HAMLET
A REVENGE TRAGEDY
HAMLET
Hamlet, was roughly written in 1601.
 It is considered one of Shakespeare’s greatest
works, and one of the greatest pieces of literature
ever written.
 This play is full of action, mystery, supernatural
and suspense.
 The play centers around Hamlet’s decision
whether or not to avenge the murder of his
father, the King of Denmark. The weight of this
decision drives all the other actions and
relationships in the play.

BASIC OVERVIEW
Hamlet is the Prince of Denmark.
 As the play opens he has recently returned to
Denmark from Wittenburg, where he was a
student.
 During his absence from Denmark, his father has
died and his uncle, Claudius, has both married
Hamlet’s mother and become king.
 Hamlet is disappointed that this has all taken
place. He is concerned over the appropriateness
of his mother’s marriage, his uncle’s ascension to
the throne, and his own destiny.
 The Ghost of Hamlet reveals that he was
poisoned by Claudius and wants Hamlet to
revenge his death.

BASIC OVERVIEW
Hamlet plots revenge on Claudius and pretends
to be mad. He casts off everyone close to him.
 Hamlet hires a traveling acting company to set a
trap for the king.
 Claudius suspects Hamlet and sets in motion a
plot to kill Hamlet.
 Hamlet kills Polonius in his mother’s
bedroom(closet)
 Hamlet is sent to England.
 What happens during his travels?

BASIC OVERVIEW
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Laertes returns from France and demands justice from
Claudius.
Laertes accuses Claudius of killing his father.
Hamlet returns to Denmark.
Claudius & Laertes devise a plan to kill Hamlet.
Ophelia goes mad and drowns in a river.
Laertes and Hamlet have a sword fight.
• Laertes strikes hamlet with the poisoned sword.
• Hamlet strikes Laertes with his own poisoned sword.
• Gertrude drinks from a poisoned glass of wine.
• Hamlet kills Claudius.
• Hamlet and Laertes forgive each other as they both die.
The royal family dies.
BASIC OVERVIEW
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Rising Action:
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The Ghost Appears
Hamlet fakes madness
Hamlet stages a trap for the king
Hamlet does not take the opportunity to kill the king while
he is praying. Act III sc. iii.
Climax: (2 possibilities)
When Claudius know Hamlet is on to him and Hamlet
stabs Polonius in his mother’s room.
 When Hamlet commits fully to revenge his father. This
happens when he meets with the Norwegian Captain,
going into battle. Act IV sc. Iv.
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Falling Action:
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Hamlet returns to Denmark and confronts Laertes
Ophelia drowns in the river
Laertes is killed
The royal family is killed.
WHAT DOES HAMLET WANT?
WHAT DOES HAMLET WANT?
 He
wants
 The crown
 Revenge for the murder of his father
 To somehow restore his mother’s lost
virtue
MAJOR THEMES
MAJOR THEMES
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Revenge vs. Justice
Hamlet promises his father to revenge his death.
 The ghost visits Hamlet when he is in his mother’s room.
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Mortality
What do we expect in the afterlife?
 Is suicide and effective solution in dealing with Hamlet’s
problems.
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Fate vs. Autonomy
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Do we have control of our own lives
Appearance vs. Reality
What appears to be true and what really is true.
 Polonius instructs Ophelia to distance herself from Hamlet
because he does not love her. In reality this is not true.
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SETTING
Denmark
 Elsinore Castle
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Polonius’s House
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What rooms need to be indicated?
What rooms need to be indicated
Exterior of Castle

Where?
Somewhere in between Denmark and England.
 Late 1500’s
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TERMS
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Foil: A character in a play that contrasts another
character.
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Hamlet vs. Laertes
Purgatory: A place where the sole goes after someone
dies to be punished for their sins.
Closet: Bedroom
Dane: King of Denmark
Beaver: Part of the helmet that hinges down over the
face.
Good-mother: Stepmother
Matin: Dawn
Hyperion: The god of the sun
Harrow: To fill with fear
Espials: Spies
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
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What would be the differences be between Hamlet Senior and
Claudius’s costume?
Think about the type of men they were and how they are
describe.
What is the difference between Laertes & Hamlet?
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What is the location?
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Shakespeare includes hints in the text.
How should the ghost look?
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Is there more than one?
How can we achieve this on the stage?
Did you figure out the time of day of each scene.
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What is the difference between their costumes?
How will their costumes change from the beginning to the end?
Costume
Lighting
A Play about indecisiveness.
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Hamlet does not act.
The uncertainty of our lives