EMULATE HAMLET’S “TO BE OR NOT TO BE…”

In this activity, you will be asked to borrow the form of a Shakespearean soliloquy, but to change it into something that is about you. You will reproduce the pattern of Shakespeare’s writing, but you will use your own ideas and words to replace those of the Shakespearean speaker.

Directions for Writing an Emulation of Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” Soliloquy

Most soliloquies are internal debates in which the speaker faces a dilemma on must choose between equally difficult options. Unsure at first, the speaker argues the pros and cons of each choice, then it makes a decision.

Select personal dilemma that you are facing or have faced. What decision do you have to make? What decision did you make?

Copy and paste the soliloquy below into a new doc. Double or triple space each line.

Replace almost every word of the original with a word of your own that serves the same grammatical purpose. You will replace nouns with nouns, verbs with verbs, adjectives with adjectives, etc.

There will be places where you can use Shakespeare’s words if you want to–conjunction such is as and, but, or may be kept. Prepositions such as in, out, above, through, with, etc. may be kept or replaced, and any form of the verb to be(am, is, are, was ,were, being ,been) may be used as in the original. Most of what you change will be nouns, action verbs, adjectives and adverbs.

Retain Shakespeare’s rhythm and style. Create meaning that is true for you.
For your first draft, write in the white space above the text. Then copy your final draft without Shakespeare’s text.

EMULATE HAMLET’S “TO BE OR NOT TO BE…” In this activity, you wil...