Twelfth Night

Taken from Google Images

 

Now that we have concluded our Twelfth Night unit, I want you to take a step back to analyze the play.  Yes, it was funny (and confusing at times!), but what lessons or morals did you take from it?  What was Shakespeare attempting to teach readers/viewers by writing this play?  Use your genre sheet!

To ? or not to ?

Taken from Google Images

 

On Monday we deconstructed Hamlet's soliloquy "To be, or not to be..." - you guys did a great job!  We have one journal prompt for this week, and it pertains to these famous lines.  You will have to work on it more than merely this period, and it is your blog grade for the week, so put forth some effort and make it stellar!

What I would like you to do is think about the soliloquy from another person's perspective; it can anyone's perspective - even your perspective.  Next, think about Hamlet: he feels as though he is stuck between life and death, action and inaction - "To be, or not to be?" 

Think about a situation in which someone has had to deliberate over something - to act and just do it, or to avoid the task at hand.  Then rewrite Hamlet's entire soliloquy from that person's perspective.

Last year I had a student write his soliloquy from the perspective of an old cowboy who was looking back on his life; he mentioned things like "kickin' up his ol' dusty boots" and "looking across the valley" that held his cows and his past life.  Another student chose to write hers from her own perspective, deliberating on whether or not to buy a pair of shoes: "To buy the shoes, or not to buy the shoes - that is the question."  And then she deliberated with herself within the soliloquy about all of the reasons she should - or should not - buy those shoes.

I advise you to choose something personal to you to write about; I also advise you to make this creative.  I want to be "wow"ed when I read these on Friday! 

Happy Halloween!

Taken from Google Images

In honor of Halloween, we are writing about ghosts! (And this topic also ties in nicely with Hamlet - yay us!)

 

Have you or anyone you have ever known claimed to have witnessed some kind of supernatural being like Hamlet did? Explain the circumstances surrounding the event. Do you believe in the supernatural? Explain why/why not.

Nosy Parents!

Poor Ophelia.
Taken from Google Images.

Polonius is full of advice for his son Laertes and daughter Ophelia; so full of advice, in fact, he gets pretty annoying.  For this journal prompt, I want you to write from the perspective of either Laertes or Ophelia.  What would each have to say about their father's impositions on their lives, his "advice", and snooping ways?  How do you feel when your parents get a little over-bearing?  Channel your frustration through Ophelia or Laertes, and try to use your genre sheet!

Hamlet: Day 1

Taken from Google Images

 

In order to relate to moody Hamlet, our new protagonist, I want you to think about a time in which you were angry at your parents.  What did they do to make you so mad?  Why did you think that their treatment of you was so unfair?  What was the outcome? (Seeing that Hamlet is a tragedy - and you know what happens in a tragedy thanks to Othello - your story probably doesn't end as badly as the play!)  Despite this fact, we've all been angry at our mom or dad or both at one point or another.  Write about it, and use your multi-genre sheet!

Why is Love so Complicated?

Bottom and Titania 4EVA.
Taken from Google Images

Bottom states that "Reason and love keep little company together nowadays."  For this journal prompt, I want you to explain why love is just so darn complicated.  Have fun with it, and use your genre sheet :)

Monday Journal!

 

For this journal prompt, I want you to put yourself in the mindset of one of the minor MSND characters and write your journal from his/her perspective - be creative!  Some good ones would be: Quince, Egeus, Theseus, Hippolyta, Snug, Snout, Flute, Starveling, or one of Titania's fairy helpers.