romeo and juliet

Most of Shakespeares peices of writing are fictional if not, then they are based on an old story Shakespeare had adapted, but with many twists and changes
Shakespeares works of art are all written in the form of a play as opposed to a novel or short story in the past the way i have been taught shakespeare was by reading the play as a class, and acting out the play mostly during important scenes
I myself have not yet reached the point of full understanding most or all of shakespeares old english, but can grasp the idea on what is taking place in ever scene (the story line)
In my opinion i think an on going journal would be an ideal way of teaching and understanding shakepseare, in the past i have not taken the approach to make an on going journal for any other of shakespeares plays
In the past the advantage of acting out shakespeares plays is you can in ways see the characters reactions and mood in each scene based on my previous encounters with shakespeares plays such as Merchant of Venice, Macbeth, and Julius Ceaser, I feel in Hamlet I will be able to grap the main ideas and story line which will take place

Act One:

This act introduced some of the main characters in the play. It has introduced me to the problem gained and some details and hints of the future play and many different things to expect. The problem gained in this scene is the ghost which everyone becomes so unsure of its purpose. My predictions would be in act 2, the ghost will reveal himself and its purpose to haunt them. Another problem which arises during this act is the possible war between Denmark and Norway (Hamlet and Fortinbras) over the killing of old fortinbras by the most recent king of Denmark, Hamlet (Old Hamlet). In this event I predict the future of the play will reveil a more depth into the conflict between these two nations and a win or lose situation between them. So far into the play , the way Hamlet is being taught to me is a very easily understood method. I am understanding the story line as well as increasing my grasp for old enlgish and overall am enjoying the method which is being taught.

Act Two:

In this act the problem begins to grow , as does Hamlets way to resolve his problem. Characters such as the King, Queeen, Ophelia, and friends such as rosencratz ang guildenstern begin to notice Hamlet appears to be going mad. Throughout the act, many attempts are made to find the anger behind Hamlet, but as Dramatic Irony takes place and the act progresses what the readers know and the characters do not , is Hamlets true madness comes from his suspicion of his uncle (the present king) being the murdere of his father (the previous king). Throughout the act as the other characters try to discover Hamlets madness , he himself is constructing a plan to determine the truth about his fathers death. In an upcoming play Hamelt decides to add a scene in it of what he believes the king did to murder Hamlets father. His idea is to let the scene play on and capture the reactions of his uncle, the king. If no reaction he will conclude the death of his father natural, but if he discovers a reaction by his uncle then he will conclude the death of his father, a murder. I predict the outcome of thise even to take place in the near acts (three and four). At this point in the play I am still understanding the story line of the play and what is being said to each other and am finding a better concentration on it compared to the precious ways i have been taught shakespeare.

Act Three:

In This act Shakespeare leads up to the play in which Hamlet will test King Claudius. In this act a play is to be watched by all of the kingdom. Hamlet has asked Horation- his true friend- to spy on the king as well for another witness on his reaction to the scene Hamlet has added to the play. As the play begins Horation spys on the kings reaction from a distance. At this point there is much tension between Ophelia as before the play had started , as instructed by Claudius and Polonius (ophelias father) had broken up with Hamlet. This being true, anger had added to Hamlets mood. At this point the scene takes place Horatio and Hamlet notice actions that show guilt from Claudius, as Hamlets anger rises he pokes fun and shoves this fact in the kings face in an arrogant but unobvious way. Hamlet then concludes the murder of his father. Following this much anger and argument arise within the kingdom. Hamlets mother has asked to speak with Hamlet as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern reported to Hamlet also angry at the humiliation caused towards the king. While Hamlet reports to the Queen the King in revenge arranges for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to ride England with Hamlet and letters to the king telling him to Kill Hamlet as soon as he arrives. Another problem Occures while Hamlet talks to the Queen. Polonuis hides behind the arras in the same room as the Queen And Hamlet, at anger arises between The Queen And Hamlet, Polonius calls for help, Hamlet hears his voice walks to the arras and stabs through it killing polonius. Following the death Hamlet speaks further with his mother and she beings to understand that Hamlets anger comes from the king and her relationship with him. The Ghost appears once more to Hamlet telling him his visitation has much purpose and to come between her and the king, as Hamelt is the only one to see this ghost his mother suddenly begins to think he is really going mad. At this point in the play I am better understanding everyones reaction and feelings towards the situation of Hamlets madness. Not only have I enjoyed the method of teaching but I have also discovered much more understanding in old english writing.

Act Four:

This act begins with the search for Polonius' body as Hamelt after slaying him had removes the body from the room. The king searches and sends Roesencratz and Guildenstern to find Hamlet , which they do and there encounter with him is not a good one. Hamlet shows anger towards them as he believe they are playing him to find the body. Hamlet eventually tells where the body is and The king demand Rosencratz and Guildenstern to exit Hamelt to his ship to England with ths letters to kill him. As Hamlet Discovers the plan to send him to England he reveals the letters to kill him when he arrives and changes them to instead instruct to kill Rosencratz and Guildenstern, instead of him. On their way to their ship they run into Young Fortinbras army who is supposably walking through Denmark to get to Poland but as the reader can tell will not happen as Hamlets father has killed Fortinbras Father and is seeking revenge on the kingdom. Hamlet finds suspision to this and escapes back to the king in Denmark as Rosencratz and Guildenstern continuee their journery to England. During the run in with Fortinbras Ophelia has found her father dead and the fact of this drives her crazy. At this point laertes (son of polonius) returns from France to find his father dead and convinced Hamelt was responsible. After talking to the king they ame to the conclusion of a duel with Hamlet to poison him with a glass of wine and if that fails laertes will have a poisoned tip on his sword to strike Hamlet and kill him. At the end of the act The queen has found ophelia has drowned herself in madness of her fathers death.

Act Five:

This act begins with the funeral and gravedigging of Ophelia, Hamlet and Horatio approach the grave diggers as they are joking around talking to eachother. Hamlet notices the skull of a jester named Yorick who used to entertain Hamlet as a child, as childhood memories and reflection on Yorick come into Hamlets head. As the funeral approaches Hamlet hides and discovers it is Ophelia who has died, as Laertes (Ophelias brother) jumps into the grave hugging his sister, Hamlet runs into the grave as well fighting with Laertes over whos love was stronger for Ophelia. The kind reminds Laertes of Hamlets soon to come death and Laertes suddenly settles himself down. As Hamlet explains to Horation what is in store for Rosencratz and Guildenstern, a courier named Osric approaches Hamelt asking for his response on a duel between Hamlet and Laertes in where The king will wager 6 horses and 6 ofthe finest swords on victory for Hamlet (this way when Hamlet did die it would appear as if the king had nothing to do with it as he bet for him). Before the duel Hamlet had told Horatio his feelings of this duel ignoring horatios suspicions of events taking place durin the event and at this point they bond as friends to the hope of the outcome of the fight against Laertes. As instruced by his mother Hamlet apologized to Laertes for his actions earlier in the graveyard, and Laertes responds with an acceptance of the apology but his heart remaining the same towards Hamlet and his love for his sister. The duel begins and Claudius drops poison in a cup of wine for Hamlet to drink in congragulations on his first three strikes but instead the Queen drinks it. As this plan failed Laertes wounds Hamlet with the poison tipped sword, and between fighting the swords get mixed up concluding in hamlet striking laertes with his own poisoned sword. The Queen drops dead as does Laertes after letting Hamlet kno of all the kings treachery. As the play ends Hamlet kills Claudius and urges Horatio to tell the world of the truth as he was the only remaining who knew. As Hamlet dies, Young Fortinbras enters the kingdom and as Hamlet requested before he died Fortinbrad had carried Hamlet off the scene with respect and He became the new king, as Pease was restored to Denmark.