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