Hamlet
Act I
Scene 1
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Barnardo (guard) shows up to relieve Francisco
Francisco indicates that the night has been slow, and he is ill (1)
Marcellus is also on guard duty, accompanied by friend, Horatio
Guards begin discussing the ghost, which has been showing up for the past two
nights around midnight
Horatio doesn't believe the story
Ghost appears, and all three guards see it; Horatio tries to speak to the ghost, and it
disappears
Horatio notices that the ghost is wearing the King of Denmark's armor
(personalized)
Horatio feels ghost may be an omen (2)
Marcellus asks someone to explain why the ghost is there, and why King Claudius is
getting the military together
Horatio explains possible reason
Former King Hamlet had defeated Fortinbras, King of Norway, in a battle. Fortinbras
was killed, and Denmark was able to take Fortinbras's land
After King Hamlet had died suddenly, Fortinbras's son (of the same name) had
used the time to gather together criminals in an effort to regain Norway's lost lands.
In response to this threat, Denmark's populous is feeling rather tense, and Claudius
has heightened security (3)
The ghost reappears, and Horatio asks the ghost to speak on the sake of Denmark
The ghost remains silent and begins to depart
Horatio tries to prevent the ghost from leaving by threatening it with his sword
Marcellus states that they have treated the former King disrespectfully by
threatening it
Horatio points out that the ghost left at sunrise, and that the rooster's crow seems
to warn spirits to go back to their places (4)
Horatio and the officers decide to tell King Hamlet's son, Hamlet, about the ghost
(1)Indicates something wrong in Denmark: foreshadowing
(2) Typical of Elizebethan times: assumption that ghosts were either evil spirits,
tormented spirits who have sinned, or even the devil in disguise
(3) Later, Fortinbras serves to inspire Hamlet
(4) Indicates that there is hope (light = hope) even in Denmark's current - as the ghost
is driven out by the dawn, the evil in Denmark will also be driven out
Literary Devices:
Horatio: I have heard/The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn (150)
Metaphor
Horatio: But look, the morn in russet mantle clad/Walks oer the dew of yon high
eastward hill (166)
Personification
Hamlet
Act I
Scene II
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Opens with King Claudius and Queen Gertrude addressing the people, thanking
them for supporting their recent marriage (1 & 2)
Explains that Fortinbras is trying to take advantage of Denmark's change in Kings
and is planning to attack and win back Norway's lands
Claudius sends 2 messengers to Norway to tell the King (Young Fortinbras's
bedridden uncle) what Fortinbras is planning (3)
Messengers: Voltemand, Cornelius
Laertes visits Claudius to ask permission to return to France
King asks Polonius, Laertes's father, if this is acceptable; Laertes agrees, and the
King grants Laertes's request
King and Queen(4) tell Hamlet to stop mourning his father and sulking around.
Claudius explains that death is natural, and that all men lose their fathers. He wants
Hamlet to resume his normal affairs, as this obvious show of mourning seems weak
(5)
Claudius and Gertrude ask Hamlet not to return to Wittenburg (school) (6)
Hamlet agrees to remain in Denmark
All exit except Hamlet, and he explains that his father has been dead only two
months, and that his mother had married his father's brother within a month.
Hamlet is furious at his mother's lack of sorrow (7)
Horatio, Marcellus, and Barnardo appear
Horatio is a classmate of Hamlet's at Wittenburg, and he explains that he is in
Denmark to attend Hamlet's Father's funeral, and Hamlet's mother's wedding
The friends discuss the oddity of the wedding party so soon after the funeral
Horatio expresses his own misgivings about the Queen's sudden marriage on the
heels of her husband's death
Horatio tells Hamlet that he, Barnardo, and Marcellus saw his father last night for
the third time
Horatio explains that the ghost never spoke, so it is unclear why it appeared
Hamlet agrees to meet the men between eleven and midnight that evening in order
to see his father's ghost (8)
Hamlet asks that they not tell anyone else about the ghost
(1) Attempt to convince public that their marriage is appropriate
(2) In Shakespeare's times, the marriage of a woman to her husband's brother was
considered incest
(3) Claims letter asks that the King curb Fortinbras's reckless behavior toward Denmark
(4) King's claim that he loves Hamlet as a son sounds very saccharine
(5) One of many criticisms of Hamlet's behavior
(6) Selfish: Claudius wants to watch Hamlet, to make sure Hamlet is not stirring up
public support for the crown
(7) Soliloquy. Hamlet is outraged and disgusted by his mother's behavior, as well as his
despair over his father's death. He wants to die, but will not commit the sin of suicide
(8) Hamlet is suspicious of the ghost's appearance, and wonders about the cause of his
father's death- if it had been a natural one, surely a ghost would not appear
Literary Devices:
Hamlet: A little more than kin, and less than kind (65)
Pun
Horatio: A truant disposition, good my lord (169) explanation for why he is not in
school
Pun
Hamlet: [Foul] deeds will rise, /Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's eyes
Foreshadowing
Hamlet
Act I
Scene III
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(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Laertes prepares to leave for France
Laertes offers Ophelia advice regarding her budding romance with Hamlet: while
Laertes believes Hamlet's motives to be true, he cautions Ophelia that Hamlet will
not be able to choose his own bride. Laertes explains that Hamlet is trapped by his
crown, and will not be able to truly succumb to love. (1) Laertes warns Ophelia to
guard her maidenhood, even against Hamlet
Ophelia jokingly states that while Laertes wants her to be pure, he may do as he
wishes in France (2)
Polonius enters and says goodbye to his son, offering a very long-winded speech
regarding general life lessons (3)
Polonius asks Ophelia what she and Laertes were discussing. Ophelia explains that
the two were talking about Hamlet
Polonius tells Ophelia that Hamlet's intentions aren't pure, that he is simply using
her. (4)
Ophelia tries to defend Hamlet's honor and intentions, but Polonius will not be
persuaded
Polonius forbids Ophelia from spending any more time with Hamlet, and Ophelia
agrees to obey (5)
Despite his own misgivings, Laertes does not doubt Hamlet's love for Ophelia
Shows Ophelia's playful side
Indication that Laertes has a bit of a wild streak
Shows Polonius's suspicious nature, and makes him look slightly ridiculous
Dutiful daughter
Literary Devices:
Laertes: Occasion smiles upon a second leave (54)
Personification
Ophelia: 'Tis in my memory lock'd,/And you yourself shall keep the key of it (86)
Metaphor
Polonius's use/misuse of the word "tender" in lines 100-110
Pun/Irony
Hamlet
Act I
Scene IV
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Hamlet meets Horatio and Marcellus as planned
Just after midnight, the men hear a bray of trumpets
Hamlet explains that Claudius is drunk, and the trumpets are a result of his
request to hear a tune (1)
Hamlet explains that the drunkenness in Denmark threatens the country's safety
and reputation, and keeps the country from reaching its potential
The ghost enters, and Hamlet asks it what it wants
Hamlet is unsure whether the ghost is good or evil, and requests that it make its
desires known
The ghost motions to Hamlet to follow it
Marcellus and Horatio try to restrain Hamlet from following the ghost (2)
Hamlet threatens to kill them if they continue to hold him
Horatio and Marcellus let Hamlet go, and he follows the ghost to a more private
area (3)
Marcellus and Horatio follow the two
(1) Drunkenness= sign of Claudius's bestial qualities and lack of reason and virtue
(2) The two are afraid the ghost will do something to Hamlet (in spirit or in body)
(3) Hamlet is determined to get answers about his father's death from the ghost, and
will not be restrained
Literary Devices
Hamlet: The air bites shrowdly, it is very
cold. (1)
Personification
Horatio: Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff/That beetles o'er his base into the sea,/
And there assume some other horrible form/Which might deprive your sovereignty of
reason,/And draw you into madness (69-74)
Foreshadowing
Hamlet
Act I
Scene V
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Ghost explains that he is Hamlet's father, and that he is trapped in Purgatory, as he
was killed before he had time to confess his sins
Ghost explains he spends the day in the flames of purgatory, and the nights
wandering the earth
Ghost tells Hamlet to avenge his death so that he might go free (1)
Ghost explains that the Danes think he was bitten by a snake while sleeping in the
orchard during one of his traditional naps
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Ghost explains that while he slept, his brother dropped hebona (2) into his ear, thus
killing him. Ghost says that in such a way, Claudius attained his life, wife, and crown
Ghost tells Hamlet that his mother was adulterous, and is outraged that she would
lower herself to his brother's level when the King had been so very honorable (when
alive). Ghost explains that Claudius first won the love of Gertrude, then went after
the crown
Ghost also tells Hamlet NOT to seek revenge against his mother- her conscience and
God would take care of her
Hamlet swears to avenge his father's death (3)
Ghost tells Hamlet to remember him, and leaves (4)
Horatio and Marcellus call out to Hamlet- they haven't heard any of the conversation
with the ghost
Hamlet swears Horatio and Marcellus to secrecy, explaining that they cannot tell
anyone about the ghost or Hamlet's meeting with the ghost
Horatio and Marcellus reluctantly agree, only after the Ghost's voice is heard,
commanding them to do so
Hamlet asks his two friends for one more favor: he asks that they not
comment on his behavior if he begins to act oddly. He makes them promise not to
doubt his mental state, no matter what kind of mental state he displays (5)
Marcellus and Horatio swear
(1) Hamlet asks who has committed the murder
(2) Hebona= poison
(3) This vow will later destroy Hamlet's life. Hamlet seems an unlikely character to
avenge the death, as he does not have the hostile temperament that this usually
requires. However, this fact only stresses the change that takes place later through his
much changed personality
(4) Reminder that ghost cannot attain peace until he is avenged
(5) Foreshadowing: Hamlet's ploy to feign madness is apparent here.
Literary Devices
Ghost: Make thy two eyes like stars start from their spheres (17)
Simile
Ghost: And each particular hair to stand an end,/Like quills upon the fearful porpentine
(19-20)
Simile
Ghost: The serpent that did sting thy father's life/Now wears his crown (38)
Metaphor
Hamlet
Act II
Scene I
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Scene opens with Polonius speaking to his servant, Reynaldo (1)
Polonius sends Reynald to France with money for Laertes. However, the money
is merely a front: Polonius is really sending Reynaldo to spy on Laertes. (2)
Polonius tells Reynaldo to find other Danish people in France, and to tell them
that Laertes has problems with gambling, drinking, womanizing, etc. He hopes
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that in such a way, Reynaldo will gain the trust of the travelers, and they will
come forward with stories of any inappropriate behavior on Laertes's part.
Polonius provides Reynaldo with very specific instructions on how to go about
getting information about Laertes's behavior (3)
Ophelia enters looking very distraught
Ophelia explains to her father, Polonius, that Hamlet has been to see her. She
tells her father that Hamlet came to her looking very disheveled, grabbed her
wrist, shook her, and said nothing, merely stared crazily into her eyes (4)
Polonius asks Ophelia if she's said anything unkind to Hamlet lately, and she
responds that as ordered, she's had no interaction with Hamlet at all- rejecting
his letters, etc.
Polonius assumes that his orders to Ophelia to reject Hamlet have driven Hamlet
crazy (5)
Polonius decides that he and Ophelia will tell Claudius about Hamlet's
deteriorated mental state, along with its possible cause (6)
(1) Significant amount of time has passed
(2) Demonstrates Polonius's sneaky nature, his tendency to spy and eavesdrop;
demonstrates the dishonest nature of Claudius's court
(3) Foreshadowing: later, Claudius will use these same tactics to spy on Hamlet
(4) Indicates that Hamlet has decided to use the guise of madness, as alluded to in
Act I
(5) Arrogant enough to assume his actions are enough to drive the Prince mad
(6) Worried that he may be blamed for causing the Prince's insanity, he decides to
go forward with all of his information- this seems to be exactly what Hamlet had in
mind
(7) Polonius= Lord Chamberlain
Literary Devices:
Polonius: Your bait of falsehood take the carp of truth (60)
Metaphor
Polonius: Come, go with me (98)
Oxymoron
Hamlet
Act II
Scene II
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Scene opens with King and Queen talking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two
childhood friends of Hamlet's
King asks the two friends to spy on Hamlet, talk to him and find out if he has
gone mad, and if so, identify the cause (1)
The friends agree
Polonius enters with the news that Cornelius and Voltemand have returned with
news from Norway. He also explains that he knows the cause of Hamlet's
madness, but he'll wait until after the messengers are through to explain
Cornelius and Voltemand explain that they've spoken to the King of Norway, and
that he was shocked by Fortinbras's plans- he had supposedly gathering troops
to attack Poland, not Denmark. The King of Norway assures Claudius that he
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has reprimanded his nephew, and that Fortinbras will immediately abandon his
plot to invade Denmark. However, the King of Norway asks that Fortinbras be
given permission to lead his troops through Denmark on their way to Norway.
Claudius says that he will have to think about it (2)
• Polonius reads a love letter to Ophelia, written by Hamlet, to the King and
Queen. (3) He explains that Hamlet has gone mad because he forbid his
daughter from returning any of Hamlet's affections. The Queen is skeptical.
Polonius tells the King that he will arrange a meeting in the lobby between
Ophelia and Hamlet, and the two men will eavesdrop (4); this is to affirm that
Hamlet's sanity break is due to unrequited love. The King agrees
• Polonius speaks to Hamlet privately, and the conversation is rather odd. Hamlet
speaks in riddles, confounding Polonius. Polonius assumes that Hamlet's speech
is evidence of his insanity, not realizing that everything Hamlet is saying is
specifically making fun of Polonius. Hamlet makes reference to Polonius's
daughter a number of times, serving to convince Polonius that Hamlet really is
crazy over Ophelia's rejection
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter, and have a normal conversation with Hamlet
(5). Hamlet asks them why they're there, and at first, they claim to just be
visiting. Eventually, Hamlet gets them to admit that the King sent for them in
order to have them talk to Hamlet (6)
Rosencrantz tells Hamlet that actors are there to perform
Polonius then re-enters, also with the now old news that actors are there for a
performance
The actors ("Players") enter and are greeted warmly by Hamlet, who explains that
he's seen their previous performances. Hamlet begins to recite lines perfectly from
a Greek tragedy, and the actors respond with the appropriate lines (7). The play is
one in which a father is murdered and the son takes revenge eventually, though not
as quickly as some (8)
Polonius becomes bored with the mini-performance, though he seems impressed by
Hamlet's ability to remember the lines (9)
Polonius leads the actors to the castle, and Hamlet speaks to one actor alone
Hamlet asks the actor to perform "The Murder of Ganzago" the following night, but
asks him to insert about 10 original lines that Hamlet will write (10)
Hamlet, obviously having figured out that Polonius is the reason Ophelia won't speak
to him, continuously makes reference to her. He goes so far as to supposedly
mistake Polonius for a "fishmonger" (pimp) (11)
The actor agrees, and Hamlet sends him after the others, warning him not to make
fun of Polonius (though it will be tempting)
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern also leave, and Hamlet is alone.
Hamlet begins ruminating on the plot of the Pyrrus/Priam play that he had been
reciting with the actors. He recalls Hecuba's grief stricken response to the death of
her husband (12). He calls himself a coward for not avenging his father's death
more quickly, and berates himself for his hesitation. He explains that he will add
lines to the next night's performance that will echo the murder of his father, and he
will very carefully observe Claudius's response. He is counting on using Claudius's
reaction to the murder onstage to gauge whether or not Claudius truly killed his
father (13)
Hamlet's madness here is obviously a ruse at Polonius's expense
(1) King is suspicious of sudden insanity
(2) Since the King of Norway explains that Fortinbras will not be attacking Denmark,
but will merely be marching through it, Claudius is considering the request.
Fortinbras seems to have been chastised for his former plan to go after Denmark,
and Claudius is satisfied
(3) Letter is obviously a fake- it sounds far too dramatic. Polonius claims to have
forbid Ophelia from talking to Hamlet out of concern for her safety and well-being,
yet he offers to send her to a mad man to prove his assertion is correct!
(4) The eavesdropping plan is yet another instance of Polonius's willingness to spy/
use dishonest means to prove a point
(5) Note Hamlet's ability to be rational, in contrast to the conversation with Polonius
(6) Hamlet realizes that he cannot trust anyone, not even friends
(7) The play that Hamlet begins to recite mirrors his own life.
(8) Mirrors Hamlet's plans
(9) Indication of Polonius's simplicity- he is totally unable to appreciate the artistic
lines. His inability to be moved by speech is ironic, considering his long-winded
nature
(10) "Murder of Ganzago" contains a murder situation very close to that of Hamlet's
father
(11) Obviously another insult directed at Polonius
(12) Contrast Hecuba's misery with the lack of emotion exhibited by Gertrude
(13) Hamlet wants to be certain that Claudius was responsible for his father's death
before seeking vengeance
Literary Devices:
Guildenstern: Heaven make our presence and our practices/Pleasant and helpful to him!
(38)
Alliteration
Polonius: My lord, I will take my leave of you.
Hamlet: You cannot take from me any thing/that I will not more willingly part withal
(214)
Pun
Hamlet: O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell, and count myself a king of infinite
space! (254)
Paradox
Hamlet: A dream itself is but a shadow
(260)
Metaphor
Hamlet: That I, the son of a dear father murthered,/Must like a whore unpack my heart
with words (585)
Simile
Hamlet
Act III
Scene 1
Opens with Gertrude and Claudius questioning Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about
their encounter with Hamlet
• Rosencrantz indicates that though Hamlet was very polite, he refused to speak of
whatever it was that was troubling him (1)
• Rosencrantz indicates that Hamlet's mood improved when he learned that actors
were coming to perform a play. In fact, Rosencrantz explains that Hamlet
specifically asked that the Queen and King be present at the performance. Claudius
is quite happy that Hamlet seems to want to share in a pleasant event (2 & 3)
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern exit, and the King asks Gertrude to leave him and
Polonius so that they might spy on Hamlet and Ophelia
• Polonius gives Ophelia a book of devotion and tells her to pretend to read
• Polonius comments that the whole situation is his fault- he did something unkind
and tried to coat it in piousness; In an aside, Claudius comments that he has done
the same thing, and that he realizes that nothing will be able to hide his fratricide
(4)
• Hamlet enters with the "To be, or not to be" soliloquy- he is contemplating suicide.
Hamlet is beginning to doubt Claudius's guilt, and is chastising himself for being
neither strong enough to kill himself or Claudius (5)
• Hamlet sees Ophelia and is struck by her beauty (6)
• Ophelia says she wants to return the things that Hamlet has given her; Hamlet
claims not to have given her anything nor to have ever loved her. Hamlet
proceeds to insult her virtue, telling her to go to a nunnery. Hamlet curses
Ophelia's future relationships, then leaves (7)
• Ophelia is crushed by Hamlet's cruelty, and asks God to cure his madness
• King and Polonius enter and King says that Hamlet certainly doesn't sound as
though he's love struck- his words were cruel and cold (8)
• King suggests that Hamlet's madness goes deeper than love, and says he's going to
send him to England to clear his mind and recover (9)
• Polonius still stubbornly believes that Hamlet's insanity is due to unrequited love
• Polonius asks for one more chance to prove love is the cause of Hamlet's madness:
he asks the King to arrange for Gertrude to talk to Hamlet privately about his love,
and Polonius will eavesdrop on the conversation (10). King agrees, commenting
that insanity in great ones cannot go unmonitored (11)
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(1) Rosencrantz indicates that Hamlet was very "crafty" in his replies
(2) Dramatic irony: though Hamlet seems happy to be in the King's company at the
performance,we know that the only reason that Hamlet wants King to come is so that
he can establish Claudius's guilt
(3) Appearance vs. Reality theme
(4) Claudius is starting to worry about his guilt and the possibility of everything coming
out in the open
(5) Touching scene- Hamlet is confused and troubled. He wants to do the virtuous
thing, but he is unclear what that is
(6) Hamlet is struck by love that he cannot express
(7) Hamlet's cruelty here is unquestionable. He may simply be trying to establish his
madness in Ophelia's mind, or he may have guessed that this conversation was being
somehow monitored by Polonius, and his cruelty stemmed from a feeling of betrayal;
"nunn'ry"= slang for whorehouse. Hamlet may have been insulting her virtue or simply
wishing that she remain outside of the realm of danger
(8) Appearance vs. reality theme
(9) King realizes that Hamlet could prove dangerous, and wants him out of the way
(10) Once more demonstrating Polonius's willingness to use dishonest means to reach
his goal
(11) Foreshadowing: Claudius's words are truer than he knows
Literary Devices:
Claudius: "Good gentelmen, give
Him a further edge,/And drive his Purpose into these delights" (26)
Dramatic Irony
Claudius: "How smart a lash that speech
doth give my conscience!" (49)
Metaphor
Hamlet: "For who would bear the whips
and scorns of time," (69)
Metaphor
Hamlet: "be thou chaste as ice, as pure as snow" (135)
Simile
Hamlet
Act III
Scene 2
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Hamlet enters, giving specific directions to the players. He cautions them against
overacting, and tells them that they should be temperate in their dramatic
posturings. Hamlet explains that he's seen actors give horrible displays of human
emotion, and he doesn't want that to happen tonight (1)
Hamlet tells the players to stick to the script, and no embellish the play. The actors
agree to do as instructed.
Polonius, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern arrive to tell Hamlet that the King and
Queen are coming to the performance
Horatio arrives, and Hamlet tells Horatio of his plan to establish Claudius's guilt. (2)
Hamlet asks Horatio to be an unbiased witness of Claudius's response to the play- if
Claudius shows no signs of discomfort, Hamlet will know that the Ghost is evil. If
Claudius acts suspicious, Hamlet will be able to truly believe the Ghost's story (3)
Horatio agrees
Everyone arrives for the performance. The Queen asks Hamlet to sit with her, but
Hamlet declines, choosing to sit on the floor at Ophelia's feet (in order to see
Claudius better). Ophelia and Hamlet engage in a very sexually charged
conversation, wherein Hamlet once again insults her. (4)
During this conversation, Ophelia indicates that it has been 4 months since King
Hamlet's death
A pantomime proceeds the play, and is a bit difficult to decipher. Ophelia asks
Hamlet for clarification, but he tells her to listen to the real performance (5)
The Player King and Player Queen come onstage. They discuss their love, and the
idea of remarriage. The Player Queen states that no one remarries unless it is
because he/she killed his/her first spouse, or for material gain. The Player King
