Activity 2: Frailty, thy Name is Woman
 
 
  Objectives

This activity focuses on the character of Gertrude and her role in the play. You will work through a series of study questions embedded in a storyboard and record your answers in note form. These notes will form the basis of an essay on Gertrude. You may extend this work by creating your own storyboard and caption window questions on the character of Ophelia, and then writing a comparative essay about both characters.
 
 
  Outcomes

By working through this activity you will:
 
 
make notes on the study question in the caption window
 
 
create a storyboard on the character of Ophelia (optional).
 
 
  Resources

You will need:
 
 
Kar2ouche Hamlet Content Library
 
 


  Activities
 
 
  Introduction
 
 
  1. Open the Gertrude storyboard and click on the area indicated when you are ready to begin.
 
 
to open the Gertrude multi-threaded storyboard
 
 


  Development
 
 
  2. Think about/discuss the questions in the caption window and briefly record your ideas in note form on a sheet of paper. When you are ready to move on to the next frame, click on the ‘NEXT’ button.
 
 
  3. Work through the rest of the storyboard making notes in response to the questions in each of the caption windows.
 
 


  Plenary
 
 
  4. Your teacher will organise you into groups (or get you together as a class) so that you can discuss the opinions you have formed about Gertrude’s character as a result of your work on the storyboard. You must back up your ideas with reference to quotations from the text.
 
 


  Extension/Homework
 
 
  5. Your teacher may suggest that you create your own storyboard and caption window questions about Ophelia.
 
 
  6. You can use the notes that you have taken while working through the Gertrude storyboard to help you to tackle one of the following essay questions. If you choose the first title, you will need to carry out some research in your library or on the Internet before you can start planning and writing your essay. The second and third titles can be adapted to include Ophelia if you have followed the extension opportunity above.
 
 
  EITHER: Examine Shakespeare’s presentation of Gertrude. How does your interpretation differ from that of at least one other critic?
 
 
  OR: Examine Shakespeare’s presentation of Gertrude. How do you think a modern audience would respond to his treatment of this character?
 
 
  OR: ‘Frailty, thy name is woman.’ How appropriate do you find Hamlet’s exclamation when you consider the role of Gertrude in the play?
 
 




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