Abridging Hamlet for Tiime
I have resigned myself that I have to teach Hamlet next year, but I need to pare it back. It takes me currently about 6 weeks to get through Macbeth, which is literally half as long, and I do not have 12 weeks to give to Hamlet and still get through the curriculum I need to. (Whoever designed some of these pacing guides has obviously not been anywhere near a classroom in some time.)
At the end I want to them to be able to write a persuasive paper on if Hamlet's mental health is real or if he is faking it.
I'm trying to figure out what to cut. I know I can cut a lot of the Fortinbras/Norway stuff, what else could I get rid of to get through it in 6 weeks or so and still let them have the evidence to write the essay that I want. The R&G/England stuff? Anything with the play within a play?