Licence information | This resource is free to use for educational purposes. ©British Council 2015
Source | This resource was originally developed by Ruth Wilson for Wolverhampton Local Authority and has been adapted by EAL Nexus. Images are from SelfMade Hero’s Manga Shakespeare series.

Scenes 1, 2 and 3: Elsinore Castle
Gertrude tells Claudius that Hamlet has killed Polonius. Gertrude tells Claudius that Hamlet has gone mad. She is afraid of him.
Claudius sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to fetch Hamlet.
Hamlet tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that they always do what the king wants.
Claudius asks Hamlet where Polonius’s body is. Hamlet tells Claudius to look for Polonius in hell.
Claudius sends Hamlet to England with Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern. When Claudius is alone he tells the audience that he has sent a letter to the King of England. The letter tells the King of
England to kill Hamlet when Hamlet arrives in England.
Key words or phrases with pictures a letter
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Key words to translate
Word or phrase Translation afraid of to arrive
Meaning to fetch
Scene 4 A plain in Denmark
While Hamlet is on his way to England, he sees Fortinbras, the
Prince of Norway. Fortinbras and his army are travelling through
Denmark to attack Poland.
This makes Hamlet feel guilty that he hasn’t got revenge for his father’s murder.
Key words or phrases with pictures
Fortinbras’s army
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Key words to translate
Word or phrase Translation to attack
Meaning
Scene 5 Elsinore Castle
Ophelia has gone mad. She sings songs in front of Gertrude and
Claudius. Laertes comes back from France. He is very angry and wants revenge for his father’s death. Ophelia comes back in and gives everyone flowers. Laertes sees that Ophelia has gone mad and becomes even more angry.
Key words or phrases with pictures a flower Ophelia and the flowers
Key words to translate
Word or phrase Translation Meaning to sing a song even more angry
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Scene 6 Elsinore Castle
Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet. Some pirates helped Hamlet to escape from the boat to England. Hamlet is coming back to
Denmark.
Key words or phrases with pictures
Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet
Key words to translate
Word or phrase Translation Meaning to escape a boat some pirates
Scene 7 Elsinore Castle
Claudius finds out that Hamlet is still alive. Claudius thinks of another plan to kill Hamlet. Claudius makes a plan with Laertes.
Laertes is going to kill Hamlet in a fencing match. He is going to use
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a sword with poison on the tip. Claudius is going to give Hamlet a poisoned drink too.
Gertrude comes in and says that Ophelia is dead. She has drowned.
Key words or phrases with pictures a sword to fence (fight with a sword) tip (of a sword)
Claudius makes a plan with Laertes
Key words to translate
Ophelia is dead
Word or phrase Translation Meaning to drown
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