notes #2. act 1 – exposition act 2 – complications (rising action) act 3 – climax act 4 –...
TRANSCRIPT
Notes #2
The Analytical Breakdown of Hamlet, Act 1
Act 1 – Exposition Act 2 – Complications (Rising Action)
Act 3 – Climax Act 4 – Reversals (Falling Action)
Act 5 – Catastrophe / Denouement (& Recognition)
5 Act Structure
The exposition includes…1. Main characters, a.k.a. dramatis personae
2. Establishment of time and place, setting
3. Explanation or allusions to the antecedent
action of the story
4. Introduction of the germ of conflict and
dramatic tensions
Act 1 – Exposition
QuestionsDarknessWAR!GhostMoodFoilOmens
“This bodes some strange eruption to our state.” – Horatio, 1.1.69
Act 1 Scene 1:
UNCERTAINT
Y!
Contrasting moodClaudius’ rhetoricIntroduction to Hamlet’s melancholy
appearance v. realityfirst soliloquy = his true feelings
Hamlet’s friends = new moodstichomythia = importance of the information
“… Foul deeds will rise Though all the earth o’erwhelm them to men’s eyes.” – Hamlet 256-257
Act 1 Scene 2:
Another mood shift: Intimate family conversation characterization of all important family dynamics
Social hierarchyLaertes = partying playerOphelia = an idealist with no powerPolonius = bumbling fool
Treatment of Women:attempts to control Opheliaexpectation of the day =obeys her father“You speak like a green girl…” (101) “Think yourself a baby…” (105)“Ay, springes to catch woodcocks” (115)
Act 1 Scene 3:
Ghost watch v. Claudius’ partyHamlet seeking truth
Foreshadows his own downfall:Vicious mole… stamp of defect… dram of
eale…Ghost beckons Hamlet he must follow
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” – Marcellus (90)
Act 1 Scene 4:
The Ghost of King Hamlet!
Suspense of entire Act leading to this scene
Ghost tells all! Do we believe him?
Hamlet’s 2nd soliloquyImportance of swearing/oathsHamlet’s plan to “put and antic
disposition on” (172)
“The time is out of joint: O cursed spite,
That ever I was born to set it right.”-- Hamlet (189-190)
Act 1 Scene 5:
Course of action becomes more complicated and the "tying of knots" occurs
Interests clash, intrigues are spawned, events accelerate in a definite direction
In other words: tension mounts and momentum builds!
Act 2: Complications
Hamlet’s Soliloquy: 9 changing moods
THE STRUCTURE OF HIS SHIFTING MOODS, PARALLELS PERFECTLY THE STRUCTURE OF THE SHIFTING EPISODES OF ACTION IN THE WHOLE SCENE!
#1: 1 – 39#2: 40 – 85#3: 86 – 168#4: 167 – 216#5: 217 – 309#6: 310 – 358#7: 359 – 520#8: 521 - 534#9: 535 - 590
Shakespeare’s Brilliance!
Scene 2: 9 Episodes
Episode:#1: 1 – 39#2: 40 – 85#3: 86 – 168#4: 167 – 216#5: 217 – 309#6: 310 – 358#7: 359 – 520#8: 521 - 534#9: 535 - 590
You will something very similar to last class…
Choose the 5-10 most important lines in your episode
Act them out dramaticallyExplain (1) the context, (2)
explain why this mini-scene is important to the complications of Act 2, but this time… (3) write two guiding questions re: this passage
Analysis & ?s With your assigned
“episode,” complete the following: