Hamlet Questions

Molly Lorenz

Dr. Venuti

College Prep Writing

Oct 20th, 2009

Hamlet Questions

SCENE I

1. Why has Marcellus begged Horatio to join in the watch?

- Marcellus asked Horatio to join in the watch because the ghost resembled Hamlet’s father, and would not talk to anyone.

 

2. What was the outcome of the fight between the king Hamlet and King Fortinbras?

- Fortinbras died and lost some of his land.

 

3. What do Horatio’s comments about Fortinbras’ behavior tell us about Fortinbras’ character and personality?

- The comments tell us that though Fortinbras Jr. is similar to Hamlet, Fortinbras is more rash and quick to strike than Hamlet.

 

SCENE II

1. Who is Laertes? What is he asking permission to do? Why do you think Claudius grants Laertes permission to go but wants Hamlet to stay?

- Laertes is the son of the advisor-to-the-king, Polonius, and the brother to Ophelia. He is asking permission to return to France, which Claudius obliges, but Claudius does not oblige Hamlet’s request to return to his school because Claudius did not trust Hamlet, especially with what Fortinbras did away from his new king.

 

2. Why is Hamlet depressed? What evidence can you gather to back up your assessment that Hamlet is depressed?

- Hamlet is depressed because his father died and his mother and his uncle married too quickly for Hamlet’s taste. He is angry with his mother and uncle, and he walks around in a depressed fashion wearing clothes that signify his mourning for his father.

 

3. How do Claudius and Gertrude respond to Hamlet’s melancholy?

- They basically tell him to cheer up, to not seem so gloomy, and that is was not masculine of him to mourn for his father this way for this long.

 

4. How does Hamlet learn about the ghost?

- Horatio, Marcellus, and Laertes inform him of it.

 

SCENE III

1. What advice does Laertes give to Ophelia?

- Laertes gives Ophelia the advice to stay away from Hamlet, because Hamlet

 

2. Do you think Laertes is a good brother? Is he looking out for his sister or for his own good? Explain.

- I think that while Laertes might care about his sister, it is not his first priority, and I think that he is looking out for his own good, or perhaps what his father tells him to say.

 

3. What advice, given to Laertes from his father, do you think valuable?

-

 

 

4. Do you think Polonius is a good father? Why or why not?

- I do not think Polonius is a good father because he does not put his children first. Polonius is not even a great advisor because only sometimes does he put his country first.

 

SCENE IV

1. How does Hamlet feel about the drunken revelry in the castle?

- Hamlet feels that this embarrasses and degrades his country in the eyes of others.

 

2. Why doesn’t Horatio want Hamlet to follow the ghost?

- Horatio does not want Hamlet to follow the ghost because of his superstitious reasons. He knows that Hamlet is depressed after his father’s death, and that depressed people, according to his superstitions are more susceptible to the siren call of the devil in terms of suicide, which would leave Hamlet in a state of hell for all eternity, belonging to the devil.

 

3. Who says, “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark?” What does he mean? What does the statement suggest.

- Marcellus said that quote, suggesting that there is a flaw, or an undercurrent of evil things brewing in the state.

------------------------------[ACT]-[II]-------------------------------

SCENE I

1. Is there any evidence of mistrust so far in the play?

- Yes, Hamlet does not trust Claudius, and vice versa, and there are a lot of trust issues within Polonius’ family.

 

2. Why does Hamlet’s appearance frighten Ophelia? What is Polonius’ diagnosis?

-

 

 

SCENE I

1. When Gertrude says “More matter with less art,” what does she mean?

- She wants Polonius to report to her with facts, and less dramatic coverings.

 

2. What do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern agree to do?Why do they agree to do this?

- They agree to spy on Hamlet

 

4. Why do you think that Hamlet is suspicious of his friends?

-

 

 

5. How do the players fit into Hamlet’s plan for proving that Claudius is guilty of murdering King Hamlet?

-

 

6. What does Hamlet mean when he says, “I am but mad north-north west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a hand saw,”

-

Perfection in a Studio

Molly Lorenz

Dr. Venuti

College Prep Writing

October 16^th, 2009

Perfection in a Studio

            There is an unorthodox studio in Newburyport where I learned to grow up.  I started entering that room weekly fifteen years ago, and I only just recently stopped.  My first teacher there was Miss Carolyn, and she was the first person I ever wanted to grow up to be like, though admittedly, I also wanted to be like Big Bird at one point, but that’s a story for another day.  Miss Carolyn was petite, but her large attitude made her seem much bigger (at least to a two-year-old), though she moved with the elegance of a long feather caught in a gentle wind.  She was neither harsh, nor hard to please, she expected that you wanted to be there, and that was nearly it, but it was everything to us. 

            Inside of this studio that smells like a mixture of sweat, vanilla, and rubber, the walls are white, not black as they should be, except for wall 1, which is a wall of mirrors, showing more than is really there. Although it seems impossible, it’s true. In brutal and unforgiving harshness, it shows every mistake I’ve made. In the reflection I see every solo, every fall with a sickening crunch, and every minute imperfection. It shows a stage, with an audience and lights, and curtains, but also can show me in complete solitude, dancing with a room that’s not really there. This place changes every day.  Studio 2 can be blindingly bright, or comfortingly dark. It can be deafeningly silent or a calm cacophony of clashing sounds.  The room is often filled with the aroma from the coffee and bakery down the hallway that seems to raise your spirits inside of that room.

