1. Students started today with their narrative essays handed back.
2. They were given a handout that introduces the play of Hamlet. We read through the traditions and culture of Elizabethan drama, which is the style of drama that existed when Shakespeare wrote his plays. We looked at the diarama that Mrs. Seifert’s class made last year of the Globe Theatre and also discussed the eight parts that make a character a tragic figure.
3. Students copied out a character concept map that I drew on the board introducing each of the characters of the play and how they were all connected together. The characters with red hearts beside them are good, noble characters with caring qualities. The others are all foul players in the tragic events that come to be. It was also pointed out that two men are seeking revenge for the death of their fathers: Fortenbras and Hamlet. With two men seeking the same goal, we are able to compare how effective they are in that goal.
4. We moved into the projector room to look at some popular culture takes on Shakespeare themes. Some beleive Shakespeare is like the Coca Cola of Literature, it is everywhere and a huge part of pop culture. Shakespeare’s saying are on beer shirts, in the Simpsons, in your music lyrics, alluded to in music videos and movies.. it is simply everywhere. So, we watched a few Hamlet clips on youtube. Enjoy!

See the clips below…

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/0SuGV2l2KpA" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/FtMVjQizwE8" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]