I've heard of Hamlet all my life, whether it be others describing the story or referencing it, however, I have never read it...sadly. What I know about the story of Hamlet is (#DrPrestonToldUsThat) Hamlet did not have some sort of a 'decision-making disorder', contrary to online belief. Hamlet knew since the beginning of the story what he had to do- kill his stepfather- however had difficulty in physically doing so. Not fond of "Melancholy Dane", but by the title, I sure have ideas of it's plot.
What do you know about Shakespeare?
I have a knowledge that Shakespeare is claimed to be the best writer in the English language and "created' most of the language itself (credit to past teachers for telling me that). Also, Shakespeare has created so many literary techniques and devices never before seen until he released his work which set the pathway for every other writer in the world for(pretty much)ever after his work got published and famed. His works include iconic pieces such as: Julius Cesar, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Melancholy Dane, etc.
Why do so many students involuntarily frown when they hear the name "Shakespeare"?
With Shakespeare comes Olde English, long and dreadful textbook experts of his works, boring movies of his literary pieces that make one fall asleep, confusing diction and syntax, excessively long stories, etc. Most students are lazy. All of the above thoughts that go in a student's mind when hearing the name "Shakespeare" is an arch-nemesis to a student's indolence which in the end conquers the student and thus kills Shakespeare for them. Long, confusing, boring, pointless, the What's the Point of Studying his Work if he's Dead philosophy are components to the (rather mediocre, I'd say) student when hearing the name Shakespeare. Just the name makes one yawn after saying it.
What can we do to make studying this play an amazing experience we'll never forget?
Let's, a community in a class, ACT IT OUT and physically involve ourselves with the text of Hamlet. This means everyone participates the same amount of time as the other person so no one hogs up the learning or gets deprived of it. Maybe each students can play different roles each day, or each turn given or whatever. Another thing that'd make studying Hamlet awesome would be to make a video on the play within a group and produce it as a musical parody of some sort and relate it to the specific song and to our modern lifestyle. So make a musical parody to the theme/message/plot OVERALL PLOT of Hamlet. What better way to understand a text and make a learning experience memorable than to relate it back to one's own life and time period while watching others embarrass themselves? Oh but please NO MOVIES, NO READING IT FOR AN ENTIRE 50 MINUTES IN CLASS THAT'S BORING AND IT WOULD MAKE ME+OTHERS MISERABLE OH GOSH NO. Let's break barriers in traditional education, as we've been doing, with Hamlet (as well).
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