1. HAMLET ACT III Scene i

2. Scene One  Dramatic Reading: With a partner, read Hamlet’s Act III soliloquy (DiYanni 1438-1439). We’ll follow this by viewing two film versions.

3. 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?

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

5. Soliloquy Explication Example  Here is a sample paraphrase and analysis of lines 56-60. This is an example of the depth I would like you to achieve in your own analysis. Please copy this down: ParaphraseAnalysis 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 opening four 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. The words “slings” and “arrows” refer 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.

6. Soliloquy Explication  Working with your neighbor, analyze and explain the significance of 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 B&G Club with Kameron on Tuesday.

7. Ophelia enters the Scene  What do the first two lines by the two lovers reveal about their previous relationship?  What does the line “Ha, ha! are you honest” suggest?  Put yourself in Hamlet’s shoes, why do you suppose he says “I loved you not”?  What lines indicate that Hamlet suspects Polonius as the reason for Ophelia’s spurning of his love?

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?