Hamlet+Post+1

** Hamlet's dying words: ** ** "O, I die, Horatio. **  ** The potent poison quite o'ercrows my spirit. **  ** I cannot live to hear the news from England. **   ** But I do prophesy the election lights **   ** On Fortinbras. He has my dying voice. **   ** So tell him, with th' occurrents, more and less, **   ** Which have solicited. The rest is silence. **  ** O, O, O, O." // (dies) // **         **These words really emphasize the despair and sorrow that Hamlet is surrounded by. He knows that there's no escaping the wrath of the deadly poison, so he sadly accepts his fate. The repetition at the end vividly describes his last dying breath, which adds to the tone of desperation and shock. Nikki Brush
 * Nikki Brush **
 * Hamlet blog Post #4 **
 * 02/20/12 **
 * 'Tis The End. **
 * Personal Response **
 * We all saw it coming: the poison, the deceit and lies, and most importantly, everyone dying. This play basically screamed tragedy from the start, but I liked it for being a tragedy. Even though it sounded like a foreign language to me in the very beginning, the plot started to make sense, and I was able to read and understand the Shakesperean language with little trouble at all! I thought that all the film versions of the final scene that we saw were very interesting. I loved some of the cheesiness that the actors portrayed in each of the movies, and the stunts weren't all that bad either. The irony of it all was just the bee's knees too. :) **
 * Essential Question Time! **
 * All right, upon seeing the end of Hamlet's and the other characters' demises, it was clear to me that insanity was indeed present throughout the entire play, even though it wasn't really seen at times. But in a way, I don't really blame Hamlet's brought about insanity, because seriously, who would be able to maintain any type of composure in a complicated, tragic life like Hamlet's? It seemed like going insane was the only way to go, and I don't judge him for that. In my opinion, Hamlet's creep and greedy uncle was the ultimate crazy one. When poor Gertie drank the poison, he sorta tried to stop her, but then was all like, "Oops, whatever, sorry honey." HELLO?? Dude, she's your wife, didn't you want to help her?? .....Oh, great, she just dropped like a fly. Oh, wait, no you didn't care at all, you just want your nephew dead. RUDE. So relating to the essential question, the king IS the definition of insanity, because he's become numb and irrational towards everything, which was waaay worse than Hamlet. Oh well, at least Kingy and Laertes get a taste of their own medicine. **

Hamlet blog Post #3 02/12/12 And So...The Chaos Begins. Personal Response These past few days have been a lot of fun seeing everyone preform their scenes. It definitely helped me visually comprehend the play, which has been a big help. Also, the plot is getting even juicier considering Ophelia's questionable death, as well as Hamlet's sanity...I wonder how all of these chaotic events will play a part in the ending scenes of play. Only time will tell, I guess. ;)   The Essential Question

Now this is where the essential question of "what is insanity and how do we know if it's real? who has the right to judge madness?" comes into play. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE in the play noted both Hamlet and Ophelia's strange behavior, but didn't really know how to respond to it. Before her tragic death, Ophelia definitely wasn't acting like herself, which was immediately noted by the king and queen. She was singing everything that she was saying and she would randomly come and go at times. Also, the two gravediggers in Act 5 were having reasonable doubts about Ophelia's death, suspecting that she somewhat "deserved" to die, because her death wasn't an accident. All the meanwhile, Hamlet is slowly reaching the breaking point, while maintaining is undying hatred towards his uncle. In the graveyard, he comes upon the skull of his jester, and starts talking to it...kinda weird.    **First Clown** Give me leave. Here lies the water; good: here

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1bac37; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> stands the man; good; if the man go to this water,

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1bac37; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> and drown himself, it is, will he, nill he, he

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1bac37; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> goes,--mark you that; but if the water come to him

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1bac37; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> and drown him, he drowns not himself: argal, he

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1bac37; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> that is not guilty of his own death shortens not his own life.

<span style="color: #1bac37; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Second Clown** <span style="color: #1bac37; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> But is this law?

<span style="color: #1bac37; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**First Clown** <span style="color: #1bac37; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Ay, marry, is't; crowner's quest law.

<span style="color: #1bac37; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Second Clown** <span style="color: #1bac37; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Will you ha' the truth on't? If this had not been

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1bac37; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out o'

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1bac37; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> Christian burial.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> ** I like these lines because they bring about the questionable death of Ophelia by using vivid imagery. Also, this brings about a religious aspect of whether to honor an accidental death, or the sin of suicide.

02/05/12

Nikki Brush: HAMLET POST#2

And Now For Something Completely Different.



