OCT 2-3 – LIT – INTRO TO HAMLET

Agenda Discussion – HW

Questions Notes: Background

of Hamlet Journal Assignment Act 1: Scene 1 (I:i)

Homework Journal I:i

Take Out: Pen/Pencil Notebook Homework reading

& response

HOMEWORK QUESTIONS

Recently, the movie Anonymous about the mystery of Shakespeare’s identity. What other examples from movies, TV, music, or popular culture (e.g., advertising, art, sports, fashion, etc.) are you of aware of that directly or indirectly rely on Shakespeare’s work?

The New York Times article was published over a decade ago. To what extent does the writer’s argument still ring true, particularly within the context of life in 2013?

What has your own experience been with Shakespeare? Write a little about the interactions (positive, negative, or somewhere in-between) you have had with his work in or out of school.

THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARKBackground information

SET

TIN

G

Denmark (Northern Europe)

During the late medieval period (1300-1500)

DENMARK AND THE ORESUND

KRONBORG CASTLE – HELSINGOR, DENMARK

THE CASTLE

From 1429 to 1857, ships passing through the Sound (Oresund) had to pay dues. This was the main route between Western Europe and the Baltic Sea.

To consolidate his power, King Erik of Pomerania erected a castle, the Hook, near Elsinore. In return for the dues, he kept the Sound free of pirates.

The castle was later re-named Kronborg.

THE HISTORY

Shakespeare’s tragedy is based on a Danish story that dates back to Saxo’s chronicle, Gesta Danorum, written around 1200 and printed in 1514.

The brutal story centers on the brothers Orvendil and Fengi, who rule over Jutland under the reign of King Rorik of Denmark.

Orvendil wed the King’s daughter Geruth, and later she gave birth to a son, Amleth.

Saxo describes how Fengi murders Orvendil and marries his brother’s widow.

It is unlikely Shakepeare read the original chronicle, but the story of the Danish prince (Amleth) who avenged his father was read and embellished throughout Europe in the 1500s.

THE NAME KRONBORG IS NOT MENTIONED IN THE PLAY, BUT THE EVENTS TAKES PLACE AT THE “CASTLE OF ELSINORE.” BUT HOW DID SHAKESPEARE COME TO HEAR ABOUT KRONBORG? THERE IS MUCH DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT HE HAD BEEN TO IT HIMSELF.

It is known that some of the actors who later joined his theatre troupe performed at Kronborg in 1585 and 1586. And in the 1590s, there are several years in Shakespeare’s life where his whereabouts are unaccounted for.

CAST OF CHARACTERS…

HAMLET

Prince of Denmark Title

character/protagonist Son of Gertrude and

“Old Hamlet” Nephew of Claudius Indecisive, hesitant,

bitter

CLAUDIUS

Brother of “Old Hamlet”/uncle to Hamlet

New King (after death of Hamlet’s father/”Old Hamlet”)

Play’s antagonist Married to Gertrude

(his brother’s wife!)

HORATIO

(on the right)

Hamlet’s best friend Studied with him at

college (in Wittenberg)

Loyal and helpful to Hamlet throughout the play

POLONIUS

Advisor to Claudius (the King)

Father of Laertes and Ophelia

LAERTES

(he’s in the white fencing gear)

Son of Polonius Brother of Ophelia Impulsive; passionate

OPHELIA

Daughter of Polonius Sister of Laertes Hamlet’s girlfriend Sweet, innocent, easily

manipulated

GERTRUDE

Queen of Denmark Recently married

Claudius (after the death of her husband, “Old Hamlet”)

Loving Mother of Hamlet

ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN

Friends of Hamlet’s from college

Summoned to Denmark by Hamlet’s parents (Gertrude and Claudius) to find the cause of Hamlet’s strange behavior

FORTINBRAS

Prince of Norway Father was killed by

Hamlet’s father (“Old Hamlet”)

Wants to attack Denmark to avenge his father’s death

MENTALITY OF HAMLET

Born Catholic Structure and Rigidity

16th Century – Time of Change English reformation – Henry VIII Protestant Uprising – Martin Luther Heliocentrism – Copernicus

Great Chain of Being Elizabethan belief system Hierarchy of EVERYTHING Based on Geocentrism and Religion

THEMES relationships

between father and son, mother and son

love relationships power wielding madness, feigned

madness youth and age Certainty and

uncertainty

action and inaction corrupt power and

power corrupting the existence of a

god a hero’s struggle

with two opposing forces: moral integrity and the need to avenge his father’s death

Predestination (fate) vs. Free will

JOURNAL

The journal must be completed for EACH scene of the play (unless otherwise stated)

Each entry consists of answers to THREE of the prompts

You may select which prompts to respond to, but you should try to rotate through them to think about the text in different ways

You need to make sure that you keep up to date with the journal assignments, and bring it (physically) to school with you to facilitate class discussion

ACT I, SCENE I – INTERRUPTED READING You will begin your reading of Hamlet by

reading Act 1: Scene 1 aloud in a group of four The characters are Barnardo, Marcellus, Horatio,

and Francisco(who will also read the italics/stage directions)

As you go, pause your reading to interpret the text, annotate, and ask questions – this is an EXPECTATION

Remember, this is a PLAY – the roles are meant to be ACTED OUT, not read like a robot