1. What is the subject for the verb, to stand, in line 3
What is the subject for the verb, to stand, in line 3? How does the inversion affect the impact of those lines? I hear an army charging upon the land, And the thunder of horses plunging, foam about their knees: Arrogant, in black armor, behind them stand, Disdaining the reins, with fluttering whips, the charioteers. -James Joyce, “I Hear an Army Charging Upon the Land”
SW: Examine subtext in Hamlet 1.1-3
IOT: Draw conclusions about characters based on close readings

2. Hamlet: Improv Introduction
You will briefly act out the situation that you are assigned.
Each group member will play one character.
You will have a few minutes to discuss where you think the scene will go.
Keep each improvisation as realistic as possible.
Rules of Improv:
Never say no
No touching the other people
No props

3. Improv Intro: Situation 1
Scene:
The Lobby of Elsinore Inc.
Characters:
Claude, Harry, Trudy
Situation:
Claude, Harry’s uncle, has become CEO of Elsinore Inc. following the sudden death of Harry’s father, Harold, the company’s CEO and Founder. In addition to Claude becoming CEO, he has also recently married Trudy, Harry’s mother. Claude and Trudy are appearing together at a gala press event for Elsinore Inc. for the first time since being married. Harry is attending the party before returning to grad school. How do they explain their hasty marriage to the assembled party goers and how does Harry react to the situation?

4. Improv Intro: Situation 2
Scene:
Paul’s house
Characters:
Larry, Lia, Paul
Situation:
Larry has been home for the funeral of his father’s boss, but is going back to college. He has come to say goodbye to his younger sister, Lia, who has recently fallen in love for the first time. What advice does he give her? When their father, Paul, comes in, what advice does he give his son? What advice does he give Lia about her new love?

5. Improv Intro: Situation 3
Scene
The Roof of Elsinore Inc.
Characters
Harry, Ray, Ben, and Marc
Situation
Ray, Harry’s best friend from college, and Ben, and Marc, two security guards at Elsinore Inc., go to see Harry after the party. They claim to have seen a ghost appear on the roof of the office skyscraper at midnight on the preceding two nights. Ray, whom Harry knows to be logical and skeptical, supports their claim. When they tell Harry about the fact that the ghost looks like Harry’s father, how does Harry react? How do Ray, Ben, and Marc get Harry to believe them?

6. Characters: Act 1, Scene 1
Barnardo Francisco Horatio Marcellus

7. New Concepts and Literary Devices
Claudius’ use of the Royal “We”
Public forum vs. Private matters
How does it change throughout the scene?
Antithesis
The balancing of two contrasting ideas, words, phrases, or sentences in parallel grammatical form
What feelings do these juxtapositions evoke in the characters and in the audience?
Diction and Organization of Ideas
Why does Claudius use specific words instead of others (“wisest sorrow”) and if Hamlet’s grief is so important to him, why does he address all the others first?

8. New Concepts and Literary Devices
Soliloquy
Spoken by a character who is alone (or thinks he or she is alone) on stage.
Reveals the speaker’s true thoughts and feelings.
Aside
A line said by a character but not heard by others on stage (inner monologue)
Pun
A play on words (a Freudian slip, when you say one thing and mean your mother)

9. Characters: Act 1, Scene 2 Claudius (King) Laertes Polonius Hamlet
Gertrude (Queen)
Horatio
Marcellus

10. Claudius: honest or devious?
Review Act 1 Scene 2 Lines 1-131
What are the natural divisions in Claudius’ conversations with the assembled courtiers?
Mark off these divisions and summarize what is happening in each section.
What does Claudius really want from Hamlet?
What is Claudius thinking?
Why has he chosen a public place to greet and speak with Hamlet?
What does Claudius think of Hamlet’s responses to him and to Gertrude?
Give examples from the text that support your position.

11. Characters, Act 1, Scene 3
Laertes
Ophelia
Polonius

12. Natural Reactions
Recall the improve reactions to the situations from the first 3 scenes of the play. How accurate were they compared to the reactions of the characters? What does this say about the relationship the audience may have with the actors on the stage?

13. Act 1, Scenes 4-5: Hamlet and the Ghost
Warm up: In a journal, explain why you do or do not believe in ghosts.
Obj: SW identify conflicting views of ghosts in order to analyze the effect of Hamlet’s internal conflict on the audience.

14. Characters: Act 1, Scenes 4-5
Hamlet
Horatio
Marcellus
Ghost

15. Deciphering the Views of Purgatory and Ghosts
Read explanation of Purgatory and Hell from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Then, read the first 30 (of 95) complaints to the Catholic Church by Martin Luther and the excerpt from his sermon given on Easter Tuesday. Annotate the texts, paying particular attention to what they say about purgatory, hell, and ghosts.
Then, return to the text of Hamlet. Identify support for both the Catholic and Lutheran view of the ghost from the interaction with Hamlet (first column), referencing support from the primary sources (second column).
Finally, at the bottom of your page, explain what the consequences/implications are for Hamlet’s decision. Set up your page as follows:

16. The View of the Ghost Support from Hamlet
Support from the Primary Sources

17. Summarize the Consequences
What is the result of Hamlet’s actions and inactions according to each view?
Catholic view of the Ghost
Action:
Inaction:
Protestant view of the Ghost
How do you think Hamlet should respond? Why or why not?

18. Enter Ghost…
How would the question of the ghost have affected the audience at the time?
How do you think the question of the ghost will impact the rest of the play?