Hamlet
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Subject Area: English Language Arts (B.E.S.T.) | Grade Level: 12
Lesson Length: 1 hour
Keywords/Tags: Author's choices, theme, plot, character development
Lesson Description: In this lesson, students will study the climactic third act of Shakespeare's Hamlet. This lesson focuses on author's choices and how they affect plot, character, and thematic development.

  • ELA.12.R.1.1 Evaluate how key elements enhance or add layers of meaning and/or style in a literary text and explain the functional significance of those elements in interpreting the text.
  • ELA.12.R.1.2 Analyze two or more themes and evaluate their development throughout a literary text.
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Video : Crash Course: Hamlet
Instructions: Please watch the following video as many times as needed before starting to go through other lesson pages. Understanding the content of the video is very important since the lesson activities will be all about this video content.
Description: Consider this overview of Hamlet in light of the reading so far. What clarity does Green's commentary bring to your understanding of the play, the main characters, or the themes of the play?
Reading : Hamlet Act III
Instructions: Please read Act III of Hamlet from the digital copy of the textbook on classlink as many times as needed (aloud and silent) before starting to go through the rest of the lesson pages. Understanding the content of this passage is very important since the following lesson activities will be all about this content.

Act III, Hamlet

Assignment : Hamlet Rapidfire Remix

In no more than 60 seconds, summarize the events of Act III in your own words, paying attention to the ways major characters and the plot develop.  Reference at least one of our major themes and tell what key understanding the events of Act III bring to Shakespeare's exploration of that theme.  Upload your recording.

Video : What Happens in Act III
Instructions: Please watch the following video as many times as needed before starting to go through other lesson pages. Understanding the content of the video is very important since the lesson activities will be all about this video content.
Description: View this video if needed to see if the author's presentation of the events of Act III square with your understanding.
Forum : What is the point
Instructions: This discussion forum will have questions for students to respond. Read the posted questions, and respond to each. Students are responsible for posting one initial and and two peer responses for each topic.
There are no forum posts.
Description: Discuss the point of Hamlet's famous "To Be or Not To Be" soliloquy from Act III. What do you feel it reveals about Hamlet's true mental state in light of the other events of Act III? Does Shakespeare make an important statement about what makes life meaningful and worth living or is he questioning these things? Defend your positions with evidence from the act. Respond to at least two classmates in the forum.