English Literature 12

Aside : used during a play to allow the audience to ‘overhear’ the character’s thoughts. An aside occurs when other actors are on stage, but the person speaking does so as if it is ‘under their breath’ or, spoken so the audience hears, but not the other characters on stage. This enables the [...]

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Hamlet Act IV notes… just a quick recap.
IV.i
Act IV opens after the killing of Polonius…this is partly why the scenes are shorter, as the action is speeding up…we are in the thick of it now!
The Queen relates the death of Polonius to Claudius
IV.ii
R+G seek out the body…the search is on.
Hamlet also gives out that he [...]

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This post was also posted on the Team Blog…
Hi everyone…
Ever since we discussed the whole ‘pirate’ scene of Hamlet (IV.vi), and after reading Wango’s Act IV.vi post I have been wondering about this scene. It seems that in my head this scene has been replaced by the more popular film adaptation of having [...]

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Hi everyone,
Here’s my rough Act III notes, just to help you remember what is going on….
Hamlet Act III Notes…
III.i
This scene opens with Hamlet’s good buddies Rosencrantz and Guildenstern reporting back to the King and Queen that they can not find out the cause of Hamlet’s madness (III.i.5+). It is a crafty kind of madness, apparently.
They [...]

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Some brief notes to help you remember what is going on here…
II.i
Polonius sends Reynaldo to Paris to spy on his son, Laertes. He suggests that Reynaldo get him into all sorts of trouble: drinking, gambling, even seeing prostitutes…Yikes! The reason for this seems to be that he is wanting to see how Laertes [...]

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As discussed in class, please be aware of the following:
We read Act 3.1 in class –> 3.2 is assigned for you to read for Thursday. This is an important scene, so please read it!
Quiz! –> At the end of Thursday’s class you will be given an open book take home quiz. Please read the instructions [...]

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“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, / Than are dreamt of in your philosophy” ( Hamlet , I.v.184-185)
(Here’s my quick and dirty notes from Act I… These are just to help you remember the main points)
I.i
Horatio, a scholar and friend of Hamlet’s is asked to talk to the ghost…
It doesn’t [...]

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Today’s class was spent reviewing Act I.ii-iii and reading I.iv-v. This completes Act I for us. I will post my short notes on each scene to the blog.
Remember, you must submit a log entry either on paper or on your blog for Act I. Let’s make that due on the day you return from [...]

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