Personal Response

Now things are definitely getting more interesting in the play. After seeing his father's ghost, we're really getting to see the raw emotions that are coming from Hamlet. He's now even more angered by the fact that his own uncle (surprise, surprise) in fact POISONED his father, and now swears total revenge. After seeing some different versions of Hamlet's father's ghost, it was interesting to see the differences between all of them. Some versions were definitely creepier than others, and I can definitely say that the stage version was a little cheesy. (:



Essential Question Hamlet’s father definitely expects him to get riled up about his death and also highlighting the fact that Hamlet is seeing his own father’s ghost. The fact that the ghost is seen by the guards and then Horatio, who's supposed to be the scholarly one, is definitely enough to convince Hamlet that the ghost is real. This relates to our essential question: "What is insanity and how do we know if it's real? Who has the right to judge madness?" because the ghost is definitely making its presence known by more than just one person. Also, it's pretty wrong of Hamlet's mother and uncle to judge his madness because of what they've put Hamlet through. They don't really consider it to be concerning at all, which kind of makes them selfish, don't you think?

** Ghost ** I am thy father's spirit, Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night, And for the day confined to fast in fires, Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature Are burnt and purged away. But that I am forbid To tell the secrets of my prison-house, I could a tale unfold whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres, Thy knotted and combined locks to part And each particular hair to stand on end, Like quills upon the fretful porpentine: But this eternal blazon must not be To ears of flesh and blood. List, list, O, list! If thou didst ever thy dear father love--

** HAMLET ** O God!

** Ghost ** Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.

** HAMLET ** Murder!

** Ghost ** Murder most foul, as in the best it is; But this most foul, strange and unnatural.

** HAMLET ** Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift As meditation or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge.

<span style="background-color: #fffcf6; color: #15cb55; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">I chose these lines because they're so emotional and dramatic. Hamlet's father is practically crying out to have revenge sworn on his brother, and a cry out to his son to avenge him. These lines really illustrate Hamlet's shock in seeing his father's spirit, and the detailed language really enhances the imagery that is used throughout. Also, there is a lot of repetition in these lines.

01/29/12 Hamlet Post #1 Nikki Brush per. 5 <span style="color: #7d13b4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 22pt;">True Life: My Father’s Ghost Wants Me To Kill My Uncle



<span style="color: #7d13b4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; vertical-align: baseline;">**<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Personal Response: What?? **

<span style="color: #7d13b4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Well, first of all, poor Hamlet! My first impression upon his character is that I really felt bad for him. In each of the three films we watched in class, he’s in the same horrible, tragic situation. His mother has taken on a new husband, his uncle, (talk about awkward and gross) when his father has only been dead for two months. Him and his uncle don't even get along, which makes it even more awkward and tense. To make matters worse, Hamlet's Denmark has become a place where everyone's motives are easily questioned. Hamlet has way too much on his plate already, and then he is told to avenge his father's murder by a somewhat dubious ghost. Talk about emotional baggage! Hamlet is basically Shakespeare's frustrated, emotionally distraught teenager trying to find his place in the world.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #7d13b4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">**Essential Question Analysis: The Best Question from the Best Period :)** <span style="color: #7d13b4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">What is insanity and how do we know if it's real? Who has the right to judge madness?

<span style="background-color: white; color: #7d13b4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">My thoughts immediately resorted to the T __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">urn of the Screw __ and the theme of narrator reliability. Hamlet and his companions <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> see the ghost who they guess is Hamlet's deceased father. But why is it that they all can see the same exact ghost? Or a better question might be: A re they only agreeing with Hamlet because of the circumstances? And Hamlet is really insane like the creepy governess? Whatever the reason, we can easily assume that everyone in this tragedy could easily be insane, but only time, which means further reading, can tell i guess.

<span style="color: #7d13b4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #555555; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #7d13b4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I thought this was a really funny comic to use. Although these lines don't appear until later, the comic still demonstrates Calvin's question of insanity. Was the green blob really speaking to him? Or was it his imagination? <span style="color: #7d13b4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 21px;">Reading passage ** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #555555; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #555555; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #7d13b4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">And then it started, like a guilty thing <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #555555; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #7d13b4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">upon a fearful summons. I have heard <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #555555; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #7d13b4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn, Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #555555; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #7d13b4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Awake the god of day, and at his warning,  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #555555; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #7d13b4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air,  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #555555; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #7d13b4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Th’ extravagant and erring spirit hies  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #555555; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #7d13b4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">To his confine; and of the truth herein  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #555555; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #7d13b4; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">This present object made probation. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #555555; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #555555; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #7d13b4; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%; text-align: left;"> I really liked this passage because Horatio payed a deep, thoughtful tribute the rooster. In his eyes, the trumpeting made the ghost disappear, making the rooster sound like a valiant hero. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #555555; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #555555; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #555555; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #555555; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #555555; display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">