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doubts her fidelity, but the Player Queen again asserts that if he dies, she will
remain a widow. Satisfied, the Player King lays down for a nap (5)
Hamlet asks his mother how she likes the play, and she says that she thinks the
Player Queen protests the idea of remarriage a little too strongly (6 &7 & 8)
Claudius asks Hamlet if the play is meant to offend, and Hamlet denies any such
intent (9)
Hamlet explains to Claudius that the play is based on a true story of the Duke of
Vienna
Hamlet explains details of the story, and again engages in a rather risque
conversation with Ophelia
The play continues: Lucianus, the Player King's nephew, enters and pours poison
into the Player King's ears as he sleeps
Hamlet explains to the audience that the murderer will now win the love of the
Player King's wife
Alarmed, Claudius stands up and calls for the lights. He leaves the performance
(10)
Horatio and Hamlet agree that Polonius's behavior confirms the Ghost's story
Emboldened by this confirmation, Hamlet calls for some musicians to celebrate
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter and tell Hamlet that Claudius is very upset, and
the Queen wishes to speak to him
Rosencrantz asks Hamlet what has caused his melancholy, and Hamlet
explains that his wait for the throne isn't nearly as pleasant as it might seem (11)
The musicians enter and Hamlet asks Guildenstern to play the recorder;
Guildenstern explains that he has no idea how to play the recorder, and does not
have the talent to do so
Hamlet angrily asks how Rosencrantz and Guildenstern think that they can play with
his emotions and convince him to reveal his innermost thoughts when they cannot
even play a simple instrument (12)
Polonius enters and tells Hamlet that Gertrude wants to see him
Everyone leaves and Hamlet explains in a soliloquy that now that he knows Claudius
is guilty, he can seek his revenge. He names midnight as the appropriate time for
vengeance. He also explains that he must not accuse his mother, and must act
angry, but unusually so (13)
(1) Indicates that Hamlet has achieved balance between reason and passion
(2) Horatio knows of the Ghost's story. He knows that Hamlet suspects Claudius of
murdering his father
(3) Hamlet's trust in Horatio speaks highly of Horatio's character
(4) Hamlet makes fun of Ophelia's chastity
(5) Pantomimed performance gives Hamlet a chance to watch Claudius's reaction
(6) Compare Player Queen's words to those of the real Queen. The Player King's words
actually describe the actions of Gertrude after her husband's death
(7) Performance: Appearance vs. Reality theme
(8) Irony
(9) Pun on the word "offense"= crime
(10) Guilty response
(11) Hamlet suspects that Claudius has prompted Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's
sudden concern
(12) Openly confronts their attempts to get him to talk
(13) Hamlet has a plan
Literary Devices:
Hamlet: "Lady, shall I lie in your lap?"
(114)
Double Entendre
Hamlet: "Call me what instrument you
will, though you fret me, yet you cannot
play upon me" (370)
Pun
Player Queen: "Each opposite that blanks the face of joy" (220)
Personification
Queen: "The lady doth protest too
much, methinks" (230)
Irony
Polonius: "I did enact Julius Caesar. I was kill'd i' th' Capitol; Brutus killed me"
(103)
Irony
Hamlet: I could interpret between you and your love, if I could see the puppets
dallying" (246)
Double Entendre
Hamlet: "Marry, this' miching mallecho, it means mischief" (137)
Alliteration
Hamlet: "Now I could drink hot blood,/And do such bitter business as the day/ Would
quake to look on" (390)
Hyperbole
Hamlet
Act III
Scene 3
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•
•
•
•
King speaks to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. He explains that Hamlet's
madness threatens his safety, and asks the two friends to take Hamlet to
England
Rosencrantz acknowledges that the King's safety is more important than all else,
since many other lives depend on his own, and agree to accompany Hamlet to
England
Polonius comes in and tells Claudius that Hamlet is going to speak to Gertrude,
and that he will hide and listen to the conversation. He further assures Claudius
that he will immediately report what he has learned (1)
King gives a very emotional soliloquy, acknowledging his guilt in the horrendous
crime of murdering his brother
Claudius explains that he has been unable to pray since the crime, but he feels
he must try (2)
•
•
•
Claudius falls to his knees to pray, and Hamlet enters (3)
Though Hamlet has come to kill Claudius, he stops when he sees Claudius in
prayer. Hamlet realizes that if he kills Claudius while he prays, he will reach
salvation. Therefore, he decides to wait until Claudius is engaged in some
ungodly activity (drinking, sex, gambling, lying, etc.) (4)
Claudius rises after Hamlet leaves, explaining that he cannot pray when he still
thinks evil thoughts (5)
(1) Demonstrates Polonius's eagerness to win the King's favor
(2) First time that Claudius seems like a sympathetic character
(3) Claudius acknowledges that it would be sacrilegious to pray for forgiveness while
still enjoying the fruits of his sin
(4) Hamlet's hesitation is not altruistic: he simply does not want to avenge his father's
death, only to have the murderer go to heaven
(5) Irony: had he risen moments earlier, he would have been killed
Literary Devices:
Claudius: "Even to the teeth and forehead of our faults" (63)
Personification
Hamlet
Act III
Scene 4
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Scene opens with Polonius and Gertrude, in her chambers. Polonius tells Gertrude
to upbraid Hamlet for his treatment of Claudius while he hides in the closet, listening
(1)
Hamlet enters, and immediately begins insulting his mother, rather than allowing her
to chastise him
Hamlet tells his mother that he will not leave until she sees her terrible actions for
what they are. He proceeds to passionately describe the blackness of her soul (2)
Queen misinterprets Hamlet's intent, and calls for help, thinking he will kill her
Polonius echoes her cries for help, and Hamlet stabs him through the arrass.
