Hamlet Unit Plan Overview and Rationale
This unit will focus on one of Shakespeare’s tragic plays, Hamlet. Through guided reading of the play in class, and close reading of the text, students will be able to interpret and analyze Shakespeare’s writing structure and use of language. The students will also engage in discussions about the how the language of the play contributes to and helps to develop the plot, themes, characterization, and symbols. This unit is designed to enable students to more deeply comprehend Hamlet’s character and his transformation throughout the play, making connections to the course themes of image and identity construction in text
Enduring Understandings
The language, words, and dialogue of a text are essential to understanding the progression of a plot and the development of characters.
Essential Questions
- How are images and identities of characters created in a text, and what are their similarities and differences?
- How is Hamlet’s decision making process shown throughout the play?
- How much does a belief in Fate or free will influence one’s actions?
- Are people motivated more by emotion or logic?
- What motivates someone to seek revenge?
- How does a desire for power and ambition drive one’s actions?
- What is the difference between people who think and people who act?
- Can you determine if a person is “mad”?- Are people motivated more by emotion or reason and logic?
- How does a person’s outward appearance differ from their inner reality?
- How is Hamlet’s decision making process shown throughout the play?
- How much does a belief in Fate or free will influence one’s actions?
- Are people motivated more by emotion or logic?
- What motivates someone to seek revenge?
- How does a desire for power and ambition drive one’s actions?
- What is the difference between people who think and people who act?
- Can you determine if a person is “mad”?- Are people motivated more by emotion or reason and logic?
- How does a person’s outward appearance differ from their inner reality?