What's Up Lakefield

With only a couple of days left before Christmas break and so many things to complete for school, the university application process is just the extra piece of work that makes everyone go crazy. Since we started writing personal statements, visiting universities and applying to our first choice universities, the level of stress among the grade 12 is quite noticeable. Not only we put pressure on ourselves by trying to keep up our average while maintaining a social life, but our parents also have their input in all of this. I mean, I called my dad and he jokingly asked me if I was going to announce that I got into McGill when he knew that I applied only four days prior to that phone call. Everything has been a rush lately and it is hard to keep up with all the last minute work and decisions we need to make. It seems like everyone around me already know where they want to head off next year and are setting goals for themselves, but I have never thought that university would come so quickly! Hopefully Christmas break will give everyone some time to relax and enjoy the holidays without having to think about serious matter for once!

Graduating from high school is an achievement that does not get enough recognition. The last year of high school so far has been the most frustrating and stressful part of my life. Students go from having to ask to go to the bathroom to making decisions that could potentially shape their entire future. Their is a great ton of pressure to not only make the right decision, but also get the necessary grades. Basically, everything matters. Although teachers and parents try to make it a smooth process, I personally do not think that there is enough mental preparation done. Many students do not know how to handle the stress and challenges. I think it is a huge transition from grade 11 and it also happens very fast. Trying to enjoy the last year of high school and also staying on top of work is quite the challenge. There is a great support system but it seems that they are mostly there to catch you when you fall not to help you stay standing.

"This is Water" by one of the greatest writers of the 21st Century... ya, that's right! Check it out please!

        You have probably already read or watched this video, but even if you have, you likely should watch or read it again. This is one of those speeches that requires multiple readings. It fits with our course theme and the simple fact that you are about to enter a very different, "real" reality in a few months. No mommy or daddy or Great Aunty Kathy to take care of you anymore. Take some time, watch this vid. I've also included the full text of the speech, delivered by David Foster Wallace at Kenyon College. Hit the comment button at the bottom of this blog to tell me what you think!!
Vid (only 10 min's, not full speech) Please look at 2nd image box.
Here's the full speech. It's worth your time!! 
 
      Quick Classroom point: to this point some of you have either not been posting your blogs, making any comments, or not inserting the necessary images or links. Please remember from this point forward, all work in Act III and beyond will officially "count"... Take care, and watch the vid!!!

Lately the idea of growing up has been on my mind. There has been a great amount of pressure placed on us as from our parents, teachers and ourselves. As a kid we have everything done for us. We had someone pressuring us to get our work done and helping us get through the hard stuff. Now that I am growing up, I realize that there isn't this strong support I once had. Sure, there are people available for help, but the amount of responsibility is drastically increased. Getting used to that has led to some mistakes and challenges. I guess its all a part of growing up. I want to do so many things but can't find the time to get them all done and that can be very frustrating. I know that I have the rest of my life to do get everything I want done, but for some reason I feel like that has to be now. I look around and see my friends all moving forward in their lives and accomplishing great things, while I just feel stuck in the same place.

What is on my mind?

Their are always lots of things on my mind on a daily basis I tend to always have an idea going through my head. Always having thoughts flying through my head is something that can be very stress full, so for me I try to relax, and relive my self from stress, I make sure to balance my work, sports, and social for a more positive and happy me. I find that if I don't take the time to do this I don't have good days and find my self working about stuff to much instead of just relaxing and saying whatever once a while. Although their is one thing that I can't seam to figure out is why does every teacher bombard us with work for the last 2 weeks before going into a break. You would think that they would plan things better, plan so that we don't end up with assignments and test in every class when we are leading up to break. In the first place they say that we have to put lots of effort into the up coming assignment, which is impossible since we have 3 test and 4 other assignments to always study at once. How do you show your best work when every class gives you lots of work before breaks, to me it is asking the impossible.

what are the characteristics of a good king/leader?

