Mr. Owens' discussion blog on Hamlet

Throughout the duration of our study of Hamlet, you will visit this blog periodically to participate in literary discussions with your classmates. You will follow the thread for your class and you will repond to one of the questions I have posted as well as post a response to one of your classmates' posts. You will create two posts for each of the 5 Acts of Hamlet.




Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Period 6- Act V

You will choose one of the following questions and respond to it. You will also comment on one of your classmate's posts. You may also say bad things about Mr. Owens while you do it, or you can save all of your complaints and insults for lunchtime when they may reach their full potency in the slew of teacher bashing. (Two posts total).

P.S.-Thank you guys for working diligently on this discussion forum.

Why does this scene begin with two clowns trading jokes? Do their jokes make any sense in the context of the play?

Does Hamlet realize that he might not come out of this fight alive? See V.ii.225-238.

What is the outcome of the fight scene at the end? What thematic conclusions can you draw based on this conclusion?

When Gertrude drinks from the cup, Claudius asks her not to drink and she refuses. Has she ever disobeyed Claudius before?

Who is alive at the end of the play, and how do the others meet their ends? Is there a sense of redemption or restored order to the kingdom and the characters by the end of the play?

Why is Fortinbras's presence important?

Period 4- Act V

You will choose one of the following questions and respond to it. You will also comment on one of your classmate's posts. You may also say bad things about Mr. Owens while you do it, or you can save all of your complaints and insults for lunchtime when they may reach their full potency in the slew of teacher bashing. (Two posts total).

P.S.-Thank you guys for working diligently on this discussion forum.

Why does this scene begin with two clowns trading jokes? Do their jokes make any sense in the context of the play?

Does Hamlet realize that he might not come out of this fight alive? See V.ii.225-238.

What is the outcome of the fight scene at the end? What thematic conclusions can you draw based on this conclusion?

When Gertrude drinks from the cup, Claudius asks her not to drink and she refuses. Has she ever disobeyed Claudius before?

Who is alive at the end of the play, and how do the others meet their ends? Is there a sense of redemption or restored order to the kingdom and the characters by the end of the play?

Why is Fortinbras's presence important?

Period 2-Act V

You will choose one of the following questions and respond to it. You will also comment on one of your classmate's posts. You may also say bad things about Mr. Owens while you do it, or you can save all of your complaints and insults for lunchtime when they may reach their full potency in the slew of teacher bashing. (Two posts total).

P.S.-Thank you guys for working diligently on this discussion forum.

Why does this scene begin with two clowns trading jokes? Do their jokes make any sense in the context of the play?

Does Hamlet realize that he might not come out of this fight alive? See V.ii.225-238.

What is the outcome of the fight scene at the end? What thematic conclusions can you draw based on this conclusion?

When Gertrude drinks from the cup, Claudius asks her not to drink and she refuses. Has she ever disobeyed Claudius before?

Who is alive at the end of the play, and how do the others meet their ends? Is there a sense of redemption or restored order to the kingdom and the characters by the end of the play?

Why is Fortinbras's presence important?

Friday, April 23, 2010

Period 5- Act V

You will choose one of the following questions and respond to it. You will also comment on one of your classmate's posts. You may also say bad things about Mr. Owens while you do it, or you can save all of your complaints and insults for lunchtime when they may reach their full potency in the slew of teacher bashing. (Two posts total).

P.S.-Thank you guys for working diligently on this discussion forum.

Why does this scene begin with two clowns trading jokes? Do their jokes make any sense in the context of the play?

Does Hamlet realize that he might not come out of this fight alive? See V.ii.225-238.

What is the outcome of the fight scene at the end? What thematic conclusions can you draw based on this conclusion?

When Gertrude drinks from the cup, Claudius asks her not to drink and she refuses. Has she ever disobeyed Claudius before?

Who is alive at the end of the play, and how do the others meet their ends? Is there a sense of redemption or restored order to the kingdom and the characters by the end of the play?

Why is Fortinbras's presence important?

Period 1- Act V

You will choose one of the following questions and respond to it. You will also comment on one of your classmate's posts. You may also say bad things about Mr. Owens while you do it, or you can save all of your complaints and insults for lunchtime when they may reach their full potency in the slew of teacher bashing. (Two posts total).
P.S.-Thank you guys for working diligently on this discussion forum.

Why does this scene begin with two clowns trading jokes? Do their jokes make any sense in the context of the play?

