Last week, we talked about the back-to-school blues ― but there’s no question that at any time of year, at any age, it can be difficult for students to find their place. Parents and teachers try so often to capture the sense of uncertainty and frustration that faces many children as they find their social groups. The term “peer pressure” has become a commonplace, of course; and like so many of Shakespeare’s words, so too has the phrase “to thine own self be true” (Hamlet Act 1, Scene 3).
In these early days of the school year, ask your students to think about this line. What does it mean to them? How can they stay “true” to themselves? You can address the topic in a couple of ways: first, in the context of a broader lesson about Hamlet, in which Polonius’ speech to his son is one of several you may discuss in-depth; or by printing out and distributing copies of the monologue itself and asking the children for their thoughts.
If you go for the second approach, have a look at this edited version of the speech. As ever, we haven’t changed a single word ― but we have abridged the monologue for ease of understanding amongst our younger friends.
©2016