I believe that in order to be a great leader there are many characteristics that go along with that role. As we get older, especially at Lakefield, one of the main focuses of being a student here is learning how to be a good leader. I believe that being a leader is being a person that anyone can come to you at anytime them knowing that you are going to be supportive of them, and knowing your not going to judge. Being a good leader is knowing when to step up, but also knowing when to step down. There are times that you need to take charge of a situation, but sometimes it is also good to allow other people to step in to get a new perspective on the situation. Another big characteristic would be to be able to take both positive and negative Feedback, and be accepting to changes. I believe probably the main characteristic would be to know what everyone wants and not just you want, and by doing this you will earn peoples trust and respect. This will allow you in the process of becoming a good leader.

On my Mind

The pressure of our parents to do succeed in school is right now at an all time high. Not only is it imperative we get high grades to get into the universities we applied to, but high grades are needed to obtain certain high-level scholarships. In my case, the case for scholarships is more stressful than that of university entrance since I don't know or care which university I want to attend. I realize I sound like a huge brat. My parents have spent all this money so I can have an amazing high school experience and they are opening the doors for me to go to university as well. All they ask is I put in a little extra effort to raise my average a point or two. So why am I so annoyed about it when it really is such a minor thing? I don't know why I feel like this but I think it probably makes me a horrible person. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my own selfish feelings I want to cause myself to fail to to spite someone. It's a pretty toxic thing to do and an impulse I usually get over. Writing about this is weirding me out..

What is on your mind right now? 
Lately I have been having nightmares concerning my hot water heater. In my nightmares I wake up and have my traditional 6:45 shower, however the water is slightly colder than normal and it concerns me. After my shower I go to check my hot water heater only to find that it has leaked all over the floor. I call the company I lease the hot water heater from, although unfortunately the company doesn't open until 8:30. I am dumbfounded and cannot figure out what to do at this point, do I turn it off? Do I leave it on? Who knows? After a few very stressful minutes I decide to call my good buddy Garret and I am very relieved to know that he has experienced the same situation as me. He tells me how to fix the problem and finally I can breath easy and go about my day. Based on a true story.

To What Degree is Our Future Within Our Control - David Pelino

Some people believe that the paths of our lives are determined from the moment we are born, if not earlier. Destiny, not being able to control our lives or make our own decisions, can be both a calming and terrifying notion. On one hand people who believe in destiny are relieved of any stress or responsibility pertaining to their actions, as they are meant to be. However, the idea of having no say in our own life's path is something that many people are unable to accept, even if true, simply because of the fear it causes. Personally, I do not believe in destiny. I'm no existential nihilist, believing there is no purpose to life and that morality is a contrived concept, but I believe that we are in control of our lives, and that our actions determine our paths, not some fate or destiny decided before we even existed.

With that said, many aspects of our lives are out of our control. The simplest and easiest to relate to is gender, something that is determined at birth. Your gender plays an immense role in deciding what path you take in life, whether positive or negative. I'm not commenting on the ideas of gender roles and norms, I am just proposing an example of how your future can be out of your control. Another example is simply location; where you're born. There's also socioeconomic class, relations, genetics. If you are born with a debilitating disease or defect, you might not have too much of a say with how your life progresses. However, the majority of crossroads faced in life, of decisions needed to be made, are yours alone to make. And your life is determined by your beliefs, morals, and actions and not by fate or destiny.  

Mr. Hurley's thoughts on the big question, "What's the Point?"... no need to respond...

The following is a portion of a blog I posted for my other professional blog, which deals with learning in the 21st century. It can be found here: http://cohort21.com/brenthurley/

It's interesting when you ask the question, "What's the point of this?" to a group of students when tackling a new issue or a particularly taxing problem that might result in some anxiety or frustration. "Why are we doing this?" or "How might you use what you are learning in the real world?" are always good questions to ask your students, because if they can't answer the question, surely you can, right?

Recently I asked this question to a group of grade 12 students studying Hamlet. I mean, we're talking about Hamlet here! The top dog, the 'World Series' of Shakespeare, right? Clearly this group of well-rounded, private school students would need little convincing that Hamlet was in their best interest.

