Hamlet Journal 1 for Act 1, scene 1-5

1. How does the play make you feel at this point? Record your emotional responses in a few sentences and then explore them for a few minutes, trying to figure out why you feel as you do.

Ans.  So far, I have read through act 1, scene 1 to scene 5 in hamlet. The play gave me and idea of how Shakespeare's writing is like. To  be honest, I have never read anything as difficult as this before. On the other hand, I also feel that Shakespeare's writing is interesting. The writing itself have a deeper meaning in it. I feel that Shakespeare's use of language and how he use symbols in each scene to relate to the story is really amazing.

2. In what situation have you felt similar to the characters? What person, places, or ideas from your own experience came to your mind while you were reading this portion of the play? Try to list at least three associations, but don't worry about trying to figure out why they came to mind. Just accept that they occur.

a. There is a time when I am so angry of my parents because they keep forcing me to do things which are unnecessary. Out of anger, we burst our shouting or doing something useless. After I read Hamlet, the part when he speaks to himself with anger, I was so deeply in to it. It remind me of how I use to be.

b. When Bernardo told Horatio that he saw a ghost, Horatio doesn't even believe at first. He later believe because he saw it himself. It remind of how I was when someone told me that they saw a ghost. First, I also don't believe it, until I saw it by my own two eyes.

c. I felt similar to Hamlet when Horatio told him that he saw a ghost that look like King Hamlet. Hamlet couldn't believe what Horatio see and must go to see  the ghost to prove it himself. It is just like me. When my friend told me he saw a ghost, all I wanted to do is to see it, to prove it for myself.

3. What portions of Shakespeare's language attracts your attention? These might be individual words, phrases, lines, scenes, or images. Make note of whatever features draw your attention. Speculate for a few minutes about what you think they might mean.

Ans. Shakespeare's use of language is indeed very impressive. I really like the part in scene 2 when Hamlet talks to himself. Normal people wouldn't include such a scene in the play. But Shakespeare really create lots of emotions and feelings to the watcher. He compares one thing with another to create image and give feelings to the watcher. Such as "Frankly, My name is woman." This is a very famous quote. By looking at it, there is no meaning. It take deeper understanding to interpret Shakespeare's writing, and this is exactly why it attracts lots of attention.

4. Make notes of any portion of the play, its language, or events that cause you problems. Note any questions that you might ask.

Ans. Shakespeare uses comparison and many other style of language to create emotions and feelings to the reader. It can attract the attention of reader, on the other hand, it is also very hard to understand. There is a part in scene 5 that Hamlet talks to the ghost. It is very hard to understand without a proper analysis. As you read there is will be many questions that arise such as "Why should Hamlet tell his friends to swear?" or "What are the symbols Shakespeare uses to give a foreshadow to reader?"