February 08, 2012
Act 1, Scene 1
1. View opening scene (TO 9:56 – COURT)
a. Analysis of mood and what visual and sound effects
contribute to it (stop when guards first meet to discuss this)
b. Watch until ghost disappears (What purpose is served
by Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo seeing the ghost
rather than Hamlet?)
c. View to end of scene (To what do Horatio and the
guards attribute the appearance of the ghost? What do they
intend to do about it?)
February 08, 2012
Act 1, Scene 2
1. Analysis of Claudius’s opening speech
a. What facts do we learn about the current context?
b. What do we learn about Claudius/the kind of person that he is
based on his words?
c. What predictions do you have regarding the staging of this scene
in the film – setting and character development?
2. Watch the speech, pause, discuss predictions and add what more we
have learned about Claudius’s character according to Branagh’s
interpretation (9:56-13:12)
February 08, 2012
4. Watch up to Hamlet’s soliloquy (13:12-19:05)
a. Describe your first impressions of Gertrude, Laertes,
Polonius and Hamlet (fill in info on character tracking chart).
b. Discuss relationship between Hamlet, Gertrude and
Claudius (add to Hamlet’s four dimensions).
c. Hamlet uses a lot of puns (equivocation) here. Find some
examples and discuss their meaning and purpose.
d. Discuss appearance vs. reality
February 08, 2012
5. Hamlet’s soliloquy
a. Watch soliloquy, pause, discuss staging, make additions to
notes, add info to 4 dimensions (19:05-21:30)
b. Discuss literary devices: simile, allusion...
February 08, 2012
6. Watch the rest of scene 2. (21:30 - 27:10)
a. Discuss Horatio and Hamlet’s relationship (add to
relationship’s square)
b. Examine Hamlet’s analysis of the ghost’s appearance.
(add to spiritual)
c. Note music as news of ghost is given to Hamlet; also note
the voice over of the first part of Hamlet’s last lines of the
scene. Why only some/not all?
February 08, 2012
Act 1, Scene 3
1. Watch section of film
a. Describe relationships and characters
b.Take notes on advice/warnings given
i. Pause after discussion between Laertes and Ophelia
to discuss (27:10-30:00) so we can compare/contrast
Laertes’ advice with Polonius’
ii. Polonius’ advice to Laertes ends 31:43
iii. Polonius’ advice to Ophelia ends 34:56
c. How does Branagh interpret Hamlet and Ophelia’s
relationship? (please take note that this is biased - the text
itself does not indicate such intimacies!)
i. *dual nature of Ophelia’s last lines - who is her lord?
Her father or Hamlet?
2. Add information to character, theme, and four dimensions
charts
February 08, 2012
Act 1, Scene 4: (34:56 - 38:12)
1. Add to notes on Hamlet’s character
- Especially re; politics/traditions, spiritual elements
2. Examine Marcellus’ contravening of Hamlet’s wishes - why does
this occur and why is it significant? Note Horatio’s warning that the
ghost may “draw (him) into madness” - significance?
3. What is rotten in the state of Denmark - discussion/add to theme
chart
February 08, 2012
What is Rotten in the State of Denmark?
February 08, 2012
Act 1, Scene 5 (38:12- 51:15)
1. Additional dialogue - comes from scene 4 - why did Branagh move it here
as Hamlet chases his father?
2. Examine the ghost scene - director’s choices effective or ineffective and
why? (34:56- 47:00)
i. Cinematography
ii. Setting
iii. Effects
iv. Sound
v. Character/characterization
vi. Voice
vii. Flashbacks
3. *adultery - why is this critical info?
***add to theme and character charts
February 08, 2012
4. Analyze the ghost's speech about his death (lines 13-96)
i. Revisit Claudius’ opening speech and re-evaluate it
ii. Analyze parallels between the poisoning of the king and the
poisoning of the country (corruption theme)
iii. Add to revenge theme
5. Watch to end of scene (47:00-51:15)
i. Sanity vs. Insanity begins here – how?
ii. Discuss Horatio and Marcellus’s reactions
7. Add to theme, character, and Hamlet's four dimensions
February 08, 2012
Act 2, Scene 1
1. Watch the interaction between Reynaldo and Polonius (51:15-55:00)
a. What do we learn about Polonius from his words and actions here?
(add to chart)
i. View the opening of this scene as directed by Branagh very
carefully. What has been done to further develop Polonius’
character? What effect(s) does it have on our view of him?
ii. What do you make of Polonius sending Reynaldo to spy on
Laertes? What are his motivations here?
2. Continue to end of Scene 1 (55:00-58:10)
a. How do you explain Hamlet’s behaviour, as described by Ophelia? Do
you agree with Polonius that Ophelia’s dismissal of him at Polonius’
command has driven him mad, or is it something else?
b. What does Polonius decide to do about Hamlet? Why?
3. Add to theme and character charts