Hamlet,
Prince of Denmark
-
William
Shakespeare
Summer Reading -
August
2008
Good news! You have made it through
The Scarlet Letter. Only Hamlet is left to go -- and if you have to,
you can read this in just a couple hours. Plus,
there are all kinds of supplementary helps available for you in print or online.
Reading Hamlet will prepare you for our fall outing to the Fox Cities
Performing Arts Center. Hamlet is a classic play that deals with many of
the themes Shakespeare investigates in his other great tragedies: Macbeth,
King Lear, and Othello.
Many
critics assert that revenge is the key theme of Hamlet. It certainly is a major
emphasis in this work, but it is important not to miss the other themes that
Shakespeare also investigates. These other themes include appearance versus
reality, the role of the supernatural, the effects of power and greed, reason
versus desire, the importance of loyalty, violence and its outcomes, and
nature’s role in human existence. Watch for these key themes as you are
reading. Mark and highlight them.
This
essay will be due on September 12th. Be
sure to read the test prompts (find them below) before you start reading Hamlet
so that you know what you are looking to prove in your essay.
Follow the essay guidelines exactly – there is a 1/3 grade penalty for
each instruction you miss. (Example: if
you don’t follow three instruction guidelines – the best grade you can hope
for is a B!) Several helpful web links are
listed below. It may also help you to
watch a movie of Hamlet to help understand the action – don’t
substitute this for reading the play – some versions are not accurate at all!
READING GUIDELINE & ASSIGNMENT
To make the most of your reading of this work, please be aware of the following:
1. You will be taking a short fact quiz early in the school year.
2. You should take notes or highlight key sections -- you will need these for writing your essay.
3. Read these AP-style essay prompts before you begin your reading of the novel. You may choose any of the prompts – however, it must be apparent from the first lines of your essay which of the test prompts you have chosen.
ESSAY PROMPT #1
Writers
often create ambiguous characters -- characters that share both positive and
negative aspects -- to accentuate the theme or message of their work. Rev.
Arthur Dimmesdale and Prince Hamlet are classic examples of such characters. In a well-organized essay, compare
and contrast these two ambiguous characters and discuss how their ambiguity leads to the meaning of these
two works.
In your essay, do not merely
summarize the plot. Use quotes and examples from the works to illustrate your
points.
ESSAY PROMPT #2
Hester
Prynne, Roxanne, and Ophelia are all important characters in your summer reading
assignments. Their personalities, actions, and antics have made them some of the
most well-known female characters of all time. Their roles truly shape the
theme and meaning of their stories. In a well-organized essay, compare
and contrast these three characters and discuss how their roles lead to the meanings of
each of these classic works.
In your essay, do not merely
summarize the plot. Use quotes and examples from the works to illustrate your
points.
ESSAY PROMPT #3
In
Western literature, "blackness" or "darkness" is a universal
symbol. "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne makes extensive
use of the imagery
of darkness. Shakespeare's Hamlet does the same. Write an organized essay
in which you discuss how darkness and blackness are key elements of these tales
and lead to the meaning of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot
summary.
Use quotes and examples from the works to
illustrate your points.
4. Write your essay following the instructions at the bottom of this page. Follow all instructions accurately. Be ready to submit essay by deadline.
1. Essay must be written in blue or black pen on loose-leaf college rule (that's the narrow-lined, not wide-lined) theme paper.
2. Student name must be listed in upper left hand corner.
3. All papers must be hand-written (cursive or printed – whichever is more legible). The ideas should be your own – do not copy ideas you found on the web or in other supplementary aids!
4. Length is a minimum of two pages with a maximum of four pages. Write on front side of page only!
5. Maintain a 1-inch margin on the right hand side of the paper.
6. HINT: Check the Honors English website for Payne’s Rules of Writing . . . and follow them.