Hamlet mistakenly thinks that Polonius is Claudius (3)
Gertrude is shocked by the mention of murder, and Hamlet realizes that she didn't
know about his father's murder
Hamlet realizes that he has caused the death of an innocent man, and is afraid his
soul is in jeopardy. At the very least, he realizes that Laertes will want to avenge his
father's death (4)
Hamlet blames Polonius's sneaky nature for his death
Hamlet explains that Claudius killed his father, insisting that Claudius is a far lesser
man than his father ever was. He tells his mother to avoid Claudius's bed. Gertrude
will not listen, and begs Hamlet to be quiet. Hamlet becomes very riled, and his
yelling becomes a bit threatening
Ghost enters, reminding Hamlet that his goal is kill Claudius, not his mother. The
Ghost also tells Hamlet to help his mother in the battle with her conscience
Gertrude doesn't see the ghost, and when Hamlet tells her that he is speaking to his
father's spirit, she thinks he is truly insane
Hamlet explains to his mother that he is fully sane, and that he can remember and
explain all he has just said (5)
Hamlet begs his mother to refrain from sleeping with Claudius again, all in an effort
to purge her soul. Hamlet tells Gertrude that abstinence will get easier with time (6)
• Hamlet asks Gertrude, again, not to sleep with Claudius, and not to tell Claudius that
he is sane
• Gertrude agrees
• Hamlet tells Gertrude that he's being sent to England with Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern, and that he suspects that they are going to hurt him (7)
• Hamlet tells his mother goodnight, and drags Polonius's body into the other room
•
(1) Polonius wants Gertrude to reprimand Hamlet so that he may see Hamlet's response
(2) Hamlet is furious now that he knows his mother's husband killed his father
(3) Hamlet doesn't know who he's stabbed
(4) Hamlet worries about the future of his soul, but isn't exactly repentant for killing
Polonius. He feels slightly guilty for killing an innocent man, but recognizes that
Polonius's actions are partially to blame for the situation
(5) Gertrude is reassured that Hamlet is actually sane
(6) Hamlet is concerned for the safety of his mother's soul, as he remembers what a
virtuous woman she was when his father was alive. He does not want her to blacken
her soul any further
(7) Foreshadowing: we now know that Hamlet views his former friends as threats
Literary Devices:
Hamlet: "Dead, for a/Ducat, dead!"
(23)
Alliteration
Hamlet: "Heaven's face does glow"
(48)
Personification
Queen: "These words like daggers enter in my ears" (95)
Simile
Ghost: "Upon the heat and flame of thy
Distemper/Sprinkle cool patience"
(123)
Metaphor
Hamlet: "This counsellor/Is now most still, most secret, and most grave,/ Who was in
life a foolish prating knave" (213)
Pun
Hamlet
Act IV
Scene 1
• Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, King, and Queen discuss Hamlet. Queen asks Rosencrantz
& Guildenstern to leave (1)
• Queen tells King Hamlet is insane and killed Polonius (2)
• Rosencrantz & Guildenstern re-enter
• King tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that Hamlet has killed Polonius, and tells them
to go find him- they will leave for England by sunset (3)
• King tells Gertrude that they now must send Hamlet to England before he hurts
anyone else (4)
• King explains that he will have to garner support from friends so that they will not be
blamed for Polonius's death (5)
(1) On some level, the Queen wants to protect both her son and the reputation of both
herself and Claudius
(2) Claudius recognizes that he will be blamed for Polonius’s death since Hamlet is his
son/nephew. He says that they cannot allow themselves to be blinded by their love
for Hamlet.
(3) Very ominous tone
(4) Claudius is worried about his own safety and his own reputation
(5) Note Claudius’s political savvy. He recognizes that this murder could impact his
public appeal so he immediately begins to plan something to rectify the situation
Literary Devices:
Queen: Mad as the sea and wind when both contend/ Which is the mightier (7)
Simile
Queen: O'er whom his very madness, like some ore/ Among a mineral of metals base,/
Shows itself pure (25)
Simile
Hamlet
Act IV
Scene 2
• Hamlet hides Polonius's body
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter and ask where Polonius's body is; Hamlet refuses
to tell them (2)
• Hamlet exchanges angry words with Rosencrantz and Guidenstern, openly insulting
them and Claudius (3)
• Hamlet agrees to go with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to the King (3)
(1) Witty exchange. Though Hamlet’s words seem nonsensical to Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern, the reader should recognize that he is, in fact, making sense when
one fully understands the situation
(2) Hamlet realizes that his former friends are now foes. Still, he tries to warn them
that Claudius is only using them and will discard them when he gets what he needs
(3) “Hide fox, and all after.” (31) This was a line shouted out by children while playing
hide and seek
Literary Devices:
Hamlet: When he needs what/ you have glean'd, it is but squeezing you, and, spunge,/
you shall be dry again (19) Metaphor
Hamlet: I am glad of it, a knavish speech sleeps in a/ foolish ear (23)
Personification
Hamlet
Act IV
Scene 3
• Opens with Claudius telling members of his court that Hamlet cannot be punished in
Denmark because his supporters will object, so he is being sent to England (1)
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter explaining that Hamlet will not divulge the
location of Polonius's corpse
• Claudius asks Hamlet for the body's location, and Hamlet refuses to answer
• Hamlet tells Claudius that Polonius is in Heaven, that he can send messengers to find
him there; Hamlet says that if Claudius's messengers cannot locate Polonius in
Heaven, then Claudius can look for him in Hell (2)
• Claudius tells Hamlet that he is being sent to England for his own safety (3)
• Claudius's soliloquy: explains that Hamlet will be sent to England with sealed letters,
telling the English leaders to kill his nephew (4 & 5)
(1) Attempt to satisfy the public. Hamlet will be punished but he will not be executed in
Denmark
(2) Conversation is not particularly friendly. Hamlet warns Claudius, metaphorically,
that he is no better than the average man
(3) Very ironic explanation since Claudius has murder in mind
(4) Shakespeare frequently uses soliloquy to inform the audience
(5) Claudius cannot be blamed for Hamlet’s death since the murder will be carried out
by Englishmen on English soil
Literary Devices:
Hamlet: Nothing but to show you how a king may go/ a progress through the guts of a
beggar (31)
Pun
Claudius: Do it, England,/ For like the hectic in my blood he rages,/ And thou must cure
me (65)
Simile
Hamlet: Your worm is your only emperor for diet: we/ fat all creatures
else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for/ maggots; your fat king and your lean beggar is
but/ varaiable service, two dishes, but to one table- that's the end (25)
Irony/Foreshadowing
Hamlet
Act IV
Scene 4
• Fortinbras enters with his army, commanding a Captain to go tell Claudius that they
are in Denmark, hoping to march through the country on their way to Poland (1)
• Hamlet enters with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
• Hamlet speaks to the Captain. The Captain explains that Fortinbras and his men are
fighting Poland for a worthless piece of land. Hamlet reflects on the futility of war.