Well, as I discovered in our class Blog, students have plenty to say about Hamlet and Shakespeare in general. The great thing about having students use blogs to discuss a particular topic is that they must engage with eachother -- negotiating different points of view, commenting through agreement or disagreement, learning how to write in a public forum. On this day, when asked, "What's the point of reading Shakespeare?" in a high school classroom, responses ranged from extremely blunt to a balancing act, trying to appease what they know is good for them from what they knew they find hard.

What's the point of teaching 16th century English to students in the 21st century? How can we make the story of Hamlet applicable to their lives and help them better understand the world in which they live? These are important questions, but what must not be lost is the reality that much of my students' disapproval for the ancient Bard had to do with one simple fact: it's really hard to understand what William Shakespeare is saying! It's tough, difficult, a pain in the butt, not easy, vraiment difficile, and only improves with incredible dedication, diligence, and access to YouTube and Sparknotes.

Maybe that's the point! Students need to be challenged, to face a task that is not immediately understood and applicable, and the resiliency they build over time as a result of that challenge is like a new layer of skin that protects them from the daily hazards of the real world. Students may not need to know the intricacies of "To Be or Not To Be", but they should be able to make connections, understand diction, and explore the importance of expressing the great challenges of understanding one's place in the world as they get older. Who cares about remembering quotes or themes or motifs if ten years from now none of it will stay with the student as they travel the winding road of the real world?

The recent PISA results indicate that a greater divide is starting to grow between the "have's" and "have nots" in terms of pedagogical philosophy. One side of the chasm is an emphasis on standardized testing, on spending lots of money per student but not getting real results versus inquiry based learning where educational standards for teachers are increased, but so too is salary and professional development. The United States finds itself falling behind not only traditional strong holds like South Korea, Finland, and Japan, but they are also struggling to achieve higher results than countries like Poland and Vietnam -- new entrants to the international standardized testing stage. Put simply, these PISA tests claim to test for skills that are "essential for full participation in modern society," as well as their ability to apply what they have learned in new situations. "This approach reflects the fact that modern economies reward individuals not for what they know, but for what they can do with what they know," the [PISA]report said.

So... what's the point? A standardized test called PISA apparently says that it's about ensuring students are rewarded for what they can actually do with their knowledge, rather than simply just rewarding them for remembering dates, facts, and definitions. I tend to agree. I don't remember much from my grade 12 experience with Hamlet except this: it was hard... I mean, really really hard, and when it was over, I felt like I had conquered the world... I felt really good about myself and my success in facing the demon-child of Elsinore and coming out the victor on the other side. And that, my friends, is all we can hope for our own students; that, I guess, really is the point of the whole damn thing.

When asked if studying Shakespeare has value in today’s modern world, I am under the impression that Shakespeare has extreme relevance and value in students who live in today’s day and age. The value in studying Hamlet in immense and I feel that it is often overlooked and underrated by today’s young people. Shakespeare has withstood the test of time over the past four hundred years and the morals character conflicts of the play are still relevant today. It is for these reasons that I believe Shakespeare’s writings should be studied by high school students around the world. 

I agree that studying Shakespeare at this level has educational advantages. Although more conventional studying; such as writing essays is also beneficial to learning, studying Shakespeare opens new academic windows. When professional athletes train for their sport they do not only practice the sport; they also cross-train. I see the study of Shakespeare as a sort of academic cross-training. Shakespeare uses relatable characters and situations in his plays which create a connection between the reader and the literary work that is very strong. Reading something that is very well written and relatable bridges the gap between educational literature and enjoyable literature. Finally Shakespeare tells truly entertaining stories using a large range of emotion. From the hilarity of A MidsummerNight’s Dream to the compelling beauty and emotion of Romeo and Juliet; Shakespeare’s plays are touching and emotionally hardy. That is why Shakespeare should still be studied at this level of education.

why is it mandatory ?

I do not agree with teaching Shakespeare in a mandatory grade 12 English class. As Mr. Hurley said ''Shakespeare is the calculus of English'', implying that the people who are better at English enjoy it just like the people who are good at math enjoy Calculus, although calculus is an optional course. I personally am fully supportive of mandatory English class throughout high school, but there should be more options of English available if Shakespeare still wanted to be taught.       

