 I hope by now you guys know I'm nuts for discovery or inquiry learning. I truly, truly believe the adage "what you get out of literature depends upon the questions you ask it."
But beyond literature, curiosity and exploration and examination, I believe, lead to the "greater understandings" of Life. Wasn't it Socrates who said, "The unexamined life is not worth living"? Word. Here's what you need to do: Ask ONE question about some aspect of Hamlet. No repeats, so read one another's questions. (cue evil laugh here) Knowing how way leads onto way, it should be noted that a classmate's question can inspire your own question...just make note of it in your post. Perhaps these questions can lead us to what is so ambiguous, provocative, complex, and personally and emotionally challenging about this play. So begin to wonder and ponder. Have fun & think hard!
35 Comments
Hannah Cherry
4/15/2015 05:44:02 am
How has Hamlets father being murdered by the uncle and not by someone else influence Hamlets character throughout the play?
Kristen Blaine
4/15/2015 10:38:49 am
Does Hamlet actually see the old king's ghost or is it just an allusion?
Annyssa Greene
4/15/2015 10:39:07 am
First the pretend madness from Hamlet and then the grievance and slight madness from Ophelia. Who is the next character to fall victim to the madness??
Karla Hilliard
4/15/2015 11:49:17 am
Bwahahahaha! (<--evil laugh)
Liam Redding
4/15/2015 11:32:01 am
Hamlet KILLED Polonius, yet it never seemed to be a big deal to anyone. Hamlet was never punished for his actions. How does this contribute to show that not only Hamlet has gone mad but so has everyone else? Is everyone (except for Ophelia) so used to death and madness that Polonius's death basically went unnoticed?
Karla Hilliard
4/15/2015 11:48:42 am
Good point. But it is to O & L, which might reveal a bit more about P's character? Idk, but good thinking.
Cailin
4/15/2015 11:37:08 am
How does Gertrude's actions (marrying her murdered husbands brother, ignoring and ratting out her own son ) say about her character and women of her time?
Karla Hilliard
4/15/2015 11:47:50 am
Woo woo, Cailin!
Dani Matthews
4/15/2015 02:22:47 pm
What does it say about Hamlet with how he treated Ophelia? He didn't tell her of his madness act and then he was extremely rude to her, but then at the play, he sat with his head in her lap. I'm still not even certain as to if he loves her or not.
Leah Smith
4/15/2015 03:37:08 pm
Why does the King feel the need to hide the real reason behind Polonius's death? I would think that Claudius would begin to catch on that Hamlet knows of his son and want to bring him down too. Eventually his people will find out and wonder why it was never known.
Leah
4/15/2015 03:37:58 pm
*sin
Jonathan McGuire
4/16/2015 03:29:27 am
In the scene where Claudius attempts to pray, you see a side of him that was hidden until that time. Is Claudius truly sorry for the murder of his brother? And if so, why does he give up on praying for forgiveness so easily?
Tania Boh
4/16/2015 12:11:00 pm
Although hamlet kills Polonius, we know for sure the queen and R and P know hamlet has killed Polonius. Do you think the King decided not to tell Ophelia because she already knew or was he trying to help her by not letting her go mad?
Ryan Moore
4/16/2015 01:15:05 pm
I know Hamlet's plan was to act crazy to fool people, but through out the play he seems to truely become crazy. When do you think he started his descent into insanity; also why did he take so long to try to kill his uncle?
Angel Mercado
4/16/2015 02:14:34 pm
If Claudius already knows that Hamlet knew that he killed his father why doesn't he kill him now? Why wait?
Karla Hilliard
4/16/2015 02:24:32 pm
Definitely a lot of waiting going on in this story...Good question, A.
Nyah Wade
4/16/2015 02:22:28 pm
Hamlet murders Polonius with no hesitation nor remorse. Why does he hesitate to murder Claudius fearing he will perish and become the same as Claudius. Why didn't he feel the same way about murdering Polonius? Why didn't Hamlet get punished for what he did? Who will die next? Is this too many questons? Find out in Act V of Hamlet. Stay tuned :)
Karla Hilliard
4/16/2015 02:23:45 pm
Oh Nyah, I <3 you! Great questions.
Travis Krauch
4/16/2015 02:25:31 pm
In scene V of Act IV, Ophelia throws flowers to symbolize various emotions and concepts. At the end of the act, Gertrude says that her flowers caused her to drown. Is her throwing flowers foreshadowing? What are the flowers she wears when she is walking by the water intended to represent?
