Tag: Claims

25 September. Claims, Close Reading, Hamlet 2.1

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Hamlet, 1.2-1.5

Let’s chat briefly about your responses to the questions from Thursday:
  • 1. What does Hamlet say in his first soliloquy (1.2.311-344) that he cannot say to Claudius or Gertrude in the open? For example, how does he express his grief over his father’s death differently in public than he does in private?
  • 2. Who says,“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” (1.4.678) and to what does “rotten” refer in this context?
  • 3. What’s the official story of Old King Hamlet’s death? How did the Old King actually die? (1.5.744-775)
  • 4. What does the Ghost ask Hamlet to do(1.5.776)?

Generating Claims

Follow along as we review the claim generating exercise and then be prepared to read your draft claim from Hamlet, Act 1 out loud:
  • 1. First, let’s review the Literary Analysis Essay Assignment
  • 2. According to the handout, what is the Destabilizing Condition?
  • 3. Before we read our claims out loud, take 2-3 minutes and revise your claim.

    • The Destabilizing Condition Claim

    Even though it seems as if ___________________________ because of

    ______________________, I’ll argue___________________________. I argue

    __________________ because____________________________________.

    Close Reading

    Our practice claims show how we will have two parts in our paper claims to establish and solve: 1. the problem of what the play means; 2. problems in the world. Just as the claim has two parts, so too should your analysis: the official story and the other gesture(s). To practice this bifurcated mode of reading we’re going to Close Read Hamlet’s response to the Ghost (1.5.777-97)

    Let’s respond to the following questions:
    • 1. Set the scene: What’s going on?  Who can hear him? Does the speech have larger effects on the plot or action of the play?
    • 2. Key images: What are some key images? For example, what does Hamlet mean when he uses images such as, “this distracted globe” (1.5.782)
    • 3. Rhetorical Features: To whom does Hamlet address the speech? What sorts of sentences does he use and how do those sentences shift?
    • 4. Interpretation 1 (official story): What’s the main point of this speech? What sorts of promises does Hamlet make? What steps does he take to fulfill his promises?
    • 5. Interpretation 2 (other gestures): Do you believe Hamlet will fulfill his promise? Why or why not? 

    Student Teaching Groups

    Look over the Student Teaching dates posted below and then get into your groups. Please note that the Oct 16 date has been changed to Nov 18 because one of our guest speakers had to revise his schedule. If you have been assigned that date, and need to change it, let me know after class.

    ENGL 1101.F2


    Group Number Group Names Dates
    G1 Zeyu, Enerelt, Jialou, Firaas R, Oct 25
    G2 Brandon, Max, Hannah, Hui Min, Dorian R, Nov 8
    G3 Jintong, Fei, Hae Won, Eni R, Nov 1
    G4 Mark, Tejas, Jiale, Akhil R, Oct 18
    G5 Jarod, Elton, Esther, Sanyu R, Oct 4
    G6 Thiago, Danya, Akshay, Elias, Ashley R, Oct 11

    ENGL1101.N2


    Group Number Group Names Dates
    G7 Patrick, Margaret, Mathew, Mai R, Oct 11
    G8 Melissa, Samantha, Henrick, John T, Nov 6
    G9 Dov, Omar, Dustin, Giancarlo R, Oct 18
    G10 Danny, Maya, Kyle, Rishi T, Oct 2
    G11 Henna, Lauren, Jeremy R, Nov 1
    G12 Shrya, Greyson, Alvin, Summahay R, Oct 4

    ENGL 1101.D2


    Group Number Group Name Dates
    G13 Brandon, Ravi, Andres, David T, Oct 2
    G14 Ben, Anna, Siddarth, Cecelia, Andrew R, Nov 8
    G15 Maya, Manisha, Avni, Jennifer R, Nov 1
    G16 Kevin, Jason, Brett, Wyatt R, Oct 18
    G17 Shakeeb, Mitchell, Michael Tang, Andy R, Oct 11
    G18 Thomas, Kenny, Michawel Chen, Kiet R, Oct 25