What's the point in studying Shakespeare?

I believe Shakespeare is important to study for the challenge, as well as the insightful value. Although the style of writing may seem daunting at first, students learn new literary techniques, depth in writing and an appreciation for literature. Reading this style is a skill that once developed comes quite easily. It is almost like teaching students a new language, that is both challenging and engaging. Shakespeare wrote in the time of the French Revolution, the first time people began to have a better understanding of the human condition. He explored these ideas through his writing, creating plots based off some of the greatest battles in history and love that is worth dying for. The amazing thing about his works is that they remained a part of the world's culture. Issues he wrote about, such as love, jealousy and mistrust are simply timeless.

Why do we do this?

I believe that studying Hamlet in grade 12 is relevant for many reasons. First of all, the main themes of the play-revenge, jealousy, love-were very important at that time, but still are today! It is aspects of our lives that we experience every day. The study of those themes also lead us to ask questions about the characters behaviour and maybe relating it to our own lives. Questioning the story of Hamlet and its content really makes us realize that there is a connection between what Shakespeare wrote and how we live today. Sure the language is a difficult barrier to overcome but once it is done, we can appreciate the masterpiece that is Hamlet. English being my second language, I really feel like putting effort in understanding the play will enrich my vocabulary and syntax. Also, Hamlet is the most famous play of all time so I think studying it is good to do simply for everyone's general knowledge.

Laura Blair- i disagree with Shakespeare

I believe that Shakespeare should not be taught at least not in high school. I find it very hard to understand and just way to confusing, I just don't see the point. We should be focusing on modern day technology and not literature that was made 400 years ago. Maybe if I wanted to take English and pursue it in my life later on then this would be of more value, of course the play is great and its part of our past. Shakespeare is a icon, we should recognize who he was and the amazing work that we did. So that people that want to study his work have the opportunity to, but obviously their are some people that find no interest in the plays that Shakespeare wrote. At the end of the day I strongly believe that Shakespeare should be a choice, and not mandatory. We spend so much time on picking apart

Jenna - why study shakespear

I believe that Shakespeare should continue to be taught in high schools across the country. Although it was written over 400 years ago there are essential themes that are still relevant today. His plays include wonderful plots, engaging characters and timeless emotions. Despite the fact that the old Elizabethan language is hard to understand, it poses a healthy challenge for students everywhere. Challenge is something that every student should be posed with. A substantial amount of our English language today was actually created by Shakespeare and students should who this incredible author was. Even though it is hard to get past the language barrier, the underlying plots of his plays are very engaging and interesting. There are themes of betrayal, love, death and revenge and all of these relate to people today. Shakespeare's plays display familiar people who experience situations just like we do today. These themes and experiences are and will continue to be relevant in todays society. Shakespeare's plays are general knowledge of which everyone should know a little bit about. Studying it in high school is the perfect balance. You get introduced to the subject of Shakespeare and if you choose too, you can continue to study it in university. This is just like math. Math is a mandatory subject in high school and if you want to continue with it, you can. Shakespeare teaches you a specific way to learn that math does not teach you. Overall there are many reasons why Shakespeare should continue to be taught in high schools.

Jake - What's The Point?

By studying Hamlet we may be conforming to an outdated view of education that is less relevant in today's society but there is no doubt there are lessons to be learned. Although I find it difficult to appreciate the play's value, I understand that the themes portrayed in the play are still relevant today as the themes of revenge and despair are always relevant. However, I still find our time spent on the play to be somewhat futile as I spend most of my time trying to translate the language used rather than developing my understanding of the play and learning anything from it.

What's the point?

If you mention reading Shakespeare in almost any high school English class, you will hear groans and complaints about the difficulties of reading the language or interpreting each metaphor made. Although the Elizabethan language can take a little bit to understand and you probably won't get each outdated reference, reading plays that have somehow endured hundreds of years must have some significance. If you can work past the wordy language there is actually some literary genius behind almost every single word that Shakespeare wrote. Not only is it actually really intriguing to read, but being able to identify the themes like jealousy, revenge, love etc. that still exist today is actually useful in life because they are part of human nature so continue being factors in our lives. In my opinion, reading Shakespeare is something you have to grow in to to truly appreciate. It isn't easy but part of the challenge is what keeps it interesting. His plays allow us to connect our own lives and emotions to those of hundreds of years ago.

