Writing and Reading Reflection

As a senior, I am in my fourth year of High School, and I feel like my writing and reading have both improved drastically. This year especially, for the first time, I felt confident in reading and understanding novels/plays. It may be the small class of only four that has allowed me to share my ideas and be engaged, or just maturity that has come with experiencing different English teachers and taking on board all of their advice. Regardless, I feel that I am able to write strong essays in which I really make a point and convince the reader of. Although I feel comfortable writing strong thesis statements and body paragraphs, I feel that I still struggle with writing conclusions that completely wrap up my essay and give the reader something to think about with respect to the world. Another simple thing that should be easy to fix is being more careful about punctuation and quoting mechanics. I feel that I can write strong thesis statements; however, they are not perfect. Often I do not explain the thesis enough, and don’t make my thesis specific enough. I also need to be more careful about letting my ideas flow during my intro paragraph; sometimes I put too much detail, and sometimes it takes away from the logical flow making it unclear. The thesis I am most proud of this year is probably my Hamlet Essay thesis (text, not film). “His father’s death has thrust Hamlet’s solitary self into extreme confusion: only allowing logical thought process when interacting with others, yet denying himself coherent deliberations when isolated.”

Writing and Reading Reflection

As a senior, I am in my fourth year of High School, and I feel like my writing and reading have both improved drastically. This year especially, for the first time, I felt confident in reading and understanding novels/plays. It may be the small class of only four that has allowed me to share my ideas and be engaged, or just maturity that has come with experiencing different English teachers and taking on board all of their advice. Regardless, I feel that I am able to write strong essays in which I really make a point and convince the reader of. Although I feel comfortable writing strong thesis statements and body paragraphs, I feel that I still struggle with writing conclusions that completely wrap up my essay and give the reader something to think about with respect to the world. Another simple thing that should be easy to fix is being more careful about punctuation and quoting mechanics. I feel that I can write strong thesis statements; however, they are not perfect. Often I do not explain the thesis enough, and don’t make my thesis specific enough. I also need to be more careful about letting my ideas flow during my intro paragraph; sometimes I put too much detail, and sometimes it takes away from the logical flow making it unclear. The thesis I am most proud of this year is probably my Hamlet Essay thesis (text, not film). “His father’s death has thrust Hamlet’s solitary self into extreme confusion: only allowing logical thought process when interacting with others, yet denying himself coherent deliberations when isolated.”

Writing and Reading Reflection

As a senior, I am in my fourth year of High School, and I feel like my writing and reading have both improved drastically. This year especially, for the first time, I felt confident in reading and understanding novels/plays. It may be the small class of only four that has allowed me to share my ideas and be engaged, or just maturity that has come with experiencing different English teachers and taking on board all of their advice. Regardless, I feel that I am able to write strong essays in which I really make a point and convince the reader of. Although I feel comfortable writing strong thesis statements and body paragraphs, I feel that I still struggle with writing conclusions that completely wrap up my essay and give the reader something to think about with respect to the world. Another simple thing that should be easy to fix is being more careful about punctuation and quoting mechanics. I feel that I can write strong thesis statements; however, they are not perfect. Often I do not explain the thesis enough, and don’t make my thesis specific enough. I also need to be more careful about letting my ideas flow during my intro paragraph; sometimes I put too much detail, and sometimes it takes away from the logical flow making it unclear. The thesis I am most proud of this year is probably my Hamlet Essay thesis (text, not film). “His father’s death has thrust Hamlet’s solitary self into extreme confusion: only allowing logical thought process when interacting with others, yet denying himself coherent deliberations when isolated.”

Writing and Reading Reflection

As a senior, I am in my fourth year of High School, and I feel like my writing and reading have both improved drastically. This year especially, for the first time, I felt confident in reading and understanding novels/plays. It may be the small class of only four that has allowed me to share my ideas and be engaged, or just maturity that has come with experiencing different English teachers and taking on board all of their advice. Regardless, I feel that I am able to write strong essays in which I really make a point and convince the reader of. Although I feel comfortable writing strong thesis statements and body paragraphs, I feel that I still struggle with writing conclusions that completely wrap up my essay and give the reader something to think about with respect to the world. Another simple thing that should be easy to fix is being more careful about punctuation and quoting mechanics. I feel that I can write strong thesis statements; however, they are not perfect. Often I do not explain the thesis enough, and don’t make my thesis specific enough. I also need to be more careful about letting my ideas flow during my intro paragraph; sometimes I put too much detail, and sometimes it takes away from the logical flow making it unclear. The thesis I am most proud of this year is probably my Hamlet Essay thesis (text, not film). “His father’s death has thrust Hamlet’s solitary self into extreme confusion: only allowing logical thought process when interacting with others, yet denying himself coherent deliberations when isolated.”

