Hamlet Exploration - A Self-Directed Study
British Literature - Maite

The Study

For our study of William Shakespeare's Hamlet, we are going to design and follow self-directed exploration of the play based on essential questions you will create and refine as your understanding of the play evolves. Throughout this process of questioning - answering - re-questioning will be supplemented with various teacher-directed lessons as well as continuous feedback from peers and teacher.  In the end, you will focus on one essential question and develop a paper to reflect your exploration of that topic. You will need to remain very flexible as we have no way to predict the pace and style of how this study will unfold.  It is - after all - Self-Directed!

Why study it this way?

Most of you have demonstrated that you can read, comprehend, and even analyze literature at a competent, even masterful, level.  But, most of what we do in high school is based on essential questions developed by the teacher; even in my class where self-expression seems to be encouraged, most of the thought comes from me and the questions and situations I put you in.  The skills I want you to develop now in our study of Hamlet are how to ask your own questions, make the work meaningful to you, and express that meaning in a powerfully written paper.  In short, I want this study to be about you and I want it to be the best work you can do.  I'll expect it.

Questions, Questions, Questions

Learning comes from being curious. Sometimes, though, when our teachers tell us what we are to be curious about, we lose our ability to just be curious ourselves - and, we lose interest.  So, at the root of this entire study process, we are going to talk about essential questions: the questions we are curious about and want to just explore about the play.  At first, these questions will be vague and general; as we learn more about the play and just get comfortable with the plot, we'll write better and better questions until we each have identified something about Hamlet we find fascinating enough to develop into a paper. From the beginning and throughout our study, I will provide you with ideas and lessons to help you overcome obstacles like "idea block" or plain ol' confusion.  Be fully prepared to find your questions change almost daily as new ideas are introduced or discovered. Feed your curiosity by shifting around, looking at different ideas.

Study Updates - keep track of study schedules and changes here.