1. Hamlet Act III
Scene i

2. Scene One
We have now viewed two film versions of the “To be or not to be” soliloquy.
Which one strikes you as the more memorable? Why? What does the Gibson version deliver that the Branagh version does not, and vice versa?

3. Soliloquy Analysis
As AP students, I would like you to strive for a slightly more sophisticated explication and analysis.

4. Soliloquy Explication Example
Here is a sample paraphrase and analysis of lines This is an example of the depth I would like you to achieve in your own analysis. Please copy this down:
Paraphrase
Analysis
To live or not to live? This is the only question that really matters. Is it more noble to suffer the endless pain and cruelty of fortune? Or to fight against all of our troubles and enemies, and possibly end them?
The four opening lines of Shakespeare’s most famous soliloquy start with Hamlet posing a philosophical question of existence – of being and nothingness. Hamlet asks aloud whether it is better to live or die in a world where “slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” can be hurled against noble and unsuspecting people without warning. By selecting diction such as “slings” and “arrows” Shakespeare refers to any sort of literal or figurative threat, and “outrageous fortune” refers to the whims of fate which inflicts its will on people, as in the case of the murder of Hamlet’s father and the marriage of his mother to the murderer. Hamlet concludes by posing the question of whether or not it is appropriate to combat those individuals who cause the aforementioned heartache and in the end kill them. These opening lines set up the series of contrasts and rhetorical that Hamlet will ponder through the rest of the soliloquy, and by employing these devices, Shakespeare reinforces that Hamlet is a man of deep thought more so than a man of action.

5. Soliloquy Explication
Paraphrase and Analyze the following lines
60-64
64-68
68-76
76-82 83
84-88
This is due on Wednesday. Remember: You may work with a study group on this, including AVID tutorials or HW Central ad hoc groups, but you will be turning in your own work.

6. Ophelia enters the Scene
What do the first two lines by the two lovers reveal about their previous relationship?
By opening the interaction between Ophelia and Hamlet with _________, Shakespeare is implying ____ (about their relationship).
What does the line “Ha, ha! are you honest” suggest?
The word “honest” is a double entendre, which could mean ___ or ___. By asking this question, Hamlet implies ___which will likely affect Ophelia ___.

7. Put yourself in Hamlet’s shoes, why do you suppose he says “I loved you not”?
The implication behind Hamlet’s declaration that he never loved Ophelia is _____. It may imply that ___.
What lines indicate that Hamlet suspects Polonius as the reason for Ophelia’s spurning of his love? Why does it matter?

8. Conclusions
What conclusion does the king come to at the end of scene one?
What conclusion does Polonius come to at the end of the scene?