Does Hamlet realize that he might not come out of this fight alive? See V.ii.225-238.

What is the outcome of the fight scene at the end? What thematic conclusions can you draw based on this conclusion?

When Gertrude drinks from the cup, Claudius asks her not to drink and she refuses. Has she ever disobeyed Claudius before?

Who is alive at the end of the play, and how do the others meet their ends? Is there a sense of redemption or restored order to the kingdom and the characters by the end of the play?

Why is Fortinbras's presence important?

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Period 6- Act IV

You will choose one question and respond to it. You will also comment on another classmate's post. (Two posts total for Act IV).


1. A foil is a character who is like the protagonist in some respects but who has contrasting qualities that "reflect" or illuminate the traits of the main character. Who are Hamlet's foils, and in what ways do their characters shed light on his?

2. Do Hamlet and Fortinbras meet in IV.iv? Why is this significant?

3. Why is Ophelia mad? Does anything she say make sense? What happens to her at the end of Act IV? What does her madness and death symbolize about the kingdom?

4. Look at the scene with Laertes and Claudius (IV.vii). What plans do they have for Hamlet? How does this scene establish Laertes as a foil for Hamlet?

5. Why is Hamlet less present in this act than in the previous three?

Period 5- Act IV

You will choose one question and respond to it. You will also comment on another classmate's post. (Two posts total for Act IV).

1. A foil is a character who is like the protagonist in some respects but who has contrasting qualities that "reflect" or illuminate the traits of the main character. Who are Hamlet's foils, and in what ways do their characters shed light on his?

2. Do Hamlet and Fortinbras meet in IV.iv? Why is this significant?

3. Why is Ophelia mad? Does anything she say make sense? What happens to her at the end of Act IV? What does her madness and death symbolize about the kingdom?

4. Look at the scene with Laertes and Claudius (IV.vii). What plans do they have for Hamlet? How does this scene establish Laertes as a foil for Hamlet?

5. Why is Hamlet less present in this act than in the previous three?

Period 4- Act IV

You will choose one question and respond to it. You will also comment on another classmate's post. (Two posts total for Act IV).
1. A foil is a character who is like the protagonist in some respects but who has contrasting qualities that "reflect" or illuminate the traits of the main character. Who are Hamlet's foils, and in what ways do their characters shed light on his?

2. Do Hamlet and Fortinbras meet in IV.iv? Why is this significant?

3. Why is Ophelia mad? Does anything she say make sense? What happens to her at the end of Act IV? What does her madness and death symbolize about the kingdom?

4. Look at the scene with Laertes and Claudius (IV.vii). What plans do they have for Hamlet? How does this scene establish Laertes as a foil for Hamlet?

5. Why is Hamlet less present in this act than in the previous three?

Period 2- Act IV

You will choose one question and respond to it. You will also comment on another classmate's post. (Two posts total for Act IV).

1. A foil is a character who is like the protagonist in some respects but who has contrasting qualities that "reflect" or illuminate the traits of the main character. Who are Hamlet's foils, and in what ways do their characters shed light on his?


2. Do Hamlet and Fortinbras meet in IV.iv? Why is this significant?

3. Why is Ophelia mad? Does anything she say make sense? What happens to her at the end of Act IV? What does her madness and death symbolize about the kingdom?

4. Look at the scene with Laertes and Claudius (IV.vii). What plans do they have for Hamlet? How does this scene establish Laertes as a foil for Hamlet?

5. Why is Hamlet less present in this act than in the previous three?

Period 1- Act IV

You will choose one question and respond to it. You will also comment on a classmate's post. (Two posts total for Act IV).

1. A foil is a character who is like the protagonist in some respects but who has contrasting qualities that "reflect" or illuminate the traits of the main character. Who are Hamlet's foils, and in what ways do their characters shed light on his?


2. Do Hamlet and Fortinbras meet in IV.iv? Why is this significant?

3. Why is Ophelia mad? Does anything she say make sense? What happens to her at the end of Act IV? What does her madness and death symbolize about the kingdom?

4. Look at the scene with Laertes and Claudius (IV.vii). What plans do they have for Hamlet? How does this scene establish Laertes as a foil for Hamlet?

5. Why is Hamlet less present in this act than in the previous three?

Monday, April 12, 2010

Period 6: Acts II & III

You will select a question from the list below and respond to it for the Act I thread. You will also respond to another classmate's post. (You should have two posts total for Acts II & III).

