Hamlet Reaing Activities

Hamlet Reading Activities Worksheet

English 12

OReilly

name_________________

date_________ period_______

The following are due the class after the end of each act (one of these worksheets per act). Please keep up on these, and do them as we go along.

Act ________

Themes:

action verses inaction (intellectualizing and over thinking versus putting on your Nikes and doing it)

revenge

religion

sexuality and incest

stability of the state/corruption of the state

death, decay, corruption

death, fragility of life, the cycle of life and death

misogyny (woman hating)

human flaws and frailty

reality verusus illusion/uncertainty

family relationship

sesession of power

some other theme that you see

1)Theme Tracking

As we read, take note of any diction that reflects the themes above. Try to stick with the same themes if you can. For every act, write two in the spaces below. Please cite as shown. Using excerpts from the lines you chose, please explain how the diction in both the quotes above reveal the themes.

Example

Theme : Action versus inaction

Quote: HAMLET: "To be or not to be; that is the question/Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer..." (III.i.58-59).

Commentary:

Hamlet is contemplating whether he wishes to live or die, take action or remain inactive. He cannot decide if he wishes "to be or not to be" (III.1.58).

Now you do it....

a.Theme_____________

Quote:

Commentary:

b.Theme____________

Quote:

Commentary: :

2) Character analysis

Using the same quotation format as shown above, quote two lines that reveal a character's inner thoughts. Then write commentary using excerpts from your quotes to briefly explain and analyze the character's frame of mind or personality trait. If your character analysis explores the same theme and the same character as in question one, so much the better.

a. Character and quote:

Commentary:

b. Character and quote:

Commentary:

3) Literary Devices: Using the quotation format shown in question one, present examples of quotations with examples of literary devices. In your commentary, briefly analyze how the literary devices help support tone (the speaker's or author's attitude) or theme. The following are some literary devises you may find:

foils

comparisons: simile, metaphor

diction and imagery (word choice)

irony, sarcasm

dramatic irony

Biblical or literary allusion

other

a. Literary devise and quotation:

Commentary:

b. Literary devise and quotation:

Commentary: