Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Monday, July 21, 2008

Coming Soon.... Activity #12 & 13


"Coming Soon: Hamlet"

Plot: King Hamlet meets Hamlet on a rampart of Elsinore Castle. Tells Hamlet that he was murdered by his King Claudius.


Claudius tries to discover Hamlets s
trange behavior by sending Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.


Hamlet sets up a play to prove Claudius guilt. Tries to kill Claudius afterwards, but accidentally kills Polonius.


Hamlet was sentence to England, but returned after a pirate attack.


Claudius sets up a fencing duel between
Laertes and Hamlet, but poisons Laertes sword. Poisoned a drink to kill him after the first fight.


Hamlets win first fight, but didn’t take the drink. Gertrude take the drink, and dies.
Laertes reveals the death of Gertrude and kills himself with his sword.


Hamlet kills Claudius with the poison sword and force him to drink the rest of the poison, then dies after accomplishing his revenge


Key Words:
  • Ear Poison
  • Shakespeare
  • Ghost
  • Skull
  • Drowning
  • Rosencrantz
  • Guildenstern
  • Sword Battle
  • Revenge
  • Play in play
  • To be or not to be

Theme:
- Revenge
- Jealousy
- Greed

- Truth and Lies

- Love

- Death

- Inevitability

- Class Issue



Character
:

Hamlet - Son of king Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, nephew of present king, Claudius.

Claudius – Uncle of Hamlet, King of Denmark, married Gertrude (Brother’s wife)

Gertrude – Hamlet’s mother, Claudius wife, and Queen of Denmark.

The Ghost – “Old Hamlet”, comes in the form of Hamlet’s father.

Polonius – The father of Laertes and Ophelia. Chief counselor of Claudius.

Laertes – Polonius son.

Ophelia – Polonius daughter.

Horatio – Friend of Hamlet’s from the university of Wittenberg.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern – Childhood friends and school mates of Hamlet.

Fortinbras – Son of Fortinbras senior, nephew of old King Norway.

Quotes
  1. " To be or not to be"
  2. " The plays the thing, Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King"
  3. " There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so"
  4. Doubt thou the stars are fire;Doubt that the sun doth move;Doubt truth to be a liar;But never doubt I love."
  5. " No matter with less art"
  6. " Let me be cruel not unnatural; I will speak daggers of her, but use none."
References:
Simpsons Hamlet, "Lion King", "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead"

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Activity #11 Othello act5 sc.2

OTHELLO.
It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,--
Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars!--
It is the cause.--Yet I'll not shed her blood;
Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow,
And smooth as monumental alabaster.

[Takes off his sword.]

Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men.
Put out the light, and then put out the light:
If I quench thee, thou flaming minister,
I can again thy former light restore,
Should I repent me:--but once put out thy light,
Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature,
I know not where is that Promethean heat
That can thy light relume. When I have pluck'd thy rose,
I cannot give it vital growth again,
It must needs wither:--I'll smell it on the tree.--

(Translation) Othello.
She is the cause of my pain. Then I can't hurt her. I don't want to ruin her beautiful skin, as smooth as snow.
(takes off his sword)
Then I must kill her, before she goes off to other guys. I must dispose of her. Take her life away. But I will probably regret it but once I take her life away, peace and nature will be restored,I do not know where the evil lies. Their will once again be happiness, once I killed . I can't share my good moments with her no more. She must to die, I smell it on her.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Activity #9 Iago say what?

Fastforward to 3:00 here
read the following soliloquy and translate it into our English.
to listen, click here
IAGO: Thus do I ever make my fool my purse;For I mine own gained knowledge should profane,If I would time expend with such a snipeBut for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor,And it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheetsH'as done my office. I know not if't be true,But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,Will do, as if for surety. He holds me well;The better shall my purpose work on him.Cassio's a proper man. Let me see now:To get his place, and to plume up my willIn double knavery. How? How? Let's see.After some time, to abuse Othello's earsThat he is too familiar with his wife.He hath a person and a smooth disposeTo be suspected--framed to make women false.The Moor is of a free and open natureThat thinks men honest that but seem to be so;And will as tenderly be led by th' noseAs asses are.I have't! It is engendered! Hell and nightMust bring this monstrous birth to the world's light. [Exit.](Iago's soliloquy, "Othello," Act 1, Scene 3, lines 374-395)



