Homework assignments:
Catcher Test analysis: Due Tuesday, November 7th. Remember to follow the format indicated in the model. This includes quoting the original test question as well as specific comments from your classmates. The following questions are open to test analysis: 1,3,7,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,19,20,21,22.
"What's in a Word?" Due: Tuesday, November 7th.
Read and annotate Act I, Scene 1 of Hamlet. Take note of words that are repeated. Post a blog about the word that you consider to be the most significant to the "tone" and "theme" (as much as you can infer) in the opening scene. (Hint: most significant words, in this scene, are repeated at least 4 times.) Post a blog about the ONE word that you have selected. Explain your rationale and make a prediction about the significance of the selected word. Blogs should be approximately 100 words in length (minimum) and should contain at least one quote from the opening scene. Unless you are the first to post, include a comment, observation or question about one of your classmate's posts. Follow the conventions of standard written English.
*Remember: Bring your textbooks and post-it notes to class every day, unless otherwise instructed.
"What's in a Word?" Due: Tuesday, November 7th.
Read and annotate Act I, Scene 1 of Hamlet. Take note of words that are repeated. Post a blog about the word that you consider to be the most significant to the "tone" and "theme" (as much as you can infer) in the opening scene. (Hint: most significant words, in this scene, are repeated at least 4 times.) Post a blog about the ONE word that you have selected. Explain your rationale and make a prediction about the significance of the selected word. Blogs should be approximately 100 words in length (minimum) and should contain at least one quote from the opening scene. Unless you are the first to post, include a comment, observation or question about one of your classmate's posts. Follow the conventions of standard written English.
*Remember: Bring your textbooks and post-it notes to class every day, unless otherwise instructed.
The recurring word that I have found in Act I, Scene I is the word “speak”. It appears in the following lines:
ReplyDelete28, 34, 42, 45, 48, 51 (three times), 129, 132, 135, 139 (two times), 147, and 171.
These were all the instances of the word “speak” in Act I, Scene I. There may be more, but those were what I found.
I don’t think there is any special significance to the plot in the word “speak”, however I think it brings more attention to the fact that Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a play, and the words are meant to be spoken. This is different than other literature because in narratives, the reader can usually tell what’s going on inside the main characters’ head, or at least in the head of one main character. This makes the reader more objective (sometimes) to the situation and we are more likely to know things that many of the characters do not know. The word “speak” also seems to expose that the Marcellus, Horatio, and Bernardo really want the ghost to talk, and I think the ghost will talk to Prince Hamlet, if it really is King Hamlet.
~Caroline :)
Good evening, and welcome to another episode of Lit and Comp.The word I found to repetitive was Night also in the Goodnight form. I found it in lines, 11,16,17,46. Perhaps it only applies to my interpretation but I seem to believe that "Night" is somewhat of a foreboding symbol. I think that its kind of ironic how Bernardo tells Francisco "Good Night" when they are going to encounter a ghost. The usage of "Good Night" in lines 16 and 17 kinda gives the sarcastic appeal because both of the guards are telling the replacements "Good Night" because the readers know of whats to come. In line 46 Horatio questions Marcellus, asking him what he is doing out at this time of Night.
ReplyDeleteUpon first reviewing Caroline’s post I thought, “Speak was such a minor word, how could it be so important?” However, with further review I believe that its repeated use gives us great insight into the times and mood of our people. In line 51, Horatio says, “Stay. Speak, speak. I charge thee, speak.” At first we assume the man is simply curious, however further analysis shows us something far greater. The repetition afterwards shows us how fixated and paranoid, yet curious these people are to such supernatural phenomena. This one sighting throws them into a fury and shows us that their culture puts great emphasis on the existence of such beings and the intense curiosity to know more about their kind. Such revelations allows us to understand certain interactions that will occur as we read on through the book with the ghost and all people who witness his existence.
ReplyDelete--Brandon Harris
I couldn't help notice, even prior to reading everyone else's comments, how frequently "speak" and it's variations pop up in Act 1. Sound is incredibly important, as many passages focus on what the scene sounds like. For instance, when the chicken is being described starting on line 150, it is likened to "the trumpet of the morn", with a "lofty and shrill-sounding throat". Like Caroline and Brandon said, the word lends the sense to the reader that this is an oral piece, one that would be performed live. "Speak" also hints at urgency (and likely fear) in the words of Marcellus, Horatio, and Bernardo.
