Lesson 11

Lesson Goals

Texts

Core

• • Excerpt from “Depressive Illness Delayed Hamlet’s Revenge,” Aaron Shaw and Neil Pickering, BMJ Publishing Group, Ltd., 2002
  • Excerpt from “The Sanity of Hamlet,” Tenney L. Davis, The Journal of Philosophy, 1921

Materials

Tools

• Evaluating Ideas Tool

• Mentor Sentence Journal

• Vocabulary Journal

• Hamlet: Vocabulary List

• Vocabulary in Context Tool

• Word Map

• Word Sort - Closed

• Word Sort - Open

• Working with Mentor Sentences Tool

Editable Google Docs

• Evaluating Ideas Tool

• Mentor Sentence Journal

• Vocabulary Journal

• Vocabulary in Context Tool

• Word Map

• Word Sort - Closed

• Word Sort - Open

• Working with Mentor Sentences Tool

Activity 1: Read

We will determine the meaning of Unknown words in the essay “Depressive Illness Delayed Hamlet’S Revenge” by Aaron Shaw and Neil Pickering.

Independently determine the meaning of the following words. You might need to use a range of strategies (e.g., context, morphology, reference material).

• depicted (Paragraph 2)

• character defect (Paragraph 2)

• tentative (Paragraph 3)

• precipitate (Paragraph 6)

• ruminate (Paragraph 7)

• conviction (Paragraph 7)

• insight (Paragraph 10)

Write down your answers in your Vocabulary Journal. For each word, identify the vocabulary strategy (e.g., context, morphology, reference material) you used to determine its meaning. Use the questions in the Vocabulary in Context Tool as a guide.

Activity 2: Write

We will interact with the words we defined for “Depressive Illness Delayed Hamlet’S Revenge” to cement our understanding of their meaning.

Work with a partner to respond to the vocabulary exercises directed by your teacher.

Activity 3: Read – Discuss

We will examine a sentence from the essay for its precise use of word choice.

Read this sentence from Paragraph 8 of "Depressive Illness Delayed Hamlet’s Revenge."

"He ruminates on his failure to do the right thing, however, not on what the right thing might be."

With a partner, discuss the following questions:

1. Why is the phrase "ruminates on" more precise than "thinks about" in this sentence? What are the nuanced differences in their meaning? Add ruminates to your Vocabulary Journal.

2. How does the use of the word ruminate affect the reader’s understanding of the essay’s primary claim?

Activity 4: Read – Discuss

We will work with partners to complete the Evaluating Ideas Tool for “Depressive Illness Delayed Hamlet’S Revenge.”

Individually, reread "Depressive Illness Delayed Hamlet’s Revenge." Use the following question to guide your annotations:

1. What is the central claim about Hamlet’s mental state?

Once you have completed your individual reading, work with a partner to respond to the following question using the Evaluating Ideas Tool:

1. Is the author’s claim a justifiable interpretation of the text?

You will use your notes on this tool for the Section 2 Diagnostic.

Activity 5: Read

For homework, we will read an excerpt from a literary essay that analyzes Hamlet through a psychological lens.

For the Section 2 Diagnostic, you will read two pieces of literary criticism and engage in a formal discussion to respond to the following questions:

1. Which perspective represents a more justifiable interpretation of Hamlet’s mental state in the play?

2. What lines from the play support this?

For homework, read the second piece of criticism, an excerpt from the essay "The Sanity of Hamlet" by Tenney L. Davis for homework.

As you read, pay attention to the central claim the author makes and his use of supporting evidence. Annotate the text for unknown words.

As you read for homework, write down new or interesting words you encounter in your Vocabulary Journal. If necessary, revisit the Vocabulary in Context Tool to assist you with words or phrases you struggle with.