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The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

By William Shakespeare

•Publication:Publication: 1600-1601. 1600-1601.

Setting: Danish Setting: Danish castle of castle of Elsinore in theElsinore in the late late MedievalMedieval period period

Background of the PlayBackground of the Play

Elizabethan BeliefsThe marriage of a widow to her brother-in-law is forbidden.

Ghosts are real.

Suicide is considered an unforgivable sin for which the victim is condemned to hell or purgatory.

A suicide victim cannot be buried in holy ground.

The Tragedy of Hamlet: Introduction

There’s something rotten in the state of Denmark . . .

King Hamlet Gertrude Claudius Hamlet

Polonius (King’s advisor)

Laertes Ophelia (Hamlet’s love interest)

Horatio=Hamlet’s friendRosencrantz and Guildenstern=Hamlet’s school

acquaintancesKing Fortinbras and Young Fortinbras (King of Norway and his

son)

(King Hamlet’s brother)

The Tragedy of Hamlet: Introduction

And now Claudius has declared himself king.

Prince Hamlet returns home from university to discover that his father is dead and his mother has married his uncle Claudius.

The Tragedy of Hamlet: Introduction

As if that’s not bad enough, the ghost of his father appears to Hamlet . . .

He tells Hamlet that he’s been murdered by Claudius

and demands that Hamlet get revenge.

The Tragedy of Hamlet: Introduction

What should Hamlet do?

Instead of jumping into any action, Hamlet broods over his options—

and then starts acting very strange.

The Tragedy of Hamlet: Introduction

He starts talking in riddles.

He acts cruelly to Ophelia, a girl who loves him.

He’s suspicious of everyone.

The Tragedy of Hamlet: Introduction

Will he make up his mind to take action?

Why is Hamlet acting like this? Is he insane? Or faking

insanity?

Should he kill his uncle?

Three Plots

1.Main plot2.Romance with Ophelia3.Looming war with Norway

ThemesThemesRevengeRevengeMortalityMortalityAppearance Appearance and Realityand RealityCorruptionCorruptionMadnessMadnessDoubtDoubt

The Characters…The Characters…

HamletTragic heroTragic hero

EducatedEducated

Renaissance man Renaissance man living in a living in a Medieval worldMedieval world

A man of thought A man of thought rather than actionrather than action

King ClaudiusKing ClaudiusAn effective, An effective, capable capable ‘‘rulerruler’’-- -- hehe’’s able to s able to handle matters handle matters of stateof statePower-hungryPower-hungry

LustfulLustful

GreedyGreedy

Queen GertrudeQueen GertrudeLustfulLustfulTruly loves her Truly loves her sonsonUnsuspecting, Unsuspecting, cluelesscluelessSuspects that Suspects that Hamlet is Hamlet is ““madmad”” due to the death due to the death of his father/the of his father/the remarriage of his remarriage of his mothermother

HoratioHoratioEducatedEducated

HamletHamlet’’s equal s equal in intelligencein intelligence

HeHe’’s the only s the only person Hamlet person Hamlet truststrusts

Actually, Actually, everyone trusts everyone trusts himhim

PoloniusPolonius

Talks too muchTalks too muchSpies on Hamlet Spies on Hamlet and even his and even his son, Laertesson, LaertesUses his Uses his daughter as bait daughter as bait to trap Hamletto trap Hamlet

OpheliaOphelia

The only truly innocent personThe only truly innocent personHamletHamlet’’s love interest s love interest

Rosencrantz and Rosencrantz and GuildensternGuildenstern

Educated but Educated but NOT as intelligent NOT as intelligent as Hamletas Hamlet

Old school friends Old school friends of Hamletof Hamlet

Hamlet compares Hamlet compares them to sponges!them to sponges!

LaertesLaertes

Rash, bold, bad-Rash, bold, bad-temperedtempered

Cares deeply for Cares deeply for his sister and his sister and fatherfather

Plots with Plots with Claudius Claudius (Vengeful)(Vengeful)

The Play Within the The Play Within the PlayPlay

Murder of Gonzago

is a play used to

“catch the conscience of the king.”

Look for the following:SoliloquiesHamletClaudius

AllusionsIronyFlashbacksComic ReliefForeshadowing

Interpreting Hamlet…Interpreting Hamlet…

The victim of external difficulties?The victim of external difficulties?

The sentimental dreamer?The sentimental dreamer?

The victim of excessive The victim of excessive melancholy?melancholy?

The victim of the Oedipus The victim of the Oedipus complex?complex?

Motivated by ambition?Motivated by ambition?

Misled by the ghost?Misled by the ghost?

Hamlet Annotations 

Directions: As you read, you will need to annotate in your book.

 

1st Color: Highlight the lines that illustrate a literary

device and write the device in the margin and

brief explanation if necessary.

 

 

2nd Color: Highlight the lines that pertain to

theme and write the theme in the margin.

Revenge

Mortality

Appearance and reality

Corruption

Madness

Doubt

3rd Color: For each soliloquy, highlight the lines

and summarize in the margin. 

Beginning of each ACT

Write how much time passes during the act (ex. Act I – 24 hours: 12AM – 12AM)

Beginning of each SCENE

Bullet point important events that happen (include specific names and places)