HAMLET
BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Tragedy
A drama or literary work in which the main character is
brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially
as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness,
or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances.
 A play, film, television program, or other narrative
work that portrays or depicts calamitous events and
has an unhappy but meaningful ending.
 A disastrous event, especially one involving
distressing loss or injury to life: an expedition that
ended in tragedy, with all hands lost at sea.
 A tragic aspect or element.
Vocabulary
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Tragedy
Catharsis
Soliloquy
Tragic Hero
Characters
 Hamlet, Prince of
Denmark
Prince Hamlet, the title
character, is the son of
the late King, also
named Hamlet. He is
just back from
Wittenberg, where he
was a sometime
student at the
university.
Characters
 Claudius, King of
Denmark, Hamlet's
uncle
Claudius is the current
King of Denmark,
Hamlet's uncle, who
succeeded to the
throne upon the death
of his brother, the old
King Hamlet. He also,
in short order, married
Gertrude, his brother's
widow. He is revealed
to be the killer of King
Hamlet.
Characters
 Gertrude, Queen of
Denmark, Hamlet's
mother
Gertrude is Hamlet's
mother. Widowed by
King Hamlet's death,
she rather too quickly
wedded Claudius. In
Shakespeare's England
marriage to the
brother of one's
deceased husband was
considered incest by
the Church.
Characters
 Ghost appearing to be
Hamlet's father, the
former king
The ghost is, in form, the
old King Hamlet, but
may be an evil spirit.
The old king has died
recently, so his spirit,
while suffering in
Purgatory, could be
walking at night,
vexed and vengeful.
Characters
 Polonius, counselor to
the king
Polonius is Claudius's
chief advisor and
father to Ophelia and
Laertes. He is old, and
often humourously
played as fatuous and
long-winded.
Characters
Characters
Characters
Characters
Characters
Characters
Tragedy
 A serious drama in which a central character, the
protagonist — usually an important, heroic person —
meets with disaster either through some personal
fault or through unavoidable circumstances. In most
cases, the protagonist's downfall conveys a sense of
human dignity in the face of great conflict.
 In modern times, it achieved excellence with William
Shakespeare in such works as Hamlet, and Othello.
 · Aristotle argued that the proper effect of tragedy is
catharsis — the purging of the emotions.
 · In common usage, disasters of many kinds are
called tragedies.
Act 1 Quiz: Choose any 5
 Who does the ghost look like?
 What request does Laertes make of
Claudius?
 What advice does Laertes give Ophelia
about Hamlet?
 What does the ghost want Hamlet to do
about Claudius?
 Why is Hamlet being rude to his uncle?
 What does the ghost want Hamlet to do
about Gertrude?
ACT 2, SCENE 2
 ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN
ARE HIRED BY CLAUDIUS TO SPY ON
HAMLET
 POLONIUS TELLS KING AND QUEEN
THAT HAMLET IS CRAZY BECAUSE OF
OPHELIA
BEFORE AND AFTER
ACT 2, SCENE 2
 DISCUSS “SNITCHING”
 WOULD YOU SNITCH ON YOUR FRIEND?
 HAS ANYONE EVER SNITCHED ON YOU?
WHO’S GOING TO SNITCH ON
HAMLET?
 ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN
 POLONIUS AND OPHELIA
VOLTEMAND:
 ASKS THE KING IF FORTINBRAS
(NORWAY) MAY BE ALLOWED TO
COME THROUGH DENMARK IN
ORDER TO CONQUER POLAND
 CLAUDIUS SAYS OK
POLONIUS, KING, AND QUEEN
DISCUSS HAMLET:
 HAMLET’S CRAZY BECAUSE HE LOVES
OPHELIA
 OPHELIA GAVE HAMLET’S LETTERS TO
POLONIUS
 THE PARENTS READ THE LOVE LETTERS
 POLONIUS SAYS HE TOLD OPHELIA TO
STAY AWAY
 POLONIUS SUGGESTS THAT THEY ALL SPY
ON THE KIDS
OPHELIA MAY BE PREGNANT?
 “CONCEPTION IS A BLESSING”
 “YOUR DAUGHTER MAY CONCEIVE”
 “HOW PREGNANT SOMETIMES HIS
REPLIES ARE!”
