English IV 1st Semester Report and Overview of Final Exam
I’m pleased to report that everyone had a successful first semester in senior English. Most important of all, you read complex texts (getting you college-ready where texts are difficult) and wrote near-college level essays on Hurston, Austen, and films of Hamlet (among the best work I’ve seen from you). On the final exam, multiple choice scores out of 40 (then multiplied by 2) ranged from medium (say in the 70% range) to several near perfect scores (39 of 40) and one perfect score (40 out of 40). On the bluebook page-length answers, scores out of 30 ranged from the mid-20’s to more than ten answers receiving 29 or 30. On the final essay out of 130 points, scores ranged from 84% to many essays in the 90’s and a few near perfect essays. Overall, these final exams demonstrate that students:
· learned Pride and Prejudice and Hamlet well,
· could discuss how small directorial/acting choices could make a big difference in interpretation,
· could analyze how Mr Collins silenced Liz’s female voice,
· could analyze language in Claudius’ soliloquy to show how words indicate his state of mind,
· could analyze two still film shots to explain how Olivier and Branagh represented Hamlet’s family differently on screen,
· could analyze images and describe accurately what is seen,
· could analyze dysfunctional families, comparing Hamlet’s family (or Polonius’) with the Bennets, or
· could analyze Act I scene ii to show how small performance choices could shift the interpretation of the script.
Overall, I am proud of the improvement everyone has made in reading, writing, critical thinking, and college readiness. Second semester, we will build on those accomplishments by reading more complex texts (Conrad and Freud first, then Kafka and Camus), and continuing to write college-level essays.
SOME EXCERPTS from seniors’ final exams:
In Branagh’s version, Claudius keeps a smirk on his face that illustrates his insincerity throughout the play, unlike in Olivier’s version where Claudius exhibits a poker face.
After the loss of his father, Hamlet is lost and does not know how to react to his mother’s and uncle’s insincerity, leaving room for multiple interpretations of Hamlet’s behavior in Act I scene ii.
Towards the end of the soliloquy it seems as though Claudius has forgiven himself. This further emphasizes his insanity. (and sense of being all powerful?).
The fact that Hamlet avoids eye contact with his mother and uncle indicates that he rejects their so-called “love” even then in their presence.
“A fault against the dead, a fault to nature.” Here Claudius can be either understanding and concerned or all knowing and arrogant. If an actor chose the former, the audience would see an attempt from Claudius to really connect to Hamlet and be part of his life.
Branagh’s still shot truly shows the relationship where the father and mother spend more time drooling over each other while Hamlet sadly and lonefully contemplates life. Claudius and Gertrude neglect Hamlet to invest in their incestuous relationship which is the main reason their son feels sadness and hatred.
Both the Bennets and the Hamlets are dysfunctional, but specifically the father-child relationships are magnified. While Mr. Bennet favors a child and neglects the rest, Claudius more severely suffers a relationship with Hamlet full of hate, fakeness, and denial.
Words like “inky cloak,” “black,” “breath,” and “gulf” allow Hamlet to demonstrate the pain he is feeling. The words are almost stabbing. Using the harsh diction allows him to release his innermost anger to get to the point of being somewhat tranquil.
Austen’s novel displays her deep hatred towards this societal norm and uses characters like Mr. Collins to satirize the absurd but truthful ways that men would suppress the voice of a woman. . . Mr. Collins’ ego and what society has taught him lead him to disregard her plainly stated words and simply take his own meaning from them.
Claudius’ use of “mine” and “my” in a sense can be seen as Claudius bearing the responsibility for his action, but simultaneously it reveals Claudius’ inner greed and sense of entitlement. . . Furthermore Shakespeare’s clever development of Claudius’ multidimensional character allows for the audience to question whether he is saying this simply to spare himself and appear as an innocent man in the eyes of god, or if he is sincere in his grief and guilt felt towards his un-retractable action.
Another student points out that Mr. Collins silences Liz and that Mr. Bennet right afterwards silences Mrs. Bennet.