Working Body Paragraphs for Hamlet Film

Branagh portrays Hamlet as overwhelmed and defenseless against the oppression of the king, queen, and crowd. When the queen asks Hamlet: “Why seems it so particular with thee?” (1.2.78), Hamlet responds despondently and is clearly experiencing immense pain. His sadness can be seen both by his facial expression, which suggests that he might even cry soon, and by his somber tone. This tone also reflects his clear anger; however, because of the low volume of his voice, Branagh suggests that Hamlet simply does not have the power to fight back against his external oppression. Also, Hamlet wears a simple black coat, which contrasts the spacious and luxurious room. The director chooses to reveal Hamlet hidden, and isolated, implying that he is alone and not understood. After his entrance, when speaking with his mother and Claudius, the scene is shot so that Hamlet has nothing behind him, further demonstrating his loneliness and lack of support. The king, however, is shot in such a way where the whole crowd of people is behind him; this not only establishes support for the king and what he says, but also that he is not just speaking to Hamlet, he is speaking to the crowd. The king is trying to play off a respectful fatherly figure to the people, but we and Hamlet recognize the truth: Hamlet is becoming alienated.

Gibson provides the most pathetic Hamlet: dead dad, new dad who would rather go hunting than talk to him, a mom who has a strange school-girl crush on him, and ----------------------house and camera something--------. This Hamlet is too weak to be angry, instead he is just sad and lives in a little stone house without a door. When speaking, he uses a soft, whispering voice with no energy, and a fragile tone that indicates he is offended. In this film, Hamlet seems less angry, and more miserable with no energy. His mother offers him no support, and instead is depicted as a little girl with a crush on Hamlet. She clearly has high levels of affection, because she kisses him passionately and as if he was her lover. Although she truly cares about him, it offers no support to Hamlet and is essentially meaningless because of her immature nature. The cottage or ‘palace’ that they speak in looks absolutely nothing like royalty, but instead is a stone house with no doors. This could suggest that the king and queen are not fit to be royalty, or suggest that Gibson does not believe they deserve to be royalty. It is an isolated room with no crowd, just the three of them, which implies that the king and queen are genuine with their words. Although possibly genuine, the king leaves early to go hunting, showing his lack of commitment to his new son. After the king leaves, the queen becomes much more physical with Hamlet, unifying the queen and hamlet, but detracting from the unity of the king and queen.

Tennant’s Hamlet is like a rebellious child; he is independent and does not get along with his mother or new father at all. This is the angriest Hamlet, his eyes wander, showing his lack of interest, and he speaks in short, sharp statements. He is sarcastic and speaks rapidly. This suggests that he is detached from his parents and independent. Additionally, the queen does not really care, she is not very sure of her words, which can be seen by her stuttering and seems to be making up her words on the spot. This queen, however, is unified with the king, and tag-teams with him in their quick-fire attacks on Hamlet. Furthermore, the king speaks to the crowd. Often when speaking, he does not even look at Hamlet. One moment of the king’s speech, he clearly makes eye contact with Hamlet and speaks from his heart to Hamlet’s. “’tis unmanly grief” (1.2.98). The one time the king speaks to Hamlet genuinely is to insult him. This serious harshness and darkness can also be seen in the room; it is a large dark room that seems to set the mood of pain and distress. Also, everyone except the women and religious figures are wearing suits. This seems to level the king, Hamlet, and the common people. The king is not dressed exotically and clearly above the rest of the people. Upon everyone but Hamlet’s exit, the regular camera is switched to a security camera, which is slightly raised and looking down on them. This could either be someone or something of a higher power looking down on them, or Hamlet senior watching over from above. Regardless, it adds a spooky effect to the scene.

Hamlet Film Intro

“’Seems’, madam? Nay, it is. I know not ‘seems.’” (1.2.76). In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, during Act 1 Scene 2, Hamlet’s mother questions why Hamlet is so distressed and depressed from his father’s “common” death. The prince’s response has been interpreted differently. In Kenneth Branagh’s, Mel Gibson’s, and David Tennant’s films, the directors portray Hamlet’s response through tone, imagery and scenery, and cinematography. In Branagh’s Hamlet, Hamlet is powerless against his inconsiderate new father, oblivious mother, and consuming, royal hall. Gibson, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, displays Hamlet as a weak, helpless child, who has no support and lives in a rock. Hamlet is dressed in ragged clothes and looks like he has not slept in days, most likely do to his depression. Tennant’s Hamlet, in a Royal Shakespeare Company production, is a rebellious youth in a dark world: he is independent and does not get along with either his mother or his new father. Hamlet’s response to his mother’s cold-hearted question is interpreted differently in these three films; although his response is eight words long, the directors’ choices display Hamlet’s relationship with his mother and the king.