We have finally finished up our discussions on Hamlet. After reading it one time as a class, annotating, and watching four different versions of the movie, I would have to say that I was ready for a change. I actually was one of the few people that liked Hamlet and the studies in class that we had done with it. Given that it was a little much at times, I have come to appreciate the text and understand all of the hidden meanings within. Through all of our forums regarding Hamlet I was able to see the play in a new light. Especially with the Shakespeare in the Bush forum that we did. This taught me not only in the text were there different interpretations but also within the different cultures there were different ways that we can interpret the work. All in all I would have to say that I enjoyed our time spent with Hamlet and hopefully there will be a lot about it on the AP Exam.
After finishing Hamlet we began some more preparation for the AP exam through the use of the practice multiple choice questions. Although I did MUCH better on these questions that the ones in the summer, I still feel that I could improve much more by the time of the test. It can be so hard to determine the answers to questions because sometimes they all honestly seem like the right answer! Hopefully we'll have more practice in class in the next few weeks so that I can feel more confident going into the exam.
Lastly, we have begun our study of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. So far this is my favorite play that we have read all year. There is a little bit of comedy, some underlying meaning, but at the same time it is pretty easy to understand. I find it really cool how it's complimentary to Hamlet but told in a different viewpoint. Perhaps there was more going on with R and G than Shakespeare led on. Although, I am not looking forward to annotating this. It seems like there will be a lot to write!
This is excellent, Gabirella!! You effectively covered all the different activities we did in class, from watching various adaptations of Hamlet to the multiple choice questions. Overall great job!!
ReplyDeleteGood job, this was a really comprehensive response. I can agree with you that the AP multiple choice questions are a real puzzle to get through. They just need a lot more practice, which you can get from an AP test prep book.
ReplyDeleteReally though, don't flatter yourself by saying you were "one of the few people that liked Hamlet and the studies in class we had done with it." Based on what I've seen in class discussions and forum posts, I'm pretty sure most of us in class were interested and engaged with Hamlet.