Megan+Beumeler

__**FOUR CHORD SONG**__ []
 * Ginger Spice was always my favorite**

__**Hamlet Blog #4**__ In scene 5.2, Hamlet and Laertes duel. Both are cut with the venomous sword, the queen drinks the poisoned drink and Hamelt gets his revenge by stabbing his uncle. It seems that all Shakespearian plays end in tragedy- all the characters end up dead such as in this play. It was expected for me. I believe that in the preceding scene Hamlet truly is mourning Ophelia's death but becomes overly deffensive when Laetes challenges him.
 * Response:**


 * 3rd Period's Question:** Where do we draw the line between sanity and insanity? To what extent do we trust the insane?

Hamlet's mother believes he is going insane when he speaks his fathers ghost infront of her and it shows that he may be insane since she can't see the king.The fact he becomes so violently deffensive shows that he is sane. A sane person does not go around murdering people even if he feels a duty to avenge his father.

King: Gertude do not drink. Queen: I will my lord; I pray you pardon me (drinks) King: (aside) It is the poisoned cup; it is too late
 * Passage:**

The use of an aside here ( a sort of whisper loud enough for the audience to hear) is important. I think it shows that the king is more concerned with his own well-being than his own wifes life. He doesn't do too much to stop her from drinking from the cup.

__**Hamlet Blog #3**__ I've enjoyed the last few scenes and being able to watch groups perform them. It helps me understand them and it's more entertaining- as Shakespeare himself would have hoped. My group acted out scene 3.4. This was fun to act out because there is a ghost appearence and death. Plus we made the characters thugs in the hood. That twist made it more fun and easier to understand.This scene is now one of my favorite scenes. I also think it is one of the more important scenes in the play because Hamlets internal conflict with his situation begins to affect others. This is also the point at which, in my opinion Hamlet becomes truly insane.
 * Response:**


 * 3rd Period's Question:** Where do we draw the line between sanity and insanity? To what extent do we trust the insane?

Aound scene 2.1 Hamlet is acting pretty strange but later admits that it is only an act. He appears crazy but his thought seems logical. So, how can we be sure about whether he is truly insane or putting on a show. Later the ghost appears to him in the presence of his mother. The king speaks to him but the queen is unable to hear or see anything. In this same scene, Hamlet murders Polonius and scares his mother. At this point I believe he is truly mad.


 * Passage:**

The undiscover'd country from whose bourn No traveller returns, puzzles the will And makes us rather bear those ills we have

This image is a good interpretation of the main theme of Hamlet's to be or not to be monologue.

In the to be or not to be monologue, Hamlet's ultimate decision is to not take action- to not kill himslef. He ponders death trying to imagin whether it will be an escape from the battle of his life and peaceful like a dream or not. Death is a mystery to Hamlet. Shakespeare writes in this passage that death is like a "traveler" who goes to an "undiscover'd country", never to return. Hamlet is delayed by this thought and does not commit suicide.

__**Hamlet Blog #2**__

At this point I feel like I have a better handle of the "Shakespearian lingo". The activities we did in class have helped to me to invision the ways we would express the same ideas in our modern language. Hamlet's first monologue from this section is especially important in understanding Hamlet's internal thoughts. Hamlet has a right to be upset about his mother marrying his uncle. That is just not right. I don't think he is over reacting at all (at this point). It is finally clear why the king's ghost is appearing- revenge. This is definately going to cause some conflict. Hamlet is so trusting of his father's ghost that he isn't thinking of the results of his actions.
 * Response:**


 * 3rd Period's Question:** Where do we draw the line between sanity and insanity? To what extent do we trust the insane?

I don't think we can call Hamlet insane at this point by any means. I would say he is reacting to his situation in the way that anyone would. First, he is mourning over his fathers death and just a month later his mother marries his uncle. Then, he learns that his uncle is the one to blame- i would probably be freaking out as much as Hamlet. I wonder, since he says he may pretend to be mad, if this is going to blur the line between him pretending to be insane and him actually being insane.

This passage uses imagery. The ghost describes Claudius as a serpant who harmed him while he was sleeping peacefully in his orchard. It makes me think of the Garden of Eden and the uncle as the Devil. Ghost > I find thee apt; > And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed > That roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, > Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear: > 'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, > A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark > Is by a forged process of my death > Rankly abused: but know, thou noble youth, > The serpent that did sting thy father's life > Now wears his crown. HAMLET > O my prophetic soul! My uncle!
 * Passage:**

__**Hamlet Blog #1**__

Guess I'll give this whole blogging thing a whirl... hopefully it works out for me, being one of the least tech-savy people out there!

I'm actually pretty excited to be reading Hamlet. I have often heard famous lines from this play ("To be or not to be.." ect) and it will be nice to have a deeper understanding of those famous lines and the work as a whole. Mrs. Bear explained to our class that the value of Shakespeare's works is not because of the plot but rather the language used. This is definately what I struggle with the most- understanding the language. So far it hasn't been too difficult with the assistance of the videos. Another reason I like the videos is because we are able to see different producer's takes on the play. Some things are very different depending on the film you are watching... like the era it is set in, the relationship between characters such as Hamlet and his mother (weird), the lighting, costumes, stage ect and the overall tone.
 * Initial response:**




 * 3rd Period's Question:** Where do we draw the line between sanity and insanity? To what extent do we trust the insane?

The opeIn the opening scene, the night gaurd's encounter the King's ghost. When they tell Horatio of what they've seen, Horatio doesn't buy it. He may think they are insane or playing a practical joke on him. It is not likely that the are insane because more than one of the nightgaurds profess that they have seen the ghost. Once Horatio sees the King's ghost for himself, he then believes them. It is human nature to need to "see it to believe it".


 * Passage:**

MARCELLUS

Shall I strike at it with my partisan?

HORATIO

Do, if it will not stand.

BERNARDO

'Tis here!

HORATIO

'Tis here!

MARCELLUS

'Tis gone!

Exit Ghost We do it wrong, being so majestical, To offer it the show of violence; For it is, as the air, invulnerable, And our vain blows malicious mockery.

I find this passage pretty humerous because Marcellus can't harm the ghost because (1)it is like trying to hit the air and (2) a ghost is already dead! You'd think they'd be a little smarter than that but I guess that is what people do when in fear... it's like fight or flight. Personally, I would probably just run.

Technology makes my head hurt! But here's a cute vid. []