Hamlet Response Journal

Response Journal for Act 1, Scene 1 to Act 1, Scene 5

1. How does the play make you feel at this point? Record your emotional response(s) in a few sentences and then explore them for a few minutes, trying to figure out why you feel as you do.

I think that Hamlet is a very medieval play. The old English in the script and in the movie really makes me uncomfortable. I don't really like it that much and it makes me want to not speak English ever again. Since listening and reading to old English from Hamlet, I start thinking why did old English change to modern English at all. So Hamlet basically makes me feel bad about the language I speak. 

2. In what situations have you felt similar to the characters? What persons, places, or ideas, from your own experiences came to your mind while you were reading this portion of the play? Try to list at least three associations, but don't worry about trying to figure out why they came to mind. Just accept that they occur.

a) I felt similar to Hamlet at Act 1 Scene 2 when Claudius and Gertrude marry right after the death of King Hamlet. I can relate to that a little bit. I see and hear about a lot of people breaking up with their partners and getting together with another person in a short period of time. It's like they don't have enough time to get over a break-up or over the lost of a loved one. It just makes me feel uncomfortable just thinking about it.

 

b) I could feel similar to Hamlet when he was surprised about when his best friends told him about the ghost of his father. I have felt very surprised sometimes like he has. So I think that is quite similar.

c) I feel similar to Hamlet when he saw the ghost of his father. It looked like to me that he was very scared. I have been very scared like that sometimes but in different situations. So I can relate to that.

3. What portions of Shakespeare's language attracts your attention? These might be individual words, phrases, lines, scenes, or images. Make note of whatever features draw your attention. Speculate for a few minutes about what you think they might mean.

A phrase from what the ghost told Hamlet in Scene 1 Act 5 caught my attention:
"The serpent that did sting thy father's life now wears his crown"

I love how the ghost told Hamlet that it was Claudius who killed him. Instead of telling straightforwardly, Shakespeare used an interesting way to tell it. 

4. Make note of any portion of the play, its language, or events that cause you problems. Note any questions that you might ask.

I have a very hard time understanding this play. It is very confusing about all the old English and what words they use. I don't realy like it at all. Although I wish that we could use the abbridged version. I think that it would be much easier and more understanding. And I don't understand most of the scenarios, since I don't understand most of the words they use.