David Pelino Answering Your Question

To be perfectly honest, I have never fully understood why Shakespeare is THE writer to study. There is no doubt that Shakespeare is a very strong and important writer, but that doesn't explain why he is still internationally studied 400 years after his work. There are certainly many other great writers that could be studied, but for some reason Shakespeare is the one that nearly all education systems default to.

With that said there are still many great reasons for studying Shakespeare. Many of the themes from his plays are still relevant today, it provides a challenging read and teaches students different ways of reading and analyzing literature. Even 400 years old we can learn many valuable lessons from Shakespeare's work and apply what we read and understand to our own lives. I believe one reason Shakespeare is so popular today is that many people are still able to connect on a very personal level with his work and relate it easily to their own lives.

Why are we doing this?

In my opinion, there is great importance in reading Hamlet. The play may be a difficult one but it also has great value. Being able to understand the play as a whole is key because throughout the book, there are messages that are still valid and relatable. Some of the matters addressed though the play are still a part of today's world. It is interesting to see how opinions and cultures change over time. Shakespeare is also a very famous writer. It is interesting to read the play and try to understand why the play has endured. Although it is challenging, one can gain a lot as a result of battling through it as it takes you one step further. The learning from Shakespeare is in the form of both knowledge and life skills. Determination and courage are attributes that can be  acquired from reading Shakespeare. 

Why are we doing this?

Personally I don't believe Shakespeare is very important for us to study. Simply because his plays were written 400 years ago and the topics in the plays are still somewhat relevant to us today, I don't see what makes his plays so special? Also I feel like we could still read books or plays that force us to infer what an author means, while still having them written in language that is easier to understand. If we read books that are written in present day English I think that students would be able to have an even greater understanding of the messages that are conveyed in Shakespeare's plays.

Why are we doing this?

I have to both agree and disagree with you Mr. Hurley. I agree with you for the reason that when we arrive at university and we start analysing Shakespeare plays and you've never done this before you are screwed. I have to disagree with you in the sense that this type of material is a bit to complex for high school students. It is not faire that only a minority of people like doing this kind of thing and actually find this easy to do, do to the great deal of effort they put into this, why don't all have the time to this. If I could give you a recommendation, why should analyse a much shorter play that would be easier to grasp then Hamlet. Also most people will never need this or go back over something like this so what is the real purpose to this. If you think of it this is a waste of time for probably 3/4 of the students, who ever is not going into literature is not going to use this again. So in the end, is this really the best use of your students time.

Merit's answer to 'whats the point of studying Hamlet?'

I think there is a value to studying Hamlet for countless reasons. First of all, Hamlet is a classic and it's Shakespeare's most famous play. I think everyone should have read Hamlet at least once in their life - it should be part of everyone's general knowledge.The themes in Hamlet, such as jealousy, revenge and love are all still relevant today and people still face and fight the same struggles as Hamlet. I'm sure thousands of people question their purpose in life and the purpose of life in general. The language is obviously challenging, especially if English isn't your first language, but it's rewarding to understand the complexity of the play. Reading Hamlet helps you articulate yourself and it enriches your vocabulary. Hamlet has great pathos and it expands an individual's horizon, therefore it's an enduring piece of literature.
-Merit

Jake, Horatio

Lately, the death of his father has really been taking a toll on Hamlet, making me rather worried. It doesn't help that his mother urges him to move past such an unfortunate death and the speed of her new marriage to Claudius troubles both Hamlet and I. His doubt is reasonable and his mourning is justified seeing as such an event must take a toll on someone, yet he seems to be consumed by. This has caused Hamlet to resent Claudius, and has created great suspicion amongst us as Hamlet believes the new King may have had something to do with his father’s death. This may be the reason for Hamlet’s current behaviour, but as his friend I intend to find out his true intentions.

