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Hamlet
What are the side effects of revenge? What happens to someone as a result of
revenge? What about the people around them? Is it self destructive? Why? Who
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gets hurt?
REVENGE
The Opening Scene – Act 1 Scene 1
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What is the mood and
atmosphere?
What language
techniques have been
used to create this
atmosphere?
What is the purpose of
this scene and what has
it been used to
establish?
Look at the purpose of the
ghost here. Does the ghost
foreshadow anything? What is
the ghost’s attire?
Also, explore what Horatio brings to
the scene?
Act 1 Scene 2 –
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Claudius Addresses the
Court
Objective:
Understand the difference in the atmosphere between
the first two scenes of the play
Discuss with the person next to you for 2 minutes the
following things and be ready to discuss as a class:
- Have compared the first two scenes
- Completed a comparative analysis statement
Act 1 Scene 2
Scene 2 is set in the Great Castle of
Elsinore. It is bright, colorful and loud.
-
What are the key points of this scene?
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‘By our late dear
brother’s
death/Our state
to be disjoint’
The first scene hints at the widespread concerns that
exist in Denmark, but this scene reveals exactly how
‘rotten’ the state is. Claudius’ corruption is a sign that
Elsinore is vulnerable.
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Claudius – First
impressions
Discuss with the person next to you for 2 minutes the
following things and be ready to discuss as a class:
. Include key quotes
-Gertrude
-Hamlet
- Denmark
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‘O that this too
too sullied flesh
would melt’
Shakespeare reveals Hamlet’s thoughtful
personality through his analysis of grief and his
struggle with the morality of suicide.
Hamlet's loss of faith and the question of whether
suicide can be justified are major themes
throughout the rest of the play.
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Hamlet – the solitary thinker
How has Shakespeare presented Hamlet?
- Appearance
- Attitude
- What others say to him
Compare the two families:
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• Claudius
• Gertrude
• Hamlet
• Polonius
• Laertes
• Ophelia
Look at how the members of the family react and respond to
the respective heads of the family, Claudius and Polonius. Can
you sense any genuine love or concern in either family?
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Polonius, Laertes
and Ophelia
Discuss with the person next to you for 2 minutes the following things
and be ready to discuss as a class:
- Polonius's language and wordplay
- Laertes language when speaking to Ophelia
- Ophelia’s submissiveness
DISCUSS, WITH THE PERSON NEXT TO
YOU
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FOR 2 MINUTES, THE FOLLOWING THINGS
-AND
Scene
4
BE READY
TO DISCUSS AS A CLASS:
-: the Danish custom of drinking
- Why Hamlet is not afraid to go with the Ghost
- Scene 5
How the Ghost compares himself to
Gertrude and Claudius
What does he say about his murder
What does he say about how quickly he was
killed
The ghost in Hamlet no doubt performs an important
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dramatic function. Whatever may have beenName
Shakespeare's
belief about ghosts he utilizes the popular conception to
highlight what is in the minds of his characters. The ghosts
or witches that appeared to Macbeth spoke out only what
was in his mind, and revealed his inner thoughts to the
audience better than any words of his could do. In the
same way, the ghost in Hamlet discloses to us the
suspicions already in the minds of Hamlet and his friends.
When Hamlet sees the ghost and hears its revelations, he
voices this thought by saying, "Oh my prophetic soul!" (I. V.
40.) And the fact that it first appears to the friends of
Hamlet suggests that they shared his suspicions and
perhaps even anticipated them, though no word had been
spoken. The inquiry of Marcellus about the cause of the
warlike activity and his later remark about the rotten
condition of Denmark seem to imply a suspicion that he is
endeavoring to verify or to disprove.
.
The skepticism that all at first show concerning the ghost
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seems to indicate their unwillingness to putName
faithof in
their
suspicions. They do not willingly think evil of the king, and
they all want some undoubted proof, not only of the fact of
the ghost's appearance, but of the truth of his words.
Horatio hesitates to take ths word of Bernardo and
Francisco, and is convinced only by the actual sight of the
ghost. Hamlet, apparently the least suspicious of all, for he
is the last to see the ghost, seems reluctant to believe that
Horatio and the others have seen it. To convince him,
Horatio assures him with an oath of the truth of his report,
saying,
"As I do live, my honor'd lord, 'tis true."
(I. ii. 221.)
His doubts are not finally removed until the fourth scene
when he sees the ghost for himself. At last, the evidence
overcomes his moral reluctance to believe such foul
Discuss with the person next to you for 2 minutes the following
things
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and be ready to discuss as a class:
Madness
Revenge
Memory
Complete the three sections looking
closely at Act 1 Scene 5.
