aim: who is shakespeare’s hamlet?
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Aim: Who is Shakespeare’s Hamlet?. Do Now: In Hamlet’s famous first line, “A little more than kin, a little less than kind,” can you explain how Hamlet plays with language? HW : Read Act 1, Scenes 3 & 4. What do Polonius, Laertes and Ophelia add to the characterization of Hamlet? - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Aim: Who is Shakespeare’s
Hamlet?Do Now: In Hamlet’s famous first line, “A little more than kin, a little less than kind,” can you
explain how Hamlet plays with language?HW: Read Act 1, Scenes 3 & 4. What do Polonius, Laertes and Ophelia add to the
characterization of Hamlet?NOTE: Exam on Act I next Tuesday,
November 26.
Shakespeare is rumored to have played the ghost of Hamlet’s father. What does the early introduction of the ghost set up for the
play? Political conflict – Young Fortinbras may want to regain lost
lands. In addition, it begins to question the stability of the new monarch. Young Hamlet is mentioned, but at the beginning of 1.2, we see that Denmark is now ruled by King Claudius…
Foreshadow – something is rotten in the state of Denmark. The use of the supernatural indicates an omen.
A product of his time – the anxiety over the transition of the throne was something Shakespeare and his contemporaries were experiencing with Queen Elizabeth. The concept of the legitimacy of the throne is an idea we see repeated throughout Shakespeare’s work during this period. (1600, 1601)
[Enter Ghost]
Opposites are examples of a language device that
recurs through the play. It is the use of ‘and’ to achieve a ‘doubling effect:
tremble and looks pale,’ sensible and true avouch,’ ‘gross and scope,’ ‘strict and most observant.’
The technical term for this use of doubling is hendiadys.
What is the purpose of this use of doubling or hendiadys? Dramatic effect Length and delay
Doubling
Prince of Denmark Around 30 years old Has been away studying Son of Gertrude and late King
Hamlet Nephew of new king, Claudius Melancholy
Hamlet – Prince of Denmark
How does Claudius bypass Hamlet to become
king? Is his throne legitimate? How does Claudius use the political conflict
with Norway to his advantage? How does Claudius characterize Hamlet’s
display of grief? What does this show about Claudius?
King Claudius – honest or devious?
This is the first of seven soliloquies that Hamlet
gives. This first speech sets up important recurring themes in the play – the notion of death and and the existential question of why do we bother?
3 Point Progression: “O that this too too solid flesh would melt,”
What is Hamlet asking for? What can’t he be granted his request?
“How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world!”
Aside of from his father’s death, what else has made Hamlet to question the world?
“Let me not think on’t! Frailty, thy name is woman!”
Hamlet’s 1st Soliloquy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kOeCahcVzQ
“Seems madam? Nay it is, I know not seems.” Hamlet seizes on Gertrude’s ‘seems’ and
insists that he is genuinely grief-stricken over the death of his father.
“Thrift, thrift, Horatio. The funeral baked meats
Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.”
Hamlet bitterly remarks, more than once, that his mother’s marriage to his uncle came in haste – under 2 months, in fact.
Hamlet’s Mommy Issues
Hamlet – grief-stricken
son of the late king King Claudius – new
King and Hamlet’s uncle Queen Gertrude –
Hamlet’s mother and King Claudius’ new wife
Horatio – friend of Hamlet, has seen the ghost of Hamlet’s father
Recap: Who have we met?
(… we’ll get to Polonius and Laertes
in 1.3)
http://youtu.be/5QQZ0fSOnhE
YouTube – This is Hamlet 1.2