Welcome Back

TODAY IN CLASS
We had a slow-moving but productive class session getting back into Hamlet.  We worked with Act I, Scene 2, beginning with the King's speech (which we had barely started the Friday before break).  We came to various conclusions about Claudius based on his speech (which--if you were absent--I want you to try to determine on your own first), and then we looked at the conversation between Claudius and Laertes concerning Laertes' request to go back to school in France.  We were just getting underway with the conversation among King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, and Hamlet concerning both his recent behavior/attitudes and his similar request to go back to school.  Although we read a tad bit farther, we discussed only up to Act I, Scene 2, line 70.

HOMEWORK
We're going to transition to some reading on your own.  Read the rest of Scene 2, which ends in the middle of pp. 39.  There are a couple of really important speeches that will take some careful follow-up study in class, but there is also quite a bit of dialogue that you should be able to understand pretty well on your own.  We will NOT be reading most of this section out loud in class, so you definitely need to read it at home.
No written work for Tuesday, but that does not let you off the hook.  Read.