Thursday March 4

We are beginning the above version of the film today. The subtitles will play, so as to help you further understand Shakespeare's use of language.

Synopsis
In New York City of the year 2000, Hamlet (Ethan Hawke) returns from college following the death of his father, king and CEO of the Denmark Corporation. His mother Gertrude (Diane Venora) has hastily married the king’s brother, Claudius (Kyle MacLachlan) and Hamlet – who sulks around in a Peruvian cap and tapes himself on digital video – suspects foul play.

Living with his family in the Elsinore Hotel, Hamlet is notified by a security guard that his father was spotted in an elevator. Hamlet confronts the Ghost (Sam Shepard) and is informed that the King was poisoned by Claudius. Ophelia (Julia Stiles) makes overtures to see Hamlet, but is advised by her brother Laertes (Liev Schreiber) that Hamlet will one day be king, and she cannot get involved.

Polonius (Bill Murray), advisor to the new king, informs him that Hamlet has been acting strangely. Claudius employs two of Hamlet’s friends from school, Rosencrantz (Steve Zahn) and Guildenstern (Dechen Thurman) to gain Hamlet’s trust to find out what he knows.
Hamlet makes an avant garde video titled The Mousetrap and with the help of his friend Horatio, plans to screen it for his family, to “catch the conscience of the king.” When Claudius reacts visibly to a display of poison and murder, Hamlet knows the ghost speaks the truth, and plans his revenge.

The following is a copy of the questions handed out in class today for Act V., which, if you recall, was to be read by Tuesday. (Many did not blog on Act V. I strongly suggest you do.)
These questions are due Tuesday. REMEMBER YOUR FINAL ASSESSMENT FOR HAMLET IS NEXT WEDNESDAY!
Act V study questions for Hamlet

1. Even Shakespeare’s tragedies have comedians and Hamlet’s are the gravediggers. Why was Ophelia allowed a Christian burial, despite having committed suicide? And “What is he that builds stronger than the mason, the shipwright or the carpenter? V.i.1-61.





2. Hamlet plays word games with the gravedigger. Eventually, the prince asks him how long he has been at this profession. Shakespeare then uses the digger to make a dig at the English by explaining to Hamlet, whom he does not recognize, where for is the prince and why it makes no difference whether or not he returns to Denmark. Explain this self-effacing humor. V.i.145-160.






3. The macabre fascinated the Elizabethans, much as it does many in contemporary society. According to the gravedigger, what determines the time necessary for decomposition of a corpse? And whose skull is discovered in the grave? V.i. 168-191.






4. What was Horatio’s relationship with individual who once occupied the skull? V.i.202





5. What does Horatio do, asking them to “hold off the earth awhile?” And when Hamlet steps into the scene, how does he behave? V.i.258-273.





6. How does supposedly Hamlet feel about Ophelia’s death? What does he mean by these parting words” “The cat will mew, and the dog will have his day.” V.i.285-311.





7. Explain the following words said to Horatio by Hamlet: “There’s a divinity that shapes our ends, / Rough hew them how we will” (V.ii.11-2).






8. What did Hamlet discover in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s sea cabin? How did he change the information to suit his own purpose? V.ii.15-60.






9. What does Osric tell Hamlet that Claudius has wagered in his match against Laertes? V.ii.160-166




10. Horatio worries that Hamlet is not as good a fencer as Laertes, but the prince assures him that while in France he has improved from “continual practice.” Hamlet is determined to “defy augury.” “There is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, ‘tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now, yet it will come. The readiness is all” Explain Hamlet’s attitude toward the upcoming match. V.ii.233-236.





11. What explanation for his behavior does Hamlet give to Laertes? V.i.240-258







12. How does Claudius demonstrate his support for Hamlet during the match? V.ii.286-307






13. Claudius announces that the queen “swoons to see [Laertes and Hamlet] bleed. What is the real reason? V.ii.339-341


14. How does Hamlet kill Claudius? V.ii.356-359.



15. What is Hamlet’s last request for Horatio? V.ii.381-384




16. Fortinbras from the Polish wars and the ambassador from England arrive after the debacle. Horatio orders the bodies “high on a stage be placed to the view.” “So shall [they] hear / Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts, / Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters, / Of deaths put on by cunning and forced cause, / And in this upshot, purposes mistook / Fall’n on the inventors heads.” V.ii.415-427. That pretty much sums up the plot. Give specific examples of each.


a. Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts.


b. Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters


c. Of deaths put on by cunning and forced cause


d. And in this upshot, purposes mistook / Fall’n on the inventors heads