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Hamlet Lesson 11 NYS Common Core ELA & Literacy Curriculum Grade 11 • Module 1 • Unit 2 • Lesson 11 10.11 Lesson 11 Introduction In this lesson, students begin to explore Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” soliloquy, one of the best-known passages of English literature. Students read Act 3.1, lines 64–84 (from “To be or not to be—that is the question” to “might his quietus make / With a bare bodkin”), focusing on how Shakespeare’s word choice impacts the meaning of the passage. Students pay attention to Shakespeare’s use of beautiful and engaging language as they examine one of the central concerns of literature and the human experience. Student learning is assessed via a Quick Write at the end of the lesson: Analyze Hamlet’s attitude toward life and death, noting Shakespeare’s use of metaphor and language that is fresh, engaging, and beautiful. For homework, students choose one of two homework options: either revisit Act 1.2, lines 136–138 of Hamlet and examine how Hamlet’s statement is further developed in the soliloquy from today’s lesson, or watch a brief video and explain how Shakespeare uses figurative language to develop central ideas. Standards Assessed Standard(s) RL.9-10.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone). Addressed Standard(s) W.9-10.9.a Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.9.A Apply grades 9-10 Reading standards to literature (e.g., "Analyze how an author draws on and transforms source material in a specific work [e.g., how Shakespeare treats a theme or topic from Ovid or the Bible or how a later author draws on a play by Shakespeare]"). L.9-10.4.c Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grades 9-10 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies. File: 11.1.2 Lesson 11, v2 Date: 4/30/15 Classroom Use: Starting 5/2015 © 2015 Public Consulting Group. This work is licensed under a 1 Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ NYS Common Core ELA & Literacy Curriculum Grade 11 • Module 1 • Unit 2 • Lesson 11 c. Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning, its part of speech, or its etymology. L.9-10.5.a Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. a. Interpret figures of speech (e.g., euphemism, oxymoron) in context and analyze their role in the text. Assessment Assessment(s) Student learning is assessed via a Quick Write at the end of the lesson. Students respond to the following prompt, citing textual evidence to support analysis and inferences drawn from the text. • Analyze Hamlet’s attitude toward life and death, noting Shakespeare’s use of metaphor and language that is fresh, engaging, and beautiful. High Performance Response(s) A High Performance Response should: • Analyze Hamlet’s attitude toward life and death (e.g., The opening line of Hamlet’s soliloquy “To be, or not to be—that is the question” (line 64) lays out Hamlet’s central concern for the next 20 lines. Hamlet tries to decide whether or not life is worth living.). • Cite specific instances of Shakespeare’s use of metaphor and fresh, engaging, and beautiful language that demonstrate Hamlet’s attitude toward life and death (e.g., Shakespeare’s metaphor of death as a kind of “sleep” (lines 68, 73–74) demonstrates all of Hamlet’s conflicted feelings about life and death. First, the sleep of death sounds relieving because death removes one from the “heartache and the thousand natural shocks” (line 70) of life. But then Hamlet realizes that “[t]o sleep” is “perchance to dream” (line 73), by which he means to die is to perhaps experience an afterlife. It is unclear to Hamlet how this afterlife will be, or “what dreams may come” (line 74) from the sleep of death. The uncertainty of the afterlife, for Hamlet, is “the rub” (line 73), or the mysterious obstacle that keeps one from knowing whether it is better to live or to die. Hamlet cannot decide whether it is better to live or die.). Vocabulary Vocabulary to provide directly (will not include extended instruction) File: 11.1.2 Lesson 11, v2 Date: 4/30/15 Classroom Use: Starting 5/2015 © 2015 Public Consulting Group. This work is licensed under a 2 Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ NYS Common Core ELA & Literacy Curriculum Grade 11 • Module 1 • Unit 2 • Lesson 11 • calamity (n.) – a great misfortune or disaster • contumely (n.) – insulting display of contempt in words or actions; contemptuous or humiliating treatment Vocabulary to teach (may include