EXERCISE OF PAG. 163/164/165

EX. 1: Divide the extract into six parts, then match each of them with one of the following sentences.

 

a. 5-8 But when we sleep, we dream; if death is like sleep, what kind of dreams would we have, once we are dead?

 

b. 9-14 Which is the braver choice: to bear the problems of life, or end life and eliminate them?

 

c. 1-5 We go on living and suffer our problems because death is unknown and frightening.

 

d. 20-27 Who would put up with all the injuries that life causes, when we could stop them with a simple knife?

 

e. 28-33 Thinking too much about the question prevents us from acting.

 

f. 15-20 Being dead is like being asleep, so dying would be a simple and desirable solution to our troubles.

 

EX. 2: Is Hamlet talking only about himself or about the human condition? Circle the most recurrent personal pronouns and possessive adjectives to answer the question.

Hamlet talks about his problems as: For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, The oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely, The pangs of despriz’d love, the law’s delay, The insolence of office and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin.

 

EX. 3 Hamlet’s soliloquy can be considered a philosophical meditation on life and death, but his language is far from abstract. In fact, Hamlet employs concrete images related to real experience. Match the images used in the soliloquy (column A) to the ideas conveyed (column B).

1. G

2. F

3. E

4. H

 

EX. 4 In line 7 the “shocks” that human beings suffer are defined as “natural”. What meaning does the adjective take on?

In my opinion, "natural shocks" are shocks that occur in nature, therefore in the natural world.

 

EX. 5 Now consider lines 15-18, where Hamlet lists the sources of the troubles men have to bear during their life. Complete the grid with the missing words.

• Sources of the troubles concerning private lifeSources of the troubles concerning pubblic lifethe proud man’s contumelythe whips and scorns of time The oppressor’s wrongproud man’s contumely proud man’s contumelylaw’s delay

EX. 6 In line 31 Hamlet talks of important “enterprises” that will never be carried out; yet the thought is based on his personal experience. What is the unaccomplished enterprise which weighs on him?

EX. 8 Complete the passage with the words given.

In his soliloquy Hamlet explores two fundamental issues: LIVE and death on the one hand, INJUSTICE and inaction on the other. His argument starts from the famous QUESTION “to be or not to be” and he comes to the conclusion that men choose to SUICIDE because they don’t know what may come after DETH . This thought prevents them from committing ACTION and makes them bear all the REFLECTION typical of life, such as the passing of time, unrequited LOVE , the oppression of the powerful or INJUSTICE. The acceptance of life and its ills is equated to inaction, while putting an end to one’s life is equated to action; action is the result of a healthy resolution, inaction the result of the weakness caused by LIVE . Hamlet’s philosophical considerations on men’s behaviour are based on personal experience; his tendency to analyse facts prevents direct action which means, in his case, avenging his father.

 

PAG. 164

EX. 1 What does a ghost suggest to you? Make a note of some words that come to mind.

Fear and curiosity,

EX. 2 Do you believe in ghosts? Yes, no or don’t know?

I don't know whether to believe in ghosts: I've never seen one; the moment I saw it I would probably believe it

EX.3 Can you think of any thing that is connected with revenge today?

EX. 4 Hamlet is a young man with problems. In groups of four or pairs, jot down some of the most important problems you think a young man could have today

- The Anxiety about school

- The anxiety of growing up

- fear

- sadness in failures

EX. 5. Watch part 1 (Plot) and do the following activities.

a. While watching the plot summary, underline the members of the family that appear in the play as they are referred to.

Claudius, the villain, kills his brother, usurps his throne, marries his wife and plots to eliminate his stepson. The dead father urges the son to take revenge. Gertrude, though concerned with her son’s condition, is unable to understand his distress and defends her husband.

b. Take a sheet of paper and make a mark every time someone dies or is already dead. At the end count the number of people who are dead. Can you remember their names? How many names can you remember? See who remembers the most names.

I can remember the names of 22 people dear to me.

c. How do they die?

accident, natural death, suicide, various diseases

d. The main revenge story is that of the ghost and Hamlet. What is the second?

The main story in the second text of Hamlet is to solve the dilemma of whether to die or to continue living with all the pains of life.

EX. 6 Watch part 2 (Biography – this time it is the ‘biography’ of the Globe Theatre) and do the following activities

EX. 7

 

EX. 8