ReplyDeleteThere are numerous words in this act that are appealing to the context of this piece but I felt the word “dead” is the most significant. This word is referenced in lines 41, 65, 115, 138 and it seems to symbolize something ominous is going to occur. Line 65 says, “Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour, with martial stalk hath he gone by our watch.” This seems to mean that the king seems to come at this hour every single time they have seen the “dead” (line 45) king. The dead king ( frowining) seems to point out that something dire in the country is going to occur.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the word ghost is the most important word that sets the tone and the theme in the scene. This is similar to Nabeel's thoughts about death, it "symbolizes something ominous is going to happen". I believe that the word ghost is a more important that death because of its connotation. Generally when the word ghost is mentioned, a sense of fear and wonder is brought upon the scene. I think this is true for act 1 scene 1 since all the guards cannot comprehend the presence of the ghost. It is both ethereal and earthly; it also has a sense of mystery and darkness which envelopes the atmosphere of the scene.
ReplyDeleteWord: Dead-Death (Found in lines: 41,65, 130 (death)
ReplyDeleteAfter reading Act 1, Scene 1 and the comments made above by my classmates, I too found that the word night and speak were repeating many times but I also found that the word dead was said a couple of times and that is an important word for this story. I thought that the word night had a little more significance than the word speak but the word dead has a lot more significance than the other two. This is a tragedy therefore we already know that the story does not end well and from the very beginning we are being told so. This word is only used about 3 times in the first scene of Act 1 but I think it upholds major significance when taken into account the story and the theme that is already known by the audience. The word dead and death foreshadow what is to come for the characters in the story and they also encountered death when they saw the ghost of King Hamlet while on watch.
-Jasmine Berrios :D
At first, like Brandon, I questioned the gravity of "speak", but upon reading her rationale and that of Brandon, I can see how it most likely forshadows the future events in the story. However, the word that caught my attention due to its repetition and gravity is “king”. The term is used in the first scene to refer to the late king, the father of Hamlet, whose appearance the ghost bears. As the play is about Hamlet, the ghost’s appearance makes it, and the late king who is alluded to whenever the ghost appears, an important aspect of the play. On top of this, the guards at the end of the scene intend to inform Hamlet of the ghost due to its appearance, “in the same figure like the king that’s dead”(line 41). This is a clear connection to whatever is going to happen later in the story. I predict that the ghost is a catalyst for the plot of this play.
ReplyDeleteLike others above, the most significant word in scene 1 is "speak." This word is used 12 times throughout the scene. When the word is brought up the characters are asking the ghost to speak to them. The ghost is of a former King and the characters want to know more about him. However, the ghost will not speak. I fell that this ghost and its silence will be important in the rest of the play. Speaking, or a lack of speaking, seems to be theme in the first scene.
ReplyDeleteYay! I found a good word! :) I thought no one else was going to post, and I was freaking out a little bit that I posted in the wrong place.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with Caroline’s post of how the word “speak” is repeated thought out the scene. But I would have to disagree when Caroline says I don’t think there is any special significance. This is where I then agree with what Adrián posted of how it could possibly be foreshadowing an event. There are very few powerful words that have an impact that is why I believe that when Shakespeare used the word speak there must have been something behind it.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to add that the word ghost is not on any line in the play because it is part of the stage directions. I still thought i was important because immediately after the ghost enter or exits the mood of the scene changes from being a casual conversation to a hysteria that. Also it bring confusion that disrupts logic. From line 79 Horatio says that he understands why the ghost haunts them but when it appears after line 125 he begins to ask it questions as though he is confused. He tells him " Speak to me. if thou art privy to thy country's fate". Horatio who new the answer changes his stance and begins to ask the ghost question. Mood changes like this made me think that the word ghost is important,
ReplyDeleteSimilar to what Franz found significant to the tone of Act 1 Scene 1 of Hamlet, I found the word "spirit" (which is found on lines 135, 138, 155, and 161)to have the largest contribution to the tone of this introductory scene. By soaking in the characters' excitement about this spirit which reveals itself to them on their night guard shift, they desire to know whose spirit it is the form of. Horatio speaks out to the spirit, "For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death, Speak of it. Stay, and speak.(lines 138-139)" By communicating this assumption to the spirit he is implying that he is intrigued, if not frightened by the fact that it could be a dead king lamenting of the country he left behind in his death or just a fellow deceased countryman. Either implication, sets an ominous tone for the opening scene.
ReplyDeleteI feel that one of the most important words in the story is ‘cock’. It shows up four times towards the very end of the scene. Its first appearance is within one of the hard bracket occurrence that is not part of the dialog, “[The cock crows.”]. As insignificant as it may seem, I feel that the cock is symbolic of something to come, and is foreshadowing an event. “The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn” suggests that the four men are annoyed with the rooster for the disappearing of the ghost, because it prevented them from speaking with their dead king. I believe there may be more of a significance to the cock further into the play, as it appears he had some power over the ghost, especially when Bernardo says, ”It was about to speak when the cock crew.” (147) It is relatable to the significance of the word “speak” as Caroline and others discussed. The rooster’s contribution to the scene was breaking the silence that interrupted the ghost with morning before he could speak. Just as there is significance in speaking, there must be some importance in not being able to as well.
