General Assignment Instructions
View the videos below and then answer the following prompts in an MLA formatted Word document in a minimum of 300 words.
Be sure to number your answers.
Do not recopy the questions into your document.
A complete assignment applies the lessons of the unit to the topic of the video.
Please read the rubric carefully before beginning the assignment.
Theatrical Performance Assignment Instructions
Shakespeare’s works have been around for a long time. His writing is open to interpretation, especially when it is performed live. One of the most famous scenes from Shakespeare’s work comes from the tragedy, Hamlet. The most famous scene is a soliloquy, a scene that displays a character’s inner thoughts to the audience. At this moment Hamlet is considering if suicide would be a better choice than continuing to live through his difficult life. Hamlet is deeply religious and concerned about the consequences of taking his own life. This scene displays Hamlet’s consideration of his inner turmoil.
Watch the following three interpretations from different productions of Hamlet. While each actor and director use the same original text as a starting point, they all present a unique version of the scene.
In a minimum of 300 words total (100 words minimum for each prompt), address the following for each performance:
Why do you believe the director made the choices they did regarding the set, costume, and lighting?
What made each actor’s portrayal unique (mood, delivery, attitude)?
Thinking about all three of the provided clips select the one portrayal you think seemed the most authentic to the emotions of the text and discuss why. Be specific.
Note: This assignment requires a minimum of 300 words total, with a minimum of 100 words per prompt. However, be sure to write enough to cover each prompt while utilizing the terms covered in the unit.
This may be checked for academic dishonesty, including plagiarism and/or AI-generated content. See the course syllabus for more information on Academic dishonesty.
To Be Or Not To Be Soliloquy Transcript
Andrew Scott as Hamlet
Mozez Aslam. “To Be Or Not To Be – Hamlet (Andrew Scott Full Soliloquy).” YouTube. Uploaded 21 December 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6CLdCl9TB0
To Be Or Not To Be Soliloquy Transcript
Paapa Essiedu as Hamlet
The Lowry. “Paapa Essiedu’s ‘To Be Or Not To Be, speech in Royal Shakespeare’s Hamlet.” YouTube. Uploaded 16 January 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dZMJM-LGzQ
To Be Or Not To Be Soliloquy Transcript
Maxine Peake as Hamlet
Peake, Maxine. “To Be Or Not To Be,” Hamlet. 2014. Manchester’s Royal Exchange. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/video/2015/mar/09/maxine-peake-as-hamlet-to-be-or-not-to-be-video
To Be Or Not To Be Soliloquy Transcript
