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Lesson 1

We will reread a selection from Act 5 through two critical lenses and use guiding questions to engage in a group discussion.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I use connections among details, elements, and effects to make logical deductions about Shakespeare’s perspective, purpose, and meaning in Hamlet?

  • Can I recognize and interpret important relationships among key details and ideas within Hamlet?

Texts

Core

  • Tradebook
    • Hamlet, William Shakespeare, Simon and Schuster, 2003

Materials

There are no materials for this Lesson.

Activity 1: Read – Discuss

We will reread a selection of the play through a feminist lens to examine possible themes in Hamlet.

Reread Act 5, Scene 2 Lines 286-363. Discuss the following questions with a group:

  1. How is Gertrude portrayed in this scene? Strong or weak? Innocent or deceitful? Sympathetic or unfeeling? A combination of traits?

  2. How does Claudius react to her drinking the poison?

  3. How does Hamlet react to her death?

  4. What possible themes about gender roles are illuminated when analyzing the scene through a feminist lens? What lines from the scene support this interpretation?

Activity 2: Read – Discuss

We will reread a selection of the play through a political lens to examine possible themes in Hamlet.

Reread Act 5, Scene 2 Lines 286-363. Discuss the following questions with a group:

  1. Who is portrayed as in control in this scene? Who is portrayed as out of control? What irony does this present?

  2. What possible themes about power are illuminated when analyzing the scene through a political lens? What lines from the scene support this interpretation?