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“I was the more
deceiv'd.”
~Ophelia, Act
III, scene 1
Ophelia and the status of
women
Unlike some of Shakespeare’s other female characters (Juliet),
Ophelia is not a developed character. She gives into the
demands from the men in her life.
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The Ghost appears to Hamlet
This mirrors the first scene. There is a
contrast between the carefree nature
inside the castle and the looming threat
outside.
How does Shakespeare show a contrast in this scene between
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the carefree nature of the court inside and the danger that is
looming outside of the castle?
- Suspense before the ghost arrives
- The sound of the trumpets
- The feeling of both the old king and new
king
- What is further revealed about the state
of Denmark
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Hamlet – ‘I do not
set my life at a
pin’s fee’
Discuss, with the person next to you for 2 minutes, the following things and be ready
to discuss as a class: Focus on how Hamlet is in a desperate state – he does not care
about his life. Also look at his references to fate and destiny.
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Act2 Scene1
1.
Polonius sends someone to spy on his son,
Laertes
2.
Ophelia reports Hamlet’s strange appearance
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Shakespeare lightens the tone by
making Polonius appear
ludicrous. Full of his own
importance and intoxicated words
, he has the tendency to lose the
thread of “what was I about to
say?/by the mass I was about to
say something.”
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Hamlet begins to
appear mad
What do we learn
from Ophelia about
Hamlet’s
appearance?
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Key Info
Hamlet knows Ophelia
will tell her father what
she has seen .
Feminist critics comment
that Ophelia seems to
have no scope for
following her own
wishes. Others,
contrasting her with
Juliet, accuse her of a
complete lack of spirit.
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Act 2 Scene 2 –
Rosencrantz
and
Guildenstern
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Real Madness
vs Fake
Madness
Deception is
widespread
Humor in
Hamlet’s
Madness
Players have an
important role
Hamlet curses
his lack of action
Discuss, with the person next to you for 2 minutes, the following things and be
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ready to discuss as a class:
Using Act 2 Scene
2 as a starting
point, analyze the
importance
of
Deception
deception in
Hamlet.
‘to be or not to be’
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dramatic
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purpose of
this episode is
to establish
Hamlet as a
characteristic
ally detached,
reflective,
analytic,
thinking and
moral.
Hamlet’s most unique soliloquy
Abstract
reflection.
Act 3 Scene 1 – “to be
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or not to be”
Read through the scene and work through the
following steps:
1. What are the key messages of this
soliloquy?
2. Why is there no mention of the
ghost/Claudius/Gertrude?
3. What do you notice about the tone and
tempo?
4. What does this show you about Hamlet’s
state of mind?
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The calmness of the
soliloquy is in direct
contrast to the passionate
exchange which follows…
‘Get thee to a
nunnery’
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REVERSAL OF ROLES
- GERTRUDE’S ALLEGIANCE
-OPHELIA’S BETRAYAL
EXPLORE
Hamlet’s reaction to Ophelia
before she speaks.
- How he refers to her
- Language used
Hamlet’s rage once Ophelia
starts talking.
- How does he refer to her
now?
- Language he uses
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Play within a
Play
What are the key moments of the scene?
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Claudius’ reaction to
the play…
What does Hamlet
Horatio…….the voice
think?
of reason? Still?
Hamlet’s relationships are
developed…
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Horatio
Ophelia
Gertrude
Rosencrantz
And
Guildenstern
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“Ophelia should be viewed
as a completely innocent
victim”
Argue for AND against this
statement
for
against
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Act 3 Scene 3
What does this
scene reveal about
Claudius’ character?
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Claudius is not
genuinely repentant
How do we know this?
Tragic
Flaw
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Conscience
Potential
Explanations
for Hamlet’s
delay….
Plot
Device
Fairness
The Closet
Scene
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What is the purpose
behind Hamlet’s
confrontation?
Confirms
Claudius’
Guilt
Make
Gertrude
repent
Repair their
relationship
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Explore Gertrude’s
language whilst
she is talking to
Hamlet-what do
you notice?
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Explore Hamlet’s
control over the
conversation.
Hamlet’s
How does he
maintain
this?
control
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WHAT DO WE MAKE OF
HAMLET’S SPONTANEOUS
REACTION?
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“ACT 3 SCENE 4 PROVES
THAT GERTRUDE IS JUST AN
INNOCENT VICTIM”.
TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU