A Short Monday Blog

TODAY IN CLASS
We finished up Act I by talking about several elements from Scene 5, and we started Act II. 

• We looked at ways in which "appearance vs. reality"  continued to dominate Act I, and be aware for this idea to continue in Act II. Before leaving Act I, we also speculated on several reasons why Hamlet might not act immediately on the Ghost's demand for revenge--figure out as we read what actually stands in Hamlet's way at any given point.
•  But we also looked at the start of Act II, in which Polonius sends Reynoldo to France to take money to Laertes as well as to check up on his actitivities.  The idea of spying will drive much of the plot in Act II.

Collected today in class:  The Act I study questions begun on Thursday.  If you were absent today, it is your responsibility to remember to get them to me tomorrow.  (Or if you had been absent on Friday, and did not know to do the Scene 5 questions, do not forget to turn in that section tomorrow.)

New today:  Students received a hand-out containing study guide questions for Act II.  We will handle these in differnet ways--some assigned, others to be done in groups, and still others just suggested for reading guidance.  You were told in class today to write down answers to the first few questions as we covered them in our reading/discussion.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR TUESDAY
  Finish reading Scene I, and complete the rest of the Scene I questions.