The Thomas Alleyne Academy
English Department
Year 9 Homelearning Task- Hamlet
Night
Task
Task:
1
Watch SparkNotes’ video summary of Hamlet,
http://www.sparknotes.com/sparknotes/video/hamlet create a family tree, or map,
that shows the play’s main characters and the relationships between them. Make
sure all main characters have their own ‘colour’ (for use with the next task).
Extension:
Use your presentation skills to write the characters’ names in a way that reflects their
importance – for example a king would have their name written larger and more
elaborately than a character with lower status. Try decorating each character’s name
with symbols that show who they are – for example what could you draw with the
king’s name to show that he is a king?
Task:
2, 3
&4
Using the video summary again, create a narrative timeline of the significant events in
the play. Use each character’s colour in the timeline to reveal how often they take
part in the narrative.
Extension:
Use the plot overview on
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/hamlet/summary.html to add extra detail
to your timeline and then use a line graph to chart the play’s rising and falling tension
alongside it in a separate colour.
Task:
Create character profile cards for each of the main characters in the play. Use your
character’s colours again. Based on your timeline and family tree, evaluate your
characters’ roles in the play and summarise what you think is each main character’s
5 & 6 most important moment in the play.
Extension:
Consider which of the lesser characters in the play has the greatest influence! Create
a card for him/her and again summarise the moment in which they have considerable
influence for a such a minor character. Include an explanation of your decision.
7&8
Task:
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English Department
Research the History of Elsinor Castle: the setting of Hamlet. Create a profile card of
the castle’s interesting and/or important facts and features. Include an image of the
castle, this may be an accurate hand drawn image or an image from the internet.
Extension:
Find the castle’s real name and then locate it on UNESCO’s Interactive Map of World
Heritage Sites (Look for ‘The List’) Develop your profile card further by including
information from UNESCO’s site about the castle’s significant geographical and
historical features that contribute to its status as a world heritage site – be sure to
write the profile card using a formal tone.
Task:
9
Hamlet is a tragedy brought about by revenge. Research both these terms and see
how many of Shakespeare’s other plays have these features. Make a list of the plays
that do.
Extension:
Based on the work you have completed so far, decide for yourself what you think the
other main features of this play are, you could think about: character types, settings,
significant objects and narrative events. Create a mind map of Shakespeare’s other
plays that feature these features!
Task:
10
Watch the trailer for David Farr’s 2013 production of Hamlet on the Royal
Shakespeare Company’s website https://www.rsc.org.uk/hamlet/pastproductions/david-farr-production-2013 Looking at the actor’s costume, you’ll notice
that this version of the play is set in much more modern times. Thinking about
everything that you’ve learnt about Hamlet so far, explain where and when in history
you’d set your own version of this tragic revenge play!
Extension:
Develop your idea for your version of the play’s setting further – explain who would
replace Kings, Queens, Princes and other character types – for example if the play was
being set in a football team – how would the club’s director, manager and team
captain etc. be used to replace the character types.
If you really want a challenge, and fancy getting yourself into an ultra-creative zone:
create a new setting using the idea of pastiche – this is where you blend together the
features of multiple periods and places in history such as the fashions of one era but
the architecture of another and the historical events of yet another.
The Thomas Alleyne Academy
English Department
Task:
11 &
12
Now that you’ve decided on an alternative setting for your version of the play, write a
revised summary of the plot, adapting the original play’s features as necessary for
your own time period – for example the swords could become guns and the poison a
deadly virus.
Extension:
Create an art-board giving an art director a guide to how you imagine the play being
updated. Your art board will show the original play’s features and the equivalents you
want in your version. Normally this would include settings, props, characters and
costumes.
Task:
13:
Create a poster promoting your version of the play. Include all the important
characters, settings, objects and events as well as the title, a slogan, your name as
director and other information that an audience would need in order to be able to
see the play - such as time and date, venue and its contact details.
Extension:
Consider the size and arrangement of characters in your poster, think about how the
poster’s features should be arranged to make clear who are the most significant
characters and what the relationships between them are. You can also give a sense of
the mood and atmosphere through your choice of colour. The arrangement of Star
Wars posters is often a good reference.
Task:
14:
15:
This year is the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. Suggest ways that we could
mark it as a school – you might want to have a Shakespeare day, a school trip to see a
play, bake a giant cake in the shape of Shakespeare’s head (no poison!) or have some
other amazing idea. Write a proposal for your ideas.
Task:
Survey your form and class mates to see how well-supported each of your ideas
would be. Analyse your results and be prepared to present them in class. You should
be clear about how many people you asked, what percentage of pupils supported
each idea and how strongly each idea was supported.