November 24, 2008

Hey everyone! It’s almost Thanksgiving!
Beginning of class

• Smith lectured to us about staying focused

• Remember Smith has a visitor coming for our next fishbowl on Monday December, 1st… Make her look good!

Hamlet Fishbowl Act. 4
Questions:

• What was the tipping point of Ophelia’s madness? What event or action was the thing that finally sent her over the edge?

• How did Ophelia drown? If she were being watched wouldn’t she have been safe?

• What good is there in revenge? Does it, or has it brought about any peace in anyone so far in the story?

• Is it Claudius’ idea or Laertes’ idea to kill Hamlet in the fencing match? Why?

• Why are the first four scenes so short and to the point in act four, where as scene five is longer than all of them combined?

• Why does Ophelia choose to portray her madness in song? Is this symbolic in anyway? If so how?

Lauren writes like a boy! Watch out!!
Homework: Start to write paper over the brake

Hamlet Act 4 Fishbowl

Hamlet thesis statement

Here is the place to post your Hamlet thesis statements. Remember to follow the appropriate structure for a thesis, including title, author and point you are going to prove. Also, try to make your thesis something arguable and provable.

Hamlet Act 3- Response quesiton

A reoccurring theme in Shakespeare’s plays in death. For instance, in this play death seems to be the only way to completely get rid of a person’s problems. What do you think Shakespeare is trying to say about society?

Hamlet Act 3 Fishbowl

11/10/08--Happy Veterans' Week!

Hey everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend!

Today in class we read Act III.

• We discovered that Hamlet's mouse trap worked!
  
• We also now know that Claudius is just as confused as Hamlet (he cannot repent for what he has done, nor can he give away what he has gained...but he is a religious man, so why did he murder?).
• Hamlet kills Polonius and he must leave and go to England. (Now there are 3 dead fathers...)
  

Homework:

• Nothing is due on Wednesday, however, start thinking about your thesis statements which are due next week (Friday)
• If you have a conference with Smith, do not miss it!
• Remember, PLC (and food!) on Wednesday!

Fun Fact of the Day:
The only dog to appear in a play by William Shakespeare is Crab who is owned by Launce in 'The Two Gentlemen Of Verona'...Maybe Hamlet would be happier if he had a dog...

November 7, 2008

*We started off the day with a partner quiz over act 2.
*Our last comparative paper was returned-if you have questions or still arnt doing well on these, go in for help!
*For the rest of the period we read act 3.

-It was interesting to see how in this act, the story takes a dramatic turn.
-I think most of us are still asking ourselves: what is Hamlet going to do? He seems very conflicted, and almost bipolar.

H-dub:
Continue thinking about your paper, and if you have a conference this week, make sure you dont miss it!


I apologize to my classmates that this blog wasn't posted sooner...our good friend Irene was absent on friday, and so I did it instead.


***Joke for the day: What did the boy say to the two headed monster?
answer: Hello, Hello

Hamlet Act 2 Questions

Within the play Hamlet, Shakespeare displays corruption and selfishness. Does this portray Shakespeare’s views on society?


Forbidden love looks like a motif in Shakespeare’s plays, can we expect this one to play out the same way as Romeo and Juliet?

November 5 2008

It's Doughnut Day! Woo!

We had the Act 2 Fishbowl today, here's an overview of it:

Whether or not Hamlet is simply mad or just acting like he is or a mix of the two.
Claudius' reaction to the recreation of the murder reenactment. What Hamlet would do if Claudius admitted to murder or if he didn't.
Corruption in the play. There is no honesty in the play. One lie leads to another, relating back to the overgrown garden analogy.
Predicting if Hamlet will take religion into perspective or ignore it and have it be his downfall. Special mention to the quote "The story of a man who could not make up his mind."
Fortinbras and his place in the play. Why there is more sympathy for Hamlet's vengence than Fortinbras.
How Hamlet's family and friends would react if they knew Hamlet commited murder.
Selfishness in the play. Everyone has motives to benefit themselves.
Hamlet's morals and how the murder is the only thing left in his life that he can control.


Homework for tonight:
Answer the Act 2 blog question, don't forget about your conference about your paper, read Act 3 and we have a quiz on Act 2 on Friday!

Fun fact:
Pable Picasso's full name was "Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Martyr Patricio Clito Ruiz y Picasso."

November 3 2008

Happy Monday!!!! It is time for fall!!!!!

-Mrs. Smith let us know that we need to be more efficient with our time when we have subs and not waste time in class with quizzes.

-We learned how to re-route our laptops to the projector (function key and function 8) after plugging in lap top

HW: conference about paper topics, paper on ghost scenes Wednesday, finish reading act 2 if needed, moving act 2 fishbowl to Wednesday and blog question will be due on Friday

-Mrs. Smith also shares with us that she understands about situations and about respect. So plan ahead!!

In class- We watched the last ghost scene( Mel Gibson) and began to read act 2

Hamlet Act 2 Fishbowl