Clark’s Shakespeare Question #1: Clowns and Fools
What is the difference between a Shakespearean Clown and a Fool?

Examples of Clowns: Launce and Speed in The Two Gentlemen of Verona Corin, the Shepherd, and Audrey in As You Like It

Examples of Fools, or Jesters: Feste in Twelfth Night The Fool in King Lear

Clark’s Shakespeare Question #2: Ophelia’s Flowers

Hamlet, Act IV, scene 5

Ophelia has several flowers and gives them to characters in the scene. She says:

“There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember. And there is pansies, that’s for thoughts. There’s fennel for you, and columbines.—There’s rue for you, and here’s some for me. We may call it “herb of grace” o' Sundays.—Oh, you must wear your rue with a difference.—There’s a daisy. I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died.”

Which of these plants are given to which characters (Laertes, Queen Gertrude, King Claudius)? And why?

Clark’s Shakespeare Question #3: The Storm

Some of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, KING LEAR, THE TEMPEST, and TWELFTH NIGHT, to name a few, have a predominant storm that affects the plot of the story. But these are plays. They are meant to be performed live on stage, and were written centuries before film and television.

If you had to stage one of these plays, how would you create The Storm?

Clark’s Shakespeare Question#4: The Ghost

“Who’s there?”

HAMLET Act 1, scenes 1, 4, 5
HAMLET Act 3, scene 4

The Ghost of Hamlet’s father appears several times in the play. Why is it that only certain characters can see it? Why is the Ghost dressed differently in different scenes? Why do you think only Hamlet can hear the Ghost?

Shakespeare Question #5: This is the Question

Hamlet Act 3, Scene 1

Did you know there are different versions of Hamlet’s famous speech?

Take a listen to two beginnings of the “To be or not to be” speech and learn about where each version comes from. Then it is up to you to debate which one you’d rather see in performance and why.

Shakespeare Question #6: Is Hamlet Mad?

Hamlet certainly acts pretty crazy, but is it all just for show?

Take a look back though the events of the play, and decide for yourself, is Hamlet actually mad or just faking it?

Shakespeare Question #7: What are Shakespeare's 'Problem Plays'?

One of the lesser-known categories of Shakespeare’s plays is what scholars refer to as his “Problem” Plays (ie. All’s Well That Ends Well, Troilus and Cressida, and Measure for Measure). These are plays that focus on complex societal problems and delve deeply into human nature and psychology, far more so than Shakespeare’s other works.

Of the Shakespeare plays you’re familiar with, which ones might you consider to be “Problem” Plays, and why?