But not intentively. I did consent, And often did beguile her of her tears, When I did speak of some distressful stroke That my youth suffered. My story being done, She gave me for my pains a world of sighs; She swore-in faith, 'twas strange, 'twas passing strange; She wished she had not heard it, yet she wished That Heaven had made her such a man:-she thanked me, I should but teach him how to tell my story; And that would woo her. On this hint I spake ; And I loved her that she did pity them. QUESTIONS 1. Which of the two plays, “Julius Caesar" or "Hamlet,” were written first? 2. What was the duration of the play as represented on the stage? 3. Can you pick out the intervals? 4. What was the historical period? 5. With what do the plays of Shakespeare deal mostly? 6. For what was Rome noted in the time of Caesar? 7. Look up the scene in which Flavius appears, and note what his first gesture would be. 8. Caesar's triumph is spoken of by the commoner. To which one does he refer? 9. Where is the river Tiber? 10. What is the definition of the word Lupercal? 11. Who elected the Tribunes? 12. How great was their power? 13. What are the two spirits shown in the play of Julius Caesar? 14. Why is Brutus called the central figure of the play? 15. What scene is called the "Instigation Scene"? You should be far enough advanced in this work now to make a complete study of the play, write questions yourself, and find the answer. C ELEVENTH LESSON Teacher-I desire to devote this lesson to another play by William You may have read it, you have witnessed a performance of it. Its a wonderful play. The question is, can you converse intelligently on it? I hope that you will get a copy of it, read it thoughtfully and carefully, and as you read it, apply what we have been studying in the way of proper expression, as well as the history of it, etc. Let me repeat, know the author, the spirit in which he wrote, the time, place, manners and customs of the time, and the people. Look up the list of his plays and poems. The Argument of the Play is one to which many writers. have devoted years of study, and, as many men have many minds, and have jotted down their thoughts, you too, have the same privilege, and may as well also write down your thoughts. Why do they call the play "Hamlet"? Pupil-It is named after the principal character in the play "Hamlet, The Prince of Denmark." Teacher-We should know something about Denmark, where it is, what it is noted for, the customs and manners of the people, etc. We will then get an idea of how they dressed at the time, any peculiarities in the way of "make-up," and the true meaning of many lines that are spoken in the play. After satisfying ourselves on these matters, we will then read the play through carefully and get a clear idea of the story. In all public libraries you will find all the data you may want, and if you do not learn, it is your own fault. Hamlet was advised by the sentinels of the Royal castle of Kronburg, at Elsinore, that an apparition, strongly resembling his dead father, had appeared upon the battlements. His dead father? Why should his apparition appear upon the battlements? There must be some reason. What is the reason? As we read the story, we discover that Hamlet's mother, Gertrude, Queen of Denmark, became a widow by the sudden death of King Hamlet, and in less than two months married his brother, Claudius. This was noted by the people at the time for a strange act of indiscretion, or unfeelingness, or worse. This Claudius was as contemptible in outward appearance as he was base and unworthy in disposition. The idea prevailed at the time that Claudius had privately made away with his brother, the late King, with a view of marrying his widow and ascending to the throne of Denmark to the exclusion of young Hamlet, the son of the buried King, the lawful successor to the throne. This made a wonderful impression upon the mind of young Hamlet, who loved his father almost to idolatry, and being of a nice sense of honor, took to heart this unworthy conduct of his mother. The grief at his father's death, and the shame of his mother's marriage, threw him into a state of deep melancholy. SPECIAL NOTE Memorize the speech commencing with― "O, that this too solid flesh would melt" and ending with "Had left the flushing in her galled eyes, she married." This it was, which, more than the loss of ten kingdoms, dashed the spirit, and brought a cloud over the mind of this honorable young Prince. His mother and the king tried to divert his mind in every way, but failed; it was the uncertainty about the manner of his father's death that troubled him. A story had been circulated that King Hamlet had been stung by a serpent, but young Hamlet shrewdly suspected that the serpent was none other than his uncle Claudius, in plain words that his father had been murdered for his crown, and the murderer was now sitting on the throne. How far he was right in this conjecture, and what he ought to think of his mother-how far she was privy to this murder, and whether by her consent or not, or whether she had any knowledge of it, were the doubts that continually distracted him. He now hears that an apparition, exactly resembling his dead father, has been seen by the soldiers on watch upon the platform before the Palace at midnight, for two or three nights successively. Hamlet is strangely amazed at the revelation, and concludes that it is his father's ghost. So he determines to take his watch with the soldiers at night that he may have a fair chance of seeing it. He reasons with himself that such an appearance did not come for nothing, but that the ghost had something to impart. Night comes, and Hamlet is waiting impatiently for the appearance of the ghost. When the ghost does appear the Prince apostrophises in these words: ENTER GHOST Hamlet. Angels and ministers of grace defend us !— Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damn'd, Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, Be thy intents wicked or charitable, Thou comest in such a questionable shape That I will speak to thee: I'll call thee Hamlet, King, father; royal Dane, O, answer me! Let me not burst in ignorance; but tell Why thy canoniz'd bones, hearsed in death, Revisit'st thus the glimpses of the moon, Making night hideous; and we fools of nature With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls? Practice this speech in voice, look and gesture, according to the rule we are working on. The ghost now beckons Hamlet to go to some removed place where they may be alone. His young friends try to persuade him from following the ghost, fearing it may be some evil spirit who may tempt him to the neighboring sea, or the top of some dreadful cliff, and there put on some horrible shape that might deprive Hamlet of his reason. Hamlet, carring little about life, or the fear of losing it, rejects their entreaties, and so he follows, and when alone with the ghost, says: "Whither wilt thou lead me? Speak. I'll go no further." Ghost-"Mark me." Hamlet-"I will.” Ghost "My hour is almost come, When I to sulphurious and tormenting flames Must render up myself." SPECIAL NOTE Read the play through the first act aloud and answer the following questions. It is desirable that you do some searching aside from the lesson. If you have carefully and thoughtfully made a study of this work, the questions that I shall ask will in no way disconcert you, but should be a pleasure. First, draw a rough design of the scene in the first act of Hamlet. A platform before the Castle. On this platform is the soldier Bernardo. Teacher-What side will you place him? |