Henry IV, Act III, scene 1, lines 1-197 and Instructions
Please post your comments for Scene 1, lines 1-197 of Act 3 of Henry IV, Part 1 here.
Instructions for Act 3 comments:
Rebels:
Comment on the last half of Scene 1 (lines 198-276) or Scene 2.
Comment on Scene 3.
Courtiers:
Comment on the first half of Scene 1 (lines 1-197).
Comment on Scene 3.
Pub Crawlers:
Comment on the first half of Scene 1 (lines 1-197).
Comment on the last half of Scene 1 (lines 198-276) or Scene 2.
Please complete your first 2 comments by Friday, September 22.
All Groups:
Put your third comment on Mr. Kleeman's class blog (http://www.lkleeman.blogspot.com/). You will be responding to one of his students’ comments. Please complete your third comment by Tuesday, September 26.
Blog comment prompts:
1. Summarize the action of the scene.
2. Comment in one sentence on what you think is the significance of this scene. What would the play be like without it?
3. Ask questions about the scene. Has anything in the scene caused you confusion? Ask one of the characters in the scene a question—or ask me a question.
4. Quote lines from the scene that you enjoyed and comment on them.
5. Describe your reactions to a character, action, or idea you confronted in the scene.
6. Talk about the relationships characters have to one another, quoting specific words or phrases to give evidence for your opinion.
7. Pretend you are an actor playing one of the characters in the scene. Get inside that character’s mind. Tell how the character feels about herself, about other characters, about the situation of the scene.
8. Trace a set of images. Do you notice certain images—like night or moon or food or fat—coming up time and time again? Produce a list of citations—every time that your word appears. Then look for patterns. Are the images associated with certain people or places or events? Discuss the impact of your image on the play.
9. Discuss the motifs of robbery and rebellion, or honor and courage, or wholeness (both individual and national) in each “world” of the play.
10. Discuss Hal’s search for role models; how do his companions educate him about his country? How do the three worlds of the play—Court, Rebel, Tavern—converge in him?
Instructions for Act 3 comments:
Rebels:
Comment on the last half of Scene 1 (lines 198-276) or Scene 2.
Comment on Scene 3.
Courtiers:
Comment on the first half of Scene 1 (lines 1-197).
Comment on Scene 3.
Pub Crawlers:
Comment on the first half of Scene 1 (lines 1-197).
Comment on the last half of Scene 1 (lines 198-276) or Scene 2.
Please complete your first 2 comments by Friday, September 22.
All Groups:
Put your third comment on Mr. Kleeman's class blog (http://www.lkleeman.blogspot.com/). You will be responding to one of his students’ comments. Please complete your third comment by Tuesday, September 26.
Blog comment prompts:
1. Summarize the action of the scene.
2. Comment in one sentence on what you think is the significance of this scene. What would the play be like without it?
3. Ask questions about the scene. Has anything in the scene caused you confusion? Ask one of the characters in the scene a question—or ask me a question.
4. Quote lines from the scene that you enjoyed and comment on them.
5. Describe your reactions to a character, action, or idea you confronted in the scene.
6. Talk about the relationships characters have to one another, quoting specific words or phrases to give evidence for your opinion.
7. Pretend you are an actor playing one of the characters in the scene. Get inside that character’s mind. Tell how the character feels about herself, about other characters, about the situation of the scene.
8. Trace a set of images. Do you notice certain images—like night or moon or food or fat—coming up time and time again? Produce a list of citations—every time that your word appears. Then look for patterns. Are the images associated with certain people or places or events? Discuss the impact of your image on the play.
9. Discuss the motifs of robbery and rebellion, or honor and courage, or wholeness (both individual and national) in each “world” of the play.
10. Discuss Hal’s search for role models; how do his companions educate him about his country? How do the three worlds of the play—Court, Rebel, Tavern—converge in him?
posted by Cheryl Makovsky at 12:55 PM
4 Comments:
3. The basics of this first portion of the scene do not confuse me. However, one of Hotspur's longer statements about Mortimer's father seems dreadfully caught up in images which I have difficulty following: "O, he is as tedious/ As a tired horse, a railing wife/ Worse than a smoky house. I had rather live/ With cheese and garlic in a windmill, far,/ Than feed on cates and have him talk to me/ In any summer house in Christendom" (3.1.164-169). Yes, Hotspur criticizes Mortimer's father (Who is also named Mortimer, correct?) and until this Scene, he isn't mentioned very much. However, what bothers me more than why Hotspur demeans Mortimer's father is what does cheese, garlic and a windmill have to do with anything? I realize that both cheese and garlic may possess very pungent odors, so is Hotspur commenting on how Mortimer smells? Are there references to cheese and garlic with negative connotations which I am unaware of? Not to mention, what have windmills to do with smell? I know windmills are used to grind grain back in the day, but still find myself unable to quite grasp how even these three things go together. All of them appear like three random objects Hotspur believes unsavory and therefore, insults Mortimer by mentioning them. What am I missing?
2. The way Hotspur reveals his character is very important in this scene. When he, Lord Mortimer and Owen Glendower are talking, Hotspur mocks Glendower's supposed sorcerous powers and offends a potential ally of his father. Like his name suggests, Hotspur is young, impulsive and arrogant and the way he acts with Glendower in this scene foreshadows a more significant event involving Hotspur's "hot-headed" attitude. An important flaw of Hotspur is revealed, and I'm guessing it will have something to do with his later downfall.
6. I find it amusing how disrespectful Glendower and Hotspur are to each other. Each of them is extremely prideful and obvious believes that he is better than the other. Glendower: “I say the earth did shake when I was born.”
Hotspur: “And I say the earth was not of my mind, If you suppose as fearing you it shook.”
What I find ironic is that if they each believe they are so great, why are seeking help from each other? Obviously Hotspur and Glendower must hold one another in high regard. In fact, Mortimer even says later to Hotspur, “Shall I tell you, cousin? He holds your temper in a high respect...” It will be interesting to see if both of the hotheads will have the patience to hold their alliance together and how they manage to do so.
Response to Jesse's post:
I hadn't thought about Hotspur's inability to deal with an outside force as another sign pointing to Prince Hal's right to the throne. While this is a valid assertion, I think Hotpsur's biggest flaw in his character is his hot-headed immaturity. Not only can he not hold a conversation with a respected elder (Glendower), but he is rude to his wife, as well. He blew Glendower's views of prophecies and sorcery way out of proportion, and refuses to even listen to Glendower. This 'hot' antic of his is unacceptable, and proves that he is not only unworthy, but very uncapable of the throne. England needs a level-headed king, not a drama queen!
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