HAMLET’ SUICIDAL THOUGHTS:
 “I HAVE LOST ALL MY MIRTH”
 THE AIR LOOKS FOUL
 NOTHING IN THE WORLD IS
BEAUTIFUL
ROSENCRANTZ AND
GUILDENSTERN’S SUGGESTIONS:
 GET A GIRLFRIEND
 WATCH A PLAY
HAMLET’S “MOUSETRAP”
 THE PLAN:
 GET THE ACTORS TO PLAY THE MURDER
ON STAGE
 WATCH CLAUDIUS AND GERTRUDE’S
REACTIONS, “Struck so to the soul, and
presently confess”
 “Catch the conscience of the King”
Act 2, Scene 2
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· What does Polonius mean when he says, “Though this be madness, yet there is
method in ‘t”? What words of Hamlet’s would make him say this?
· Hamlet makes some dirty jokes about Fortune with his friends. What does this say
about his character?
· Explain the line, “there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.”
· Hamlet catches on right away to what his friends are up to. Cite a line that proves it.
· Study Hamlet’s “soliloquy” about “What a piece of work is a man” very carefully. What
is he saying about mankind in general and about himself in particular?
· How does Hamlet’s mood suddenly change when he hears that the players have
arrived at the castle?
· In what way does Hamlet make fun of Polonius when he comes to introduce the
players?
· Shakespeare uses Polonius to make fun of the practice of classifying plays. How?
· Look up Judges 2 in the Old Testament. Why is the reference to Jephthah significant?
· Hamlet begs the chief player to recite a speech from a play. What is it about?
· How does Polonius show himself to be a fool for his reaction to this speech?
Act 2, Scene 2
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· Explain Hamlet’s line, “they [the players] are the abstract
and brief chronicle of the time. After your death you were
better have a bad epitaph than their ill report while you
live.”
· In his famous soliloquy at the end of this act, Hamlet says,
“What’s Hecuba to him or he to Hecuba that he should weep
for her?” What is he cursing here in himself?
· What is the chief failure that Hamlet condemns in himself?
Cite two or three lines to support what you say.
· Explain Hamlet’s line, “The spirit that I have seen / May be
the Devil, and the Devil hath power / To assume a pleasing
shape.” What does he use this line to excuse?
· By the end of this soliloquy, Hamlet has hatched a plan to
“catch the king.” What is it?
QUIZ ACT 2: ANSWER ANY 5
1· For what reason has the king sent for Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern? P. 53
2· What makes the king think that Hamlet will open up to
them? P. 53
3· Polonius hatches a plan wherein he and Claudius can
spy on Hamlet. How? P. 58
4· What is the double meaning of Hamlet calling Polonius
a “fishmonger”? P. 59
5· What is the double meaning of “Conception is a
blessing, but not as your daughter may conceive—
friend, look to ‘t”? P. 59
6· By the end of this soliloquy, Hamlet has hatched a plan
to “catch the king.” What is it? P. 72-73
SOLILOQUY
A CHARACTER SPEAKING HIS/HER
THOUGHTS ALOUD ON STAGE
(ALONE)
REVIEW HAMLET’S SOLILOQUIES:
Translate as a class
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Soliloquy #1 PAGE 28
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I WISH MY BODY WOULD MELT
OR THAT GOD DIDN’T PUNISH US FOR SUICIDE
EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD IS USELESS
SCREW IT, FORGET THE WORLD, IT IS AN UNWEEDED
GARDEN
MY DAD DIED 2 MONTHS AGO AND HE LOVED MY MOM SO
MUCH THAT HE WAS BOTHERED BY THE WINDS TOUCHING
HER FACE TOO HARD
MY MOM LOVED HIM SO MUCH, BUT WOMEN ARE WEAK
SHE EVEN WORE THE SAME SHOES TO HIS FUNERAL THAT
SHE WORE TO THE WEDDING
MOM SEEMED REALLY SAD, BUT SHE MARRIED MY UNCLE!
INCEST BETWEEN MY UNCLE AND MOM!
HE’S AFRAID OF STANDING TO HIS UNCLE AND MOTHER
REVIEW HAMLET’S SOLILOQUIES:
Translate in pairs
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Soliloquy #2: PAGE 71
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I FEEL LIKE HORRIBLE, BUT NEVER SHOW IT
WEIRD, THAT ACTOR DOESN’T FEEL LIKE CRAP, BUT HE REALLY ACTS
THAT WAY
MY MOM IS NOTHING LIKE HECUBA, WHO GRIEVED FOREVER WHEN
HER HUSBAND DIED
GEE, IF THAT ACTOR FELT THE WAY I FEEL, HE’D REALLY MAKE THE
CROWD WATCH AND THEN I COULD SEE IF MY UNCLE IS GUILTY
I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO!
