Tues. Dec. 3 Hamlet Intro

Today, I presented you with a number of questions that you should be able to answer by the end of class. They are as follows:

Questions you need to be able to answer by the end of today’s class:

1.      What is the nature of ambition and power?
2.      What gives a person status?
3.      Is status achieved the same way in all societies?
4.      Is status achieved the same way within a society?
5.      Why is status important?
I then sent you to the library to get a copy of the play Hamlet. If you were not here, you need to get this.

I then introduced you to the play Hamlet. I started by giving you a sheet on the historical background of the play. I explained the "Hierarcy of Kings (Fuedal system)" showing how power was distributed and how ambition played out in the play. I then did an overview on the board explaining the families of Fortinbras, Hamlet, and Polonius; their places of origin; their relationships to each other (in the past) and then moved on to the present situation in Denmark (the king's death and Ophelia's order to avoid being around Hamlet). We then discussed what happened in relation to Hamlet's father, the arrival of the ghost, his issues with his mother and Claudius, and how this ends up (a tragedy).

To answer the questions, you can use either what you know or the play itself. I want these questions answered for Thursday.