English IV A
By the completion of a student's senior year, a completed senior project is required. In English IV A and English IV B we will be compiling information, editing, revising, polishing and publishing a senior I-Search Paper and Presentation.
Week One
Week Two
Week ThreeHamlet 1.11. How and why does Shakespeare create an effective atmosphere for the opening scene?
2. In what ways does the dramatist make Horatio stand out from the other characters? 3. What event occurred thirty years before which may be causing the current unrest? 4. What is Fortinbras of Norway engaged upon at this time? 5. What is Horatio's most significant contribution to this scene? 6. What important decision, for the progress of the play, is made by the characters at the end of the scene?
Week 4
Hamlet Extra CreditFor 5 points extra credit apiece (up to 10 points), bring in an
example of an allusion to a Shakespearean work. You may find allusions in literature, television, movies, and music. Once you have found an allusion, research to find out what work is being referred to. You must report this when you share your allusion. Feel free to bring in the CD or movie; we can watch or listen to the clip and have you explain it to the class. One example is in the movie, Clueless, Cher tells her step-brother’s date that Polonius, not Hamlet, uttered the line, “To thine own self be true.” This quote comes from Shakespeare’s play Hamlet.
Week Five
Hamlet 1.51.. Why does the Ghost speak in heightened and passionate language?
2. What does the Ghost have to tell Hamlet? 3. Choose three techniques or uses of languge in this speech which add to its eloquence. 4. How does Hamlet react to the Ghost's message? 5. What does he reveal to his companions? 6. What does Hamlet tell his companions about his and their future behaviour? 7. Find two quotations at the beginning and end of this scene which illustrate Hamlet's significant change of attitude to his responsibility regarding his father's Ghost. Week Six
Hamlet 3.11. What information does R & G pass on to the King? How do they influence the plot?
2. What does the queen say that she hopes is the cause of Hamlet's lunacy? 3. What significant insight does Claudius reveal in an aside before they spy on Hamlet? 4. Explain the themes of Hamlet's soliloquy from line56>. 5. What is the tone of Hamlet's first comment about Ophelia as he notices her? 6. What does Hamlet's comments about honesty reveal about the preoccupations of his mind? 7. Explain his often repeated demand to Ophelia. 8. Why does his attitude change towards Ophelia during this conversation? 9. How do the three listeners react, and whose reaction is closest to the truth? Week Seven
Hamlet 3.31. What instructions does Claudius give to R & G?
2. Why does Pol think he should observe Ham with Gert? What does this show about Pol? 3. What does Claudius reveal about his state of mind when he delivers his soliloquy? 4. How does Hamlet react to seeing Claudius in a vulnerable state? 5. What does this reaction demonstrate about changes in Hamlet's moral position? 6. What ironic truth is revealed by Claudius at the end of the scene? 7. What advice does Hamlet offer to his mother in the scene beginning at line 159? 8. What information about his immediate future does Hamlet offer to his mother, and what does he intend to do? Week Eight
Hamlet Research/AllusionsTo fully appreciate the allusions in this scene and in others in the play, research one of the following myths and explain why you believe Shakespeare chose to include it. A PowerPoint or prezi should be created about the meaning of the myths, that includes pictures, descriptions, your personal thoughts, and a works cited page.
Suggested myths for research include: Act II Aeneas Dido Priam Cyclops Mars Hecuba Act III nymphs Phoebus Neptune Tellus Hymen Week Nine
History of ShakespeareReading Questions
Bonus Unit- Advanced
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Week 10
Hamlet 4.3 & 4.4Act 4 Scene 3
1. Why is dealing with the problem posed by Hamlet particularly tricky for Claudius? 2. Give two examples of how the antic disposition is expressed in this scene. 3. What truth does Claudius reveal in his brief soliloquy at the end of the scene/ Act 4 Scene 4 1. What does Hamlet discover about Fortinbras' army? 2. How does this knowledge make him react? 3. What decision does he reach? Week ElevenHamlet 4.51. What terrible new development is revealed at the beginning of this scene?
2. What do Ophelia's songs reveal about her preoccupations? 3. What are the problems that Claudius catalogues in the speech beginning at line75? 4. What worrying news is brought by the messenger? 5. What mood is Laertes in and how do you know? 6. How does Claudius handle this new threat? 7. How does Laertes react to the sight of Ophelia? 8. What does Claudius promise Laertes?
