Read and Response 10/30/11

Act 3 Scene 3 
      Why doesn't Hamlet kill Claudius while he's praying?

He didn’t kill Claudius while he was praying because he thinks he will go to heaven if he does, but he wanted him to go to hell, for killing his father.

Act 4 Scene 3
Practice the Reading Strategy from class and paraphrase Act 4 Scene 3 in only three sentences. Identify the most important details! 

Well Claudius wanted to know what happened to Polonius so he started to interrogate Hamlet. He finds out that Polonius is dead and Claudius sends Hamlet away. When he left Claudius wrote a letter telling someone to kill Hamlet.

Act 4 Scene 5
How do Ophelia and Laertes react to the death of their father? How do you think you would react in such a situation? Whose reaction would you be most like, Laertes or Ophelia?

Laertes was ready to fight and Ophelia went crazy. This actually happened to me and I acted like Laertes and was ready to fight.

Act 4 Scenes 6-7
Laertes and Claudius come up with a plot to kill Hamlet. What is this murder plan?

The plan was in the fencing match they would put poison on the end of the sword and when they stabbed him it would kill him.

Read and Response 10/23/11

Act 2 Scenes 1

- What is Polonius's relationship with Reynaldo?
- What is Polonius's relationship with Laertes?
- What is Laertes relationship with Reynaldo?               

1.  Reynaldo  is Polonius’ servant

2  Polonius is Laertes’ father

3.  Reynaldo spies on Laertes for Polonius

Act 2 Scenes 2

-       How does the father of Ophelia, Polonius, interpret Hamlet's madness? Why is he wrong? What is Hamlet really going crazy over?

He interpreted the situation like this   “Your son is crazy. “Crazy” I’m calling it, since how can you say what craziness is except to say that its craziness? But that’s another story”.

He is right about him being mad over Ophelia but not for the reason of rejection

 The reason is he is testing his theory or plan rather to express his love for her. So basically he is madly in love with her.

Act 3 Scenes 1

-       In this scene we run into the popular phrase "To be or not to be" (Original Text) How does the modern text interpret this? Why is Hamlet thinking about this question?

 "To be or not to be"- “The question is: is it better to be alive or dead”

He is asking this question to him self because he wonders is it better to be alive and go through the troubles of everyday life or “die” and be done with it.

Act 3 Scenes 2

I would ask questions like:

In modern text:

-What has been up with you lately, why are you so hyper?

-How do you feel about the whole situation about your parents?

-Why do you love Ophelia so much?

Old time text:

-My lord, why are ye not acting in the usual fashion, but instead much like a clown?

-Sir, are ye thinking about the story behind thy parents?

-Why is thy lord so much as in love with Polonius’ female offspring?