Hamlet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS6maTSY
uPI
Predictions…
Characters
•
What do you think the story
is about? What do you think
happens?
•
Use the characters and
captions to help you devise
some sort of storyline.
Captions
Hamlet – Shakespeare
A Revenge Tragedy
Compare with The Revenger’s Tragedy
I hour 15 mins paper
Closed Text
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
gets hurt?
REVENGE
The Characters
Stick each character onto a separate sheet. We will be
adding key quotes and characteristics as we go along.
Alternatively, on the blog is a link to a document
containing all the pics. You can use this too if you prefer.
The Opening Scene – Act 1 Scene 1
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 –
Claudius Addresses the Court
Objective:
Understand the difference in the atmosphere between
the first two scenes of the play
Success Criteria:
- Have compared the first two scenes
- Completed a comparative analysis
How has Shakespeare shown a contrast in the atmosphere
between Act 1 scene 1 and Act 1 scene 2?
This is what we should be able to effectively
answer by the end of the lesson.
Act 1 Scene 2
Scene 2 is set in the Great Castle
of Elsinore. It is bright, colourful
and loud.
-
What are the key points of
this scene?
‘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.
Claudius – First impressions
Add key characteristics to your Claudius page.
Include key quotes
-Gertrude
-Hamlet
- Denmark
‘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.
Hamlet – the solitary thinker
How has Shakespeare presented Hamlet?
- Appearance
- Attitude
- What other’s say to him
How has
Shakespeare shown
a contrast in the
atmosphere
between Act 1 scene
1 and Act 1 scene 2?
Who are the
characters and how
are they linked?
What’s really
happening in
Claudius’ speech?
Act 1 Scenes 3 and 4 –
Ophelia’s relationship with Hamlet is a
major subplot
Objective:
Explore the character of Ophelia and her position in the
play.
Success Criteria:
- Have started the character map for Polonius, Laertes
and Ophelia
- Have written a comparison between the inside and
outside of the castle
Compare the two families:
Claudius
Polonius
Gertrude
Laertes
Hamlet
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?
Polonius, Laertes and
Ophelia
Start the character pages for the above three characters.
- Polonius's language and wordplay
- Laertes language when speaking to Ophelia
- Ophelia’s submissiveness
Homework:
- Scene 4
- 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
dramatic function. Whatever may have been 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 scepticism that all at first show concerning the ghost
seems to indicate their unwillingness to put faith 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
suspicions, and Hamlet is convinced of the guilt of the king
Madness
Revenge
Memory
Complete the three sections looking
closely at Act 1 Sc 5.
Watch up to the end of Act 1
Add to the Ophelia
character page,
this time including
quotes from the
men who seem to
be demanding her
to act or do
certain things.
Write the name of
the character
after the quote.
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.
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
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
Hamlet – ‘I do not set
my life at a pin’s fee’
For homework, add to your HAMLET character map. This time
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.
Act2 Scene1
1.
2.
Polonius sends someone to spy on his son,
Laertes
Ophelia reports Hamlet’s strange appearance
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.”
Hamlet begins to
appear mad
What do we learn from
Ophelia about Hamlet’s
appearance?
(83-90)
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.
Act 2 Scene 2
Deception is
widespread
Real Madness Vs
Fake Madness
Humour in
Hamlet’s Madness
Players have an
important role
Hamlet curses his
lack of action
Using Act 2 Scene 2
as a starting point,
analyse the
importance of
deception in Hamlet
‘to be or not to be’
Hamlet’s most unique soliloquy
The dramatic
purpose of this
episode is to
establish Hamlet
as a
characteristically
detached,
reflective,
analytic, thinking
and moral.
Abstract
reflection.
Act 3 Scene 1 – ‘to be
or not to be’
Read through the scene and work through the
following steps:
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?
1.
in direct contrast to the
passionate exchange which
follows…
‘Get thee to a
nunnery’
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
Play within a
Play
What are the key moments of the scene?
Claudius’ reaction to
the play…
What does Hamlet
think?
Horatio…….the voice
of reason?
Hamlet’s relationships
are developed…
Horatio
Ophelia
Gertrude
Rosencrantz
And
Guildenstern
‘Ophelia should be viewed
as a completely innocent
victim’
Argue for AND against this
statement
for
against
Act 3 Scene 3
What does this
scene reveal about
Claudius’ character?
Claudius is not
genuinely repentant
How do we know this?
Tragi
c
Flaw
Plot
Device
Conscience
Potential
Explanations
for Hamlet’s
delay….
Fairness
The Closet Scene
What is the purpose
behind Hamlet’s
confrontation?
Confirms
Claudius’
Guilt
Make
Gertrude
repent
Repair their
relationship
Explore Gertrude’s
language whilst she is
talking to Hamlet
Explore Hamlet’s
control over the
conversation.
How does he do this?
What do we make of Hamlet’s
spontaneous reaction?
‘Act 3 Scene 4 proves that
Gertrude is just an innocent
victim’.
To what extent do you agree
with the statement?