Polonius

So much has happened since King Hamlet’s death. It seems like he had everything in order. I guess its time to move on. Gertrude did when she got married to Claudius. It is a marriage that will move the Kingdom forward. Claudius may not be as good of a king compared to King Hamlet but he does have the support of the woman that may be responsible for such great men! Young Fortinbras thinks he can walk in here and get the land King Hamlet won. The land is now ours and Claudius should not let it go at any cost.

Although Hamlet is still mourning, his behaviour is not acceptable. We all lost a king and we are going on with our lives. There is no need for him to keep holding on to his dead father. He seems to be using it as an excuse to get pity and try to woe my daughter over. I should warn her to stay away. Hamlet is not a good man and he should stay away from my family and I.

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS??

What's the point? I mean, seriously, what do you as students actually get out of reading a play written 400 years ago? Is there any value to it? Shouldn't your teacher be focusing on your grammar, essay writing skills, or your ability to write a resume for your soon-to-be banking career?
Well, actually, there might be some value to studying Shakespeare. For one thing: it's hard! Trying to interpret meaning from unfamiliar language actually engages parts of your brain in ways that can be really useful. Moreover, Big Willy is talking about problems and ideas that are still relevant today: jealous, revenge, rejection, trying to figure out what our purpose is in what seems like a purposeless world. 
I can cite the studies that show the value of Shakespeare, or list off the many metaphors and words that he created and are still used today, but what does it matter if the man doesn't connect with today's reader? I think great art must be a reflection of our own reality and, with Hamlet, there's no better place to look for the dangers of jealousy, the pit-falls of self-doubt, the challenges of rising to the challenge. Just as Hamlet must come to terms with who he is in the face of overwhelming adversity, so must you as you prepare to enter adulthood. 
So that's my question for you in your next blog: Why are we doing this? Is there value to studying Hamlet , or are we simply conforming to an outdated view of education that is no longer relevant in the modern twitter-verse? Speak freely!

Claudius

Finally that stupid brother of mine is dead and the crown will belong to someone who can run this land properly! For too long my brother has been running this place into the ground and I think its in the best interest of everyone that I killed him. To make things better I don’t think anyone, other than that stupid brother of mine, knows it was me but its not like hes going to tell anyone. As long as things keep going the way they are, its going to be smooth sailing for beautiful Gertrude and I, just another bonus to killing that terrible king.

Josh W, Gertrude

Sweet Claudius, I love you just as much as the old king. I wish I could with all certainty tell you that your words were true, but I do not know if they were. It is true that I think about you constantly. However I still have feelings for Hamlet. He was my first husband and my first true romancer. He was so sweet and kind to me. It makes me feel guilty to remember his bloudless confessions of love to me, when I am married to his own brother. He trusted me completely and now his trust burns me! Oh hamlet! Oh Claudius! Oh woe is me! I have married two men in my life. First Hamlet, dashing,bold,distant. Then came Claudius, sly, wicked and present.

Dear diary,

    It has been about two months since the death of my best friend’s father, Old King Hamlet. My friend Hamlet has been acting differently since the passing of his father and his new attitude is worrying me. I understand that the death of one`s father must have a lasting effect on one`s behavior, and someone might act a little bit different; but Hamlet seems to be a whole new person! Hamlet’s thoughts have been overwhelmed with sorrow and hate; He has forgotten his old self and has been reborn. Since he heard of the death of his father, Hamlet has felt great resentment towards his new father in law and the new king. This might be in part due to the fact that he took his mother’s hand in marriage. I feel like he might try something stupid, and I am doing my best to bring him back to his usual self. I have included a portrait of myself for your vewing pleasure...

Mark Price, Hamlet Journal, B

Today, I finally proved to Hamlet that the ghost of his father was around the castle. Except his reaction was very unexpected. Hamlet has no idea if the ghost is of his father’s Kings Spirit or an demon. Hamlet firsts calls out to the Ghost than is prompt to come forward by the ghost, although he resists the first time, the second time the ghost signaled Hamlet over he followed ignoring all of mine and Marcellus advice. Hamlet declares that he cares nothing for his life and that, if his soul is immortal, the ghost can do nothing to harm his soul. Marcellus and I stunned by this action of Hamlet but decide to follow him and the ghost to try and protect Hamlet ourselves.   

Alex Murphy, Hamlet Journal 1, Ophelia

Oh my poor, poor love Hamlet. Of all the thing he has been through the past month; the death of his father, the marriage of his uncle to his mother, and now! He can’t return to his studies in Wittenberg. He’s stuck facing all of this. At least he has me to cheer him up. I’d never tell him this but secretly I’m happy he’s staying! Now we can spend more time together and maybe he’ll pluck up the courage to ask me to wed. All we need is each other’s love. What does Laertes know? Going on about “the perfume and suppliance of a minute” (1.3.9). That hypocrite. He doesn’t know the true love we share. He will never know true love if he keeps living like he does. My brother always thinks he knows what’s best but Hamlet is more than just a fling. What we have is real. Which is why it’s my job to stop this melancholic behavior so we can be happy again. Even with his rough exterior I know there is a soft gentleman inside. I would do anything for Hamlet and I know he feels the same way. Our love is a bond growing stronger each day! 

Chloé, Hamlet Journal 1

I told my dear Denmark citizen’s about the death of our previous King, hoping that they will understand that I do not have bad intentions. I want them to feel like we understand each other, that they can trust me so I can make great changes for this wonderful state of Denmark. My brother was King, but it is now a new era and it is time for me to accomplish my wishes.

I am not quite sure what is going on with Hamlet. He seems a little bit off lately… Quite annoying to be honest! I wish he would not interfere with me and how I rule my kingdom. I wonder if it is because of Gertrude marrying me-what a great moment!-or is he planning something that I should be worried about? It is only the beginning of my reign, I should keep an eye on him to assure my security as the new king!I will certainly keep him close to me in case something comes up… And his poor mother! Ah! Poor Gertrude! Such a beautiful lady! She is stuck with her melancholic son after a terrible loss! I just hope that everything goes back to normal so I can stop worrying about Hamlet and start working on making Denmark my beautiful empire.

Journal 1: The Death of King Hamlet (Claudius).

It’s been two months since I killed King Hamlet and everything seems to be going good, no one knows what I did, although I am not going to let Hamlet leave to go and proceed his studies. I am suspicious that he might have his doubt about me killing his dad, this worries me greatly. Either way today is the day I announce my marriage to the beautiful Gertrude, that bastard Hamlet stole the love of my life, but now that he’s gone from the face of the earth she’s all for me. Although I need to keep a close eye on old King Hamlet’s son he might have his doubt on what I did, also he doesn’t seem to like me very much, I think he’s still sad about his dad’s death but what better to rub salt in the wound of that little spoiled boy to marry his mother.

Ophielias point of view

Oh poor Hamlet, the love of my life.He has been through so much and I dont understand how people could think he could just get over it like that. He has told me that he would be there for me and I will be their for him. Laertes doesnt understand anything about Hamlet, he has no idea how he ment the words that he said to me. Hamlet cares for me, he really does and no one can take that away from me. I will show them, I will. He can not be blamed for the behaviour that has come before him, it is all part of the grieving stage from losing someone that you love. Oh my dear Hamlet, no matter what I will always have your back, through anything

From Hoaratio's POV

I am becoming concerned about hamlet's melancholy and unusual behavior. My dear friend is acting very strange and is not composing himself with his usual honor and poise. After his father’s death Hamlet’s disposition has changed drastically. He slinks about his quarters day by day doing nothing productive and not working to overcome his sadness. The interaction with the ghost of old King Hamlet was puzzling as well. Hamlet has always trusted me in the past but in this case he disregarded my advice and went forth with his actions. This scared me so because we share a level of trust and respect for each other, or at least we have in the past. He does not seem to be aware of his sulky and unusual behavior and I fear he may be depressed or even mad. I worry so deeply because hamlet is my bosom pal and he is not acting like the man he once was. Hamlet admired his father greatly and the loss of his father is taking a toll on him. I feel so badly about my Denmark losing its great leader to the coward Claudius. The loss of King Hamlet does not bode well for Denmark’s security. Fortinbras would not have such confidence in himself if the king was still alive, but with King Hamlet out of the way the Norwegian will stand a fair chance of attack. My faith does still lie with Denmark but my heart is not in favor of Claudius and his marriage to Queen Gertrude. To Mary a widow when the corpse of her husband is still warm is not the behavior of a great king. It is the behavior of a snake.

