Any of you read hamlet for school?

[Thin Build]

We are using hamlet as a means to improve our writing skills in my english class. (freshman in college). The reading is heavy, first assignment is act 1 scene 1. I have a grasp of whats going on, we are supposed to write a page on a subject in the text and just go with it, analyze, give our opinion etc, whatever.

Im just wondering if any of you have experience with hamlet and what did you think about it and shakespeare in general.

[chlaxman]

Yeah I read it and it was alright. Shakespeare is a good writer but can be tough to understand. Just try to read it slowly so that you understand the metaphors and symbolism that are throughout the writing.

[Ruthless4Life]

Read it in Gr. 12 two years ago.

It's a pretty straight forward play for the most part--revenge to eventual self destruction and ends up a bloody mess.

[KRANE]

Originally Posted by chlaxman

Yeah I read it and it was alright. Shakespeare is a good writer but can be tough to understand. Just try to read it slowly so that you understand the metaphors and symbolism that are throughout the writing.

It's the old english. I read Macbeth, never got around to any others, bought the annotated works though. Try watching the videos in addition to the read, they help--though some are better than others

[Thy_Kingdom]

This above all: to thine own self be true.

[TBU]

Yes i read it....the thing with high school english, just try to relate anything you read to any random theme....if you can back it up with quotes, youll be praised for reading "critically"

"uhh ya shakespeare is commenting on SOCIETY here..."
"VERY GOOD!!"

[Big_League]

www.sparknotes.com

[Thin Build]

heres my interpretation of act 1 scene 1. i wont be turning this in but its to remind me whats goin on...

francisco an bernardo are chillin talkin about the ghost they saw 2 nights in a row, nothins happenin at this moment

marcellus an horatio show up, francisco leaves. horatio thinks its bull****.

the ghost appears and horatio almost ****s his pants but beleives it finally. it looks like the dead king of denmark


the former king hamlet owned fetinbras the king of norway and jacked all his ****. but gave some of it back

fetinbras son? wanted revenge so he gathered some street thugs who wanted some loot to get back at hamlets kingdom, thats why the guards were reppin their duty

horatio starts talkkin some scholar **** about rome and how julius got merked, maybe some metaphors regarding the tides, the moon, omens and turning of events...

ghost returnz

horatio tryes to talk to the ghost, it spreads its arms. they attack it and it dissaperes again.

marcellus says it was wrong to attack, a cock crowed when the ghost was abotu to speak..

they talk some superstitious **** about cocks crowing scaring ghosts and stopping witches right before winter time.

they decide to tell hamlet about the ghost since they thnk it will talk to him. so they dip out since the night is over.

[_STL_15_]

I feel your pain I had to read it last year. 10th grade, we read that and The Taming of the Shrew.

[TBU]

Originally Posted by Thin Build

heres my interpretation of act 1 scene 1. i wont be turning this in but its to remind me whats goin on...

francisco an bernardo are chillin talkin about the ghost they saw 2 nights in a row, nothins happenin at this moment

marcellus an horatio show up, francisco leaves. horatio thinks its bull****.

the ghost appears and horatio almost ****s his pants but beleives it finally. it looks like the dead king of denmark


the former king hamlet owned fetinbras the king of norway and jacked all his ****. but gave some of it back

fetinbras son? wanted revenge so he gathered some street thugs who wanted some loot to get back at hamlets kingdom, thats why the guards were reppin their duty

horatio starts talkkin some scholar **** about rome and how julius got merked, maybe some metaphors regarding the tides, the moon, omens and turning of events...

ghost returnz

horatio tryes to talk to the ghost, it spreads its arms. they attack it and it dissaperes again.

marcellus says it was wrong to attack, a cock crowed when the ghost was abotu to speak..

they talk some superstitious **** about cocks crowing scaring ghosts and stopping witches right before winter time.

they decide to tell hamlet about the ghost since they thnk it will talk to him. so they dip out since the night is over.

Thats not an interpretation, thats just a summary. Take careful note of the language used...certain metaphors, similies, alliterations, colors, anything really. I forget if its scene one or not, but there are many many puns...i think hamlets first line is a pun. That reveals his character. Certain things like this you have to take note of, not just the plot

[RU4A69]

Originally Posted by Thin Build

We are using hamlet as a means to improve our writing skills in my english class. (freshman in college). The reading is heavy, first assignment is act 1 scene 1. I have a grasp of whats going on, we are supposed to write a page on a subject in the text and just go with it, analyze, give our opinion etc, whatever.

Im just wondering if any of you have experience with hamlet and what did you think about it and shakespeare in general.

PM me if you have any questions or difficulty understanding a verse

include act and scene and verse # or just write out the verse-especially if you can't find the definition of an outdated middle english word.

Shakespeare is my favorite fictional writer, I've read nearly everything he ever wrote.

[Thin Build]

Originally Posted by RU4A69

PM me if you have any questions or difficulty understanding a verse

include act and scene and verse # or just write out the verse-especially if you can't find the definition of an outdated middle english word.

Shakespeare is my favorite fictional writer, I've read nearly everything he ever wrote.

cool thanks man. ill keep that in mind. expect alot of Pm's over the next 2 months lol.

[RU4A69]

Originally Posted by Thin Build

cool thanks man. ill keep that in mind. expect alot of Pm's over the next 2 months lol.

No problem-I'd be delighted to reread any of his works. (except the taming of the shrew-which I don't much care for )


Your Analysis is actually VERY good. "Why did the ghost disappear" (this is obvious). Why did it appear (not terribly obvious) The language used to describe the PHYSICAL APPEARANCE of the Ghost and the recollections they (the guards) have of King Hamlet are the highlights here.

You don't need any help on this one I don't think-but I'll try to get to your PM as soon as I can.

I know Shakespeare can be O'erwhelming.

--------But, look, the morn, in russet mantle clad,
Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastward hill. ----------

[TheNibblet]

oh god...I read Hamlet in grade 12. I still have nightmares about it. I would read a page of it and just think...wtf did I just read? It would just pass right through my head. Im glad im done with it all.

[1/2man1/2amazin]

yaa i did it for english class. its not that bad. kind of predictable and boring though

[KRANE]

Originally Posted by 1/2man1/2amazin

yaa i did it for english class. its not that bad. kind of predictable and boring though

Shakespeare boring? the literary giant for over 400 years, boring? The man that made english class worth going to, boring? Philistine!