Analyzing Hamlet's Soliloquies: A Literary and Character Study, Study notes of English Literature

Download Analyzing Hamlet's Soliloquies: A Literary and Character Study and more Study notes English Literature in PDF only on Docsity! 1 Contrasting Hamlet’s soliloquies (up to 60 mins) This resource will enable students, particularly of English Literature, to analyse and compare Shakespeare’s use of language, structure and form to create meanings. It will also develop whole-text understanding of character. Who is it for? This resource is designed for A-Level students of English Literature and Drama who are studying or interested in Hamlet. Learning outcomes Learners will: • Closely examine two of Hamlet’s soliloquies after watching them being performed as part of the National Theatre’s 2010 production. • Explore how Shakespeare’s language choices serve to portray Hamlet’s character. • Express a personal response to Hamlet’s character at the beginning and end of the play. • Chart the journey of Hamlet’s character across the play by comparing and contrasting the language in the two soliloquies. You will need • Access to the clip ‘O that this too too solid flesh…’ in the ‘On Demand’ player. • Access to the clip ‘How all occasions do inform against me...’ in the ‘On Demand’ player • Access to the film Hamlet: A character study in the ‘On Demand’ player. Activities 1. Show the film Hamlet: A character study using the ‘On Demand’ player. The film features actor Rory Kinnear and director Nicholas Hytner discussing the character of Hamlet and the interpretation of him in their 2010 production. 2. Read through Hamlet’s soliloquy from Act I, Scene 2, using the extract provided below. 3. Using the ‘On Demand’ player, watch a clip of Rory Kinnear performing the soliloquy in the NT’s 2010 production of Hamlet. Hamlet – Learning Resources 2 4. Lead a discussion about the key themes and imagery in this speech by using the following questions: • What emotions can you identify in this speech? • Where and how does Shakespeare use nature imagery here? • Where does Shakespeare use religious imagery in this speech, and what does it describe? • What words and ideas does Hamlet repeat, and why? • What kind of punctuation can you find in this speech? What does it suggest about Hamlet’s state of mind? 5. Remind the class that this is Hamlet’s first soliloquy, and the scene gives the audience their first impression of him as a character. Ask each person in class to suggest three words to describe him, and share these with the rest of the class. 6. Read through Hamlet’s final soliloquy from Act IV, Scene 4, using the extract below. 7. Using the ‘On Demand’ player, watch a clip of Rory Kinnear performing the speech from the National Theatre’s 2010 production. 8. Divide the class into small groups, assigning them each one of the following topics: nature imagery, religious/mythical imagery, war, punctuation, and family. 9. Ask each group to read carefully through the speech, focusing on their assigned topic and discussing amongst themselves the role it plays within the speech. 10. Ask each group to share their discoveries with the rest of the class. 11. Lead a discussion about the key differences and similarities between this speech and the last. What do these two speeches tell you about the journey Hamlet’s character undertakes over the course of the play? 12. Invite each member of the class to choose a further three adjectives to describe Hamlet at this point in the play, and share them with the rest of the class Hamlet – Learning Resources