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‘Hamlet’

‘Hamlet’. by William Shakespeare (1564-1616). ‘Hamlet’ by William Shakespeare. Most famous of Shakespeare’s 36 plays Written 1599 – 1601 Plot borrowed from at least two other source stories Revenge Tragedy: hero met by a ghost asking for revenge scenes of madness a play within a play

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‘Hamlet’

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  1. ‘Hamlet’ by William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

  2. ‘Hamlet’ by William Shakespeare • Most famous of Shakespeare’s 36 plays • Written 1599 – 1601 • Plot borrowed from at least two other source stories • Revenge Tragedy: • hero met by a ghost asking for revenge • scenes of madness • a play within a play • a graveyard scene • physical violence and death

  3. Cast of Characters Hamlet’s family • HAMLET, Prince of Denmark, a student at Wittenburg University • CLAUDIUS, King of Denmark, Hamlet’s uncle and brother to the dead King Hamlet • GERTRUDE, Hamlet’s mother, now married to Claudius, following her husband’s death • GHOST of OLD HAMLET, the former King

  4. Cast of CharactersAt Court • POLONIUS, chief adviser to CLAUDIUS • LAERTES, son of Polonius and a similar age to Hamlet • OPHELIA, daughter of Polonius and Hamlet’s ‘love interest’

  5. Cast of CharactersOther Young Men • HORATIO, also a ‘scholar’ at Wittenburg University and Hamlet’s closest friend • ROZENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN, Hamlet’s schoolfriends • OSRIC, a courtier • FORTINBRAS, Prince of Norway and son of Old Fortinbras

  6. Themes and Images Our Focus: • Revenge • Madness • Deception • Family/Sexuality • Corruption and Decay

  7. ‘Hamlet’ Scene Summaries

  8. Act 1 Scene 1A gun platform on the battlements of Elsinore Castle • Barnardo and Marcellus take over the guard from Francisco. • Barnardo and Marcellus tell Horatio about the Ghost that has been seen. • The Ghost appears. It resembles the late King Hamlet, in full armour. • Horatio questions the Ghost but it doesn’t speak. • The men decide to tell Prince Hamlet what they have seen.

  9. Act 1 Scene 2The Great Hall of Elsinore Castle • Claudius, the new king, addresses the court. • Hamlet is disgusted by the new king (his uncle) and Queen Gertrude (his mother). • The watchmen tell Hamlet about seeing the Ghost, and they plan to watch again at midnight.

  10. Act 1 Scene 3Elsinore, a private room • Laertes warns Ophelia about Hamlet and her sexuality. • Polonius gives his departing son advice on how to conduct himself. • Polonius orders Ophelia to reject Hamlet unless he offers more than he has already.

  11. Act 1 Scenes 4 and 5The gun platform on the battlements of Elsinore • (These two scenes are continuous.) • Hamlet joins the watch with Horatio and Marcellus. • The Ghost appears and signals to Hamlet to follow him. • The Ghost tells Hamlet that he is the spirit of his father, and orders revenge on his murderer, Claudius. He also orders him to spare his mother, who will be judged by God. • Hamlet accepts his instruction and vows his friends to secrecy. He plans to act mad (‘put an antic disposition on’) in order to achieve his goal.

  12. KEY TURNING POINT

  13. Act 2 Scene 1A state room in the castle • This scene takes place some weeks after the events of Act 1. • Polonius sends Reynaldo to France to spy on his son, Laertes. • Ophelia reports Hamlet’s strange appearance and behaviour to Polonius.

  14. Act 2 Scene 2The Great Hall of Elsinore Castle • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrive to spy on Hamlet. • The king allows Fortinbras to march his forces across Denmark. • Following Polonius’s advice, the king plans to spy on a meeting between Hamlet and Ophelia. • Hamlet taunts Polonius. • Hamlet forces Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to confess they were sent for by the king. • The first player delivers the Hecuba speech. • In his third soliloquy, Hamlet berates himself and plans to use the play to confirm Claudius’s guilt.

  15. Act 3 Scene 1(The Nunnery Scene)The Great Hall of Elsinore Castle • This scene takes place the next day. • Hamlet’s madness is discussed. Claudius reveals his guilt to the audience. • Claudius and Polonius eavesdrop on Ophelia and Hamlet’s conversation which breaks up in bitterness. • Ophelia expresses her despair. • Claudius resolves to deal with Hamlet by sending him to England. • Polonius volunteers to spy on Hamlet during another meeting he will set up, this time with Gertrude.

