Thank You!

Dear EN 190 Students,

Congratulations on surviving another semester at MC. I wish you the best of luck in your future semesters at MC and beyond. Don't be strangers, and KEEP READING...for fun! :)

Always,

Prof. D

We've seen some interesting versions of hamlet in class but...

We haven't seen this one of Sarahbernhardt who played a widely acclaimed hamlet in 1899 (royal shakespear company)

http://www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on/hamlet/past-production-photos.aspx

Hamlet's not over yet:)

There are so many iconic quotes for sure I have to say mine is "the plays the thing!" and I'm really interested in knowing everyone else's

Shakespeare Metal

Hey guys, I also came across this. I wanted to see what you guys thought of it, I think it's kind of dorky and ridicules and reduces Shakespeare. To be honest I don't know if the song is more of a joke or if its actually meant to be serious. I know Chris is a big metal fan just as I am, but this just didn't do it for me. In a way it takes away from the enjoyment of the kind of music I listen to. Any other heavy rock or metal fans in our class that that have an opinion on this?

Mel Gibson's Hamlet

This is the scene I was talking about in class. This is exactly the way I pictured the scene in my mind while reading it. Did anyone else feel the same way?

If anyone is writing there paper on Hamlet (2000)..

If anyone is focusing their paper on the Hamlet (2000) revision, I have found a useful article on the Montgomery College database. It goes into details of different scenes.

Here is the link: http://mchoudini.montgomerycollege.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ufh&AN=13499721&scope=site

Hope this is helpful!

Collage

I am posting the painting I presented to the class today, along with two more pictures from the same artist. 

Hamlet: Triple Portrait as Scholar, Slayer, and Fool.

This Second piece is another interpretation of Hamlet: 

(This Reminds me of the scene shown today by William where 

Hamlet is doing his "To be or not to be" Soliloquy in front of the mirror)

And Lastly, this is an interpretation of Hamlet and Ophelia, with two figures watching over them. Who do you think the dark figures represent? Also, why do you think Hamlets hands and face are darkened in the picture? Is it Significant?

Hamlet (2009) Movie

If anyone is having any trouble finding the 2009 version of Hamlet. I have provided a link with the full movie. It is three hours long.

Question- Hamlet 2000.

For those of you that watched the Hamlet 2000 and deciding to write your essay based on the movie like myself, please let me know what are you trying to discuss in your essay based on the movie and lets share ideas in order to have a better understanding of the movie.

Collage-(Hamlet 2000)

Based on the Hamlet 2000 by Ethan Hawk and Julia Stiles I wanted to talk about the context and the editing of the movie. More specifically I will talk about how Hamlet fails in correctly translating the Hamlet. I will also talk about how New York is not a convincin set for the movie, because murdering and killing is not acceptable in such modern environment. Finally the main character, Hamlet is incorrectly introduced in the movie comapre to the text version of Hamlet.

Collage

For my essay, I plan to compare two paintings of Ophelia. I will discuss the similarities the paintings have with each other and with the characterization in Hamlet.I plan to find pasages that describe her charachter throughout the play.

I think this painting describes Ophelia in the begining of the play.

This photo describes Ophelia in the moments before her death.

Word Entry ACT 2-#3

1. POLONIUS
Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing,
Quarreling, drabbing—you may go so far. ( p 1320)

2. My Guess: i thought the word quarreling meant using heavy drugs.

3 Definition: 

1.an angry dispute or altercation; a disagreement marked by a temporary or permanent break in friendly relations.

2. a cause of dispute, complaint, or hostile feeling. 
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/quarreling)

4. Explanation: Once again in the previous sentence Polinious is telling the people that he hired to spy Horatio, to find out if Horatio is fighting or being aggressive with people.

Word Entry ACT 2-#2

1. POLONIUS
“And in part him, but,” you may say, “not well.
But, if ’t be he I mean, he’s very wild.
Addicted so and so.—” And there put on him
What forgeries you please. Marry, none so rank
As may dishonor him. Take heed of that. ( p 1315)

2. My Guess: I though the word Forgery meant questions or questining.
3. Definition:

1. the crime of falsely making or altering a writing by which the legal rights or obligations of another person are apparently affected.

2. a writing so made or altered, as a false document or signature. 

(http://www.thefreedictionary.com/forgery)

 

4. Explanation: Now I understand that forgery is the process of making documents with the intent to deceive. In this case, Polinious wanted to know what was Horatio doing while he was a way from home in Paris for college. Polinious hired people that started spying or checking what was Horatio doing in order to make a report to Polinious about his suspicion over his son. 

Word Entry-Act 1-#1

1. "In what particular thought to work I know not,
But in the gross and scope of mine opinion
This bodes some strange eruption to our state"(P 1307)

2. My Guess: Since it is Horatio's saying, I thought the word  bode mean destruction or destroying.
3. Definition: Bode means to be a sign of something to come
Synonyms: signify, indicate, forebode, foreshadow, portend

(http://vocabulary-vocabulary.com/dictionary/bode.php)

4. Explanation: my guess and the definition of the word are not similar, but in the sentence the word Bode does sound like something bad is going to happen. Over all the word bode in Horatio's saying, basically means threat for something bad happening in the kingdom.