• Hamlet's soliloquy: Hamlet compares himself to the brave Fortinbras, who leads his
men into a worthless war for no real reason other than to honor the memory of his
father. Hamlet chides himself for not acting more quickly to avenge his own father.
(2)
• Hamlet vows to think of nothing from this point forward other than the murder of
Claudius (3)
(1) This is done to pay respect to the King so as not to start a war. These troops are
simply passing through Denmark
(2) Young Fortinbras will be the model that Hamlet hopes to emulate. Young Fortinbras
is concerned only about the memory of his father
(3) Hamlet will now actively plot against Claudius
Literary Devices:
Captain: We go to gain a little patch of ground (18)
Alliteration
Hamlet: Which is not tomb enough and continent/ To hide the slain (64)
Hyperbole
Hamlet
Act IV
Scene 5
• Horatio and Gertrude speak with gentleman, who tells them that Ophelia is wandering
about incoherently grieving her father
• Horatio tells the Queen to speak with Ophelia, as her madness is causing the people
to question exactly how Polonius died (1)
• Queen tries to speak to Ophelia, who is deranged. Ophelia answers all the Queen's
questions in song, much of which is filled with double entendres (remember Hamlet's
use of double entendres during his fake madness). Appearance vs. reality (2)
• Claudius also tries to talk to Ophelia, concerned by her madness. Claudius tells
Horatio to keep an eye on Ophelia (3)
• Claudius tells Gertrude that Laertes is back from France, looking for his father's body.
A messenger tells the royals that the people are calling for Laertes to take the throne,
as they believe that Claudius is responsible for the death and disappearance of
Polonius
• Laertes breaks into the castle, accompanied by an angry mob
• Laertes demands the body of Polonius and threatens the King (4)
• King tells Claudius that he is not responsible for Polonius's death
• Ophelia enters and Laertes is struck by her madness
• Ophelia passes out symbolic flowers to everyone
• King asks Laertes to let a group of citizens decide if he is responsible for Polonius's
death
• Laertes agrees to let the people decide
• Claudius cleverly says he'll help Laertes find the guilty party (5)
(1) Ophelia’s madness is actually causing public arrousal. Claudius and Gertrude must
dampen interest in Polonius’s death in order to preserve their own reputations
(2) Ophelia’s true madness echos that of Hamlet’s mad act
(3) Purely selfish
(4) The public is now openly revolting against Claudius
(5) Claudius already knows that Hamlet killed Polonius and by allowing Laertes to
discover Hamlet’s guilt, Claudius will benefit. He’s already sent Hamlet to England
to be killed and now he sees that the public will support Hamlet’s death since they
support Laertes, who is calling for the death of whomever killed his father
Literary Devices:
Queen: So full of artless jealousy is guilt,/ It spills itself in fearing to be spilt (19)
Couplet
Ophelia: Let in the maid, that out a maid/ Never departed more (54)
Double entendre
Ophelia: Young men will do't if they come to't,/ By Cock, they are to blame (60)
Double entendre
Laertes: By heaven, thy madness shall be paid with weight,/ Till our scale turn the
beam (157)
Metaphor
Laertes: And like the life-rend'ring pelican,/
Repast them with my blood(147)
Simile
Extras:
Ophelia's flowers
• Rosemary (remembrance) to Laertes
• Fennel (flattery) and Columbines (ingratitude) to Claudius
• Rue (sorrow), and Daisies (women easily won over by love) to Gertrude
• Ophelia lacks violets (faithfulness): Ophelia's madness marks the end of love and
kindness
Hamlet
Act IV
Scene 6
• Sailors come to Horatio bearing letters from Hamlet
• Hamlet's letter says that his ship was attacked by Pirates and he was taken prisoner.
He was treated decently, and brought back to Denmark. He states that Rosencrantz
and Guildenstern are still on their way to England. Letter urges Horatio to give
another letter (given to Horatio by the sailors) to Claudius ASAP, then to meet Hamlet
• Horatio promises to reward the sailors if they show him where Hamlet is (1)
(1) Unlike Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Horatio is still loyal to his friend and can be
trusted
Literary Devices:
Hamlet: I have words to speak/ in thine ear will make thee dumb, yet are/ they
much too light for the bore of the matter (24)
Paradox
Hamlet
Act IV
Scene 7
• Laertes and Claudius chat. Claudius tells Laertes that not only did Hamlet kill
Polonius, but also tried to kill Cladius himself (lie) (1)
• Claudius tells Laertes that Hamlet hasn't been punished because the people support
Hamlet, and because it would hurt Gertrude. However, Claudius assures Laertes that
Hamlet will be punished in England
• Messenger gives Claudius Hamlet's letters (one to King and one to Queen). Claudius
reads his to Laertes: Hamlet says he is in Denmark, and will come to the castle the
following day
• Laertes wants revenge, so Claudius forms a plan: he will set up a duel between
Laertes and Hamlet, but will leave Laerte's foil uncovered. Hamlet's death will appear
accidental (2)
• Laertes says he will poison the tip of his blade, just in case he doesn't strike a mortal
blow (3)
• Claudius says he will poison Hamlet's drink, just in case Laerte's isn't able to kill him in
the duel itself (4)
• Gertrude enters, explaining that Ophelia fell from a branch while hanging garlands,
and drowned
• Laertes is furious, and even more eager for revenge
• Claudius lies and tells Gertrude that even though he tried to calm Laertes, he is afraid
he will become incensed again over the death of his sister. They follow Laertes (5)
(1) By pretending to have been threatened by Polonius’s killer, Claudius hopes to gain
Laertes’s trust
(2 & 3 & 4) These schemes are not an honorable way to behave in a duel. Notice that
Laertes will only take one action meant to unfairly compromise Hamlet (poisoning his
blade) while Claudius will perform two acts in order to kill Hamlet (poisoning his wine
and leaving his sword uncovered). Remember: duels, unless otherwise agreed upon,
were honorable matches. Swords were tipped so that duelers would not actually kill
each other during the match
(5) Gertrude knows nothing about her husband’s deadly plans for her son
Literary Devices:
King: Or are you like the painting of a sorrow,/ A face without a heart (107)
Simile
King: There lives within the very flame of love (114)
Metaphor
Hamlet
Act 5
Scene 1
• Scene opens with two gravediggers readying a grave. The gravediggers provide
comic relief (1)
• Hamlet and Horatio enter the cemetery and speak with the grave diggers; while
Hamlet appreciates the diggers’ humor, he is offended by their callous treatment of
the corpses
• One gravedigger digs up the bones of Yorrick, the old court jester from Hamlet’s
childhood. Hamlet speaks to the skull. Hamlet is struck by the leveling force of death
(2)
• Ophelia’s funeral procession enters. Horatio and Hamlet hide. The priest is angry that
Ophelia is being allowed in a Christian burial ground after committing suicide. Laertes
angrily tells the priest that Ophelia will be an angel and violets will sprout on her
grave (3)
• Overwhelmed by grief, Laertes jumps into Ophelia’s grave and demands to be buried
with her
• Upon finding out that Ophelia is dead, Hamlet is crushed and jumps into her grave.