  16. Act 3 Scene 2(The play-within-a-play)The Great Hall of Elsinore Castle • This scene happens some hours later. • Hamlet makes preparations for the play, with which he will test the truth of the Ghost’s story. • The play is performed. Hamlet and Horatio observe the king’s guilty reaction to it. • Hamlet is summoned to the queen’s room.

  17. Act 3 Scene 3(The Prayer Scene)The king’s private chapel • Claudius tries to pray for forgiveness. • Hamlet has Claudius at his mercy but does not kill him because his soul would go straight to heaven.

  18. KEY SCENE – HAMLET’S CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

  19. Act 3 Scene 4(The Closet Scene)Gertrude’s private room (closet) • Polonius prepares to eavesdrop on Hamlet and Gertrude’s conversation. • Hamlet kills Polonius, believing him to be the king. • Hamlet chastises his mother. • The Ghost reappears to sharpen Hamlet’s ‘almost blunted purpose’. • Gertrude promises not to reveal Hamlet’s secret.

  20. Act 4 Scene 1Gertrude’s private room • Gertrude informs Claudius of Polonius’s murder. • Claudius decides that Hamlet should be sent away to England.

  21. Act 4 Scene 2A corridor in the castle • Hamlet has hidden Polonius’s body and will not tell Rosencrantz and Guildenstern where.

  22. Act 4 Scene 3A state room • Claudius confronts Hamlet about Polonius. • He tells Hamlet he is sending him to England for his own safety. • Once alone, Claudius reveals his plans to have Hamlet killed in England.

  23. Act 4 Scene 4The sea coast near Elsinore • Hamlet meets Fortinbras’s army. • Hamlet delivers his final soliloquy: ‘How all occasions do inform against me’

  24. Act 4 Scene 5The Great Hall of Elsinore Castle • Ophelia has been driven mad. • Laertes returns to avenge the death of his father.

  25. Act 4 Scene 6A room in the castle • Hamlet has escaped from the ship that was taking him to England. • Horatio receives a letter from him, asking Horatio to join him.

  26. Act 4 Scene 7A state room in the castle • In a letter, Hamlet informs Claudius of his return to Denmark. • Claudius and Laertes plot Hamlet’s death. • Gertrude describes Ophelia’s death by drowning.

  27. Act 5 Scene 1A graveyard near the castle • Two gravediggers discuss Ophelia’s drowning. • Hamlet and Horatio contemplate the mutability of all things. • Ophelia’s cortege arrives; Laertes’ display of grief for Ophelia enrages Hamlet and the two men fight by her grave.

  28. Act 5 Scene 2 • Whilst at sea, Hamlet arranged for the deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. • The king arranges a fencing match between Hamlet and Laertes. • During the bout, Laertes scratches Hamlet with the poisoned sword and is in turn fatally wounded by it; Gertrude drinks from the poisoned cup prepared by Claudius for Hamlet. • The dying queen and Laertes accuse Claudius; Hamlet, knowing he is dying, takes his revenge and kills the king. • Hamlet nominates Fortinbras as his successor and begs Horatio to tell his story ‘aright’. • Young Fortinbras orders a soldier’s funeral for Hamlet and assumes power in Denmark.

  29. Drama Critical Essay Questions Answers to questions on drama should address relevantly the central concern(s)/ theme(s) of the text and be supported by reference to appropriate dramatic techniques such as: conflict, characterisation, key scene(s), dialogue, climax, exposition, denouement, structure, plot, setting, aspects of staging (such as lighting, music, stage set, stage directions, props [properties]…), soliloquy, monologue…

  30. Choose a play in which a central character experiences not only inner conflict but also conflict with one (or more than one) character… • Choose a play in which a central character is heroic yet vulnerable. Show how the dramatist makes you aware of both qualities… • Choose a play which has a theme of revenge, or betrayal or sacrifice… • Choose a play which has a definite turning point or decisive moment. Explain briefly what happens at that point or moment and go on to explain why you think it is so important to the rest of the play. • Choose a play in which the conclusion leaves you with mixed emotions but clearly conveys the dramatist’s message… • Choose a play in which the dramatist creates a sense of mystery at or near the beginning of the play… • Choose a play in which there is a scene involving intense emotion… • Choose a play in which a character keeps something hidden or pretends to be something he or she is not. Explain the reason(s)…

  31. The Character of Hamlet • Is Hamlet’s journey a descent into madness or the journey to manhood? • Is Hamlet a hero or a villain? • Is he a character we can sympathise with? • What causes his delay in avenging his father’s death? • Is his death at the end of the play an inevitability or a fitting end because of his crimes?

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