HAMLET BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE BACKGROUNDSETTING Hamlet was written

HAMLET BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

BACKGROUND/SETTING Hamlet was written in about 1600 AD Hamlet is a tragedy Hamlet is Shakespeare’s longest play (about 4 hours!) It was derived from the legend of Amieth

SETTING: Elsinore, Denmark 1000 A. D.

CHARACTERS Ø Ø Ø Hamlet King Hamlet/Ghost Gertrude Claudius Polonius Ophelia Laertes Horatio Rosencrantz Guildenstern Fortinbras

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS Hamlet – son of the late King; nephew of the present king Claudius – present King of Denmark; Hamlet’s uncle and brother to the former King Gertrude – Queen of Denmark; Hamlet’s mother King Hamlet – Former king and Hamlet’s father; the ghost Laertes – son of Polonius – Chief advisor to the King; Ophelia’s mother Ophelia – daughter of Polonius; love interest of Hamlet Horatio – friend of Hamlet; castle guard Rosencrantz – courtier: school friend of Hamlet Guildenstern – courtier: school friend of Hamlet

ACT 1 – SEQUENCE OF EVENTS Ø Ø Ø Guards have seen a Ghost and plan to tell Hamlet. The court celebrates the marriage of Claudius to Queen Gertrude while Hamlet is upset by it and still mourns the death of his father, King Hamlet. Laertes returns to school and warns Ophelia to be careful of her relationship with Hamlet. Polonius give advice to Laertes and tells Ophelia not to see Hamlet any more. Hamlet encounters the Ghost, his father, who asks him to avenge his murder.

ACT 1 QUESTIONS 1. What mood Is stressed at the beginning of the play? 2. Why is Hamlet so unhappy at the beginning of the play? 3. As Laertes leaves to return to college, Polonius gives him advice. What kind of advice does he give his children? 4. What does the Ghost reveal to Hamlet? What does he ask Hamlet to do about it?

ACT 2 SEQUENCE OF EVENTS Ø Ophelia tells her father about Hamlet’s strange behavior; Polonius believes it is because of his love for her. Ø Claudius sends for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to come to Elsinore to spy on Hamlet to discover why he is acting strange. Ø A wandering troupe of players arrives at the castle. Ø Hamlet devises a plan to get proof about his father’s murder through the play that will be performed the next day.

ACT 2 QUESTIONS 1. What news does Ophelia bring Polonius? 2. Why is Hamlet excited about the players? What is he hoping to accomplish in the play that will be performed? 3. Why doesn’t Hamlet kill Claudius after the play when he is praying in the chapel? 4. Is Hamlet really mad/crazy or is he just pretending?

ACT 3 – Sequence of Events Claudius and Polonius set up a meeting between Hamlet and Ophelia so they can spy to discover what is wrong with Hamlet-Ophelia scene (Branaugh) Ø Claudius thinks Hamlet’s madness is not due to his love for Ophelia and decides to send Hamlet to England along with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Ø Claudius reacts to the players’ performance of the murder of Gonzago. Ø As Claudius prays, Hamlet hesitates to kill him. Ø

ACT 3 (continued) Ø Gertrude sends for Hamlet who accidentally kills Polonius (thinking it was Claudius) who was eavesdropping behind a curtain. Ø Hamlet reveals to Gertrude that her new husband has killed King Hamlet and warns her to stay away from Claudius. Ø Gertrude watches Hamlet speak to the Ghost when he appears, bu she doesn’t see it.

ACT 3 QUESTIONS 1. Claudius and Polonius both feel they have legitimate reasons to spy on their children (Hamlet and Ophelia) – what are they? Do you think there are times when parents should spy on their children? 2. Think about Hamlet’s relationship with Gertrude. Do you believe she knew about the murder of her husband? Did she have a relationship with Claudius before the play began? In her scene with Hamlet, do you think she believes he talked with a ghost or does she think he’s gone mad? 3. How would the play have been different if Polonius had not died?

ACT 4 – Sequence of Events Ø Claudius sends Hamlet to England; he tells the court because of Polonius’ murder, but the letter he carries calls for Hamlet’s execution. Ø Ophelia has gone mad with the murder of her father and Hamlet’s denial of love for her. Ø Laertes returns to avenge his father’s death. Ø A messenger reveals that Ophelia has drowned. Ø Hamlet returns to Denmark and watches the funeral of Ophelia. Ø Urged by Claudius, Laertes challenges Hamlet to a dueling match.

ACT 4 QUESTIONS 1. Consider Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s role in the play. Why might Shakespeare have created characters like this? Are they there for comic relief, or do they serve a more serious purpose? Is it acceptable for Hamlet to treat them as he does? Why or why not? 2. Think about Hamlet’s relationship with Ophelia. Does he love her? Does he stop loving her? Did he ever love her? 3. Analyze the use of comedy in Hamlet, paying particular attention to the scenes of the gravedigger and Polonius. Does comedy serve merely to relieve the tension of the tragedy, or do the comic scenes serve a more serious thematic purpose as well?

ACT 5 Sequence of Events Ø Ø Ø Ø Hamlet tells Horatio he switched the letters calling for his execution and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were executed instead. Hamlet and Laertes duel. Hamlet wins the first match and is rewarded with a pearl (poisoned) in cup of wine meant for him to drink. The Queen drinks it instead and dies Hamlet and Laertes wound each other with Laertes poisoned sword. Hamlet stabs Claudius poisons him with the remaining wine. Fortinbras arrives and finds Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude and Laertes dead.

ACT 5 QUESTIONS 1. Hamlet has four reasons for revenge on Claudius: killed his father, slept with his mother, took claim to the throne over Hamlet, is plotting Hamlet’s death. Put the reasons in order of importance to Hamlet and explain why you think they should be in this order. 2. How many people died during the play? Did they all deserve to die? 2. What do you think is the major cause of the tragedy of Hamlet? Fate, the supernatural, the personality of Claudius, the personality of Hamlet, or another reason? Explain your answer.