Monday, February 5
Bell ringer What was the most interesting thing to you from Act 2? Describe the moment and why it interested you. Remember to use at least 2-3 well developed sentences (should be at least 4-5 lines long in your notebook).
Bell ringer What was the most interesting thing to you from Act 2? Describe the moment and why it interested you. Remember to use at least 2-3 well developed sentences (should be at least 4-5 lines long in your notebook).
Agenda Act 2 Quiz Polonius the spy master DO: Demonstrate understanding/recall of significant passages/moments. Analyze and explain Polonius purpose. HW: Act 3 due Monday, February 12 + study guide
Quiz 1 Retake You need to schedule a time with me to complete during study hall or after school Must be completed by Friday (2/9) You only have one quiz retake
Remember to use resources Shakespeare Online has searchable text to help you find specific passages
Hamlet Act 2 Quiz Speaker = who is talking Recipient = who they are talking to Message = translate/summary Significance = what does this reveal about their character or the conflict?
Tuesday, February 6
Bell work Is Polonius good at his job? In the play, we have seen Polonius both acting as a father, as well as an advisor. Consider the events of Act 2, particularly Polonius s role as spy master: do you think he s good at his job? Why or why not?
Agenda Polonius the spy master DO: Analyze and explain Polonius purpose. HW: Act 3 due Monday, February 12 + study guide
Polonius the spy master As we watch first, consider the following: What exactly is Polonius asking Reynaldo to do? What does Reynaldo seem to want in this scene? How clear are Polonius orders? Does it matter when giving directions? What does this reveal about his character?
Ophelia s worry As we watch, consider the following: What is Hamlet doing that is so disconcerting (worrying)? What details is Ophelia focusing on? Why do you think she s focusing on these in particular? How is Ophelia responding to this new stressor?
Implications of Polonius directions Use your notes on Polonius directions to answer the following questions: 1. How is Polonius contradicting himself? 2. How would you characterize Polonius language? 3. How does this reveal Polonius character? What does he value?
Remember the plan! At the end of Act 1, Hamlet says in order to determine if Claudius is the murderer the Ghost says he is, Hamlet will act mad (crazy) in order to figure it out. How does that plan seem to be working?
Wednesday, February 7
Bell ringer: Thinking makes it so Hamlet is extremely thoughtful, but his ability to think is both a blessing and a curse. He tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Thinking makes it so ; what does he mean by this? How does thinking about something make it true? What thematic message is Shakespeare conveying?
Agenda Hamlet s madness DO: Analyze and explain characters purpose and feelings towards Hamlet s madness. HW: Act 3 due Monday, February 12 + study guide
Quiz retake reminder Deadline is Friday Need to tell me by Thursday so I can make arrangements!
Hamlet on appearances After seeing the ghost, Hamlet says: O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain!/ My tables meet it is I set it down/ That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain. At least I am sure it may be so in Demark (1.5.106-109). What is the relationship between appearances and deception, especially in Denmark?
Who s Watching Who?
Theories of Hamlet s madness/sadness At the end of Act 2 Scene 1, what is Polonius s explanation for Hamlet s behavior? What do Gertrude and Claudius think in Act 2 Scene 2? (opening speech)
Claudius and Gertrude take a crack at helping Hamlet Act 2 Scene 2 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (R&G) are Hamlet s old friends, and are brought in to help Hamlet get better What is it they re really there for? Do they have any qualms (problems) with this?
Polonius weighs in After letting the ambassadors from Norway give an update, Polonius shares his theory. How does he relate (or tell) his theory? How is it received by the king and queen? What is their plan moving forward?
I ll board him presently Polonius, that sly devil, put on his super spy moves. Is he effective in understanding Hamlet? What do we learn about both characters?
Thursday, February 8
Bell ringer a good plan? Hamlet is pretending to be mad (crazy); how good of a plan is this? Summarize why Hamlet is doing this, and what problems this has caused, or may cause in the future.
Agenda Rosencrantz and Guildenstern reconnect with Hamlet The Players come to Elsinore DO: Analyze and explain metaphors to determine meaning. Evaluate the Player s purpose in coming to Elsinore. Evaluate allusions to determine meaning. HW: Act 3 due Monday, February 12 + study guide
Recap Why are R & G at Elsinore? How do Claudius and Gertrude take the news of Polonius s theory? What do Polonius and Hamlet discuss? Does Polonius have suspicions?
The gang s back together! Compare his conversation with Polonius now with R&G. He starts off honestly, and doesn t appear to be faking it with them But, Denmark s a prison, and Hamlet has a feeling his friends were sent for. How do they answer? How does this change the conversation?
Were you sent for? In partners, look at Hamlet s insistence regarding this question, and how R&G respond. Why would Hamlet need them to admit to this so badly?
I will tell you why (2.2.301-319) According to Hamlet, why are R&G here to spy on him? How does this compare to what Claudius and Gertrude told them?
Crazy to Polonius, depressed to his friends Hamlet s madness seems inconsistent to our 21 st century eyes; he is erratic to Polonius (and perhaps delusional), but with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern he discusses his depression (which has the seed of truth). So is Hamlet mad? Are any genuine symptoms coming through? Why would he present two different types of madness?
Denmark s a prison While happy to see R&G, Hamlet wonders what brings them to Elsinore, and his questioning reveals his attitude towards his home
2.2.242-262 Hamlet introduces an extended metaphor of a prison; for what purpose?
The Players (actors) A traveling group of actors has come to put on a play at Elsinore Castle What does Hamlet ask the Player to do? What type of monologue does he present? (hint: it deals with the Trojan War)
Quote 3 Significance example Claudius is talking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about Hamlet s troubles. He orders them to spy on him and try and cheer him up to get t out of this deep state of depression. This does show that Claudius wants to force this sadness out of Hamlet as quick as possible by ordering his old friends to spy on him.
Friday, February 9
Bell ringer Write a detailed reflection on the week addressing the following questions: How have you been doing on the reading? How far are you currently in Act 3? Do you feel like you re doing better than last week? If you re doing well, what s helping? If you re struggling, what s going on?
Agenda Act 2 Scene 2 Hamlet s soliloquy DO: Analyze and explain purpose and significance in Shakespeare. HW: Act 3 due Monday