TO BE OR NOT TO BE...
Students were asked to rewrite the famous Hamlet soliloquy from the point of view of someone other than Hamlet.
Here is what a few of them have so far created:
Takin' it to Church by Nelli S.
Dumbe Blonde by Elizabeth S.
Forest Gump by Shant A.
Goth Teen by the Pool by Tina P.
Valley Girl by Azin N.
To Be or Not to Be a Preacher by Sofia F.
To Be or Not to Be Napolean Dynamite by Araks O.
To Be or Not to Be Insipid by Hillary H.
To Matter or Not by David V.
2 the Be by Erika S.
To Be the Beat by Elmira A.
To Be or Not in Wayne's World by Gabriela R.
To Like Be or Not by Mircea T.
To Be a Frenchman by Benjamin S.
To Be or Whatever by Frances P.
To Be or Not to Be Maxed Out on Your Credit Cards by Elwina G.
While these are very smart and entertaining works, I would propose that they be works in progress. I would encourage students to revise these projects throughout the year so that they may demonstrate an evolving perspective.
One question to fuel further inquiry: Was Hamlet speaking only about living versus dying, or was he also pondering other personal or political conundrums?
Don't limit yourself to an already established analysis. Develop your own eagle eye. Riff off of what others before you have said. Explore some alternatives, contradictions and paradoxes.
Look to the other sections of the text for clues into this one soliloquy.
What else is Hamlet saying?
TIMELINE OF ENGLISH SATIRE
Students were assigned the task of creating a timeline of English Satirists. Some did so eagerly; others satirized the task.
Psychic to the Satires - by Tina P.