MY UNCLE IS TORTURING ME EVERYDAY
I HAVE NO COURAGE; I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO
I KNOW THAT MY UNCLE KILLED MY DAD, BUT I STILL HAVEN’T
KILLED HIM
HMM, I HAVE AN IDEA: I’LL DO A PLAY AND WATCH HIS RESPONSE
I HAVEN’T KILLED CLAUDIUS YET BECAUSE MY DAD’S GHOST MIGHT
NOT HAVE BEEN HIM; IT COULD HAVE BEEN AN EVIL SPIRIT
ACT 3, SCENE 1
 ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN
TELL ON HAMLET: HE’S ONLY ACTING
CRAZY
 QUEEN TELLS OPHELIA SHE’S GLAD
HAMLET LOVES HER
 HAMLET’S MOST FAMOUS SOLILOQUY
REVIEW HAMLET’S SOLILOQUIES
HAMLET’S SOLILOQUY #3
 TRANSLATE FOR POINTS 40 MINUTES
 TAKE NOTES ON BACK SIDE FOR USE
ON QUIZZES
 ASK QUESTIONS TODAY TO PREPARE
YOU FOR TOMORROW
 REVIEW SOLILOQUY
 QUIZ QUESTIONS FOR SCENES 1
AND 2
 READ/WATCH SCENES 3,4
 QUIZ QUESTIONS FOR SCENES 3,4
 UP TO PAGE
LEE’S TRANSLATION
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SHOULD I KILL MYSELF OR NOT?
ISN’T IT BRAVE TO STAY ALIVE THROUGH ALL THESE
TROUBLES?
WHEN YOU DIE IS IT LIKE SLEEPING AND DREAMING?
NO ONE KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DEATH, THAT’S
WHY SUICIDE IS RARE
TIME HURTS US, BROKEN HEARTS, ETC. BUT WE ACCEPT IT
NOT BRAVELY, BUT BECAUSE IT’S BETTER THAN THE
UNKNOWN
IF YOU KNEW YOU’D GO TO HEAVEN, WHY WOULDN’T YOU
DIE NOW?
THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN MAKES EVERYONE A COWARD
I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO
SKIP PGS. 77-79 (MOVIE)
 REMEMBER IN THE MOVIE WHEN
HAMLET GRABBED OPHELIA AND
SCREAMED AT HER?
The spies…
 POLONIUS AND CLAUDIUS SPY ON
HAMLET AND OPHELIA
 CLAUDIUS DOES NOT AGREE THAT
HAMLET LOVES HER
ACT 3, SCENE 2
 PAGES 80-93 = THE MOUSETRAP
PLAY
 POLONIUS ENDS THE SCENE BY
TELLING HAMLET TO VISIT HIS
MOTHER
ACT 3, SCENE 3
 CLAUDIUS GIVES ROSENCRANTZ
AND GUILDENSTERN A LETTER TO
TAKE TO ENGLAND
 THEY ARE TO TAKE HAMLET WITH
THEM
 CLAUDIUS’ SOLILOQUY ADMITS HIS
GUILT
 HAMLET STILL HAS NOT ACTED
CLAUDIUS SOLILOQUY P. 96
 NOT ENOUGH RAIN IN HEAVEN TO
WASH THE BLOOD FROM HIS HANDS
 IT DOESN’T MATTER THAT HE’S A
RICH KING, GOD SAW IT ALL
 HE PRAYS
AGAIN, HAMLET QUESTIONS
HIMSELF
 PAGE 97: TO KILL OR NOT TO KILL
 WHY WON’T HE KILL CLAUDIUS?
 WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS DAD AFTER
DEATH?
 WHY?
ACT 3, SCENE 4
 QUEEN MEETS WITH HER SON
 HE SCREAMS AT HER AND MAKES
HER FEEL BAD
 POLONIUS IS KILLED
P. 100
 SHE LIED IN HER MARRIAGE VOWS
 HAMLET MAKES HER COMPARE THEIR
PICTURES
 HIS FATHER WAS MUCH MORE
HANDSOME THAN CLAUDIUS
P. 101
 HAMLET CALLS HIS MOTHER A
WHORE
P. 102
 KING HAMLET’S GHOST ENTERS
 REMEMBER WHAT HE MADE HAMLET
PROMISE?