direct word work and/or questions) • consummation (n.) – condition that fulfills desires and aims • rub (n.) – obstacle • bare bodkin (n.) – a mere dagger; an unsheathed dagger Additional vocabulary to support English Language Learners (to provide directly) • heir (n.) – a person who has the legal right to receive the property of someone who dies • coil (n.) – a long thin piece of material that is wound into circles • pangs (n.) – sudden strong feelings of physical or emotional pain • insolence (n.) – rudeness or impoliteness • spurns (v.) – refuses to accept Lesson Agenda/Overview Student-Facing Agenda % of Lesson Standards & Text: • Standards: RL.9-10.4, W. 9-10.9.a, L. 9-10.4.c, L. 9-10.5.a • Text: Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Act 3.1: lines 64–84 (Masterful Reading: Act 3.1, lines 64–98) In order to provide additional context, the masterful reading extends beyond the lines students read and discuss during the lesson. Learning Sequence: 1. Introduction of Lesson Agenda 1. 5% 2. Discussion of Hamlet’s Character 2. 5% 3. Masterful Reading 3. 5% 4. Reading and Discussion 4. 70% 5. Quick Write 5. 10% 6. Closing 6. 5% File: 11.1.2 Lesson 11, v2 Date: 4/30/15 Classroom Use: Starting 5/2015 © 2015 Public Consulting Group. This work is licensed under a 3 Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ NYS Common Core ELA & Literacy Curriculum Grade 11 • Module 1 • Unit 2 • Lesson 11 Materials • Student copies of the Central Ideas Tracking Tool (refer to 11.1.2 Lesson 7)—students may need additional blank copies • Student copies of the Short Response Rubric and Checklist (refer to 11.1.1 Lesson 1) • Video: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/shakespeare-uncovered/video/hamlet-with-david-tennant/ (15:45–21:45) Learning Sequence How to Use the Learning Sequence Symbol Type of Text & Interpretation of the Symbol 10% Percentage indicates the percentage of lesson time each activity should take. Plain text indicates teacher action. no Bold text indicates text dependent questions. symbol Italicized text indicates a vocabulary word. Indicates student action(s). Indicates possible student response(s) to teacher questions. Indicates instructional notes for the teacher. Activity 1: Introduction of Lesson Agenda 5% Begin by reviewing the agenda and the assessed standard for this lesson: RL. 9-10.4. In this lesson, students read the first part of Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” soliloquy, one of the best-known passages in English literature. After a brief whole-class discussion, students work in small groups discussing Shakespeare’s use of figurative language to demonstrate Hamlet’s attitude toward life and death. Students look at the agenda. Activity 2: Discussion of Hamlet’s Character 5% Lead a brief discussion in which students share out some of their responses from the 11.1.2 Mid-Unit Assessment. Ask students what they know about Hamlet’s character through their reading so far. Student responses may include: o Hamlet has trouble making a decision about how to avenge his father’s death. o He is depressed. File: 11.1.2 Lesson 11, v2 Date: 4/30/15 Classroom Use: Starting 5/2015 © 2015 Public Consulting Group. This work is licensed under a 4 Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ NYS Common Core ELA & Literacy Curriculum Grade 11 • Module 1 • Unit 2 • Lesson 11 o He is angry with his mother and uncle, and with the world in general. Activity 3: Masterful Reading 5% Have students listen to a masterful reading of Act 3.1, lines 64–98 (from “To be or not to be—that is the question” to “Nymph, in thy orisons / Be all my sins remembered”). Ask students to listen for particularly engaging or beautiful language. Students follow along, reading silently. Differentiation Consideration: Consider posting or projecting the following guiding question to support students in their reading throughout this lesson: How does Shakespeare describe Hamlet’s view of life? Activity 4: Reading and Discussion 70% Instruct students to form groups. Post or project each set of questions below for students to discuss. Instruct students to annotate for figurative language regarding mortality. Remind students that annotating helps them to keep track of evidence they use for the lesson assessment. Consider drawing students’ attention to their application of standard W.11-12.9.a through drawing evidence from literary texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
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