss the work at a thematic level if you don't have at least a rudimentary understanding of the plot beforehand.

You might be disappointed too if it's not completely read by Tuesday.

That is all, no blog post.

Best,

RMH

Blog Prompt due 1/7

Pretty simple really and your workload will depend on who gets to the blog first.

1. Two interesting (yeah, "dead" doesn't count) biographical facts about Shakespeare that weren't on the board (that shouldn't be very hard).

2. Two historical, demographic, and/or political facts about England (not Germany) from 1550-1650.

That's it!

-RMH

Drat!

Period 7! - your timed write scores from the first HOD timed write didn't save in the computer so I need to recollect them next time. Make sure you bring them and Hamlet (this goes for both classes)!

Best,

RMH