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Section 4: Overview

Tragic Hero

We will read Act 5 of Hamlet and actively analyze the play through multiple literary lenses. We will return to our initial understanding of the tragedy genre to explore how the character of Hamlet fits or does not fit the archetype of the tragic hero. We will participate in a Socratic Seminar to explore how analyzing the play through various critical lenses influences our interpretation of the play’s themes.

  • Lesson 1:

    We will rethink how we organized our evidence in our Section 3 Diagnostic.

  • Lesson 2:

    We will return to the key features of the archetypal criticism lens by rereading a section of “A Guide to the Study of Literature: A Companion Text for Core Studies 6, Landmarks of Literature, Section II Tragedy: A Genre, Tragedy.” We will examine how Hamlet may or may not embody the classical features of the tragedy genre, and we will make predictions for how the play might end.

  • Lesson 3:

    We will read Act 5, Scene 1 of Hamlet and explore the play’s themes.

  • Lesson 4:

    We will read the first half of Act 5, Scene 2, the final scene in the play, and examine Hamlet’s state of mind and his archetypal role as a tragic hero.

  • Lesson 5:

    We will read the end of the play and discuss the insights that each critical lens brings to understanding and appreciating the scene. We will prepare for the next lesson’s Section Diagnostic.

  • Lesson 6:

    Based on our reading of the play and supporting informational texts, we will engage in a student-guided Socratic Seminar in which we will explore how analyzing the play through various critical lenses influences our interpretation of the play’s themes.

  • Lesson 7:

    We will review the teacher’s feedback on our Section Diagnostic and will use the feedback to make revisions to our work.

  • Lesson 8:

    We will share the analyses we have made about our independent reading texts and make connections to the unit. We will plan a final product to share our experiences from reading independently and the knowledge we have gained.