He tells everyone that he loved her more than anyone else in the world. He and
Laertes begin to fight (foreshadowing)
• Laertes and Hamlet are separated. Hamlet leaves, Horatio follows. Claudius tells
Laertes that their plan will be in effect soon
(1) Gravediggers explain that Ophelia’s death is considered a suicide, an act that would
usually prevent a body from being given a Christian burial, but it has been ruled that
she will be given a Christian burial anyway
(2) Gravedigger also provides us with information about Hamlet. He has been a
gravedigger for thirty years and indicates that he began his duties the day Hamlet’s
father died, the same day Hamlet was born. Therefore, Hamlet is thirty years old
(3) Violets symbolize faithfulness
Literary Devices:
Clown: What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the shipwright, or the
carpenter?
Clown 2: The gallows-maker, for that outlives a thousand tenants (41)
Irony
Clown: In youth when I did love, did love,/Methought it was very sweet,/To contract-Othe time for-a-my behove,/O, methought there-a-was nothing-a-meet (61)
Quatrain
Hamlet to Clown (i.e. gravedigger): Thou dost lie in’t and say it is thine. ‘This for the
dead, not for the quick; therefore thou liest (125)
Pun
Hamlet (to Yorrick): Where be your jibes now, your gambols, your songs, your flashes
of merriment that were wont to set the table on a roar? (189)
Apostrophe
Hamlet: Forty thousand brothers/ Could not with all their quantity of love/ Make up my
sum (269)
Hyperbole
Queen: Anon, as patient as the female dove,/ When that her golden couplets are
disclosed,/ His silence will sit drooping (286)
Simile
Claudius: This grave shall have a living monument (297)
Paradox
Hamlet
Act 5
Scene 2
• Hamlet explains to Horatio that while on board the ship to England, he removed the
letters given to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern while they were sleeping. The letters
told the leaders of England to behead Hamlet. Hamlet wrote a different letter,
requesting that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern be put to death, and snuck it back into
the pocket
• Hamlet explains that shortly thereafter, he was taken captive by pirates while the rest
of his ship went on to England
• Hamlet expresses sorrow at having offended Laertes in Ophelia’s grave- he relates to
Laerte’s feelings (1)
• Osric enters and tells Hamlet that Claudius has laid a wager on him in a duel with
Laertes
• Wager: if Laertes has fewer than 3 hits more than Hamlet, Claudius wins 6 French
swords from Laertes. If Laertes has more than 3 hits above Hamlet, Laertes receives
6 Barbary horses. All must occur during 12 passes (2)
• Hamlet expresses some misgivings about the duel, and Horatio asks him to postpone
it. Hamlet refuses
• Before beginning the duel, Hamlet apologizes to Laertes, blaming his actions on his
madness. Laertes says he cannot fully accept the apology without seeking advice
from the elders (3)
• CLIMAX: The duel scene
• In the duel, Hamlet scores two hits. Claudius offers him a drink of poisoned wine, but
Hamlet refuses to drink. (4)
• Gertrude drinks from Hamlet’s cup. The King realizes she will soon die.
• Laertes scores a hit and when Hamlet realizes that Laertes’s sword isn’t capped, he
fights with him. During the scuffle, swords are accidentally exchanged (without their
realizing it)
• Hamlet stabs Laertes with Laertes’s sword. The Queen falls to the ground. Claudius
claims she just passed out from the sight of blood. The Queen calls out that the drink
was poisoned then dies.
• Hamlet calls for the doors to be locked. Laertes explains that the sword they were
both used to stab each other was tipped with poison and they will both die shortly.
Laertes tells Hamlet that the whole thing was Claudius’s fault (5)
• Hamlet stabs Claudius with the poisoned sword then forces him to drink from the
poisoned cup
• English ambassadors arrive to announce the deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
• Fortinbras arrives with the ambassadors and notes that he does have some right to
Denmark since parts were taken from his father (6 and 7)
(1) Both men have lost fathers and a girl they loved and are eager for vengeance
(2) Remember that Laertes’s sword will be poisoned so even if he stabs Hamlet with
one blow, Claudius will win
(3) Both men are very honorable
(4) Laertes is having doubts about the plan
(5) Laertes tries to confess his sins before he dies as a way to make amends
(6) Horatio confirms that Hamlet wanted Fortinbras to take the throne
(7) Notice that Fortinbras’s first act as King is a noble one: he chooses to honor Hamlet
Literary Devices
Hamlet: I’ll be your foil, Laertes
Pun
King: It is the poisoned cup, it is too late
Aside
Hamlet: Let the foils be brought, the gentleman willing,/ and the King hold his purpose,
I will win for him and I can
Irony