Hamlet

1
Hamlet

• Interpretations could be.
• 1. It is a revenge tragedy
• 2. Hamlet is simply a procrastinator
• 3. It is an exploration of dysfunctional families

2
Hamlet

• or you could believe that there is an immoral
  and corrupt influence at the heart of court life
  in Elsinore from this come the tragic events of
  the plot, character motivation and some of the
  themes, motifs or aspects of the language can be
  linked to this immorality.

3
Hamlet

• What is there to support this idea?
• Claudius' crimes of fratricide and regicide, plus
  his usurpation and 'incestuous' marriage, mark
  him as the protagonist of the immorality in the
  court.

4
Hamlet

• Hamlets engagement with Claudius is necessary to
  confront this corruption as he does this, he
  must also confront his own perceived
  inadequacies. The deception, the presence of the
  ghost and the overshadowing concept of revenge
  are all evidence that something is indeed rotten
  in the state of Denmark.

5
Hamlet

• Shakespeares use of imagery related to disease,
  dungeons and weeds is an important indicator of
  this theme and is something to take note of.

6
Hamlet

• With a partner, spend 15 minutes completing a
  mindmap of all the areas of disease and
  corruption you can think of. Act I is a very
  good place to start but do take it further.
  Begin by looking again at the film version of the
  first act.

7
Hamlet

• Next
• Take either positives or negatives (following)
  its better if you can do one each with a
  partner. These are on the following slides.

8
The character of Claudius

• Positives...
• "On the whole, there emerges a King who is well
  qualified for office..." (Lokes, Outrageous
  Fortune, 79)
• Find evidence (from his own speeches and those of
  others) that Claudius is
• a strong orator
• a capable ruler over foreign affairs
• a diplomatic ruler of his own people
• skilful in his dealings with individuals

9
The character of Claudius

• Negatives...
• Find evidence (from his own speeches and those of
  others) that Claudius
• is a murderer (fratricide and regicide)
• has married his sister-in-law, a relative through
  marriage
• has usurped the throne of his brother
• is lustful and excessive, enjoying drinking
• Share your evidence with the rest of the class.
• What, then, is the overall picture Shakespeare
  paints of this character? How far are his
  qualities genuine? Or is he merely presenting a
  slick veneer?
• Does one aspect of him outweigh another (i.e. is
  he more of a negative than a positive character)?
  

10
Hamlet

• Now look at this question
• The whole play is about disorder Claudius acts
  of fratricide and regicide lead to the breakdown
  of the state.
• On the whole, there emerges a King who is well
  qualified for office
• How far do you agree with each of these critical
  views? What is your opinion of Shakespeares
  presentation of Claudius?

11
Hamlet - Possible debates

• Claudius villain or good king?
• Ophelia feeble or symbol of purity?
• Laertes thoughtless idiot or revenge hero?
• Polonius pompous fool or well-meaning father?
• Fortinbras minor detail or mirror for
  hamlet/redeemer of Denmark?

12
Hamlet possible debates

• Hamlet
• Procrastinator or sensitive intellect?
• Oedipal or loyal
• Noble avenger or murderer
• Humiliates/fears/respects women?
• Caught between loyalties or clear as day whats
  required?
• Rational or rash?

13
Hamlet possible debates

• Gertrude
• Incestuous traitor or necessary pragmatist?
• Innocent foil or loving fool?

14
Hamlet possible debates

• The play
• Revenge tragedy or classical fall from fortune?
• Dumb show theatrical spectacle or the thin
  dividing line between life and art?
• Christian morality (anti-suicide and sexually
  prescriptive)
• Comic v grave
• Ritual or realism?
• Ending resolves/confuses/fails/succeeds?

15
Examiners advice

• Be aware of
• How to analyse dramatic form - dramatic devices,
  character, language, structure
• How to qutoe from drama integrate quotations
  and tie them into character/theme etc.
• The fact that AO 3 is being assessed cannot
  ignore language, form, structure because it is
  closed book

16
Examiners advice

• Be aware of
• The fact that Section A (Hamlet) is assessed for
  your ability to deal with diferent
  views/interpretations of the text AO4 (1/2 of
  your marks for this section) this will be
  marked first. Then the examiner will move to AO1,
  AO2 and AO3 (the other half of the marks)

17
Examiners advice

• Prepare as follows
• read the text several times
• Learn single words or phrases from the text that
  help you to remember a scene and show you
  understand its key ideas and techniques
• quote RELEVANTLY as part of backing up your
  points

18
Examiners advice

• Prepare as follows
• revise/perform as a group or even alone. Try
  games/cards/tapes/posters/cloze
  exercises/pictures etc.
• Learn the order of Acts and Scenes and their
  relationships with each other
• Practise timed essays using the questions
• Remember that the examiner wants to reward what
  you write they look for points that can be
  rewarded think of the AOs!

19
Examiners advice

• Prepare as follows
• revise/perform as a group or even alone. Try
  games/cards/tapes/posters/cloze
  exercises/pictures etc.
• Learn the order of Acts and Scenes and their
  relationships with each other
• Practise timed essays using the questions
• Remember that the examiner wants to reward what
  you write they look for points that can be
  rewarded think of the AOs!