Hamlet
Leaving Certificate English
Complete Revision Notes
© irevise.com 2016
1 Hamlet by William Shakespeare – English Revision notes.
© irevise.com 2016.
All revision notes have been produced by mockness ltd for irevise.com.
Email: [email protected]
Copyrighted material.
All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, reprinting,
or otherwise without either the prior written permission of irevise.com or a license permitting copying
in the United Kingdom issued by the copyright licensing Agency.
2 Hamlet by William Shakespeare – English Revision notes.
Table of Contents
Hamlet .................................................................................................................................... 6
Summary Act One .............................................................................................................................. 7
Scene One ....................................................................................................................................... 7
Scene Two ....................................................................................................................................... 8
Scene Three..................................................................................................................................... 9
Scene Four....................................................................................................................................... 9
Scene Five ....................................................................................................................................... 9
Summary Act Two ............................................................................................................................ 10
Scene One ..................................................................................................................................... 10
Scene Two ..................................................................................................................................... 10
Summary Act Three ......................................................................................................................... 13
Scene One ..................................................................................................................................... 13
Scene Two ..................................................................................................................................... 13
Scene Three................................................................................................................................... 14
Scene Four..................................................................................................................................... 15
Summary Act Four ........................................................................................................................... 15
Scene One ..................................................................................................................................... 15
Scene Two ..................................................................................................................................... 16
Scene Three................................................................................................................................... 16
Scene Four..................................................................................................................................... 16
Scene Five ..................................................................................................................................... 17
Scene Six........................................................................................................................................ 17
Scene Seven .................................................................................................................................. 17
Summary Act Five ............................................................................................................................ 19
Scene One ..................................................................................................................................... 19
Scene Two ..................................................................................................................................... 19
Character Analysis ................................................................................................................. 22
Hamlet ............................................................................................................................................. 22
Claudius............................................................................................................................................ 23
Gertrude........................................................................................................................................... 24
The Ghost ......................................................................................................................................... 25
Ophelia ............................................................................................................................................. 25
Polonius ........................................................................................................................................... 26
Horatio ............................................................................................................................................. 26
Laertes ............................................................................................................................................. 26
3 Hamlet by William Shakespeare – English Revision notes.
Fortinbras ......................................................................................................................................... 27
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern......................................................................................................... 28
Osric ................................................................................................................................................. 28
Marcellus and Barnardo .................................................................................................................. 28
Voltemand and Cornelius ................................................................................................................ 28
Francisco .......................................................................................................................................... 29
Reynaldo .......................................................................................................................................... 29
Second Clown (Gravedigger) ........................................................................................................... 29
Themes, Motifs and Symbols ................................................................................................. 30
Themes............................................................................................................................................. 30
Mortality ....................................................................................................................................... 30
Mental Health ............................................................................................................................... 30
The Role of Women ...................................................................................................................... 30
Political Life ................................................................................................................................... 31
The Impossibility of Certainty ....................................................................................................... 31
The Complexity of Action .............................................................................................................. 32
The Mystery of Death ................................................................................................................... 32
The Nation as a Diseased Body ..................................................................................................... 33
Motifs ............................................................................................................................................... 34
Incest and Incestuous Desire ........................................................................................................ 34
Misogyny ....................................................................................................................................... 34
Ears and Hearing ........................................................................................................................... 34
Couples.......................................................................................................................................... 35
Symbols ............................................................................................................................................ 35
Yorick’s Skull.................................................................................................................................. 35
The Ghost ...................................................................................................................................... 35
Gardens ......................................................................................................................................... 36
Flowers .......................................................................................................................................... 36
Hamlet’s Costumes ....................................................................................................................... 36
Problem/Deliberation/Resolution ................................................................................................... 37
Problem ......................................................................................................................................... 37
Deliberation .................................................................................................................................. 37
Solution ......................................................................................................................................... 39
Literary Genre .................................................................................................................................. 40
Hamlet as Tragedy ........................................................................................................................ 40
The protagonist is a person of status............................................................................................ 40
4 Hamlet by William Shakespeare – English Revision notes.
The play’s events must be important and serious ........................................................................ 40
The tragic hero has a fatal flaw ..................................................................................................... 40
The role of fate.............................................................................................................................. 41
Catharsis........................................................................................................................................ 41
Cultural Context ............................................................................................................................... 43
Religion: The Great Chain of Being ............................................................................................... 43
The Arts ......................................................................................................................................... 43
Dress.............................................................................................................................................. 43
Sexuality ........................................................................................................................................ 44
Impact on Hamlet ......................................................................................................................... 44
General Vision and Viewpoint ......................................................................................................... 49
Tone .............................................................................................................................................. 49
Shakespeare’s outlook on life ....................................................................................................... 49
Sample Answer ................................................................................................................................ 53
(i) Revenge and justice are finely balanced themes in the play, Hamlet. ..................................... 53
(ii) Claudius can be seen as both a heartless villain and a character with some redeeming
qualities in the play, Hamlet. ........................................................................................................ 55
5 Hamlet by William Shakespeare – English Revision notes.
Get A-Grade Membership
Why become A-Grade member?







Access unlimited Revision Premium revision notes Created by
top class teachers and subject experts.
Access revision content across a wide range of subjects.
Access almost 1000 maths tutorials helping you understand,
learn and approach maths questions to ace your exams.
Access A-Grade Sample Answers to help steer you in the right
direction.
Access mock exam papers (unseen) and marking schemes to help
you continuously practice.
Access revision notes any time anywhere and on your mobile
device.
Only €5.99 per month.
“The Sample Answers, revision notes, and all their Maths videos really made me feel
comfortable in my exams. They improved my confidence so much and I found my grades
improving. Definitely recommend them to everyone!”
Rob Shaw, London
Get A-Grade Membership
6 Hamlet by William Shakespeare – English Revision notes.
Hamlet
Summary Act One
Scene One
Hamlet opens with the interaction of two guards of Elsinore Castle, Barnardo and Francisco.
Barnardo has come to relieve Francisco of his duties and the pair have a brief discussion about
the weather. Horatio and Marcellus arrive on the scene and they greet Francisco before he
exits. They then turn their attention to Barnardo, who welcomes them.
The trio begin to discuss the ghostly vision that has previously appeared to Marcellus and
Barnardo: ‘This apparition… this dreaded sight’. Barnardo declares that it has not yet
appeared to him on the night in question. Horatio doubts its existence and does not believe
it will appear. In an effort to convince Horatio that The Ghost is real, Barnardo begins to tell
the story of its appearance two nights before.
Suddenly, and before getting to the heart of his story, he is interrupted by The Ghost’s
appearance. Barnardo remarks that it is ‘in the same figure’ as the dead Danish king.
Marcellus urges Horatio to communicate with the apparition. Despite the fear and awe that
have filled him, Horatio addresses The Ghost and demands that he speak. The Ghost’s
appearance is brief and it leaves after being spoken to by Horatio.
Horatio declares that he would not have believed The Ghost was real if he had not seen it
with his own eyes. He finds it strange that The Ghost was wearing the same armour as that
used during the battle between the King of Denmark and King Fortinbras of Norway. It was
during this battle that the King of Denmark killed King Fortinbras and conquered his lands.
Horatio is convinced that The Ghost’s appearance at this moment in time must be a ‘prologue
to the omen coming on’, as young Fortinbras has just declared war on Denmark to avenge his
father’s death.
The Ghost reappears once more towards the end of this scene. Again, it does not speak and
its appearance is brief. Barnardo remarks that it was about to speak before it heard the
crowing of the cock. Horatio determines that this signalling of daylight meant that The Ghost
was forced to leave. The scene concludes with Horatio declaring that they must inform Prince
Hamlet of what they have witnessed.
7 Hamlet by William Shakespeare – English Revision notes.
Scene Two
Scene two opens with the entrance of Claudius, the new King of Denmark, who is
accompanied by his wife Gertrude and a variety of courtiers, including Prince Hamlet,
Polonius (the King’s aide) and Laertes, who is Polonius’ son. Claudius is conscious that King
Hamlet’s recent death may make Denmark seem weak to young Fortinbras of Norway. This,
he explains, is why he married Queen Gertrude so quickly after his brother’s death. Claudius
sends Cornelius and Voltemand to Norway to inform Fortinbras’ uncle of his nephew’s plan
in the hope that he will put a stop to him.
After Cornelius and Voltemand exit, Claudius turns his attention to Laertes and asks what it is
that he desires. Laertes asks permission from the King to return to France, where he was
attending school. Claudius discusses his request with Polonius, who asserts his agreement
with Laertes’ wishes. At this, the King bestows Laertes with his permission to return to France.
Having dealt with Laertes, Claudius becomes aware of Hamlet and addresses his melancholic
demeanour, asking him how it is that ‘the clouds still hang’ on him. The Queen joins in and
implores Hamlet to cast his grief aside. Hamlet refutes her efforts and declares that his grief
is indeed still with him, that ‘these [are] but the trappings and the suits of woe’.
Claudius attempts to offer Hamlet advice, telling him that this is simply the cycle of life, that
death is a natural occurrence. He says that it is time for Hamlet to move on from this ‘unmanly
grief’ and he asks him to remain in Denmark instead of returning to his school in Wittenburg.
Gertrude iterates this request and, because of this, Hamlet agrees to stay.
Hamlet and Gertrude exit, leaving Hamlet alone on stage. It is then that he gives his first
soliloquy. He laments the fact that he is unable to commit suicide and his thoughts turn to his
father, upon whom he bestows much praise, ‘So excellent a king that was to this’. This is in
contrast to his thoughts on his mother, who expresses his disgust for.
Hamlet is interrupted by the entrance of Horatio, Marcellus and Barnardo. Hamlet engages
Horatio in conversation and his jokes are peppered with a dark humour. He mocks his mother
for having married Claudius so soon after her husband King Hamlet died. Horatio tells Hamlet
of his encounter with The Ghost, telling him that he thinks it might have been the ghost of
Hamlet’s father. Hamlet decides to join the night watch in case The Ghost decides to
reappear.
8 Hamlet by William Shakespeare – English Revision notes.
Scene Three
At the beginning of this scene, Laertes is bidding his sister Ophelia farewell as he prepares to
return to his school in France. He discusses Hamlet’s advances towards her and he makes his
disapproval known. He tells her that Hamlet will use her and that she should reject him in
order to protect her honour. Ophelia tells him that she will remember this advice.
Polonius enters. He gives Laertes his blessing to leave and imparts numerous pieces of advice
on how he should live his life in France. Laertes leaves, but not before reminding Ophelia of
his advice to her.
Polonius, curious as to what this advice could be, entreats Ophelia to give him more
information. Ophelia confesses that Hamlet has ‘of late made many tenders of his affection’
towards her. Polonius mocks her naivety and declares that Hamlet wants her for one thing
and one thing only. He orders her to avoid all contact with Hamlet. She agrees.
Scene Four
Hamlet meets with Horatio and Marcellus on the guards’ platform of Elsinore castle as they
had previously arranged. They hear the sound of trumpets and Hamlet resentfully comments
on the new King’s penchant for drunkenness and revelry. He condemns this behaviour as it
paints all of the people of Denmark in a negative light. His commentary is interrupted by the
appearance of The Ghost.
It is Horatio who notices The Ghost initially and points Hamlet in its direction. Hamlet
recognises the figure as his father even though he comes to him in ‘such a questionable
shape’. He implores The Ghost to speak to him and to explain the reason for its visit. The
Ghost does not speak but instead beckons Hamlet to follow.
Marcellus and Horatio attempt to discourage Hamlet from following The Ghost. Despite their
protestations and physical attempts to stop him from leaving, Hamlet breaks free from their
grip and leaves with The Ghost.
Scene Five
Hamlet tells The Ghost he must speak or he will not continue to follow him. The Ghost
declares that he is the spirit of Hamlet’s father – King Hamlet. The Ghost tells Hamlet that he
only has a short time left before he must return to Purgatory. Before he leaves, he urges
Hamlet to avenge his murder. Hamlet is taken aback at the word ‘murder’ as he thought his
father died of natural causes.
The Ghost continues on, informing Hamlet of the full story of his murder and revealing
Claudius as the crime’s perpetrator. Hamlet is outraged by this disclosure. After ordering him
to seek vengeance on Claudius, The Ghost instructs Hamlet to leave his mother out of it. The
Ghost then leaves abruptly.
9 Hamlet by William Shakespeare – English Revision notes.
Hamlet is left on the stage, alone and enraged. He answers the concerned calls of Horatio and
Marcellus but does not provide any details of his conversation with The Ghost. Hamlet makes
them swear not to reveal the scenes they have witnessed and they exit together.
Summary Act Two
Scene One
Polonius enters with his servant Reynaldo. They plot a scheme to have Reynaldo go to France
and spy on Laertes in order to establish a true sense of his movements and activities. Reynaldo
takes his leave and Ophelia enters. She is visibly distressed and Polonius asks her what has
happened. She tells him of her encounter with Hamlet, who entered into her chambers in a
state of disarray; his clothes were all askew and his face had a ‘pale’, ‘piteous’ look about it.
Polonius attributes this madness to Hamlet’s love for Ophelia.
Ophelia proceeds to give a detailed description of the encounter. Polonius declares that they
must seek the help of the King and he asks Ophelia if she has encouraged Hamlet’s advances.
Ophelia insists that she has not and Polonius concludes that this has made Hamlet mad. They
leave together to inform the King of these developments.
Scene Two
The King and Queen enter accompanied by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The topic of
discussion amongst them is Hamlet’s madness and what can be done about it. The King has
sought the help of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who are two old friends of Hamlet’s. He
plans to have them spy on Hamlet and report back to him. The Queen promises that they will
be well-compensated for their efforts. Both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern readily agree to
the proposed plan and they take their leave.
Polonius enters briefly to announce the arrival of the ambassadors from Norway. He also
announces that he has uncovered ‘the very cause of Hamlet’s lunacy’. When he leaves to
retrieve the ambassadors, the Queen dismisses Polonius’ claims in the belief that the only
cause of Hamlet’s madness is ‘his father’s death and our hasty marriage’.
Polonius returns and is accompanied by the ambassadors, Voltemand and Cornelius. They
give the news that Fortinbras’ uncle has managed deter his nephew from his quest to invade
Norway. Fortinbras’ uncle wants compensation for his efforts and asks that Claudius provide
young Fortinbras ‘quiet pass’ through Denmark on his way to Poland. Claudius agrees to
consider this request and gives the ambassadors permission to leave.
After they leave, Polonius commences a long-winded discussion of the meaning of life. During
this discussion, he declares that Hamlet is mad. The Queen has little time for his ramblings
10 Hamlet by William Shakespeare – English Revision notes.
and she reprimands him. Polonius reads from a letter, which he claims was given to his
daughter Ophelia by Hamlet.
Polonius informs the King and Queen that he has forbidden Ophelia from any contact with
Hamlet and he gives this as the cause for the Prince’s madness. The Queen accepts that this
is a plausible explanation. In the discussion that follows, the trio wonder how they might
prove Polonius’ theory.
Polonius comes up with the idea of eavesdropping on the next encounter between Hamlet
and Ophelia. A s the King agrees, Hamlet enters the room. Polonius requests that the King and
Queen leave so that he might have a moment alone with the Prince. In the ensuing
conversation, Hamlet mocks Polonius, who reacts with uncertainty. Polonius is convinced that
Hamlet is mad but that ‘there is method in’t’. Their conversation is inconclusive and Polonius
leaves.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrive just as Polonius is departing. Hamlet enquires as to the
reason for their visit. They claim that they just came to see him. However, Hamlet is shrewd
enough to see through their lies and, after some probing from the Prince, they admit that the
King and Queen sent them. Upon their admission, Hamlet launches into a speech and
bemoans the very nature of mankind, ‘What a piece of work is a man!’
Rosencrantz attempts to distract Hamlet by announcing the presence of the players. This
news delights Hamlet and he welcomes them warmly. Polonius enters to announce the
official arrival of the players. Upon meeting the players, Hamlet asks the lead to perform a
speech from Virgil’s The Aeneid. He agrees and subsequently Hamlet is moved to tears by his
speech.
In the aftermath of the speech, Hamlet asks the players if they can play The Murder of
Gonzago. When they confirm that they can, Hamlet decides that they will perform this play
the following night with additional lines written by Hamlet himself. After voicing their
agreement, the players leave with Polonius. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern also leave and
Hamlet is once again left with his own thoughts, through which he reveals his true intentions
for The Murder of Gonzago: ‘The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king’.
11 Hamlet by William Shakespeare – English Revision notes.
Get A-Grade Membership
Why become A-Grade member?







Access unlimited Revision Premium revision notes Created by
top class teachers and subject experts.
Access revision content across a wide range of subjects.
Access almost 1000 maths tutorials helping you understand,
learn and approach maths questions to ace your exams.
Access A-Grade Sample Answers to help steer you in the right
direction.
Access mock exam papers (unseen) and marking schemes to help
you continuously practice.
Access revision notes any time anywhere and on your mobile
device.
Only €5.99 per month.
I used mocks.ie during my Leaving Cert. The revision notes, sample answers, specially
created mock exam papers, and all the maths videos helped me in all the subjects I was
struggling in. Got me into something I'm passionate about
Frank, Sligo
Get A-Grade Membership
12 Hamlet by William Shakespeare – English Revision notes.