Learning Objectives:
- Students will identify the key plot points and characters of Hamlet.
- Students will analyze the complex themes of revenge, madness, love, and relationships in the play.
- Students will develop their critical thinking skills by analyzing Shakespeare’s language and symbolism.
- Students will express their understanding of the play through creative writing and discussion.
Pre-study activities:
- Introduce the play to the class using this Hamlet lesson plan Do the pre – reading stage. Read Hamlet’s soliloquy, you find the full text of the play here. If you need you will find a simpler version here. Hamlet
- Do worksheet A and B and discuss with class – talk about what you find in this Simpsons’ interpretation of Hamlet what is similar and what is different from the original ! See video below. You can also have a look at the Cartoon Hamlet it is an easy way to talk about the play!
After reading play – (you might only read one act)
- Here is a quiz for the class to work on. Lots of questions! hamlet-quiz
- Look at this google map. Where is this? Who lived here?
- Read this summary of the play and answer some questions while watching.
- Test yourself with the Cambridge test
- Study the picture (Image here) Ophelia by Sir John Everet Millais
Watch this revision by SparkNotes to remember main facts
Extra activities and places to visit if time:
- Look at these clips “Ophelia’s madness“, Ophelia drowning, Ophelia’s sad destiny
- Look at video from YouTube. Hamlet Act3 Scene1 Soliloquy.
Shakespeare animated books:
Essay Questions:
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Revenge: How does the theme of revenge manifest itself in Hamlet? To what extent does Hamlet’s pursuit of revenge shape his actions and ultimately affect his fate?
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Madness: Explore the concept of madness in Hamlet. What does it mean to be mad in the play? How does Hamlet’s feigned madness differ from his genuine moments of despair? How does madness affect the play’s characters and its overall plot?
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Love: Analyze the complex portrayal of love in Hamlet. How does love influence the actions and decisions of the play’s characters? How does love contribute to the play’s tragic events? What insights does the play offer into the nature of love and its potential consequences?
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Relationships: Examine the intricate web of relationships in Hamlet. How do the relationships between Hamlet, Gertrude, Claudius, Ophelia, Laertes, and others contribute to the play’s central conflicts and themes? How does the play explore the complexities of human relationships, including love, betrayal, and manipulation?
Written Activities:
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Character Analysis: Choose one or two characters from Hamlet and write a comprehensive analysis of their personalities, motivations, and roles in the play. Provide specific examples from the text to support your analysis.
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Theme Exploration: Select one of the central themes of Hamlet, such as revenge, madness, love, or relationships. Write an essay exploring the theme in depth, providing evidence from the play and analyzing its significance in the overall message of the play.
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Visual Interpretation: Create a visual representation of a scene or moment from Hamlet. This could be a drawing, painting, collage, or any other creative form that conveys your interpretation of the scene. Be sure to include a brief explanation of your interpretation and how it relates to the play’s themes.
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Play Adaptation: Write a brief adaptation of a scene from Hamlet, changing the setting or characters to a modern context. Consider how the themes and messages of the play might resonate in a contemporary setting.
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Literary Analysis: Compare and contrast Hamlet with another Shakespearean tragedy, such as Macbeth or Othello. Identify similarities and differences in the themes, characters, and overall structure of the plays. Discuss how the two tragedies explore universal human experiences and questions.
Assessment
Hei, her er en kuriositet som kan være verdt å prøve hvis du selv eller kolleger er kjent med dynamisk simulering: Simulating Hamlet in the classroom.
Det er ser ut til å være litt komplisert synes jeg! Tar gjerne et kurs hos deg i hvordan man skal instruere elever i dette!
Matthew Taylor of the RSA has an interesting take on Hamlet and neuroscience: http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/socialbrain/a-trip-to-hamlet-and-yes-it-was-dr-who/
I’d like to share a very successful lesson I did involving podcasting and Hamlet. Please look at this experience, which I posted on YouTube. My kids loved it.
Hi Tynia
That looks great. Thank you for sharing. Be fun to do a project with your students and mine. Let me know if you are interested!
This is interesting. I’m amazed by the way you broke down the teaching methods for anyone to use. As well as the way you gave many links for people to do their own research.
This makes Hamlet seem easier to read and less boring. I would love if my English V teacher would find a better way of teaching it and also Macbeth.