David Pelino Claudius

I'm starting to get fed up with Hamlet, three months after his father dies and he’s still moping around like some moody teen. He seems to think that he is the only one affected by his fathers death. How narcissistic can one be? The realm lost their king, his mother lost her husband, and we were thrown into turmoil. Oh, and I lost my brother too. Which is upsetting… of course. Admittedly it worked out pretty well for me, but it would be nice all the same for Hamlet to get over it. For both of us.

I understand that he’s probably upset about me marrying Gertrude, but it was necessary the good of the country. What with Fortinbras wanting his father’s old land back, we can’t have the monarchy weakened by death. And if I just happen to benefit by being able to marry Gertrude, so be it. Sure we married quickly, but we were in love for a lot longer than two months. 

I'm starting

Merit Zimmermann, Hamlet Journal 1, B

Journal 1

    I feel guilty for telling Hamlet about the ghost. The second he saw the ghost, he was mesmerized and wouldn’t listen to anyone but the ghost. I don’t know what the ghost said to my best friend, but it seemed to me that the conversation changed Hamlet. He has gone mad and his imagination is making him crazy, “He waxes desperate with imagination”. (1, 4, 87) He wouldn’t tell me what the ghost said to him. I wonder if he believes what the ghost said? Can you believe a ghost? I am worried for him. When I asked him what the ghost told him, Hamlet basically said the ghost reminded him that any villain is a villain, but that’s no news to us and I think he is lying. He repeatedly asked me not to tell anyone what I saw tonight and to keep the ghost a secret. Hamlet has always been an odd guy, very introverted and mysterious, but I think the conversation triggered something in him and I have a feeling something might happen, “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark”.(1,4, 90) I know he isn’t in a good place right now, considering his father died, therefore I hope he can snap out of this and get better. I will be there for him no matter what; Hamlet can always count on me.

Jennas 1st journal entry

Horatio- talking about Hamlet’s sulky behavior

I am very worried about my best friend Hamlet. His father has passed away and now, less than two months later, his slimy uncle Claudius has married his poor mother. Hamlet seems depressed and I have to help him get through this! It is my duty. Last night we saw a ghost of old king Hamlet! It was unbelievable... I tried my best to stop Hamlet from following the ghost but he was so insistent. Marcellus and I followed Hamlet but it took us a while to find him and by that time, the Ghost was gone. We were both interested in what the ghost of Old King Hamlet said to Hamlet but he would not reveal the secret. Hamlet made us swear that we would not tell anyone about the ghost that we saw. He also stated that he is going to act mad from now on so he can trick the others into thinking he has gone psychotic. The whole time we were talking to Hamlet about this, the Ghost would periodically yell ‘SWEAR’ it was very intimidating. Hamlet is at a very unstable state right now just like an unweeded garden. He was not allowed to go back to school, his father died and now he is listening to a ghost! My friend is feeling very melancholy and I hope that the poor soul will find closure within the ghost’s secret words.

Welcome to our class blog!

Hey there, Gr. 12 English students! This will be our creative writing home for the next little while. The key thing to remember about a blog is that it's meant to be interactive! You are strongly urged to read your peers' work and to comment on it. Also, everytime you post a blog you need to do at least two things: first, include a picture that relates to your topic (if you are able to, link the picture to where you found it... I can show you how:). Secondly, try to embed a hyper link to something outside of your blog that is awesome or related to your topic. Make your blog as interactive as you possibly can! Your first step is to post your Hamlet reflection to this blog. Please add a picture that relates to your topic if possible. Let's have some fun with this! Thanks, Mr. H