Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Today we began class by watching a scene from Hamlet that included another version of Ophelia's scene when she goes insane. After watching the video we spent the rest of the hour completing our Act 3 and Act 4 quiz. The quiz was pretty easy, in my opinion, as long as you studied and reviewed both acts. That was all we did in class today. Also we moved the Act 5 Fishbowl to Monday, December 12th. So be sure to prepare for the fishbowl if you are in the presenting group. Our homework today was pretty much nothing, except if you are in the presenting group for the Act 5 Fishbowl. If you are in the presenting group, your homework is to do the syllabus, blog question and critical analysis for Act 5 and come prepared for the fishbowl on December 12th.

11/28/11 Scribe

11/28/11

Sean Brought Us Some Doughnuts!!!!! YOU ROCK SEAN!!!!!!

Homework

· Blog post response due Wednesday

· Huge quiz on Acts 3-4

Class work

· Fishbowl Act 4

· Everyone else did live blog

Act 4 Question

Was Shakespeare proving yet again that women are just weak and useless by showing the difference between how Ophelia and Laertes reacted to the death of their father? or Was their something else he was trying to show in this dramatic change in Laertes and Ophelia's reactions.

Hamlet Act 4 Fishbowl

Friday, November 18, 2011

Friday, November 18, 2011

In class:

Discussed Act 4 Scene 1- 4

· Honorability

· Action vs. inaction (Fortinbras, Hamlet, Laertes, Ophelia)

Read Act 4 scene 5-7

· Important events

o Ophelia drowns

o Hamlet sends letters of his plan to come back

Watched Scenes with Ophelia

HW:

· fishbowl act 4 group meet

o critical review

o syllabus

o blog question post

· Prepare for fishbowl

Monday (11/28) after break:

· In class

o Fishbowl Act 4

o Scribe

· HW

o Study for quiz act 3 and 4

o Blog Question Act 4

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Today in class,

We watched the two different films of Hamlet from the scene where Hamlet is yelling at his mother Gertrude and stabs Polonius, and compared and contrasted them.

• The first one we watched (Mel Gibson), to the class it seemed like the ghost was more "real". Also that Hamlet was much more angry with his mother and was yelling a lot more. This film also shows more incest like when Gertrude gets Hamlet to shut up by kissing him.


• The second one we watched, was more emotional, it seemed like Hamlet was much more emotional when he was talking to the ghost, other than that they were very similar.

We started reading Act 4 after that.

• We read Scene 1,2, and 3, and will finish Act 4 on Friday. If we finish Act 4 on Friday our Act 4 fishbowl will be Monday, November 28th, the Monday after Thanksgiving break, so don't forget and be prepared.

Is there a point that you believe that Hamlet has truly lost his sanity in Act 3? Or do you believe that he is still sane, and acting in a very calculated manor?

Scribe- Monday 11.14.11

Happy Monday!!

Homework:

scribe,

Fishbowl Act 3
HW: answer Act 3 blog question, fishbowl act 4 group meet- critical review, syllabus, blog question post fishbowl

Class Schedule: Today was the Act 3 Fishbowl. This took up all of class.

Presenters:
Jack, Drew, Molly, Mitch, Jere, and Ben

Discussers:

Alexa, Anna, Kati, Finlay, Olivia, and Jaden

Main Points:
-Is the ghost real, or just a figment of Hamlet's imagination?

-Is Hamlet seeking to avenge his father, or has he lost that path?

-Appearance vs. Reality

-Does the ghost of king Hamlet change his plan for Hamlet to execute?

-Is Claudius truly sorry for his evil actions?

-Does the play "the Mousetrap" show any significance through it's name or any other part?

and

-Why does Claudius want to know what the source of Hamlet's distress is?

- Side note:

The play Hamlet was written in the time of William Shakespeare's life when his son Hamnet died. The play was then written about a son losing a father rather than a father losing a son.

Hamlet Act 3 Fishbowl

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

Homework:
Fishbowl Act 3 group meet, critical review, syllabus, blog question post after fishbowl.
The Fishbowl was moved to Monday. Friday we will finish reading Act 3.

PRESENTERS:
Jack
Drew
Molly
Mitch
Jere
Ben

DISCUSSERS:
Alexa
Anna
Kati
Finlay
Olivia
Jaden

In Class:
We reviewed what we read for Act 3 on Monday. Some critical points were discussed which are as follows:

• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern report to King and Queen that they didn't figure out why Hamlet was acting so crazy (they really didn't want to betray him anymore).


• Polonius' plot to catch Hamlet failed. Hamlet told Ophelia (knowing he was being watched) that he didn't love her.


• Polonius said, "We are oft to blame in this, 'Tis too much proved, that with devotion’s visage And pious action we do sugar o'er The devil himself." This shows h0w he has a guilty conscience. The people who are the guiltiest act the most pious to cover it up.


• The most famous line, perhaps in all literature, says Smith, "To be or not to be? That is the question-" was said by Hamlet. When he says this, he gives himself three options. Though he gives himself options, none are desirable considering all have major consequences:

1. Kill himself to escape all his problems


2. Kill Claudius to "right the wrong"


3. Put up with all that is thrown his way and not do anything about it

• The scene where Hamlet approaches Ophelia when she is alone is a turning point. Hamlet says he doesn't love Ophelia anymore, questions her chastity and honesty, and asks where her father is to show her he knows what is going on. In doing this, he made Polonius and Ophelia look bad.


• We see that father figures in the play are by character destructive


• We know that Hamlet is still sane considering he asked his good friend Horatio, to watch Claudius' reaction during the play so they can compare notes. An insane man may not ask other people to confirm his suspicions.

Scribing Friday 11-4-11

Friday 11-4-11
HW: Don't Forget to blog on the question Posted by the Act 2 Presenters.*
(Blog response needs to be a well written. Everyone except the presenters needs to answer the blog.)

Fish Bowl of Act 1

My apologies on being late with apple malfunctions.

HAMLET ACT II QUESTION

What changes do we see in Hamlet in Act II? How else might he change later in the play, and will that help or hinder him?

Hamlet Act 2 Fishbowl