QUEEN GERTRUDE CAN’T SEE THE GHOST
IS HE REALLY THERE?
P. 104
 HAMLET BEGS HER NOT TO SLEEP
WITH CLAUDIUS ANYMORE
 GERTRUDE: WHAT SHALL I DO?
 SHE SEEMS AS INDECISIVE AS HER SON
P. 105
 HAMLET IS “MAD IN CRAFT” – DOING
IT ON PURPOSE
 HIS MOM PROMISES NOT TO TELL
 HAMLET LEAVES, DRAGGING THE
BODY OF POLONIUS BEHIND HIM
ACT 3 QUIZ : CHOOSE ANY 5 (AND
ONLY THE 1ST 5 ARE GRADED)
 1. WHEN HAMLET SAYS, “TO BE OR NOT TO BE,” TO
WHAT IS HE REFERRING?
 2. WHAT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM COMMITTING SUICIDE,
ACCORDING TO HAMLET?
 3. WHAT IS THE “UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY”?
 4. WHY DOES CLAUDIUS JUMP UP AND CALL FOR THE
LIGHT?
 5. HAMLET COMES UP BEHIND CLAUDIUS AND
ALMOST KILLS HIM. WHAT STOPS HIM?
 6. WHEN HAMLET STABS THROUGH THE CURTAIN,
WHAT DOES HE THINK HE’S DOING?
 7. WHY DOES THE GHOST APPEAR AGAIN?
ACT 4, SCENE 1
 GERTRUDE TELLS CLAUDIUS HAMLET
IS CRAZY
 THEY CAN’T GET HAMLET TO SAY
WHERE HE PUT POLONUIS’ BODY
ACT 4, SCENE 2
 ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN
ASK WHERE HAMLET HID THE BODY
 HE WON’T TELL THEM
ACT 4, SCENE 3
 HAMLET WON’T TELL CLAUDIUS
 HAMLET IS SENT TO ENGLAND WITH
THE LETTERS
 THE LETTERS SAY THAT HAMLET IS
TO BE EXECUTED
P. 110: HAMLET CHEWS CLAUDIUS
 HOW A KING BECOMES A BEGGAR’S
POOP
OPHELIA’S DEATH?
 SAID TO BE ACCIDENTAL, BUT IT
WAS NOT
 HER CLOTHES DRAGGED HER DOWN,
SUPPOSEDLY
ACT 5
 HAMLET RETURNS
 CONVERSES WITH THE
GRAVEDIGGER
 HAMLET IS VERY INTERESTED IN
DEATH
 HE TALKS TO YORIC’S SKULL
SOLILOQUY TO YORIC
 TELLS SKULL TO TALK TO HIS
MOTHER AND CHEER HER UP
 YORIC WAS THE CASTLE’S JESTER (A
CLOWN)
OPHELIA’S FUNERAL
 HAMLET DID NOT KNOW SHE DIED
 GERTRUDE SAYS SHE WANTED TO
USE FLOWERS AT OPHELIA/HAMLET’S
WEDDING, NOT HER FUNERAL
 LAERTES FIGHTS HAMLET IN
OPHELIA’S GRAVE
 HAMLET SAYS HE LOVED HER
LAERTES/CLAUDIUS PLAN
 CAN’T KILL HAMLET BECAUSE
GERTRUDE LOVES HIM TOO MUCH
 THE PUBLIC LOVES HIM TOO MUCH
 WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO AVENGE
YOUR FATHER?
 “REVENGE SHOULD HAVE NO BOUNDS”
ACT 4, 4
WEDNESDAY
 QUIZ
 WATCH ACT 4
 QUIZ REVIEW
THURSDAY
 SHIELD
 QUIZ ACT 4
FRIDAY
 READ/WATCH ACT 5
 TEST ON MONDAY
The Final Scene:
 Get Hamlet to sword fight ( a play fight;
not for real)
 Poison the tip of Laertes’ sword
 Claudius poisons the wine
 Gertrude drinks the poisoned wine
 Hamlet is scraped with sword
 Hamlet kills Laertes
 Laertes tells on Claudius
 Hamlet kills Claudius (stabs him and gives
him poison wine)
 Hamlet dies