English 3 Project: Setting Shakespeare in a Different Time
One of the beauties of Shakespeare’s plays is their versatility. There are dozens of Shakespearean adaptations for the screen and stage where directors and artists have created different twists and spins on the original story. For this project, you will do the same by setting Hamlet during a different time period of your choosing and explaining your choices through text and images. You will need to research the history, fashions, political backgrounds, and world events that occurred during that time and use it to explain how you would adapt the play through costume and set design, character arcs, and the translation of 5 quotes to fit your chosen setting.
NOTE: Although you are changing the setting of the play, you NEED to stick to the same plot of the play. DO NOT alter the plot or change the storyline.
Before you begin your research, you need to choose your setting. You can choose one below or choose your own:
- American Frontier (“Wild West”)
- Paleolithic (dinosaurs/cavemen)
- 1860’s American Civil War
- Roaring 20’s (flappers)
- 1950’s Greasers
- 1960’s (“Mad Men” or “surf culture”)
- 1970’s Hippies/Flower Children
- 1980’s “Yuppies”
- Hollywood/Beverly Hills/Los Angeles
- Outer space (modern or retro)
- Vaudeville
- Steampunk
- Circus
- Edward Gorey/Charles Addams/Tim Burton
- Modern (current year)
After you have chosen your new setting, you are required to do the following:
- Explain what backgrounds/occupations/hobbies of 6 charactersin the play would now have adapted to the different setting
- For example: Would Hamlet still be a prince? What job would Ophelia have? What “war” could the men have been fighting?
- Explain what actors would play 6 characters in the play along with what costumes they would wear in your setting. You must use visual images at this point in the project to help explain and cite where you found them.
- Translate 5 key quotes/passagesfrom the play to fit your setting. Be careful when translating the quotes that you do not alter the original storyline of the play. The quotes must be at least 2 lines.
- Include images of your setting to help visualize what you want your setting to look like.
- Explain how three scenes of the playwould fit into your new setting.
- For example, where and how would Claudius kill Old Hamlet in the new setting?
- Cite ALL your sources including images in MLA format at the end of your project. DO NOT just include hyperlinks to your sources.
You can work on your project two ways:
- Make a presentation using PowerPoint.
OR
- Write an essay explaining the points above along with images included in the text.