(translation)Therefore I will forever make money from Rodrigo; I will continue to gain from my knowledge and I shouldn’t speak against it, if I would spend time with such moron, I only do it for money and for fun.
I hate Othello, and it is thought in other countries that between my sheets, Othello is with my wife. I don’t know if it’s true but I will take it for certain. Othello trusts me; great now my plan to ruin his life will be easier. Cassio is a good guy. Let me see now: to get his place and not make much of a big problem out of it. How is it possible? Let’s see. After some time messing with Othello till he is too bored with his wife.He is too innocent but it is the other way around. Othello is an open minded person that thinks men are trustworthy as he is, he will easily be lied to just like an ass. That is it, I will do this and make it happen.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Activity #8: Othello, What's the senario?

2.) There is a party. The main character, Riccardo (a generally good guy!), knows that he shouldn’t drink because he has to go to work in an hour. The Group he’s with tries to convince him that “a drink or two won’t hurt.” Riccardo goes to work and because he’s been drinking he starts a fight with a fellow employee. The boss enters. Describe the scene and write the dialogue that could occur between Riccardo, his boss, and his co-workers.

Characters:
  • Riccardo
  • Riccardo's Friend
  • Boss
  • Employee #1
  • Employee #2
Setting:
  • Where: Office work
  • Time: Lunch break time
"12:30pm bell rings"
Boss enters
Riccardo: Good afternoon, Sir.
Boss: (picks up beer can) Who is responsible for this mess?
Employee #1: I am, Sir.
Boss: After 2 years working here and yet your behavior is as if you have never read our terms of agreement.
Employee #2: Please Boss, give him a break, this is his first time doing something this bad. You know what people says, we learn from mistakes.
Riccardo's friend: Well I think you should fire him. What if he continues to do this and everyone starts to get involved?
Boss: Ah, but he's one of the finest workers we got and we can't let him go.
Riccardo's friend: But Boss....!
Boss: It is settled, if he continues to do this, I will have no choice but then fire him.
Riccardo: Thank you Boss, I should go clean up now.
Employee #1: (Whispers to Riccardo) I'll remember this day.
Boss: Now everyone, get back to work! We are behind in schedule and you don't want the others to be ahead.
Riccardo's Friend:(thoughts) Ugh, that dam fool got lucky... but he won't be the next time.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Activity #7: Letter to the Parents of Montague and Capulets

Palazzo Capulet
45 Via Figliapersa
West Verona, IT 10001

Casa Montague
2333 Via Rubicuore
East Verona, IT 20002

July 09, 2008

Dear Sir,

I have witnessed a fencing battle between Romeo and one of the Capulet's. The outcome was very appalling. Romeo's great friend, Mercutio, and Juliet's cousin, Tybalt, both died during the fight. I believe the behavior of these people is outrageous and it is in your responsibility that this happened for teaching them such behavior.

I believe better parenting would help improve their behavior. Your sons should be as good "as the mafter of the shippe( masters of the ship)". It is important to that you train your son to be good Christians so they won't be as bad as they grow up. They can also grow up and teach his wife and children to be good Christians. What set them off was the lust for Juliet. As you may have known, women cast "dark magical spells" onto guys that would make them go crazy for them. Also bad behavior may occur such as the incident with the Capulet's and Mercutio's.

The behavior of each of your sons is not acceptable. Mercutio should not joke around when he is outside with the presents of other people. Yet he should not make fun of others. Tybalt's behavior is being too serious and started a fight with Mercutio. It is reasonable that Romeo wanted to avenge Mercutio's death but there are more better ways to deal with this.

In conclusion, it is important that you raise your children to be well behaved. With good manners, such conflicts wouldn't happen. I believe that you wouldn't want to see such problems happens on the streets. We want to keep it nice and safe for others.
Sincerly, Phong Tran
1234 Fake Street
San Diego, CA 98765