ReplyDeleteFound on lines 138 (directly below it), 147, 150, 157,
~ David
Like Mike I believe that the most important repetitive word is "night.” I believe Shakespeare uses the word night to set an atmosphere that is dark and slightly sinister. He uses it particularly well when Bernardo says “Last night of all, When yond same star that's westward from the pole Had made his course to illume that part of heaven Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself, The bell then beating one” Here Shakespeare uses “night” to set up the when of Bernardo’s anecdote the goes on to describe in eerie detail of lasts nights encounter with the kingly ghost. Night also serves a purpose to convey time which, since plays were done at all times of day, was an important part of establishing setting in Elizabethan theatre. 'Tis now past twelve; get thee to bed
ReplyDeleteI like the majority of my fellow students before me, feel that the the act 1, scene 1 of Shakespeare's Hamlet is intended to foreshadow later ominous events. I also agree with Michael that the word that best exemplifies the dark foreshadowing of the passage is "Night". On top of the examples provided by Michael, I would also like to point out that the setting for each scene is at night, furthering the ominous setting and feel to the passage.
ReplyDeleteKeye
Similar to what vitamind1000 said, the word that I seemed to focus on that repeated itself was Night which also included when it was found in Goodnight. This repeated word was found on lines 11,16,17,46 and I feel as thought that they have some more deeper meaning than actual night time. Hamlet is a tragedy meaning that it involves a lot of death, and so for a word like night to be repeated is quite significant. Throughout many literary analysis's of stories whenever there is the reference to some form of light it usually represents life or save haven. However, in a story like Hamlet, the use of night is referring to sleep, and what is a longer restful sleep than death already known as the eternal sleep. Along the same lines night also sets the theme of death and its use in lines 16 and 17, for example when both Francisco and Bernardo say that they "Give [each other] good night" possibly foreshadowing the death of these characters in the near future.
ReplyDelete-Brandon Simone
When I finished reading Hamlet Act 1 Scene 1 I saw that the word night was repeated a lot. After reading the comments made by my peers, I agree with Mike because the word Night seems to be important in the story. In the beginning they encounter the ghost of King Hamlet and they see him in the night which can also mean that the ghost can only come out at night therefore they only have the nighttime to get Hamlet to talk with the ghost and see if in fact it is his dead father. So far the word night seems to be prevalent to the story because this is a tragedy and like Jasmine stated, it is known by the audience that this story is a tragedy and that most of the characters will not be alive in the end and it will all happen in the darkness of the night.
ReplyDelete- Marc Cortes
After reading Act 1 Scene 1 of Hamlet, like several of my fellow classmates, the word that stood out the most to me was night. In lines 11, 15, 162, 26, and 33 the word night stood out to me especially. I believe that these specific uses foreshadow darkness and evil or as Keye stated the use of night, "Is intended to foreshadow later ominous events". I concluded this due to the fact that in Macbeth, Shakespeare also uses night in the opening seen to foreshadow malice and avarice. In addition, night also symbolizes the unknown. When Marcellus stated, "The heights are wholesome, then no planets strike, no fairy tale takes, nor witch hath power to charm." the principle of night being a symbol of the unknown is illustrated because night is mysterious and unpredictable. We saw this principle in Dawn by Elie Wiesel when night was a symbol of death and darkness. In the end, I predict that their will be malevolent and corrupt actions in the future due to the opening setting taking place at night and the repetition of the very mysterious word.
ReplyDelete-Russell
The word ‘like’ encompasses the first scene because it is used at leased five times in the scene, and the first scene could be a microcosm or an example of foreshadowing for the rest of the book. At the beginning of the book, it is so dark outside that the night guards could barely see each other but by the end of the book, the light of the morning sun illuminates what cannot be seen during the night. Also, Francisco and Bernado went to get Marcellus to clarity if the aberration they had seen at the night was the deceased king or not. In general, at the beginning of the book there is confusion and by the end of the book, the confusion is being resolves (both the identity of those you and the identity of the ghost is resolved). I disagree with Brighteyes that there is no significance to the word ‘speak’. I think that this could be subliminal messaging for the audience to voice their opinions about what they think is clear right in front of them, just as Francisco and Bernardo did about the ghost.
ReplyDeleteThe most significant and highly used word in Act1, Scene 1 is the word “dead”. The word dead or death symbolizes something negative and possibly foreshadows that something terrible will happen. The use of repetition of the word really indicates the importance of the word. The lines that the word appeared in were 65,115, and 138. Line 115 states, “the graves stood tenantless and the sheeted dead” this sets a tone and mood that is dark and mysterious. I agree with Nabeel’s opinion that “dead” is the most important word. I also agree with nabeel that “the dead king” does seem to “point out something dire” it could foreshadow that the king will die a horrible death.
ReplyDelete