Collage

I really had to share this clip with all of you, I think this is one of the most funniest parts of the movie. Do you guys remember the scene where Hamlet is speaking to Polonius and pretending to be crazy? Well I think Tennant overdoes it a little! Hilarious! I really recommend watching this movie when you guys have the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BljeLLvxTsc

Did anyone else watch this version of Hamlet? What did you think of this scene?

Collage

Hi everyone! Just finished watching the  TV-film version of Hamlet starring David Tennant. The movie is quite long but I felt it was surprisingly interesting to watch. It's most modern version of Hamlet and these group of actors should get more credit in their performances. Although I have got to say this film was about three hours long! Which is way too long for a movie, but I guess it balances out the play well since the lines were mostly true to the original play. I remember a distinct part of the movie where Hamlet's famous line "To be or not to be" is spoken. Tennant's version of this speech is done really well! I don't know if I'm going to choose to write about this scene in my final essay yet but I'm definitely considering it! Here's a link to this particular scene. I think the lighting as well as the movement of the camera enhances Tennant's performance; Hamlet's brooding nature is very evident here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u8OlUS7BhU

 What do you guys think about this scene?

Word Entry "Hamlet" Act III scene iv

1. "For this same lord I do repent; but heaven hath please it so" (p. 1363). 
2. My guess: Hamlet is speaking to the Queen in her room and the word "repent" in this context may mean to seek forgiveness to his "lord," he's trying to right a wrong doing. 
3. Definition: To feel sorry, self-reproachful, or contrite for past conduct (Dictionary.com). 
4. Explanation: Hamlet is speaking in yet another soliloquy about the night and to his mother, he is sort of venting all his emotions in this soliloquy. He is speaking to her about what he must do and what he will do because he feels responsible about what he's done in the past.  

Word Entry "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare

1. "...That you do bend your eye on vacancy, and with th' incorporal air do hold discourse?" (p. 1362)
2. My guess: I think the Queen is trying to ask Hamlet why is he talking to what seems to be nothing. In this context I think "incorporal" means something without form or something that isn't tangible.
3. Definition:  Of the human body; bodily; physical (Dictionary.com "definition of: corporal") 
4. Explanation: The definition of "corporal" refers to the physical form of a human body. In the context of the play the Queen says "incorporal" which may refer to something without a human body. The Queen is questioning Hamlet's sanity when she asks him who he's talking to. Of course, it's the ghost of the former King of Denver and he is speaking to Hamlet and tells him what he wants him to do. 

An slient twist on Hamlet

I found and watched an interesting twist on Hamlet.

This Hamlet (referred to as Asta Nielsen's Hamlet)  is a 1921 silent film with Hamlet as a strong willed female (played by Asta Nielson who I guess was the Meryl Streep of the silent film day).  Also notable is:

•  the apparent removal of supernatural aspects (no ghost) 
• what looks like a romantic relationship between Hamlet and Horatio.
• no famous "To be or not to be" soliloquy (because it is silent)
• surprisingly no Yorick skull scene either. 

I've attached links to all 14 parts that I found on YouTube and noted some of the links where different events from the play (and some not in it) take place.  The film cards are in German, so I don't understand everything and guess a lot (but it is an interesting version of the story).

(Part 1 of 14)  After a battle, Hamlet senior (male) orders that Hamlet jr. (female) be disguised as a male to preserve the line of succession (I think)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amib242_IL8

(Part 2 of 14)  Claudius introduced,  Hamlet meets Horatio (romantic interest?)  Laertes introduced.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exubiARPFjI

(Part 3 of 14)  Fortinbras introduced,  Claudius plots the death of the king (by snake) Polonius introduced, coronation of Claudius and drunken partying

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zqo_Z7H7pU

(Part 4 of 14)  Hamlet returns to court mourns her father, swears revenge in his tomb (no appearance of the ghost)   Learns the truth of the murder by discovering her uncle's knife near the snake pit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vI5fwUnrYU

(Part 5 of 14) Confides in Horatio what she has learned. Ophelia Introduced and ignored by Hamlet


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Stp80-EvBo8

(Part 6 of 14)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upy-kNja3SY

(Part 7 of 14)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0pKmWviyTE

(Part 8 of 14)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5xNBL0Wh54

(Part 9 of 14)  The play within the play

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI5bFBmeh_M

(Part 10 of 14)  Polonius is stabbed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeS2KCy2cnY

(Part 11 of 14) Altering Claudius's Letter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoIBysGN2sg

(Part 12 of 14) Letter is delivered.  Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are executed.  Ophelia is drowned

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62lhQyjK4XM

(Part 13 of 14)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huxzzYCHx70

(Part 14 of 14)  Everybody dies, Fortinbras shows up to take over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EUUjd3EO44

The portrayal of Ophelia

In hamlet we know that Ophelia had recently suffered loss and was struggling emotionally this led us to the scene were she is singing and isn't quite there entirely. Because of the paintings I constantly pictured her as a neat elegantly dressedn woman 24/7 but through out the various adaptations I have scen, I was certainly headed in a different direction. What do you think?

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fO-wxlavDQI

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=74YTzl7vFEs