Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Today, we will read Act 1 of A Doll's House. Remember taht your novel study map and questions are due on Monday. You will also write a book review on your independent novel in-class on Monday as well.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Today, we will read Act 1 of A Doll's House. There will then be questions that you will answer.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Today, we finished the notes on A Doll's House and reviewed Act 1. You also created a visual of the stage.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Today, I will introduce our Modern Drama unit. You will get the text On Stage 3 and we will discuss changes between the modern era and that of Shakespearean theatre. I will also introduce the play A Doll's House.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Today, you will write your critical analytical essay using Hamlet as your evidence.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Today, you will write your Shakespearean comprehension exam (M.C.). Your essay exam on Hamlet will take place on Monday. Be sure to study.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Today, we will finish watching Hamlet. We will then mark the Act 2 questions that were handed in on May 9 (so you get them back for study purposes). You have your Shakespeare M.C. exam tomorrow as well. I will hand out a practice reading to familiarize you with these. You will also have your essay exam on Monday so you need to be VERY familiar with the play. To prepare, pull out the sheet of previously used exam questions and work through them in relation to the play. It really does help to create an outline (as we did when we worked one on one) and follow it, being sure to address the QUESTION.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Today, you wrote your exam on Hamlet. We will then watch the film Hamlet (the one starring Mel Gibson). The reason for watching this after the exam is to ensure that the differences do not sway you in your answers. The reason for watching this at all is to ensure that you have an "ear" for Iambic pentameter. Once we finish this film, you will do a Shakespearean Readings comprehension and an essay on the play itself.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
We finished reading Hamlet today. There are two questions you need to answer (presented below). These are to be handed in on Tuesday at the BEGINNING of class.
You will also have a quiz on the play itself on Tuesday.
1. Revenge: in addition to Hamlet, what other characters in this play seek revenge?
Who, why, and how? What is the outcome?
2. Madness: Is Hamlet really “mad” or is he faking it? Pick a side and defend it with evidence.
You will also have a quiz on the play itself on Tuesday.
1. Revenge: in addition to Hamlet, what other characters in this play seek revenge?
Who, why, and how? What is the outcome?
2. Madness: Is Hamlet really “mad” or is he faking it? Pick a side and defend it with evidence.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Today, we finished Act 4 of Hamlet (page 271). Tomorrow, we will start on Act 5.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Today, we read Act Three of Hamlet(p. 133) up to page 163 (when the player king falls asleep). You also had to hand in your questions from Act Two.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Today, we will carry on with our reading of Hamlet. You will finish reading Act 2, from pages 115 to 127. You will then answer the following questions:
English 30
Hamlet: Act 2 Questions for Study
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer these on a separate sheet of paper.
Act 2
Scene 1:
1. At the opening of this scene, where is Polonius sending Reynaldo?
2. Why does Polonius send him on this journey?
3. By what trick is Reynaldo supposed to get information about Laertes?
4. What does this reveal about Polonius's character?
5. How would you describe the effect of Polonius's rambling speech to Reynaldo in lines 50-67?
6. How does Ophelia describe Hamlet's appearance to her?
7. What is Polonius's conclusion about Hamlet?
Scene 2:
8. At the beginning of scene 2, for whom has Claudius sent?
9. Why has he sent for them?
10. What news do Voltimand and Cornelius bring back from Norway?
11. In lines 76-80, what request does Norway make of Claudius?
12. What is humorously ironic about Polonius saying, "Brevity is the soul of wit"?
13. In lines 158-165, what plan is formed to test Polonius's hypothesis that Hamlet is mad from rejected love?
14. Hamlet calls Polonius a "fishmonger". Why?
15. In lines 204-209, what does Polonius say about the contrast between madness and sanity?
16. Why does Hamlet tell Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that "Denmark's a prison"?
17. In lines 293-310, what reason does Hamlet give to his friends for his current condition?
18. According to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, why are the players traveling?
19. Hamlet realizes that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern cannot be trusted. What does he let them know in lines 376-377?
20. Why does Hamlet call Polonius "Jephthah" in line 407?
21. In lines 447-515, Hamlet and the First Player recite lines from a play. This play tells how Pyrrhus slays the Trojan king Priam to avenge his father's murder. How is Hamlet like Pyrrhus? How is he unlike Pyrrhus?
22. In lines 531-539, what two questions does Hamlet ask the First Player?
23. What causes Hamlet to exclaim, "O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!"?
24. In the passage beginning with line 586, what plan does Hamlet devise?
25. In lines 596-601, why does Hamlet feel he must have evidence of Claudius's guilt?
26. In thinking about Act 2, list examples of one or more characters spying on another character.
27. Make a list of character traits Hamlet possesses, as seen in Acts 1 & 2.
English 30
Hamlet: Act 2 Questions for Study
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer these on a separate sheet of paper.
Act 2
Scene 1:
1. At the opening of this scene, where is Polonius sending Reynaldo?
2. Why does Polonius send him on this journey?
3. By what trick is Reynaldo supposed to get information about Laertes?
4. What does this reveal about Polonius's character?
5. How would you describe the effect of Polonius's rambling speech to Reynaldo in lines 50-67?
6. How does Ophelia describe Hamlet's appearance to her?
7. What is Polonius's conclusion about Hamlet?
Scene 2:
8. At the beginning of scene 2, for whom has Claudius sent?
9. Why has he sent for them?
10. What news do Voltimand and Cornelius bring back from Norway?
11. In lines 76-80, what request does Norway make of Claudius?
12. What is humorously ironic about Polonius saying, "Brevity is the soul of wit"?
13. In lines 158-165, what plan is formed to test Polonius's hypothesis that Hamlet is mad from rejected love?
14. Hamlet calls Polonius a "fishmonger". Why?
15. In lines 204-209, what does Polonius say about the contrast between madness and sanity?
16. Why does Hamlet tell Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that "Denmark's a prison"?
17. In lines 293-310, what reason does Hamlet give to his friends for his current condition?
18. According to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, why are the players traveling?
19. Hamlet realizes that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern cannot be trusted. What does he let them know in lines 376-377?
