What does "The Significance of Context" mean?

Assessment of The Creative Critical Response

Here are the two key assessment objectives again:

AO1: Articulate creative, informed and relevant responses to literary texts, using appropriate terminology and concepts, and coherent, accurate written expression.

AO4: Demonstrate understanding of the significance and influence of the contexts in which literary texts are written and achieved.

In the first part of today's lesson, we will explore what "context" means in relation to "Hamlet" and the range of meanings we can ascribe to this. Think about:

Political/Social/Scientific/Religious/Literary/Artistic

for example.

For each of these, what might be relevant for Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and Marlowe's "Doctor Faustus"?

How is this different from today's contexts for literary study and dramatic performance?

Many of the links to the left on this site will help you when you apply this to your coursework.

Completing the Director's Notes

I hope by now you have completed you copy of the edited scene with Director's commentary. Please be willing to discuss this a partner and the group.

Writing a Commentary about your adaptation

This needs to be both a description of what you did but also and analysis of how and why. It should include reference to how you considered the contemporary context versus the Renaissance context for your version.

Homework

Begin a draft of your commentary about your adaptation of "Hamlet" explaining carefully the choices you made/would make, their significance in terms of context and of course the drama itself.

Make sure you refer closely to the script and include analysis of meanings you think your adaptation focuses on.

Target length: 600 words.

Image: Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man.