Prompt 2

   Hamlet is such a unique character, that I have no true opinion about him. I see the whole Hamlet is nuts, and is going insane, but on the other hand I see how smart and intelligent he is. Shakespeare I believe ultimately leaves it up to each individual reader to interpret Hamlet. It's their choice to decide. 

  One side that I can see being true, is that Hamlet is completely loosing his sanity after finding out about his fathers death and the way he was killed. I believe that most of our class  is leaning towards this option as we'll. For instance in Act 2 scene 1 Hamlet forces himself onto Ophelia, but doesn't say anything or follow through with actions. This is the first strange act Hamlet does. why would he do this? Did speaking with his dad's ghost just push him over the edge? 

    The other side to Hamlets character I believe is, he's doing every action with a soul purpose of fulfilling his final goal which is to kill, his step father king Claudius. I see this because even though everything is done so creepy, and almost like he's insane it all works. For instance, when he re-arranges the play to mimic the life of his mother and stepfather to see if they show guilt. That no one who is going crazy would think of such a extravagant idea.

     Hamlet is a extreme character, and I don't believe anyone has the right interpretation of him. The only person who knows what his reasonings are is Shakespeare. That's what makes him such a good writer. I'm excited to keep reading so I can fully make a decision on what type of person I think Hamlet is, but until them I'm still up in the air.

Act 2 scene 2

Act 2 scene 2 

-King Claudius tells 2 of Hamlets friends to find out about what he's doing.

-They are going to pay Rosencrantz and Guildenstern 

-Polonius even thinks Hamlet is crazy, and 

-Volteimand is asking permission to walk through Denmark to attack Poland! I

-"brevity is the soul of wit," -Polonius 

-though this be madness, yet there is method in it. -Hamlet

-"for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so" -Hamlet

-Hamlet figures out that they are being payed to be there does not trick him! 

-"what a piece if work is a man" -Hamlet

-They have a conversation about type of plays/acting. Just like a modern conversation about what the best type of music is.

-Hamlet feeds Polonius ego!

-A queen who is watching king get killed is what the play is about.

- Second of the six soliloquy 

-Hamlet starts comparing himself to others, the lines that the First player was quoting brought tears to hamlets eyes, and he blames himself for not being able to do so.

-Wants someone to call him out or keep him accountable for killing Claudius. 

-He wants to try and make his uncle and mom feel guilty by writing the script similar to the situation that's going on! 

-"the play is the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king" -Hamlet

-These are just rough notes typing them quickly in class so there are some typos! 

Act 2 scene 1

Act 2 scene 1 

Don't dishonor him but treat him like a freshman at college! 

-Polonius is telling Reynaldo to Paris to act like he knows something but he doesn't

-Polonius isn't very good man! Mumbles along to convince Reynaldo.

-"by Indirections find directions out:

-Polonius

-Ophelia gets scared about what type of frame of mind Hamlet is in.

-Hamlet could be love sick. 

-Hamlet is just acting, like he told Horatio and Marcellus don't believe anything they hear lately. 

-she could just be lying.

 I was reading Polonius so didn't get the best notes!

Act 1 scene 4

Act 1 scene 4

-It opens back where the play starts on watch awaiting the maybe arrival of hamlets father. 

-sepulcher- tomb, Vault!

-The ghost beckons hamlet to follow him! 

- They do not think he should follow him.

-Hamlet ends up following him anyway.

-"something is rotten in the state of Denmark"- Marcellus 

-They decide to follow him!

-The ghost says that he is his father spirit! 

-He is in a waiting before he go's to hell. 

-"revenge is foul and most unnatural murder." -Ghost

-He was poisoned by his brother Claudius!

- It happened so fast he didn't have a chance to make things right with god or anyone.

-Don't let this drag you down, but kill the king. 

-Let your mom live, because her guilt  will eat at her. 

-Hamlets ready to smash on his uncle "I have sworn't."   

-Hamlet doesn't tell horatio, he gives  them a very broad answer!

-"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. -Hamlet 

-"The time is out of joint: O cursed spite, That ever I was born to set it right!" -Hamlet 

Reaching out to enrich our learning

I was a little confused last night on how to reach out to other communities. Today in class I asked a question about it and it became clear to me. When I got home I started my research. First of all, I commented on a couple of blogs relating to Hamlet asking a simple question would they be willing to share any ideas on how to learn Hamlet in a more fun and enjoyable way. No reply from the blogs yet. My biggest networking experience was I emailed a professor from USC who teaches a class called 430 ENGL: Shakespeare. I asked if he or his class would be willing to work with ours, and share their ideas about Hamlet. Waiting for a response from him hopefully good news. I will keep you guys updated.

Hamlet act 2 scene 1 notes

-starts off with a long speech in front of all the kings and queens at a dinner.

-hamlets dad died pretty recent (grieving) however life is for living so we must go on! -king Claudius 

-hamlets wife re married the new king! She's queen again! 

-Claudius is the king now.

-tricks them by saying don't focus on our own problems, but yet what is out there. 

-"a little more than kin, and less than kind" -hamlet (speaks out of side of mouth)  he means there friends but don't call me son I don't really like you.

-He cleverly gives the new king a F-u 

-The king replays to Hamlet by saying it's life everyone's father dies, and also calls Hamlet peevish (childish)

-Hamlet is not describe by direct or indirect techniques, but yet he describes himself in a monologue.

-He doesn't want to kill himself, he is

Pissed. He just doesn't want to be in the situation and around the stuff going on.

-He calls his mom a hoe in the way she just. Jumped straight to her ex husbands brother after his death. 

-Once hamlet finds out about his dad's ghost he has a feeling there is some foul play going on.

Green eggs & hamlet

1) I don't really know anything about the play hamlet other then Shakespeare wrote it and that it is probably pretty boring and confusing like previous plays we have read by him.
2.) Shakespeare was one of the most famous play writers back then, and to ever live. We have read a few of his plays throughout high school. Freshman year we read Romeo and Juliet, and Sophmore year we read Julius Ceaser. I know we talked a lot about iambic parameter, and why he used this. Also, we were always told that the plays were very crude, yet never told what or where these parts could be found.
3.) I think students frown when they hear Shakespeare because he plays are so confusing and pointless. If you can tell me exactly when and why I will need to know how to write in iambic parameter then I see all the reason to learn his writings, but I can't think of any myself.
4.) To make this experience less of a drag, maybe we could read it in a version that has been translated to modern day speech.