Note Questions - ACT 3

2 Fact Questions:

1. Who killed Tybalt and how?
2. Who comes to see Romeo on Juliet's behalf to talk about Tybalt's death?

3 Thinking/Discussion Questions:

1. How would you stage the scene where Juliet finds out Tybalt is dead?
2. Do you think Romeo was more embarrassed or sad that he killed Tybalt? Use examples.
3. Do you think Juliet's mother or father took the news of the marriage better? What was the main emotion that either of them portrayed?

Quiz #6 (Romeo's Scene)

The scene ends and both characters exit in opposite directions. Romeo dashes through bushes and ducks under tree branches to get home. He makes his way back to his house, climbing up a trellis on the outer wall leading to a window into his room. He makes it to the dark room and rummages around in the blackness for his candle and matches. Once he finds them, he immediately takes it with him over to his bed. He sets the candle down on top of the nightstand and reaches his hand underneath the mattress. He shoves his hand elbow deep until he finally pulls out an old browning leather book. He brings it over to his desk, taking his candle with him and sets the book down. He then begins searching through the drawers of his desk frantically. He tips the candle a bit too far and a drop of wax falls onto the back of his hand. He recognizes that it stings and immediately pulled his hand away and sets the candle down. He quickly flicks the wax off of his hand and begins his search again, being more mindful of the way he is holding the candle. His search ends when he pulls out a pen with a hushed victory call. He then sets the candle down and sits at the desk, opening the book and beginning to write in it. The lights slowly go dark as he writes in his journal. *END SCENE*

In-Class Writing

3 Concepts You Understood

• Plays not having alternate endings (nothing else could/would happen other than what is written)
• Plays not having to do with the outside/our world
• Time is measured differently in the world of the play

3 Things You Were Confused About

• How in the world of the play only the characters mentioned exist
• How to not relate what is happening in the world of the play to what is happening in our world
• If the play is based on a true time period but we shouldn't assume anything that isn't said, how are we to understand what has already happened if it isn't mentioned?

Hamlet Character Analysis

In Hamlet, most characters have a specific goal that they want to achieve. The most common/well known goal in Hamlet was Hamlet's goal of killing the king. He knew that the King was evil but he couldn't find the right means or proof to have any actual cause to kill him. Another one in Hamlet is the King's goal of killing Hamlet in a subtle way so that he will not be penalized and can still reign over the kingdom. To attempts this multiple times. The first time he sends Hamlet away to England with a hidden letter meant for the Monarch of England telling him to chop off Hamlet's head. Hamlet finds out about this letter and writes another one supposedly coming from the King saying to kill the two men holding the letter. Since that attempt failed, the King decided to plot against Hamlet with Laertes, Ophelia's brother. The King puts poison on Laertes' sward so when the fight occurs, Laertes can simply wound Hamlet and he would be killed shortly. In the process, the King ends up not only killing Hamlet, but the queen as well as himself.

"To Be or Not to Be"

In the "To be or not to be" speech in Hamlet, I believe that the point of writing the line as a solo speech instead of talking to someone is not so people can sympathize with him. I believe that the reason for this is so that Shakespeare can show the audience how creative and smart Hamlet really is. Many people believe that he actually went mad over the course of the play, but I think that he was just pretending the whole time. I think that he wanted his uncle to actually believe that Hamlet was crazy to throw him off, waiting for the right time to kill his uncle. I can understand how some people might think that Shakespeare wanted people to sympathize Hamlet because of the circumstances and the way that it is worded, but I am pretty sure that Hamlet knew the he had company while he was saying that. I mean, he does technically have every right to go mad; his father was killed and a few months later his mother married his uncle. That would cause me some anxiety as well, but he seems too stable at certain points to actually have gone completely insane.

Ham Scene Analysis

In my opinion, the most interesting scene in Hamlet is the scene when Hamlet sees his father's ghost. I like the way that Shakespeare jumps right into the plot when he has Hamlet see his father right away and that makes it very memorable. In me the scene elicits shock and sympathy towards Hamlet. He is seeing his father for the first time after his death! I would be shocked and upset too. I also like how long Shakespeare takes to fit in as much detail as he can with the dialog. It definitely gives you a sense of being in the scene with them.