Notes #2

The Analytical Breakdown of Hamlet, Act 1

Act 1 – Exposition Act 2 – Complications (Rising Action)

Act 3 – Climax Act 4 – Reversals (Falling Action)

Act 5 – Catastrophe / Denouement (& Recognition)

5 Act Structure

The exposition includes…1. Main characters, a.k.a. dramatis personae

2. Establishment of time and place, setting

3. Explanation or allusions to the antecedent

action of the story

4. Introduction of the germ of conflict and

dramatic tensions

Act 1 – Exposition

QuestionsDarknessWAR!GhostMoodFoilOmens

“This bodes some strange eruption to our state.” – Horatio, 1.1.69

Act 1 Scene 1:

UNCERTAINT

Y!

Contrasting moodClaudius’ rhetoricIntroduction to Hamlet’s melancholy

appearance v. realityfirst soliloquy = his true feelings

Hamlet’s friends = new moodstichomythia = importance of the information

“… Foul deeds will rise Though all the earth o’erwhelm them to men’s eyes.” – Hamlet 256-257

Act 1 Scene 2:

Another mood shift: Intimate family conversation characterization of all important family dynamics

Social hierarchyLaertes = partying playerOphelia = an idealist with no powerPolonius = bumbling fool

Treatment of Women:attempts to control Opheliaexpectation of the day =obeys her father“You speak like a green girl…” (101) “Think yourself a baby…” (105)“Ay, springes to catch woodcocks” (115)

Act 1 Scene 3:

Ghost watch v. Claudius’ partyHamlet seeking truth

Foreshadows his own downfall:Vicious mole… stamp of defect… dram of

eale…Ghost beckons Hamlet he must follow

“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” – Marcellus (90)

Act 1 Scene 4:

The Ghost of King Hamlet!

Suspense of entire Act leading to this scene

Ghost tells all! Do we believe him?

Hamlet’s 2nd soliloquyImportance of swearing/oathsHamlet’s plan to “put and antic

disposition on” (172)

“The time is out of joint: O cursed spite,

That ever I was born to set it right.”-- Hamlet (189-190)

Act 1 Scene 5:

Course of action becomes more complicated and the "tying of knots" occurs

Interests clash, intrigues are spawned, events accelerate in a definite direction

In other words: tension mounts and momentum builds!

Act 2: Complications

Hamlet’s Soliloquy: 9 changing moods

THE STRUCTURE OF HIS SHIFTING MOODS, PARALLELS PERFECTLY THE STRUCTURE OF THE SHIFTING EPISODES OF ACTION IN THE WHOLE SCENE!

#1: 1 – 39#2: 40 – 85#3: 86 – 168#4: 167 – 216#5: 217 – 309#6: 310 – 358#7: 359 – 520#8: 521 - 534#9: 535 - 590

Shakespeare’s Brilliance!

Scene 2: 9 Episodes

Episode:#1: 1 – 39#2: 40 – 85#3: 86 – 168#4: 167 – 216#5: 217 – 309#6: 310 – 358#7: 359 – 520#8: 521 - 534#9: 535 - 590

You will something very similar to last class…

Choose the 5-10 most important lines in your episode

Act them out dramaticallyExplain (1) the context, (2)

explain why this mini-scene is important to the complications of Act 2, but this time… (3) write two guiding questions re: this passage

Analysis & ?s With your assigned

“episode,” complete the following: