Oct 2-3 – Lit – Intro to Hamlet

1. 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

2. 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.

3. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Background information

4. Denmark (Northern Europe) During the late medieval period (1300-1500) Setting

5. Denmark and the Oresund

6. KronborgCastle – Helsingor, Denmark

7. 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.

8. The History • Shakespeare’s tragedy is based on a Danish story that dates back to Saxo’s chronicle, GestaDanorum, 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.

9. 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.

10. Cast of Characters…

11. Prince of Denmark Title character/protagonist Son of Gertrude and “Old Hamlet” Nephew of Claudius Indecisive, hesitant, bitter Hamlet

12. 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!) Claudius

13. (on the right) Hamlet’s best friend Studied with him at college (in Wittenberg) Loyal and helpful to Hamlet throughout the play Horatio

14. Advisor to Claudius (the King) Father of Laertes and Ophelia Polonius

15. (he’s in the white fencing gear) Son of Polonius Brother of Ophelia Impulsive; passionate Laertes

16. Daughter of Polonius Sister of Laertes Hamlet’s girlfriend Sweet, innocent, easily manipulated Ophelia

17. Queen of Denmark Recently married Claudius (after the death of her husband, “Old Hamlet”) Loving Mother of Hamlet Gertrude

18. 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 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

19. Prince of Norway Father was killed by Hamlet’s father (“Old Hamlet”) Wants to attack Denmark to avenge his father’s death Fortinbras

20. 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

23. 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

25. 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 themto 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

26. 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