Talk:BM1 - Introduction to Literature - Assignment 2: Hamlet

How 'bout this time we start a discussion on our assignment. why not give some possible answers to each question. As we read Hamlet in our course, I can only give suggestions on that, but I think the questions are more or less the same. Once more, here are the questions (for Hamlet):

1.Analyse the communicative situation in this dialogue. Concentrate on form, length of individual speeches, interruptions and the domination of one speaker or idea. Do the differences between Q1 & Q2 produce differences in the respective characerisation?

My first version (of course there is more to come) of the answere would be: Hamlet clearly has the dominant part. He is speaking over 80% of the words in this excerpt. He uses imperatives (L. 20) and accuses Orphelia of beeing dishonest (L. 47 – 50). Orphelia on the other side is the “defensive” character. (Of course this communicative situation is not only fixed by the text, but also by their roles: Hamlet as prince and Orphelia as a citizan.) She adresses Hamlet with the words “My Lord” (L.2). Additionally the whole 2nd half of this scene she only asks rethorical questions and shows her helplessness by adressing god to help Hamlet (L. 36).

Since I didn't yet wright down much I will add the other question and my opinion on them later. Would be great if ppl comented on my answer and maybe even wrote down what they think.

Let make this work and we all get a great mark :) --Sebastian Henatsch 17:19, 1 June 2007 (CEST)