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هَمْلِت في العربي؟

Biru — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:26:25 -0800

Does anyone know where I can obtain online a copy of Hamlet's famous soliloquy "To be, or not to be..." in Arabic? I have Googled and came across many an article on the difficulty of accurately rendering the meaning, but sadly no actual copy.

Words, words, words.

bookwo3107 — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:53:16 -0800

Tattoo Typeface Troubles: My sister and I are looking to get a line from Hamlet tattooed on our wrists, and want it to look like it was printed out of a book. Help me (us) choose a good typeface! The exact line is "Words, words, words." I'm kind of thinking something that looks timeless, but at least slightly unique. Thanks in advance!

What is the purpose of Fortinbras in Hamlet?

Kattullus — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:42:23 -0800

I've never really known what to make of Fortinbras in Hamlet. Do you know of any good explanations of his purpose in the play? I read Eric Rauchway's Blessed Among Nations and found a reference to the article "Hamlet and Fortinbras" by William Witherle Lawrence which, according to Rauchway, went a long way towards explaining the problem of Fortinbras. So I went to the local library, dug out the right PMLA volume and read the article. While it traced the origins of the Fortinbras character in previous incarnations of the Hamlet tale it didn't provide a satisfying answer as to what purpose Fortinbras serves in the play. Are there any good articles or books out there about Fortinbras and his role in the play?

My only idea is that it's a reference to James coming from Scotland, England's northern neighbor, to assume the throne of England. The royal line dies out in Hamlet and the same happened in England with the death of Queen Elizabeth. Fortinbras, being from Norway, Denmark's northern neighbor, ascends to the throne of Denmark. It seems to fit in with other such Jacobean ass-kissing in Shakespeare's corpus, e.g. Macbeth.

Extra deaths in Shakespeare's Hamlet?

booksandlibretti — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:57:33 -0800

Productions of Hamlet in which an additional character dies unexpectedly? (spoilers for a 400-year-old play and modern productions) One currently running production does this (once the show closes, I'll comment to give you the details). I saw it, and was amazed -- then curious whether it'd ever been done before.

A friend suggested that Martin Sheen's Hamlet, from 1968's Public Theater production in Central Park, may have done something similar with a Vietnam-y setting. Unfortunately I can't find information about that assertion, either way.

People expected to die in Hamlet:
-Hamlet
-Hamlet's dad (offstage)
-Fortinbras's dad (offstage)
-Polonius
-Claudius
-Gertrude
-Ophelia
-Laertes
-Rosencrantz
-Guildenstern

Know about a production with an even higher death toll? I'm interested in anything you've got -- from the local production in a church basement on up. The more documentation, the better, obviously. I have access to jstor and other scholarly resources, so feel free to link those articles as well as any others you find. Thanks!

Any help understanding Shakespeare's Hamlet?

skepticallypleased — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 18:39:56 -0800

I would like to read a good text that helps you interpret Shakepeare's plays. Specifically, I'd like to get help tackling Hamlet. Any recommendations? I'm not looking for CliffsNotes types stuff. I'd rather want something more college-level or just well written that helps one understand the play. Quick barnes/noble's search brings up CliffsNotes type stuff. I appreciate all help it as I have some time off and would like to get to this play that I missed in formal education.

Green Eggs & Hamlet

time to put your air goggles on! — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 19:14:08 -0800

Shakespeare's Hamlet reveals both a genuine (melancholy) Prince and a great schemer in the sense that he is able to feign madness. I've read it. And read it again. Still, I can't seem to pinpoint a place where we are are unsure if his words are part of the plan or just crazy talk. Can you point to me to a part? Also, what tipped you off? Thanks.

Speedy Revision?

philsi — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 07:18:06 -0800

Okay, I have realised that for my English Literature exam on Monday I have spent most of my time revising Blake (1/2 of the exam) and next to no time with Hamlet (the other 1/2 of the exam) learning quotes, key themes etc - we have read the play in class twice, the last time being about 4 weeks ago. Any help to make this exam go as painlessly as possible? I realise I may already be a lost cause. Usually I revise well by simply going over the same things many many times - this is what I've been doing with Blake, and it eventually sinks in. Plus I have grown to really appreciate Blake and keep on finding new layers of meaning, whilst Shakespeare has never really got on well with me.

Any help on revision strategies / useful websites? I struggle to maintain concentration for much more that 15 minutes, and get very easily distracted - I've tried sparknotes and such like, but always get distracted - am I a lost cause? What works for you when you have to revise a big topic in a few days?

Many thanks.

How does this riddle from "Speak Memory" work?

adrober — Sat, 03 Apr 2004 14:29:59 -0800

In Nabokov's autobiography, "Speak Memory," there is a puzzle of sorts. It goes like this (from pg. 70): "We subjected [Uncle Ruka] to a test one day, and in a twinkle he turned the sequence '5.13 24.11 13.16 9.13.5 5.13 24.11' into the opening words of a famous monologue in Shakespeare." I'm stuck, can anyone help?