HAMLET: AN INSIDER’S GUIDE Introduction to the tragedy

INSIDER’S GUIDE: FOLGERS’S LIBRARY  Watch the Folger’s Shakespeare Library introduction to Hamlet. It’s a quick summary that guides us through the play. Beware that it gives away the play’s secrets.  What do you think the narrator means when he says that we “know more of the language” than we think? Why do you think the play has become so central to our culture’s idea of revenge?

CHOOSE A QUOTE   Choose a quote from the “Key To Famous Lines and Phrases” for your group.  The idea is to play with language – don’t worry about knowing the context of the quote (or even what it means, exactly!).

 Watch the video called “Is that your sandwich?” “IS THAT YOUR SANDWICH?”  Write down your line on a sheet of paper.  Paraphrase the line completely (don’t leave out any words!). Do this the best you can!  Read the line in many different ways (just like in the video).  List some of the possible meanings of the quote (3).  What adjectives can be used to describe the line based on the different kinds of meanings you discovered above?

OBJECTIVES  In the theatre, an objective refers to that thing a character/actor wishes to accomplish at a particular point in the play. Sometimes this is called a “beat” of action. The important thing to note is that an objective is driven by action -- by an active verb -- and that an objective must be something an actor can accomplish.  Examples: I wish to gain my mother’s consent I want to prevent my brother from getting angry  Note that the structure of these sentences are very simple: a subjects wants to do something and get a specific, measurable response.  Objectives like these aren’t just invented; they are suggested by a close reading of the text, Shakespeare or otherwise. Often, in rehearsal, actors test objectives against the text to see what makes the best sense.

TACTICS  Tactics are those devices we use to aid in the attaining of our objectives. So, for example, if the objective is, “I wish to gain my mother’s consent,” the actor can choose “to flatter,” “to threaten,” “to annoy.” These verbs are the helpers to the success of attaining your objective.  How are you going to get your objective to happen?

OBJECTIVES & TACTICS  Now, come up with several objectives and tactics for your quote – write each down (at least three!) on your piece of paper.

PERFORMANCE  Working with your group -- your scene partners -- imagine a scenario and stage your quote.  It doesn’t matter at this point whether what you stage has anything to do with the play.  Your goal is to perform your quote using one objective and tactic from your list in a situation of your own creation.  Take some risks and chance, and have fun with what you come up with.