Hamlet: The First Ghost Scene

Analyze
Using the three versions of the ghost scene that we watched in class, offer your commentary on each film.  Consider some of the following points in your critique:

• How did the actors portray the characters?
• Was there music?
• What was the lighting like?
• Were there special effects?
• How did the director use visual elements (such as flashback) to add depth to the scene?

Overall what was the effect of these choices?  Do you agree or disagree with the choices the director made?  Which version resonated with you the most?

Extend

If you were to interpret this scene through film yourself, how would you approach it?  What in particular would you focus on?  What in your opinion, is important about this scene and how would you want to convey that?  

For example, what do you want to leave your audience with after watching this scene?  Is it the despair that the ghost feels? Or Hamlet's frustration?  Do you find fault with Gertrude, and want to cast doubt about her involvement?  Or is Hamlet imagining this scene?  Could you, through directorial choices, convey that Hamlet is imagining all this? 

Assignment 

Address these questions, or other topics which you feel are relevant, in no less than 3-4 paragraphs.  Draw from what observed in the first three, as well as what you have seen in other films.  Consider also, some of the things we talked about, when discussing An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.  When you refer to movies you should use the director's last name, and when you refer to the characters, use the actor's last names.

First Version

Director: (Franco) Zeffirelli     Hamlet: (Mel) Gibson

Second Version

Director: (Kenneth) Branagh    Hamlet: (Kenneth) Branagh

Third Version

Director: (Michael) Almereyda   Hamlet: (Ethan) Hawke

 Film Version Links


Zeffirelli Version (short clip, but enough to see part of it)

Branagh Version

Director's Commentary on the Branagh Version

Good News about Terminal Preposition Use

As some of you may know (but many of you may not), it has long been considered poor form to end a sentence with a preposition (words like with, about, for, etc.).  However, if asked by a teacher to revise your sentence, the resulting sentence may sound awkward and just plain confusing.  While it is important to remember that sometimes phrasing that sounds incorrect might actually be grammatically sound, this is one case that is an exception to the rule.

The rule actually has a complex history, which you can read more about here.  It is an interesting example, like others we have discussed, of how language continues to change and evolve based on the speakers and the contexts in which they write.  (Or...the contexts which they write in.  Either use is appropriate.) So, feel free to use prepositions at the end of your sentences.  And if your teacher or professor tells you that you are wrong, you can cite your new understanding of the rule as evidence for why you are not!

Preparing Your Final Drafts

Please make sure that you take this week to put the finishing touches on your final paper.  The resource that we talked about in class last week is a great way to check your paper for errors in plagiarism, grammar, etc.

You can use this resource for free at paperrater.com.  Also, if you are still unclear about what constitutes plagiarism, try using Dr. CiteRight! 

MLA Header

Research Paper Questions

Many of you have had some excellent questions that you have asked in class and through e-mail.  In an effort to provide you with additional resources to support your writing process, I will be using the blog to post some of your questions here.  As you e-mail me, I will add your questions (anonymously, of course) so that both you and your peers can refer to my answers as needed.


Question:
I was trying to find some things for the note cards but I can't find a lot. When I read the sources I find some things but when I keep reading they talk about some different things.

Answer:

What you are finding is completely normal.  The majority (with rare exception) of the sources that you will find will not ALL be just on exactly what you are trying to prove in your paper.  That's what makes your paper worth reading; it's original.  You are gathering information from different sources and piecing together what is important to your thesis.  The other stuff, the parts that are not, just discard.  Keep the relevant information and use that.  (This is why the more sources you have, the better.  Keep looking for more sources if you need them.  You may only be able to use parts of a particular article.) 

A little something fun....

While you are slaving away on your research papers, this internet hoax might provide a little relief....

But don't spend get stuck wasting too much time! It can be addicting!

You can read about it here and actually play the game here.

Topic Questions

The following is a list from some of my students from last year.  These were not their thesis statements, but the questions that they used to form  their theses.  I have removed the names, but I thought that this might be helpful for you to see how some of them structured their questions.

Name	Topic	Question
Ms. M	The American Dream	How does Gatsby represent the impossibility of the American Dream?
	Analysis of Love	How does love affect/link all the characters in the Great Gatsby?
	Symbolism	How does F. Scott Fitzgerald portray symbolism in The Great Gatsby?
	Imagery	How does Fitzgerald use imagery to capture the essence of the 1920s?
	The American Dream	How Does F. Scott Fitzerald portray the "American Dream" in Gatsby's character ?
	Deception	How does Gatsby use deception to continue living his 87wealthy lifestlye?
	Human Nature	How does human nature affect the tragedy of The Great Gatsby?
	American Dream	How did Gatsby and his American Dream fail and show the flaws of the "Dream"
	Character Comparison	How does the author describe Tom and Gatsby throughout the novel?
	Power of Love	Hoe does Gatsby's undying love for Daisy set the course for his life?
	Role of Women	How are women portrayed in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?