So that was epic. We wrapped up Hamlet in class today. Give yourself a pat on the back; you’ve just annotated one of the greatest works of Western literature. Now comes the fun part: telling others what you’ve learned. Read the rest of this entry »

We read through III.i in class today. Your work for the evening:

• If your journal isn’t up to scene one of the third act, get there. You should be setting aside at least half an hour a night to review what we read in class.
• Look up the story of Pyrrhus and Priam (here would be a good place to start) and journal your thoughts about why Shakespeare chose to include this story at this point in the play. (Also, mobled queen? Why does Polonius approve of this descriptor?)
• By this point you should begin making connections between the poems and the play. Looking over your notes, what scenes, themes, or images in Hamlet are reminiscent of particular poems? Your connections at this stage will be very rough, and many won’t pan out as you look for more evidence. That’s okay; keep looking for connections and evidence, recording as you go. Something will click.