Week 12Hamlet 5.11. What are the two clowns doing while they talk? Who is the "she" of 5.1.1? Why, according to the second clown, is she really being given a Christian burial?
2. What happens in the discussion between Hamlet and the Gravedigger? What does Hamlet learn from his confrontation with Yorick's skull? What does he learn from his meditation on Alexander and Caesar? How does the mood here differ from that in 4.3.17-38? 3. How old is Hamlet? 4. What do we learn from Gertrude's farewell to Ophelia (5.1.227-30)? Would Polonius have been surprised if he had heard this? 5. What happens when Hamlet appears to the others? What is significant about him calling himself "Hamlet the Dane"? Why is he so angry?
Week 13Hamlet Movie ReviewMovie Review:
1. Name movie title, director and two leading actors in the movie. 2. 1st Paragraph: Summarize the plot of the movie 3. 2nd Paragraph: Review the movie • what did you like about it, • what didn't you like, acting, directing, etc. • Your opinion of the film and 3 reasons for that opinion. 4. 3rd Paragraph: How closely does the movie follow the reading we did in class? Was this how you pictured Hamlet when we were reading it?
PoetrySonnet XXIX AssignmentIn a Shakespearean sonnet, the three quatrains tend to rhyme abab, cdcd, efef, and the couplet rhymes gg. The problem is expressed in the three quatrains and the solution is present in the couplet.
1. Work out the rhyme scheme of "Sonnet XXIX". Next, paraphrase each line of the poem. 2. Shakespeare shows his human fraility in this sonnet. What problem does he encounter in each of the three quatrains? 3. What solution does he present in the rhyming couplet at the end of the sonnet? 4. Identify a simile and a metaphor in the poem. Explain what each means. 5. Shakespeare is a master of the use of parallelism. He uses words and phrases at the begining of the sonnet and balances them with the use of similar or identical words and phrases at the end of the sonnet. He repeats the word state in lines two and fourteen. What word or phrase does he use at the end of the sonnet to balance each of the following words or phrases at the beginning: fortune, trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries 6. Writing- When he feels depressed, the speaker thinks of his beloved and remembers that he wouldn't change places even with a king. In a couple paragraphs, explain who or what you think about when you are depressed? How does this person or thing make you feel- better or worse? Explain. Definitions- Provide a definition for the following terms: Petrarchan sonnet, Shakespearean sonnet, foot (in poetry0, iambic pentameter The Passionate Shepherd to his Love Assignment1. The line, "Come live with me and be my love", has become a very familiar line. Obviously it is a come-on. What does the poet offer his girl in return for her promise to live with him?
2. There are some rather archaic or at least odd words in this poem. What is the meaning of each of the following words: steepy madrigals posies kirtle myrtle buckles studs 3. The shepherd repeats one phrase three times. What is it? Do you think this suggests he is trying to be persuasive, he's depserate or something else entirely? Explain your reasons. 4. This is a pastoral poem: one where the countryside is shown as perfect, with all the less attractive aspects left out. Identify details that suggest the shepherd is presenting an unrealistic picture of country life. Why do you think he does this? 5. Paraphrase what this poem is saying. Then, decide whether you think the poem is a cheap pick-up line or if it is expressing real love. Defend your answer with at least two specific examples taken from the poem. "The Nymph's Reply"- Sir Walter Raleigh & "The Bait"- John DonneWhen "The Passionate Shepherd to his Love" was first published it was immensely popular. Yet it had critics. At least two known poets wrote responses to it, possibly mocking it. Decide which of the three poems represents what you consider to be the most realistic view of love in today's world. Explain your reasoning by pulling specific lines from the poem.
Paraphrase what each quatrain is saying to help you understand the poem as a whole. "She Dwelt Among the Untrodden Ways"1. Lucy was probably an imaginary girl, although she may have been based on one or more young women whom Wordsworth knew. What qualities do you think that Lucy must have possessed that drew the poet to her?
2. Decide what is suggested by the following phrases: - the untrodden ways - the springs of Dove - a violet - a mossy stone - half hidden - she lived unknown 3. Find a simile and a metaphor in the poem and explain why it is effective. 4. Write a story about a person that you know you will never be world famous but still has significant influence on your life. Try to write this in the form of a poem in a letter format addressed to that person. |