Monday, October 27, 2014

Act 4 Recap and Act 5.1

Today in class: we are reviewing Act 4 from last week and introducing Act 5.1. We will read Act 5.1 and complete the graphic organizer, which is pasted at the bottom of this page. Remember, if you are absent, YOU MUST COMPLETE MISSED WORK ON TIME! Feel free to check to the blog or come pick up missed materials in person from me.

Act 4 Recap:

Scene i

Gertrude tells Claudius about Hamlet's madness and his murder of Polonius. Claudius points out that Hamlet meant to kill him, not Polonius, and wonders what to do about Hamlet and the political crisis that may ensue. He tells Gertrude they must ship Hamlet to England immediately and asks Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to go fetch him. 

Scene ii

Hamlet has just finished disposing of Polonius’s body when Rosencrantz and Guildenstern appear and question him. Hamlet refuses to give them a straight answer, and accuses them of being spies in the service of Claudius. Finally he agrees to go with them to see Claudius. 

Scene iii

Acting insane in speaking with Claudius, Hamlet at first refuses to say where Polonius's body is, but finally admits that it is under the stairs near the castle lobby. The king sends Hamlet away to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and alone with his thoughts, states his hope that England will obey the sealed orders he has sent - for Hamlet to be executed.

Scene iv  

Nearby, young Prince Fortinbras marches his army through Denmark on the way to attack Poland, running into Hamlet, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern on their way to the ship bound for England. Yet again, Hamlet is dismayed at his inability to take action for legitimate revenge when Fortinbras takes action to gain something so insignificant. 

Scene v

In the castle, Opehlia has gone made with grief. Ophelia enters to see Gertrude, adorned with flowers and singing strange songs. Laertes, furious and seeking revenge, has sailed back from France and storms in with a mob of commoners. Claudius attempts to calm him by telling the truth of his murder, proclaiming his innocence. Claudius says that Laertes’ desire for revenge is a credit to him, so long as he seeks revenge upon the proper person. 

Scene vi

Sailors give Horatio a letter from Hamlet saying that his ship was captured by pirates, who have returned him to Denmark. He also says that he has much to tell of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Horatio takes the sailors to the king and then follows them to find Hamlet, who is in the countryside near the castle.

Scene vii

Claudius and a calmer Laertes discuss Polonius’s death, and Claudius explains his reasoning for letting Hamlet off easily. A messenger enters with the letter from Hamlet to Claudius, which informs the king that Hamlet will return tomorrow. Laertes is pleased that Hamlet has come back to Denmark, since it means that his revenge will not be delayed. Claudius and Laertes concoct a plan to kill Hamlet in a duel - Laertes will fight with a sword dipped in poison, and as a backup plan, Claudius will have a cup of poisoned wine to offer him. Gertrude enters with tragic news. Ophelia, mad with grief, has drowned in the river.

Act 5

Scene i intro

The scene begins in a graveyard, where two gravediggers are arguing over whether or not the deceased woman, who drowned in a questionable circumstance, should receive a Christian burial. The gravediggers are singing, making jokes, and laughing, which confuses and offends Hamlet.

Act 5.1 Graphic Organizer:

Name _________________________________________

Act IV Recap Notes:

Act V Intro Notes:

Scene begins in a graveyard, where two gravediggers are arguing over whether or not the deceased woman, who drowned in a questionable circumstance, should receive a Christian burial. The gravediggers are singing, making jokes, and laughing, which confuses and offends Hamlet.

Act 5.1 Questions

What does Hamlet notice at the beginning of this passage, and what does he question? (lines 220–224)?

What does Gertrude say she had hoped for Ophelia (246)?

What does Laertes mean when he says Hamlet deprived Ophelia of her sense (250)?

What happens when Hamlet steps forward and reveals his presence (256)?

What in the play supports or contradicts Hamlet’s statement that he loves Ophelia?

Gave her tokens of affection, love letter, only lied because he knew Polonius and Claudius were listening and he was pretending to be crazy.

Hamlet is untrustworthy, we never know when he is just putting on an act versus being serious, and we can’t really tell if ever truly love Ophelia or not. His grief seems honest but his behaviors toward her were offensive.

Paraphrase the final lines spoken by Claudius. What does he speak of?

What themes come out in this scene?

How do the words and actions of each character in Act 5.1 reveal both characterization and theme in the play?

Gertrude:

Laertes:

Hamlet: