Reading Hamlet [Study Guide]
by Bronwyn MellorStudent book Year 10+
The four sections of this booklet intended for upper school students contain a wealth of material for studying Shakespeare's play. The first section provides background material and ideas for preparing students to read Hamlet. In section two, ‘Reading the play’, there are notes on each scene of the play, accompanied by activities and suggestions for further study. A detailed analysis of the construction of readings of character is taken up in section three. The last section considers writing about the play, and invites explicit study of different ways of reading Hamlet.
To help prepare students to read the play, there are:
- background notes on the 'Elizabethan World Picture';
- information and activities around the 'revenge tradition';
- examples of and activities on other texts of the period;
- introductory materials on language and imagery;
- plot synopses for each scene;
- information about and illustrations of different productions;
- extracts from different critical interpretations to compare;
- activities to encourage analysis of differing readings.
- construct readings of scenes, characters and issues;
- analyse differing readings of Hamlet;
- plan and write an essay; and 'play' with the play.
A Chalkface Press original
Cover photograph:
Hamlet, 1980, © BBC Enterprises Ltd. London.
Review
"Reading Hamlet is a brilliant application of insights derived from contemporary literary theory and research to classroom practice, outlining a pedagogy that is not only designed to give students some control over books but also over institutional practices and social structures that can also be read as texts...
"This book is required reading for all teachers who aim to help their students gain real control over texts and their own reading practices...
"(It) provides not just a brilliant set of activities for teaching Hamlet, but ways of giving students access to power over texts."
Jack Thompson in the AATE Guide to Books 1990
Availability:
USA and Canada:
- NCTE, National Council of Teachers of English