Worksheet 6: Seminar - "I will speak daggers"
Prepare to deliver a seminar to your class in which you explore ONE aspect of the theme of corruption on which so much of this play is based.
The topics are:
- Claudius - a corrupt king?
- Revenge - is it the right thing to do in this play?
- Hamlet - to what extent is he affected by the corruption which surrounds him?
- Ophelia - how far is she a victim in this play?
- Polonius - how does he represent the immorality at court?
- Madness - how is this presented in the play?
- Spying - how do deceptive appearances add to the mistrust in the play?
- The language of Hamlet - how does this emphasise the misery of this corrupt court?
- Act 5 Scene 2 - a satisfactory solution?
Preparing for your seminar:
- Brainstorm initial ideas and look back through notes on the play.
- Research the aspect in greater depth: read key scenes again, brainstorm your own response; find useful quotations to support your points; look at notes on the Internet and your own class notes.
- Come to a judgement on your topic - they are all evaluative titles, much like exam essay questions, and you should be ready to present evidence on both sides of your argument before concluding.
- Prepare a visual display to support your seminar
- Prepare one A4 sheet which summarises your notes - this will be given out to the class afterwards.
Published on: 08 Dec 2010
