House of the Seven Gables

Sorry I didn't get this up sooner, but it looks like nobody was ready to comment anyway. Let's pick up the pace a little bit here with the postings guys!

Hamlet questions

Okay, here are the questions. I'd like you to pick five of the seven questions and answer them thoroughly. Naturally, you are entitled to your own opinion in literary analysis, but you need to back up your ideas using specific lines in the text. These don't have to be formal essays, but it should take you a couple of paragraphs to answer most of them. You don't have to respond to anyone else's answers at this time. We'll discuss them in class next week.

Question #1:

Does Hamlet, or did he ever love Ophelia? Did she love him?

Question #2:

What is Polonius really like--clever and conniving or a well-meaning but foolish busy-body?

Question #3:

What was Gertrude's role, if any, in King Hamlet's death? Describe her character.

Question #4:

What is the significance of the gravedigger scene?

Question #5:

Discuss one of the key themes of the play.

Question #6:

What's up with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? What is their role/importance (in relation to the major themes, not just the plot alone)?

Question #7:

Choose one image or symbol that appears in the play and discuss what it represents and how it is used (e.g. worms/rotting, ears/hearing).

Hamlet

You can start your Hamlet questions/comments here. You will have some specific questions to answer next week.