1. The First Player's speech is often cut in performances of the play. Explain why it is important and why it should not be cut.


2. Hamlet's "O what a rogue and peasant slave am I" is the first of his soliloquies. What is he saying, and how does this set of words help to move him to action? What does he decide to do at the end of this speech?

3. What is the subject of Hamlet's second soliloquy, the famous "To be or not to be" speech?
Why is he so cruel to Ophelia immediately thereafter?

4. Why does Hamlet decline to take action against Claudius in III.iii? What does this reveal about Hamlet and the use of religion in the play?

5. What happens in III.iv (the closet scene)? Why is this death so important for the play, or what does the death of this figure represent?

6. Based on what you've seen in III.iv, do you think Gertrude knew about the murder?

Period 5: Acts II & III

You will select a question from the list below and respond to it for the Act I thread. You will also respond to another classmate's post. (You should have two posts total for Acts II & III).

1. The First Player's speech is often cut in performances of the play. Explain why it is important and why it should not be cut.


2. Hamlet's "O what a rogue and peasant slave am I" is the first of his soliloquies. What is he saying, and how does this set of words help to move him to action? What does he decide to do at the end of this speech?

3. What is the subject of Hamlet's second soliloquy, the famous "To be or not to be" speech?
Why is he so cruel to Ophelia immediately thereafter?

4. Why does Hamlet decline to take action against Claudius in III.iii? What does this reveal about Hamlet and the use of religion in the play?

5. What happens in III.iv (the closet scene)? Why is this death so important for the play, or what does the death of this figure represent?

6. Based on what you've seen in III.iv, do you think Gertrude knew about the murder?

Period 4: Acts II & III

You will select a question from the list below and respond to it for the Act I thread. You will also respond to another classmate's post. (You should have two posts total for Acts II & III).

1. The First Player's speech is often cut in performances of the play. Explain why it is important and why it should not be cut.


2. Hamlet's "O what a rogue and peasant slave am I" is the first of his soliloquies. What is he saying, and how does this set of words help to move him to action? What does he decide to do at the end of this speech?

3. What is the subject of Hamlet's second soliloquy, the famous "To be or not to be" speech?
Why is he so cruel to Ophelia immediately thereafter?

4. Why does Hamlet decline to take action against Claudius in III.iii? What does this reveal about Hamlet and the use of religion in the play?

5. What happens in III.iv (the closet scene)? Why is this death so important for the play, or what does the death of this figure represent?

6. Based on what you've seen in III.iv, do you think Gertrude knew about the murder?

Period 2: Acts II & III

You will select a question from the list below and respond to it for the Act I thread. You will also respond to another classmate's post. (You should have two posts total for Acts II & III).

1. The First Player's speech is often cut in performances of the play. Explain why it is important and why it should not be cut.

2. Hamlet's "O what a rogue and peasant slave am I" is the first of his soliloquies. What is he saying, and how does this set of words help to move him to action? What does he decide to do at the end of this speech?

3. What is the subject of Hamlet's second soliloquy, the famous "To be or not to be" speech?
Why is he so cruel to Ophelia immediately thereafter?

4. Why does Hamlet decline to take action against Claudius in III.iii? What does this reveal about Hamlet and the use of religion in the play?

5. What happens in III.iv (the closet scene)? Why is this death so important for the play, or what does the death of this figure represent?

6. Based on what you've seen in III.iv, do you think Gertrude knew about the murder?

Period 1: Act II&III

You will select a question from the list below and respond to it for the Act I thread. You will also respond to another classmate's post. (You should have two posts total for Acts II & III).

1. The First Player's speech is often cut in performances of the play. Explain why it is important and why it should not be cut.


2. Hamlet's "O what a rogue and peasant slave am I" is the first of his soliloquies. What is he saying, and how does this set of words help to move him to action? What does he decide to do at the end of this speech?

3. What is the subject of Hamlet's second soliloquy, the famous "To be or not to be" speech?
Why is he so cruel to Ophelia immediately thereafter?

4. Why does Hamlet decline to take action against Claudius in III.iii? What does this reveal about Hamlet and the use of religion in the play?

5. What happens in III.iv (the closet scene)? Why is this death so important for the play, or what does the death of this figure represent?


6. Based on what you've seen in III.iv, do you think Gertrude knew about the murder?