Excerpt from The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark by ...
HAMLET: AN INSIDER’S GUIDE Introduction to the tragedy.
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Transcript of HAMLET: AN INSIDER’S GUIDE Introduction to the tragedy.
HAMLET: AN INSIDER’S GUIDE
Introduction to the tragedy
INSIDER’S GUIDE: FOLGERS’S LIBRARY
Watch the Folger’s Shakespeare Library
introduction to Hamlet. It’s a quick summary that
guides us through the play. Beware that it gives
away the play’s secrets.
What do you think the narrator means when he
says that we “know more of the language” than we
think? Why do you think the play has become so
central to our culture’s idea of revenge?
CHOOSE A QUOTE
http://
www.folger.edu/documents/HamletQuotesPhrases.pd
f
Choose a quote from the “Key To Famous Lines and
Phrases” for your group.
The idea is to play with language – don’t worry
about knowing the context of the quote (or even
what it means, exactly!).
Watch the video called
“Is that your sandwich?”
“IS THAT YOUR SANDWICH?”
Write down your line on a sheet of
paper.
Paraphrase the line completely (don’t
leave out any words!). Do this the best
you can!
Read the line in many different ways
(just like in the video).
List some of the possible meanings of
the quote (3).
What adjectives can be used to
describe the line based on the different
kinds of meanings you discovered
above?
OBJECTIVES
In the theatre, an objective refers to that thing a character/actor wishes to
accomplish at a particular point in the play. Sometimes this is called a “beat” of
action. The important thing to note is that an objective is driven by action -- by an
active verb -- and that an objective must be something an actor can accomplish.
Examples: • I wish to gain my mother’s consent• I want to prevent my brother from getting angry
Note that the structure of these sentences are very simple: a subjects wants to do
something and get a specific, measurable response.
Objectives like these aren’t just invented; they are suggested by a close reading of
the text, Shakespeare or otherwise. Often, in rehearsal, actors test objectives against
the text to see what makes the best sense.
TACTICS
Tactics are those devices we use to aid in the attaining of our
objectives. So, for example, if the objective is, “I wish to gain
my mother’s consent,” the actor can choose “to flatter,” “to
threaten,” “to annoy.” These verbs are the helpers to the
success of attaining your objective.
How are you going to get your objective to happen?
OBJECTIVES & TACTICS
Now, come up with several objectives and tactics
for your quote – write each down (at least three!) on
your piece of paper.
PERFORMANCE
Working with your group -- your scene partners -- imagine
a scenario and stage your quote.
It doesn’t matter at this point whether what you stage has
anything to do with the play.
Your goal is to perform your quote using one objective and
tactic from your list in a situation of your own creation.
Take some risks and chance, and have fun with what you
come up with.