Hamlet "Chopped Up" Activity - Analysis of 2 Soliloquies (Rogue & To be or...)

This is a 1-2 day lesson getting students to delve into Hamlet's 2nd and 3rd soliloquies ("Oh What a Rogue," Act 2, Scene 2 and "To be or not to be," Act 3, Scene 1). In groups, with an emphasis on academic discourse, students will sift through lines in each soliloquy to code each line as evidence for 5 different options of describing Hamlet's current mental state: Hamlet questions, Hamlet fears, Hamlet is hopeful, Hamlet decides, Hamlet despises. This is designed as a hands-on, manipulative activity where students physically cut up the text and past under the different claims of "Hamlet is...". It's a great way for students to actively analyze language and character development while also practicing locating evidence for text-based claims. Students will analyze their "chopped up" soliloquies, re-ordered, under the 5 different states of Hamlet's mindset over the end of Act 2 and beginning of Act 3. This is also a great way to facilitate students' analysis of patterns and trends in language over two different soliloquies and begin tracing character development over the course of the text. The lesson includes a Gallery Walk and writing response questions. An 8-slide Powerpoint with links to the assignment handout and 2 soliloquies are included as well as the handout with "words to know" for each soliloquy and task directions + Criteria for Success.