Hamlet!

Yes, we're reading Shakespeare and I'm super excited about it.  You may be worried about approaching Shakespeare from an AP perspective, but I hope you can trust in your increased reading skills since freshmen and sophomore years. =)

A few things to help:

• Use the act summaries I'll give you in class (or access this electronic copy). Read them BEFORE you read each act and they will allow you to understand the plot and characters so you can focus on the language, theme, structure--all the stuff you wouldn't normally notice until a reread.
• This is a one-page document by the Folger Shakespeare Library that might help you keep your characters straight.
• Use my reading journal questions to help you focus on items of importance.  My questions should guide you and give you some focus.
• Obviously you should also note in your reading journal any other details you notice, questions you have, or other strategies you have found to help you in your critical reading.

Reading Journal Questions:

1. Track evidence of Hamlet’s “pretend madness” and evidence that he may actually be mad. 
2. Pay attention to Shakespeare’s use of language.  Where does he use interesting images, plays on words, or surprising juxtapositions of words?  Note examples but then focus on WHY Shakespeare uses them and what their placement and usage contributes to the tone, effect on the audience, and overall meaning of the piece.
3. What do you make of the way Shakespeare uses poetry vs. prose?  What is his purpose?
4. “Who’s there?”  The first line of the play is a question.  Who is there?  Throughout the play, who’s there?  Who’s not there?  Who’s pretending to be there?  Who’s not supposed to be there?
5. Why doesn’t Hamlet kill the king when given the opportunity (Act III, scene iii, line 74)?
6. How does this tragedy compare to the tragedy of Oedipus Rex?  Compare and contrast the two plays, using what you know about Greek and Elizabethan drama as well as a critical reader’s response to each.

2nd Semester Ind Rdg

You need to choose a book.  Again, it has to be high-quality, great literature as determined by critics and scholars (in the canon, in other words).  In addition, I recommend not choosing something TOO new.  Go with something that was published at least 20 years ago, but it can be world literature, British, American, or even a play.  Eventually you'll be writing a literary research paper over this book so it is important that you choose something that you'll be able to find credible sources on (hence the "20 years old" guideline).

Very Important Guidelines for Reading this Book:

1.  Do NOT--I repeat--DO NOT read any criticism or "interpretations" of this book WHATSOEVER while you are reading.  I know many of you make use of various critical resources to help you understand what you're reading BUT for this independent reading book and the paper you will write afterward, it is SUPER important that you do not do that this time.  This will come later but you MUST NOT read any sources on this book BEFORE we begin the writing process of this paper.  So don't read stuff even after you finish the book.

2.  You SHOULD, however, take excellent notes while you read.  I'll recommend the same structure for you that I did with your summer reading--take it or leave it:

Two pages in your journal for each of these headings, left available for notes on your book:

• Characterization (development and function)
• Setting Significance
• Plot/Form/Structure
• Motifs
• Word Choice/Literary Devices

Many of you found your summer notes lacking in helpfulness.  Learn from that mistake and don't do it again. Take copious notes, carve out adequate time for reading, and include page numbers as references so you find your evidence when you get to the writing stage.

3.  Use your critical reading skills--pay attention to details, read with the spine, consider WHY the author writes the way he/she does, reread where you need to, and make note of anything significant (even if you don't know why) so you can consider it further and access it again later, and ignore what other people tell you about the book or its theme.  You are all capable of figuring out theme for yourself at this point but you have to read in a way that will allow you to do that.

4.  Write a 1-pg informal response to the book AS SOON AS YOU FINISH IT!  I cannot stress enough the importance of this timing.  Stop and reflect on what you've read, what you're thinking, what you think the author is getting at, questions you have about what it means or what the author intended by x, y, or z.  Record those thoughts before they are gone.  It is impossible to recover them a week or a month after finishing the book and those thoughts are the best resource you have for beginning your essay later on.

Your first in-class reading day is Tuesday so have your book by then if at all possible!