20. Why does Hamlet call Polonius "Jephthah" in line 407?
21. In lines 447-515, Hamlet and the First Player recite lines from a play. This play tells how Pyrrhus slays the Trojan king Priam to avenge his father's murder. How is Hamlet like Pyrrhus? How is he unlike Pyrrhus?
22. In lines 531-539, what two questions does Hamlet ask the First Player?
23. What causes Hamlet to exclaim, "O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!"?
24. In the passage beginning with line 586, what plan does Hamlet devise?
25. In lines 596-601, why does Hamlet feel he must have evidence of Claudius's guilt?
26. In thinking about Act 2, list examples of one or more characters spying on another character.
27. Make a list of character traits Hamlet possesses, as seen in Acts 1 & 2.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Today, we read up to page 115 in Hamlet. We stopped when the players arrived at the castle.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Today, we will read from Act 1, Scene 3 on (page 43 on). We will finish all of Act One (scene 5) and will start Act two tomorrow.
Below are the questions you are to answer for tomorrow.
These are point form or short answer responses.
Act I
1. Why have Marcellus and Bernardo invited Horatio to join them on their watch?
2. Who is Laertes and what request does he make of the King?
3. How does Hamlet feel about his mother and why?
4. What are Ophelia’s brother’s and father’s concerns about her in relation to Hamlet?
5. Briefly describe the murder of the king as told to Hamlet by the Ghost.
6. We learn the religious leanings of this time in Denmark from the Ghost. What evidence does he provide to support that Denmark is a predominantly Catholic nation?
7. What are the ghost’s instructions regarding the queen?
Below are the questions you are to answer for tomorrow.
These are point form or short answer responses.
Act I
1. Why have Marcellus and Bernardo invited Horatio to join them on their watch?
2. Who is Laertes and what request does he make of the King?
3. How does Hamlet feel about his mother and why?
4. What are Ophelia’s brother’s and father’s concerns about her in relation to Hamlet?
5. Briefly describe the murder of the king as told to Hamlet by the Ghost.
6. We learn the religious leanings of this time in Denmark from the Ghost. What evidence does he provide to support that Denmark is a predominantly Catholic nation?
7. What are the ghost’s instructions regarding the queen?
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
We are going to start reading Hamlet today. Keep in mind that this is a revenge tragedy that also has a number of important subplots (Revenge, Rejected love, Madness, Family pressures). Information on these can be found on page two of the text (though we will also discuss them in-depth).
We ended up reading Act I, Scenes 1 and 2. (up to page 40).
We ended up reading Act I, Scenes 1 and 2. (up to page 40).
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Today, you had a quiz on Shakespearean words (see yesterday's blogger for list) and then I explained Iambic pentameter. You then did an in-class activity and a take home one. The take home one is included here and is due tomorrow.
Reading Shakespeare: Skill Enhancement #2
INSTRUCTIONS: Read the following sonnet through as you would any poem:
Highlight unfamiliar words or phrases and look them up.
Search for literary devices, highlight and define
Paraphrase the poem line-by-line
Sonnet # 18
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed,
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature's changing course untrimmed:
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st,
Nor shall death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st,
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
Reading Shakespeare: Skill Enhancement #2
INSTRUCTIONS: Read the following sonnet through as you would any poem:
Highlight unfamiliar words or phrases and look them up.
Search for literary devices, highlight and define
Paraphrase the poem line-by-line
Sonnet # 18
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed,
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature's changing course untrimmed:
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st,
Nor shall death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st,
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Monday May 4, 2009
Today, I will introduce the Shakespeare unit. We will take the book out of the library, discuss the times that Shakespeare was writing in, and I will give you an overview of the play (five minutes or less). In addition, you will be given a list of archaic words that you will be quizzed on tomorrow (listed below).
English 30-1
Hamlet
There are two different types of language present in a Shakespearean drama. The one that is unique is Shakespeare’s combination of words. He does this in order to create a rhyme scheme of stressed and unstressed syllables. By changing the words (contracting them, in many cases), he is able to maintain his scheme. Other words will be unfamiliar as they are no longer used in everyday language. English is a living language, which means, unlike Latin, the language is always changing. These words are known as archaic. Below is a list of words you will come across in Act One. I expect you to study them tonight as you will be quizzed on them tomorrow.
’gainst against
thou you
ne’er never
’gins begins
sooth truth
thy your
thee him/her
whence where
hast has
quoth said
o’ of
i’ in
doth does
is’t is it
o’er over
hath has
thine belonging to
’twere it were
’tis it is
afeard afraid
durst dared
English 30-1
Hamlet
There are two different types of language present in a Shakespearean drama. The one that is unique is Shakespeare’s combination of words. He does this in order to create a rhyme scheme of stressed and unstressed syllables. By changing the words (contracting them, in many cases), he is able to maintain his scheme. Other words will be unfamiliar as they are no longer used in everyday language. English is a living language, which means, unlike Latin, the language is always changing. These words are known as archaic. Below is a list of words you will come across in Act One. I expect you to study them tonight as you will be quizzed on them tomorrow.
’gainst against
thou you
ne’er never
’gins begins
sooth truth
thy your
thee him/her
whence where
hast has
quoth said
o’ of
i’ in
doth does
is’t is it
o’er over
hath has
thine belonging to
’twere it were
’tis it is
afeard afraid
durst dared
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