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Lesson 12

We will examine the claims in the literary essay “The Sanity of Hamlet” by Tenney L. Davis and prepare for the next lesson’s Section Diagnostic.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I use a variety of strategies (e.g., context clues, word study, and vocabulary resources) to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words and phrases in the text “The Sanity of Hamlet"?

  • Can I accurately use newly acquired vocabulary from “The Sanity of Hamlet"?

  • Can I determine the primary claim in “The Sanity of Hamlet"?

Texts

Core

  • Unit Reader
    • 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

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Write – Discuss

We will determine the meaning of Unknown words in the literary essay “The Sanity Of Hamlet” by Tenney L. Davis.

With a partner, determine the meaning of the following words:

  • conclusive (Paragraph 1)

  • sham (Paragraph 1)

  • adequate (Paragraph 2)

  • contemplative (Paragraph 2)

  • aversion (Paragraph 2)

  • resolve (Paragraph 2)

  • peevish (Paragraph 3)

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: Discuss

We will interact with the words we defined for “The Sanity Of Hamlet” to cement our understanding of their meaning.

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

Activity 3: Write

We will make connections between vocabulary in this text and vocabulary we have learned in previous texts.

In the previous lesson, you explored the meaning of the following words from the essay "Depressive Illness Delayed Hamlet’s Revenge":

  • tentative (Paragraph 3)

  • ruminate (Paragraph 7)

  • conviction (Paragraph 7)

These terms are conceptually related to the following words from "The Sanity of Hamlet":

  • conclusive (Paragraph 1)

  • contemplative (Paragraph 2)

  • resolve (Paragraph 3)

Review the notes in your Vocabulary Journal and in the original text if needed. Match the two terms that are conceptually related and craft an analogy that illustrates each relationship. See the example below.

Ironic – Inevitable

If something is ironic it is unexpected; if something is inevitable it is certain.

Activity 4: Read – Discuss

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

Read these sentences from Paragraph 2 of "The Sanity of Hamlet."

The latter believes that Hamlet shows the effect of an over-balance of contemplative faculty.

With a partner, discuss the following questions:

  1. Why is the word contemplative more precise than the word thoughtful in this sentence? What are the nuanced differences in their meaning?

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

Activity 5: Read

Work with a partner to complete the Evaluating Ideas Tool for “The Sanity Of Hamlet.”

Individually reread "The Sanity of Hamlet." Use the following question to guide your annotations:

  1. What is the author’s 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 the tool for the Section 2 Diagnostic.