Hamlet Class Note
Roots of the work:
-Most of Shakespeare’s work is taken from a source text.
-A Danish Monk named Saxo Grammaticus wrote a tale about Amleth (means dimwit). He was a Viking who hid from his uncle who had murdered his father by pretending to be insane.
-Play written in 1580 by Thomas Kyd called Ur-Hamlet.
Hamletology: (Cult for Hamlet)
-Performed, translated, academically explored more than any other play in history.
-More parodies and more spin offs than any other play.
-“To be or not to be” is more quoted than any other phrase in the English language.
-26 ballets, 6 operas, countless musical works, and over 45 movie versions.
-The character of Hamlet has been performed by fat men, tiny women, a five year old, and an 80 year old.
-Longest play that Shakespeare ever wrote.
Essay Questions:
1. Does all power corrupt a person? (lovers, parents, siblings)
2. Is murder ever justified?
3. Is Ophelia or Hamlet truly insane?
4. What makes a person insane?
5. Are women naturally weaker than men?
6. Who is the true hero of Hamlet.
7. Why does Hamlet fail to act?
-Most of Shakespeare’s work is taken from a source text.
-A Danish Monk named Saxo Grammaticus wrote a tale about Amleth (means dimwit). He was a Viking who hid from his uncle who had murdered his father by pretending to be insane.
-Play written in 1580 by Thomas Kyd called Ur-Hamlet.
Hamletology: (Cult for Hamlet)
-Performed, translated, academically explored more than any other play in history.
-More parodies and more spin offs than any other play.
-“To be or not to be” is more quoted than any other phrase in the English language.
-26 ballets, 6 operas, countless musical works, and over 45 movie versions.
-The character of Hamlet has been performed by fat men, tiny women, a five year old, and an 80 year old.
-Longest play that Shakespeare ever wrote.
Essay Questions:
1. Does all power corrupt a person? (lovers, parents, siblings)
2. Is murder ever justified?
3. Is Ophelia or Hamlet truly insane?
4. What makes a person insane?
5. Are women naturally weaker than men?
6. Who is the true hero of Hamlet.
7. Why does Hamlet fail to act?
| grade_11_university_essay_rubric_and_hamlet_questions.docx |
In class roles
| act_highlights_updated_2015.docx |