            Despite not wanting to have my income depend on an art form, like choreography, or being a dancer, I have stuck with dance for fifteen years now, and it’s possible that this room was a contributing factor to that decision.  Inside of this room, I have learned how to do so many things, from choreographing for all ages, to the gift of perseverance.  There was one summer, where every day I worked on completing non-stop jetes, because I had a great amount of difficulty in that area, until I could master them en tournant; this perseverance led to me eventually being offered more and more complex pieces of choreography to perform because of my dedication.  My dedication was more to prove to myself and this room that I was not wasting my time, that I was meant to be here.  As childish as it sounds, I wanted to prove to the room that every negative thing said inside of that room was wrong.

From that early age, I learned that there is no point in putting that much effort and passion into something if there is not true reward at the end, but that you had to be willing to see the reward.  For a dancer, there is no praise other than strangers wanting to watch you dance, which is what a dance teacher tries to teach a dancer by constantly tearing them down.  One would think that after the hundredth or so insult, the dancer would give up, or when that first compliment comes, the dancer would cherish it, but that is not so.  I have been torn apart as a dancer over the smallest flick of the wrist so much that I understand that when a compliment comes, it is just one step closer to reaching for perfection, though I understand that I will never be perfect.  It makes sense to me that if every thing is scrutinized, from the way a costume falls, to the height of a fouette that every dancer would be near perfect, but a choreographer once said to me, “The minute you think you’re perfect, you stop trying to be perfect, and then you lose any hope you ever had to be perfect.” The only thing I have yet to find that I can sometimes comfortably say is perfect is that simple studio.

 

 

Is It Sustainable

Molly Lorenz

Mrs. Viera

Creative Writing

October 14^th, 2009

Is it Sustainable?

Hunter

For solid ivory, luxe with glass and sharps

Hidden-

No cuffs – no iron.

Bold,

That popular cream.

Weathered.

 Now tonal whites.

Finished?

Sun-bleached sky.

Acid-Free

Feels like a burnt candle.

Fascination

Of off-set earthen pine, and rich brown ochre.

Hazy,

Like a hurricane,

Bells resonate.

Details

Of Antiqued Copper.

Can’t Sustain.

They All Fall In Line

Molly Lorenz

Mrs. Viera

Creative Writing

10-06-09

They All Fall In Line

 

I wear the four-sided red figure,

The Nazi symbol begins to blur.

Exposed like an infant, I start to crawl,

And soon the pieces will start to fall.

 

The planes up above,

Destroyed like the dove.

I’m pressed into a wall,

And then the pieces begin to fall.

 

The devil took my hand,

And he told me that I can.

The silence pierced through all,

And then the pieces began to fall.

 

I make the fear in the enemies’ eyes.

I shoot the bullet that destroys their disguise.

Dead on the ground, crumpled up like a doll,

And then the pieces began to fall.

 

Don’t ask me why it is I do,

I don’t ask you – why would you?

I cut your strings, I watch you sprawl,

And then the pieces begin to fall.

 

Punished for joining this war,

I am now heartless in my core.

Don’t ask for mercy – a useless stall,

And soon the pieces will start to fall.

An Ode to Coffee

Molly Lorenz

Mrs. Viera

Creative Writing

September 23^rd, 2009

An Ode to Coffee

Bitter enveloped by sweet cherries –

A sustenance boiled from a bean

The taste – Dependant on the mood

The smell – Never unwelcomed

The memories – Of sipping or gulping

The first sip – At two with dad

 

Like a comforting kiss with a familiar partner

Never the same twice –

Keep your promises,

Keep me energized,

Keep me inspired,

Keep me embraced by you.

 

An incomparable two faced lover

The whispers of promises wafts upwards

The steam coming to greet you

The scorching liquid wrapped around your tongue

Burning it completely –

A semi permanent reminder

 

Of perfect bliss.

 

 

 

Converse in Green Perfection

Molly Lorenz,

Mrs. Viera

Creative Writing

September 14^th, 2009

Converse in Green Perfection

The scuffs that spoil the white,

They paint a picture of everywhere they’ve been,

Like a frayed passport, broken at the seams.

Quotes line the outer edges,

Screaming about being angry

Pictures line the inner edges,

A wall of hope and love.

The insides are burnt, while the outside seems fine

Like someone hiding their history

Perfect on the outside, the tears make them so,

Tired, bruised, and overlooked –

A short novel of adventures

Experienced time and time again

In this repetitious and mundane world.

Beaten into submission, a faithful and loyal companion

They walk the road, but don’t walk the line.

Faded black laces, never tying loose ends.

 

 

How to be Victoria

Molly Lorenz

Mrs. Viera

Creative Writing

September 16^th, 2009

How to be Victoria

Laugh. A Lot. Infectiously.

Throw yourself into whom or what you love.

Zig when others zag.

Make all the right choices, even the wrong ones.

Love unconditionally.

Hate yourself for it.

Regard Gerard, Bert and Johnny as Gods of lust.

Look for more than there is.

Find it.

Smile – Because you’re resilient.

Want a Dalmatian.

Never own one again because the pain of losing Bailey still hurts.

Be passionate, about everything.

Get frustrated easily-

Make up for it.

Express everything in every way.

Wrap your arms around me.