Into the madness wherein he now raves...

Among other things, we have been discussing Hamlet's state of mind—whether he be "put[ting] an antic disposition on" (I.v) or be truly mad.

We will continue with this discussion on Wednesday (I will be out 3rd hour tomorrow).  For now, read over Hamlet's soliloquy from the end of Act II.  The full text is here.  To find the passage, search (hit "ctrl+F) for "Hecuba" and go to the second instance.

Hamlet Through Middle of I.ii

All homework from this semester is due by this Thursday (the 18th).  I will not accept any late work after this.  If you need help with an assignment, or would like me to edit it once before you turn it in, please turn it in tomorrow.

We began our study of Shakespeare's Hamlet and Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead with a discussion of . . . The Wizard of Oz.  All of you were familiar with the story (or the Garland movie, at least), and most had read Wicked, the novel-turned-play by Gregory Maguire.  In the same way that Maguire tore apart the story of The Wizard of Oz then rebuilt it in a new form as Wicked, Tom Stoppard (in 1966) reconstructed a classic play into Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, a postmodern, existentialist performance.

To better understand what the authors have done with the original works, we watched this commercial for the Kia Borrego, comparing it to a number of "normal" commercials.

Your assignment for tonight is to look over Hamlet's soliloquy after Claudius and Gertrude leave him.  Notes are always a good thing (might use your journal), but you will not turn anything in.  As you read it, keep in mind the following questions:

• What has caused him to feel this way?
• What is Hyperion?  A satyr?  Why is he comparing these things?
• Who is Niobe?
• What are we to make of "Frailty, thy name is woman"?

HAMLET

O, that this too too solid flesh would melt
Thaw and resolve itself into a dew!
Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd
His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! God!
How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable,
Seem to me all the uses of this world!
Fie on't! ah fie! 'tis an unweeded garden,
That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature
Possess it merely. That it should come to this!
But two months dead: nay, not so much, not two:
So excellent a king; that was, to this,
Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother
That he might not beteem the winds of heaven
Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth!
Must I remember? why, she would hang on him,
As if increase of appetite had grown
By what it fed on: and yet, within a month--
Let me not think on't--Frailty, thy name is woman!--
A little month, or ere those shoes were old
With which she follow'd my poor father's body,
Like Niobe, all tears:--why she, even she--
O, God! a beast, that wants discourse of reason,
Would have mourn'd longer--married with my uncle,
My father's brother, but no more like my father
Than I to Hercules: within a month:
Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears
Had left the flushing in her galled eyes,
She married. O, most wicked speed, to post
With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!
It is not nor it cannot come to good:
But break, my heart; for I must hold my tongue.

On About a Boy, "Med. #17," "I am a Rock"

Tonight, write out your basic thesis statement and supporting ideas.  We will give one another advice on arrangement and flow of ideas tomorrow in class.

Vonnegut on Style

"How to Write With Style" by Kurt Vonnegut

About a Boy and Meditation #17

Quick reminders:

If you have chosen to re-write the essay from last Friday, the last day to turn it in is Monday, Sept 8th.

If you have not finished About a Boy, try to knock it out this weekend.  We will be writing over themes from John Donne's "Meditation #17" and Simon and Garfunkel's "I am a Rock" on Wednesday, specifically as applied to About a Boy.  We discussed these in class, but it would be a good idea to go over them once again (find Donne's work here, Google "I am a Rock lyrics" for the song) before you finish the novel.  As you read and journal on About a Boy, it might be helpful to keep these questions in mind:

• Is "Meditation #17" reflected in the creation of the extended family at the end?
• Donne says "No man is an island," while S&G state "I am an island."  Do you see any characters in About a Boy thinking either way?  Does the character change his or her mind?
• In your reading of Donne's writing, do you think he believes we have a choice to disconnect ourselves from everyone (like Will and Fiona do in the beginning), or are we able to create our own "island" like S&G try to do?  What does this mean for the characters?

Remember, these are just possible interpretations.  If you have other ideas or feel like you can support other interpretations, please do so.  Your essay will take the form of an answer to one of these questions.  Convince your reader that your interpretation is a solid one by using support (quotations) from all texts you choose to include.

If you have any questions about either last week's or next week's essay, please post a comment below or send me an email.

Enjoy your weekend.  Read outside!

Sidetrack: Socotra Island

Check out this article with amazing pictures from DarkRoastedBlend.com.

Also, Josiah's comment on the previous post.