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Nexus resource
Hamlet – revenge tragedy
Dictogloss
Subject:
English
Age groups:
12–14, 15–16, 17–18
Topic:
Hamlet
Licence information | This resource is free to use for educational purposes. ©British Council 2015
Source | This resource was originally developed by EAL Nexus. Images are from Self-Made Hero’s Manga
Shakespeare series.
Before reading this text to learners, ensure they understand the following key words:
revenge
tragedy
element
structure
model
Elizabethan
playwright
Text for dictogloss:
Revenge plays in Elizabethan Times
What is a revenge play and where did it come from?
The idea of a revenge tragedy originally came from the Ancient Greeks, but a Roman called Seneca had
the most influence on Elizabethan playwrights. Many educated Elizabethans had read Seneca’s works and
playwrights began to write revenge plays following Seneca’s model. Seneca’s works were about political
power, family honour and private revenge.
Another famous playwright, Thomas Kyd (1558–1594), also came up with a set of distinctive elements
that made up a revenge play, based on Seneca’s model, which made revenge plays different from any
other type of play.
William Shakespeare used these elements when he wrote Hamlet.
So what are the elements or ingredients in a revenge play?
Firstly, in all revenge tragedies a crime is committed, but the law and justice system of the country cannot
punish the crime. So the main character has to get his revenge by himself. Secondly, there is a ghost who
tries to persuade the main character to take his revenge. Thirdly, the main character usually becomes
doubtful. They hesitate and spend a lot of time thinking about what to do.
Another main element is that the main character has a very close relationship with the audience through
soliloquies. This means they talk to the audience when they are alone about what they are thinking.
Finally the main character may die when they carry out their revenge. The end is always violent and
bloody.
In Thomas Kyd’s structure for a revenge play there are additional elements. Firstly some of the characters
often go mad. Also the main character always has an accomplice, in other words someone to help him or
her get their revenge. Finally, at the end of the play all the main characters die.
So what did the Elizabethans think about revenge?
In Elizabethan society people didn’t agree with the idea of revenge. The Christian church said that was a
sin. The Elizabethans also thought it was important to follow the laws of the country, and not to act
alone.