Nexus resource Hamlet Act I Scene summaries Subject: Age range: Topic: English 12–14 15–16 Hamlet 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 Self-Made Hero’s Manga Shakespeare series. Hamlet Act 1: Scene summaries Scene 1 Outside the castle of Elsinore The ghost of Hamlet’s father appears at the castle of Elsinore. Horatio (Hamlet’s friend) and the castle guards see the ghost. They decide to tell Hamlet. Key words or phrases with pictures the ghost of Hamlet’s father Hamlet the King the castle Horatio Key words to translate Word or phrase Translation Meaning to appear (ghost) to decide to tell Hamlet’s father a guard ©British Council 2015 Scene 2 At the Royal Court in the castle King Claudius (of Denmark) is at the Royal Court in the castle with Queen Gertrude, Hamlet and others. King Claudius is Hamlet’s uncle. Queen Gertrude is Hamlet’s mother. King Claudius married Hamlet’s mother Gertrude when Hamlet’s father died. King Claudius says he is upset that King Hamlet, Hamlet’s father, is dead. King Claudius says he loves Prince Hamlet like a son. Hamlet is upset because his father is dead. Queen Gertrude wants Hamlet to be happy again. King Claudius sends messengers to Norway to Prince Fortinbras. Prince Fortinbras of Norway wants to invade Denmark. King Claudius doesn’t want Fortinbras to invade Denmark. Fortinbras wants revenge for the death of his father (King Fortinbras). Laertes is the son of Polonius. Laertes and Hamlet ask King Claudius for permission to go to college. Claudius gives permission to Laertes but not to Hamlet. When Hamlet is alone he speaks to the audience. He is furious with Claudius because Claudius has married his mother. Horatio (Hamlet’s friend) and the guards tell Hamlet about his father’s ghost. Hamlet decides to watch for the ghost that night. Key words or phrases with pictures the Royal Court the audience Polonius King Claudius and Queen Gertrude Norway furious (very angry) Denmark night dead a messenger Laertes ©British Council 2015 Key words to translate Word or phrase Translation Meaning to send to invade uncle mother upset to marry revenge to ask for permission to mourn to speak to watch ©British Council 2015 Scene 3 At Polonius’ house Laertes is going to live in France. He says goodbye to his sister, Ophelia. Hamlet is courting Ophelia. Laertes tells Ophelia not to trust Hamlet. Polonius says goodbye to his son, Laertes. Polonius tells Laertes how to behave when he is at college. Polonius also tells Ophelia to keep away from Hamlet. Key words or phrases with pictures France Ophelia Laertes says goodbye to Ophelia Key words to translate Word or phrase Translation Meaning to live to court to trust to behave to keep away from sister ©British Council 2015 Word or phrase Translation Meaning son Scene 4 Elsinore Castle Hamlet waits with his friends, Horatio and Marcellus, outside the castle. Hamlet wants to see his father’s ghost. Soon the ghost appears. The ghost beckons to Hamlet to follow him into the dark night. Horatio and Marcellus are worried, but Hamlet follows the ghost. Key words or phrases with pictures the ghost of Hamlet’s father night Hamlet sees the ghost of his father. Key words to translate Word or phrase Translation Meaning to follow to beckon worried ©British Council 2015 Scene 5 Elsinore Castle The ghost of Hamlet’s father speaks to Hamlet. The ghost tells Hamlet that: Claudius killed Hamlet’s father. Claudius poisoned Hamlet’s father. Claudius wanted to marry Gertrude and become king. Queen Gertrude seemed to be a good queen. Hamlet promises to get revenge on Claudius for his father’s death. Hamlet tells his friends that the ghost was his father’s ghost. Hamlet will pretend to go mad. Key words to translate Word or phrase Translation Meaning to pretend to go mad to murder to kill to poison to become ©British Council 2015