Act III, Scene 1 of Shakespeare’s Hamlet

British Literature December 8, 2014

YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR BOOKS, JOURNALS, AND PLAY

WORKSHEETS ON YOUR DESK FOR THE START OF CLASS.

A Little Hamlet Humor

Objectives• Students will be able to analyze various

interpretations of characterization in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

• Students will be able to have fun (if they choose) to perform and enjoy Hamlet.

HOW?

• Performance of Act III, Scene 1

• “To Be or Not To Be” Soliloquy Comparisons

Performances of Act III, Scene 1

ACTORS

• Entertain us with your interpretations of your role. • Remember to clip your name tag in a clear, visible place. • Use a different accent each time you accept a new role.

AUDIENCE

• Enjoy the show and jot down notes in your Records journal, character chart, and literary elements worksheet. • For each scene, record a summary of the scene,

significant quotes (key word with line numbers), and a reaction (question, comment, prediction, analysis)

“To Be or Not To Be”

Analysis

& Comparison JournalWe are going to watch five different versions of Hamlet’s famous “To Be or Not to Be” soliloquy. In your journal, analyze each version and record your conclusions in the following chart:

Version What do you notice about this Hamlet’s soliloquy?

What makes this version unique compared to the others?

Kenneth Branagh (1996)

Lawrence Olivier (1948)

Mel Gibson (1990)

Richard Burton (1964)

David Tennant (2009)