Unit+5+Hamlet

=//The Renaissance: A Study of Choices, Character and Purpose through Shakespearean Tragedy//=

//Essential Questions for Hamlet by William Shakespeare//

 * How do the characters in a piece of literature convey various aspects of human nature?
 * How do power, ambition, and revenge drive our lives?
 * How do the choices we make or do not make affect our lives? Can indecision as much as off-target decisiveness invite and nurture disorder in our lives?
 * How can we become effective decision makers with a soundness of mind?
 * What constitutes “madness” and how is it connected with truth and reality?
 * How can we acquire wisdom so that we can discern what is merely appearance from what is actually reality?
 * How can we biblically approach and understand purpose of life, death, in justice, and truth?

**Wiki Post:** Lateral Thinking and Action Six Thinking Hats (Lateral Thinking) Adapted from Edward de Bono Introduction: Hamlet’s uncle has murdered his father and married his mother. His father’s ghost has asked him to “Remember him” by taking revenge and killing his uncle [he must leave his mother to her own guilt]. He has been unsure as to how to proceed. So far, he has been contemplating man’s existence including his own [which has been very ‘black hat’]. He has accomplished two things, however: putting on an ‘antic disposition’[especially with Ophelia] and proving, at least to himself and Horatio, that his father’s ghost is telling the truth and that Claudius is guilty—based on Claudius’ reaction to his play [what a mousetrap it was!]. The question that now needs to be answered is what does he do now? Is there a Win Win Response for Hamlet? Put yourselves in Hamlet’s decision making shoes and see if you can come up with a response—a plan of action—that would be win win. Work through the “Hat” thinking and come up with a solution. Six Thinking Hats: White Hat: An objective look at data and information-Facts Red Hat: Legitimizes feelings, hunches, and intuitionEmotion, Passion Black Hat: Logical negative, judgment, and cautionCount Costs Yellow Hat: Logical Positive, feasibility, and benefitsOptimism, Hope Green Hat: New Ideas and creative thinkingBest Right Answer---Vision Blue Hat: Facilitation of the thinking processJoint Planning of Solution--- Synthesis Which of the Hats above does Hamlet seem to “get stuck” in the most? Post your written response. Be sure to include textual examples.