British Literature January 13, 2015 ACT IV & V OF HAMLET
ACT V, SCENE 1 WARM-UP Hamlet says in Act V, Scene 1: “Alexander [the Great] died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth to dust; the dust is earth; of earth we make loam; and why of that loam whereto he was converted might they not stop a beer barrel? Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay, Might stop a hole to keep the wind away.” (V.i ) What is the significance of these lines? What is Hamlet saying about life and death? Why does he allude to Alexander the Great and Caesar?
DAVID TENNANT VERSION OF ACT 4, SCENE 7 Complete your Records Journal entry while we watch the scene.
HOMEWORK Finish the play for homework by reading Act V, Scene 2 in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.