Veronica De La Torre
4/16/2015 02:27:18 pm
People contemplate weather Hamlet is crazy or not. You can argue both ways but why don't you think Hamlet ever thought twice before he did something? (He killed polonius right then and there.)
Susan Margevich
4/16/2015 02:27:29 pm
Is Hamlet truly insane at this point, or is he still putting on an act? If so, what was the event, if any, thay truly triggered the loss of his mind?
Stephanie Johnson
4/16/2015 02:36:10 pm
Why is Ophelia so...submissive (not sure if that is the right word) to Hamlet? He's said some inappropriate things to her and mistreats her, however she still seems to like him. I find it really weird how she let him lay on her lap. ALSO! Is she a bit conceited for thinking that Hamlet's actions are because of her? I mean, really?! His dad died and his mom re-married quickly...those are a little more upsetting than her rejecting Hamlet.
Jordan Fain
4/16/2015 02:39:53 pm
As other people have said Hamlet killed P without a second thought but he didnt know who was behind the curtain he just went for it but when he has the chance to kill the king before P he doesnt take the chance. Does Hamlet show cowardice by killing someone unknown without thinking instead of facing his fears and killing the King when he had the chance? Also is there a reason that he did it right in front of his mother?
Brittney Brodnan
4/16/2015 02:53:41 pm
There is a debate out there floating around about how people think Hamlet is indeed crazy or not... is Hamlet REALLY seeing his fathers ghost or is all of this just in his head? Why or why not? If so, do you believe in ghosts?
Alona Jepifanova
4/16/2015 02:57:03 pm
Why does Hamlet believe in the ghost right away instead of questioning it first? He just jumped right into it like he maybe already "knew" about it.
Erica Conaughty
4/16/2015 03:21:07 pm
Okay so the question about the ghost being an allusion helped me get to this question. What if the ghost was just Hamlet's subconscious trying to help him mourn and help him cope with the feelings with him wanting to avenge his father's death? What if it is the only way he can be okay with his actions?
Noelle McKenzie
4/16/2015 03:37:42 pm
Why can't Cladius kill Hamlet himself? Is he too cowardly or is it from the guilt he already feels from killing his father?
Elise Freeman
4/16/2015 04:07:13 pm
How old is Hamlet and could hormones somehow be playing a part in his "madness" over the death of his father?
Hope Spriggs
4/16/2015 04:19:22 pm
Ophelia is a great character to mark the insanity that is Hamlet. She sorta-kinda kills herself, but why? Because he father died? Because her true love is a murderer? Because she was the one that "made" Hamlet crazy causing him to kill her father (meaning she indirectly killed her father)?
Brock Adams
4/16/2015 05:02:54 pm
I'll keep this simple enough, is Hamlet actually crazy? Has he actually gone insane? Or is it just that he is so hurt, distressed, angry, and sad that he is just acting out nearly as anyone would if they were as emotionally damaged as him?
Nikki Schlapo
4/17/2015 01:47:44 am
If Hamlet feels so strongly that he must avenge his father and kill Claudius, then why does he consider suicide? Is it his way of getting out of killing the king? Is it because of cowardice, or possibly guilt?
Mary Kearns
4/17/2015 05:30:48 am
If Hamlet felt so strongly about his father's death/murder, then why did he not show more remorse after killing Laertes' and Ophelia's father? If Hamlet truly cared for Ophelia as much as he claims he does, I do not feel he would have killed Polonius with little to no guilt.
Brianna Norris
4/17/2015 06:02:48 am
Hamlet wrote Othelia love letters. Did he ever truly love her? If he did, then was he out to get her because she didn't feel the same way... By calling her a whore and saying she needs to go to a convent, and then eventually killing her father? Which then results in the same madness Hamlet has been dealing with the whole time... And then she "accidentally drowns?" Was this his revenge or simply a coincidence?
Katie King
4/17/2015 06:35:51 am
What is the purpose of the characters Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? I know they provide as comic foils, but do they play a bigger role in the tragedy of the play?
Rachel Chapman
4/17/2015 02:17:08 pm
There's a lot of debate whether or not Ophelia committed suicide or not.. If so, did she kill herself because of the madness she was feeling due to Hamlet bizarre actions or the death of her father? Does one have a bigger influence than the other? And what kind of information does the scene of her death (basically letting the water take her) provide to the plot of the story? Leave a Reply. |
