3-6: Who Wrote Shakespeare's Plays?

Did William Shakespeare really write the plays and poems attributed to him? Did Edward de Vere pen the plays? Or Christopher Marlowe? Or Sir Francis Bacon? Or . . . ?

Read some of the articles found under "Shakespeare Resources: The Authorship Question" on the class website OR read other articles that delve into the authorship debate. Render your opinion: Who wrote Shakespeare's plays? Why did you reach this conclusion? Does it even matter who wrote the plays?

As always, discuss your ideas in relation to your classmates' responses. Do not repeat your classmates' ideas. Proofread your response before you post it!

All responses due by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30th.

3-5 B: The ending is the thing . . .

How SHOULD Hamlet end? Who should die? How should they die? Who should live? Why should they live? What should they do (after the play ends)? Why? Forget Shakespeare's ending and create your own:

• Use the preceding questions to shape your ideas.
• Generally speaking, what would you like to see happen at the end of this play? Why?
• Develop your ideas fully; describe the events and provide clear reasons why you have chosen these ideas.

DO NOT repeat ideas presented by your classmates. DO NOT repeat yourself; build on your ideas.

DO make sure you build on your ideas. DO generate at least two full paragraphs of developed and supported arguments.

All responses are due by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 24th.

3-5 A: Hamlet Characters and Modern Connections

Though Elizabethan creations, the characters from Hamlet embody characteristics found in modern society. Your assignment:

• Choose one character from Hamlet and one person (real or fictional) from our society.
• Explain HOW the modern person parallels the Hamlet character; make sure you support your arguments with specific evidence from the play and from the modern person.
• What is the significance of this connection? What can we learn when we look at these two characters together?

DO NOT repeat ideas or evidence presented by your classmates. DO NOT repeat yourself; build on your ideas.

DO make sure you proofread your work. DO make sure you generate at least two full paragraphs of developed analysis.

All responses are due by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 24th.

3-4 B: To act or not to act

Throughout the play, Hamlet struggles with the question of when to act. He wants to avenge his father's death, yet he does not really want to sentence himself to eternal damnation.

• Is Hamlet a coward because he does not kill Claudius immediately?
• Is Hamlet intelligent because he chooses to weigh his options and think things through?
• What is more important: avenging his father's death, or saving his own soul? Should Hamlet have to choose between the two?
• What would you do in Hamlet's situation? Why? Is there a "good" solution to his problem?

Your response must respond to at least one of the preceding questions. Do NOT, however, answer all of the questions; you need to give yourself time to develop and support your ideas. Incorporate evidence from the play and from other relevant sources (your life, society, etc.).

Post your response in conversation with those of your classmates; do not repeat their ideas. Make sure you proofread and revise your response, and make sure you generate at least two full paragraphs of well-developed ideas.

All responses are due by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15th.

3-4 A: Language Barriers and Shakespeare

Is Hamlet truly relevant to our society? Can you, the reader, look beyond the early modern English and the poetic structures to understand Shakespeare's ideas? Why should we even bother to read and understand Shakespeare's works?

Develop specific ideas in response to the preceding, general questions. Incorporate evidence from Hamlet and from your experiences to support your ideas.

Make sure you post you ideas in relation to those of your classmates; do not repeat ideas already posted! Also, make sure you proofread your response and you develop your ideas (2 full paragraphs).

All responses are due by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15th.