HAMLETby William shakespeare

• Hamlet was written between 1599 and 1601.

• Hamlet is one of the most famous plays ever written and is still being adapted into many forms of art and entertainment today.

• Hamlet was first performed between 1600-01 in the Globe Theater in London, England.

Background

In the GlobeHistorical rendition of the Shakespearean Globe

Theater vs. Film• How does performing in a theater

differ from performing on film?

Adaptations• Three movie adaptations of the famous

soliloquy “To be or not to be”: – Hamlet with Mel Gibson (1990)– Billy Madison scene (1995)– Hamlet with Ethan Hawke (2000)

Something to think about…. how does each adaptation compare/contrast to your understanding of the scene?

Hamlet – 1990(Mel Gibson)

(click picture)

Discuss….• How does seeing the scene

performed in its original time period, help you to better understand the “To be or not to be” soliloquy?

Billy Madison Scene - 1995

(click picture)

Discuss….• Why would the director of Billy

Madison parody the scene? Why is it funny?

Hamlet – 2000(Ethan Hawke)

(click picture)

Discuss….• How does the modern setting affect

or alter the scene?

So… to be or not to be?• Which adaptation did you

find most/least effective? • Why/why not?• What would you change, if anything?

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Any Questions?