HAMLET: BODY BIOGRAPHY GROUP WORK
The major characters of Hamlet suffer from both internal and external conflicts throughout the play. Shakespeare has revealed and deepened their suffering from Act I to Act V. For this classwork project, you will analyze the development of a character’s suffering through his or her internal and external characterization from Act I through Act V.
Create a “life-size” representation of your assigned character. You will need space to write inside and outside of your character. Your goal is to visually represent the development of your character across Act 1 through Act V.
Inside:
1) Devise a way to indicate that you are analyzing your character from Act I through Act V (or any relevant acts for your character)
2) Use specific and nuanced language to characterize your character. Is your character naïve? Neurotic? Duplicitous? Remember, this is their internal representation.
3) Answer the following questions by citing textual evidence. Explain how the direct quotes you have chosen answer the questions.
i. What type of speech does your character use? Is he/she deceitful? Straightforward? Compliant?
ii. Who does your character listen to?
iii. What drives your character to act? Love? Revenge? Hate? Power? Grief?
iv. How does he/she feel about Prince Hamlet?
Outside:
The outside should also have at least three traits that highlight how OTHERS view your character, along with at least three quotes to explain how OTHERS view your character.
Questions to consider:
How do the people of Denmark (and perhaps the society of this time) view your character?
How do his/her family members see your character?
How do his/ her friends see your character?
How does Hamlet see this character?
Final Claim:
Include a final claim about your character-
How has your character developed from Act I to Act V? Why has Shakespeare chosen to develop him or her in this manner, or what overall impact has your character had on the play?