Goodnight, Sweet Prince / Julius Caesar IV.iii.239-307

Grade 12

• Finished the play!
• Discussed a lot!
• How is the story structure balanced?
• Hamlet's transformation, finally!
• Did the characters who died have to die?
• What conclusions can be drawn re the stories themes of revenge, justice and death?
• We'll go over Act IV quiz tomorrow and start the video.
• Thursday, finish the video.
• Friday, multiple choice test.
• Monday and Tuesday: computer lab to work on essay (due 3/16)

Grade 10

• Journal: How is Brutus his own worst enemy?
• IV.iii.238-307
• What qualities does Brutus show in the scene with Lucius?
• What purpose does the ghost serve?
• Go over Act III quiz tomorrow, begin video.

Hamlet V.ii. to 332 / Julius Caesar IV.iii.162-237

Grade 12

• Review: How has Hamlet's character evolved? What was the stimulus for this change? Discuss.
• Of all the principle characters, which has nothing to atone for?
• Analyze Hamlet's apology to Laertes.
• How does Laertes react to Hamlet?
• How dies the plan go wrong?

Grade 10

• Journal: How has your opinion of Cassius changed?
• Discuss and review play citations. For the l;ast quiz and the essay for the play, correct citations need to be given for each specific reference of the play. The format is (Act.scene.line numbers); (IV.iii.35-36) or (4.3.35-36)
• Read IV.iii.162-237
• Discuss: Why does Brutus not tell Messala about Portia? How do Brutus' and Cassius' fatal flaws reveal themselves yet again?

Well, Today was Peculiar.

Due to today's "disruption," only periods 1 and 3 were productive. We'll just regroup on Monday. If you owe Shakespeare notes, take advantage of the weekend to get them together and submit them on Monday.

Have a great weekend!

Hamlet V.ii / Antony's Funeral Speech

Grade 12

• V.ii 1-208
• Question to be discussed next time: Why Osric? What's Shakepeare's point with this character?

Grade 10

• Went over the Antony Funeral Oration assignment. Students had an opportunity to earn more points.

Hamlet V.i, Continued / Julius Caesar IV.iii

Grade 12

• Review.
• V.i.224-319 (end of scene)
• Great discussion on the multiple layers of this important section of this scene (Ophelia's funeral).
• Questions: What inspires Hamlet's behavior? Is he being genuine? How do you know? What is the nature of Hamlet's behavior? What has been revealed about Laertes? Why does Hamlet seem confused by Laertes' anger?
• Summary and analysis:  LINK
• Text and translation: LINK

Grade 10

• IV.ii review
• IV.iii - to the end.
• What has been revealed about Cassius?
• How is this scene similar to II.i.234-309? (Conversation between Portia and Brutus)
• Text and translation:  LINK
• Summary and analysis: LINK

Hamlet V.i, Continued / Julius Caesar Act IV.ii

Five week reports go out next week. There's only a marking period and a half left in the school year.

Grade 12

• Reminder about citing details for a dramatic work. Example: The skull the gravedigger hands to Hamlet belonged to Yorick, the king's jester (V.i.186-7). Citation can also be written as (5.1.186-7) Specific references to the play need a specific citation.
• Reviewed the beginning of the scene and compared the gravedigger's comments about Ophelia to Hamlet's 'To be or not to be' soliloquoy. Also noted the situational irony of the scene.
• Read and discussed V.i.168-223
• Hamlet's thoughts about death, since the death of Polonius, have become focused on the decay of the body instead of some uncertain afterlife, as is indicated by his thouughts about Yorick, Alexander and Caesar.

Grade 10

• Review IV.i. Further discussed the development of Antony's character.
• Read IV.ii
• What is Shakespeare's point in this short scene? What do you learn about the character of Cassius?

Hamlet V.i, Continued / Julius Caesar Act IV.i

Grade 12

• In groups, discuss and add to yesterday's summary and analysis. Then report to larger group.
• Distributed unit essay questions.
• Group A journals due the Tuesday after break. (2/28)

Grade 10

• Journal: Writing activity on page 404.
• Read "Conflict" and "Look for" on page 404.
• Read, discuss, summarize and analyze literary elements for IV.i.
• Text and translation: LINK
• Summary and analysis: LINK