I mentioned in class today that I personally do not feel that there was an improper relationship between Gertrude and Claudius prior to the death of King Hamlet. I know that other teachers share varying opinions. What are your thoughts on this topic? What examples can you give from the text to back up your opinion? Do you think it is relevant to the plot either way? Do you think Shakespeare really cared what we made of that relationship?
Do you feel that there are any foil characters in Hamlet? (You may have to remind yourself what a foil character is...) If you feel that there are, use the comment board to identify some and explain what effect the foil relationship has on the play, whether its plot of character development.
Well, here we are... the moment you have all been waiting for since sophomore year when the curtain fell on Act V of Julius Caesar, with Octavius and Antony extolling Brutus's virtues.... more Shakespeare!!!! It's Hamlet time! I sincerely hope you love this play as much as I do.
Monday, 2/8
Quiz over satire, sonnets, Boswell, "Everyman"
Intro to Hamlet
Hamlet/Shakespeare notes
Tuesday, 2/9
Hamlet, Act I
Wednesday, 2/10
Hamlet, Act II
"Love" activity
SM 5, 6 check
Thursday, 2/11
OFF!!!
(Parent conferences 12-7)
Friday, 2/12
OFF!!!
You guys are reading "Everyman" this week. Enjoy this guinea pig version. :)
I hope that you all enjoyed your semi-long weekend and are set to have a wonderful, productive week.
Monday, 2/1
Medieval period test
Write Character analysis
Tuesday, 2/2
Multiple Choice AP test practice
Wednesday, 2/3
Boswell's Biography, Satire
H/W: Write a satire
Thursday, 2/4
"Everyman", Sonnets
H/W: Write a sonnet
Friday, 2/5
Test over this week
We had a great discussion regarding the Wife of Bath's Tale. Do you think the Wife of Bath is meant to contradict the misogynist (woman-hating) ideas of her time, or to uphold them? How might her story be a type of wish-fulfillment for the aging? Respond to any other elements from this tale (or any others we read during this unit).
In the past I have done a precious little activity called "Canterbury Tales: Six Characters in Search of a Pilgrimage" that I heard about at an NCTE conference. The assignment is below.
Select six characters to go on the pilgrimage with you. Two must have been on Chaucer's. Two must be from other literary selections. Two must be real people (though not necessarily living). Explain how these characters would get along and what kind of story they would have told the whole group.
If you feel so inclined, comment on this post and briefly explain your six characters and what kind of story they would have told, who would have gotten along with whom, disagreed with whom, etc.
