Hamlet

Hamlet Reading Schedule

As you do each reading, mark up the text using sticky notes (no more than a few lines each) to copy into and examine in more detail in your Double Entry Journal; use your markups to help you generate an interpretation of the quotations you choose. We will use these entries to guide our daily discussions and Socratic seminars.

You must do TWO DOUBLE ENTRIES for each reading assignment.

T 3/22: I.3 & I.4
W 3/23: I.5 (Quiz)
Th: Mr. Wright’s Visit; II.1 & II.2 (to Rosencrantz & Guildenstern entrance)

F: Finish II.2

M 3/27:III.1-2 (Quiz)
T 3/28: III.3 & III.4 (to Ghost entrance)
W 3/29:  Finish III.4
Th 3/30:IV.1-7 (Quiz)
F 3/31:V.1-2, Paper Assigned, Hand in Double Entry Journal

M 4/3: Socratic Seminar
T 4/4: Socratic Seminar

W 4/5: Rosencrantz & Guidenstern are Dead
Th 4/6: Rosencrantz & Guidenstern are Dead
F 4/7: Rosencrantz & Guidenstern are Dead

M 4/17: V.2 Paper Due, Quotation Exam

 

PAPER ASSIGNMENT – Ros. & Guil.

You can find the video of the play HERE in segments for free, or here if you can ignore the subtitles.  Also, VUDU, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes have it for rent.

You can find the full text of the play HERE and HERE.


Your task as an analytical writer is to explore a theme of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. You must use textual evidence from the play and outside sources to support the claim you have created.

Step One: Decide on your theme.

Step Two: What literary techniques or devices help lead you, the reader, to this theme?

Step Three: Figure out if there is there one illuminating moment in the play that serves as foundation of your theme. Gather your evidence from the text.

Step Four: Searching for critical sources.

You should look for:   

○        Critical analysis of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

○        Critical analysis of Hamlet

○        Information on Theater of the Absurd, tragicomedies, Existentialism, Nihilism, Fatalism, or any information from these movements founders like Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, Nietzsche, Sartre, Camus, Beckett, etc.

○        Allusions and The Bible

○        Anything written by or about Tom Stoppard–consider media sources involving Stoppard or possibly even interviews with Tim Roth and Gary Oldman from the movie version of Rosey and Guildy

○        Theme in literature or plays

○        Anything else you can think of that relates to your theme

 

Step Five: Writing, editing, re-writing, final product.


Some helpful hints for your research writing journey…

●        Stay focused – determine what, specifically, you are arguing and keep your focus tight. Don’t attempt to explore multiple themes!

 

  •        Use the text. Once you have determined your argument (thesis) draw up a list of those lines (including stage directions, heck, your focus could be on the stage directions) to best support your points.

    ●        Consider those ideas/ themes/ lines that are REPEATED (and repeated with slight modifications) throughout the play.

    ●        You may abbreviate Ros. And Guil. AFTER the 1st paragraph.

    ●        Write in MLA format WITH a Works Cited Page..

    ●        Write in 3rd person present tense!

    ●        Employ literary and analytical language!

    ●        Keep your focus/ argument/ thesis in mind throughout your paper.

    ●        ANALYZE, don’t summarize!

    ●        For your closing paragraph, think “big picture.” What are the deeper questions raised by the play? How are those questions answered? Are they? Consider exploring the play’s FINAL MOMENTS in the final moments of your paper.

 

Particulars:

Due 4/16/17 by 11:59PM  Three to five pages

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DO NOT send me the paper.

DO NOT share the paper.

DO NOT submit it in printed form.

If you submit in any of these three ways, your paper will not be counted.