Errol Nelson
Period 7
IB English IV
Notes: The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare
Background on Hamlet
The play is set somewhere around the 1200-1300
1599-1601 – Elizabethan
Tragic Period:
1. Julius Caesar
2. Hamlet
3. Othello
4. King Lear
Wittenberg – German University that Prince Hamlet attends
1502, meaning that it’s an anachronism.
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The bracketed Speech
o Line 116 Horatio, “A mote it is to trouble the mind’s eye”
o Scene 2 beginning, The King’s speech,” 32
o King ‘Tis sweet and commendable
o Starting at line 129 Scene 2 Hamlet’s first
o Leartes speech, beginning of scene 3
o Polonius’ speech to Leartes
o Hamlet’s speech to Denmark’s behavior and the nature of man
o Scene 5 the Ghost’s speech
Act 1 Scene 1
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Fortinbras is a foil to Hamlet because he is coming to Denmark to reclaim the lands that
were lost from his father in the duel between King Hamlet (Prince Hamlet’s father). It is
important to note that Horatio describes him in Hamlet 1.1.95-107 as being a young and rash
young man who has gathered a group of people (lawless thugs, bandits, and other vagabonds)
to seize lands lawfully conquered by Denmark’s lost King.
The ghost before it appears:
o Shakespeare plays up the fact that the ghost about is about to enter. Even in
Benardo’s speech you notice that the transitory speech is shorter. And then Bernardo
starts using the cosmic imagery to tell that great things are about to go down.
o Demonstrative pronoun and points to the actual star, in the drama.
The ideas of ghosts were based on two religions in Elizabethan Age. The two major religions
said that ghosts and spirits were evil, while the other believes that I could be good.
The appearance of a ghost, especially one that bears a strange resemblance to the late King
Hamlet is a highly important event.
Shakespeare allows time between the two ghosts to inform the audience as to what exactly is
going on in the play. Introduces the subplot.
Errol Nelson
Period 7
IB English IV
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1.1. 112-125: Horatio’s speech after the ghost
o There is an allusion to Rome and to that of Julius Caesar in Act I Scene 2. 1
o There is a different allusion to Roman history.
o There is a literary allusion to Caesar.
o There is also a sort of allusion to the Elizabethan theories about the Great Chain of
Being.
o Mathew 24:29- Biblical Allusion and the imagery in which the cosmos freaks out
because of Jesus’ second coming.
o Revelations 6:12- Talking about how when the end of Days is near that means that
the moon becomes red. Basically, the cosmos and the stars freak out because Jesus is
back.
o It is also very important to note the cosmic imagery that is used because the cosmos
is supposed to be very influential and would have been viewed as important.
o This mote could be a Biblical Allusion about how you can’t remove the speck of sand
from someone else’s eye until your remove the one from your own.
o They’re talking about the idea that the beginning of the Roman history is somewhat
a foreshadowing of what could happen on Denmark.
o Reference to Roman god Neptune, the Roman god of the sea. And Rome being
primarily a sea-like people that the “Empire of Neptune” could very well be a
reference to the actual location of Rome.
o Also talking about the idea that the moon controls the tide.
o Mote- a speck of dust and if it gets in your eye it can be very irritating.
Mote- speck of sand
Harbinger- bringer, usually negative connotation
Mettle- Describes a person’s valor, courage, and general honor.
They also charge the ghost to speak , and then they ask if they why the ghost is there.
o The first is that if they could tell something about the future to help Denmark to
speak
o The ghost needs something for himself
o The ghost is a bad spirit who has buried some treasure somewhere, so it’s a
The cock (rooster crowing at dawn)
 The idea of the cock not only helps tell time, and even though Shakespeare wasn’t
particularly concerned with time. And time was particularly flexible.
 Horatio says that the cock is a symbol of the morning a
The last thing that they say before the end of the scene is that they are going to tell Prince
Hamlet that they have seen the ghost.
Act 1 Scene 2
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King Hamlet has died, and the general assumption was that he just died in his sleep in the
garden. And two weeks after his death, his wife married King Hamlet’s brother. Claudius
through his marriage to Gertrude is now the King of Denmark.
o The Church Considered such a relationship as incest.
http://nfs.sparknotes.com/juliuscaesar/page_78.html
Errol Nelson
Period 7
IB English IV
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Claudius is trying to ease his nephew-turned step-son
Vocabulary:
o Trepidation – fear
o Disparage – put down
o Martyr - one who dies for a cause
o Orator – great speakers
o Lament – expression of sorrow
o Dis – negative
o Eu – positive
o Pragmatism – practical
Six things that Cladius accomplishes in the speech:
1. Asserts his position as king
2. Addresses the issue of Fortinbras
3. Talk about Hamlet’s Death
4. Say that he is grieving
5. Say that he is having mixed feelings
6. That his advisors advised that he marry Gertrude.
Notice the way that Hamlet uses the weather pun against Claudius when he talks about a
cloud
Secondly, when the Queen interrupts, he pretty much tells her. “I am not acting...I am sad”
o And there is a shift in line 85 that truly identifies that Hamlet is not acting.
The repetition of the nor and no is to be quite forceful. He takes offence to Gertrude’s
questioning why he is still sad?
Character
Hamlet
Claudius
Character Trait
How They Interact
Ref
Has a tone shift, and he stops sort of
coddling Hamlet.
Conciliatory tone, and then he
starts sort of tearing Hamlet
down. But going off in him.
And then he realizes what he
says, and then he shifts again.
1.2:92
Gertrude
Act 1 Scene 2 Hamlet’s soliloquy
 Appearance versus reality, and how Gertrude appeared to be a true mourner. He refers to
Gertrude has unrighteous tears, and even though she cried more tears than Niobe (who had
lost 14 children)
 Heaven and Earth- used to contrast
Errol Nelson
Period 7
IB English IV
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He used Hyperion, god of the sun and handsome, to compare his father to his uncle to a satyr
(half-man-half-goat ugly and lusting after woman he couldn’t have)
Disorganized, and digest all of these hateful emotions.
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Rhyming couplets signal scene change at the end of Act 1 Scene 2
Act 1 Scene 3
 The beginning of the scene is where Laertes is going away.
 Ophelia and Laertes, are very close.
 Laertes is saying that Hamlet, while charming, is a prince, and thinks he is entitled to
whatever he wants. Pretty much you can’t trust that he’s going to marry you.
 Laertes warns that she really ought not to give it up to Prince Hamlet
 Ophelia sort of answers her brother and says don’t tell me what’s going on.
 Polonius is bracketed speech.
 Polonius gives his son advice as he goes off to college
o saying , “Don’t speaking your first thoughts, and don’t act without thought.” And not
to be too friendly that people will take advantage of you.
o Once you get a good sense of friends hold to them. And be selective, once you know
they’re true friends don’t let them go.
o If you get in a fight don’t start it, but be sure you can defend yourself
o Listen to everyone’s opinion but reserve your own judgment.
o Don’t buy inappropriate clothes…spend within your budget.
o Don’t be stingy, but only lend. Keep your finances. And don’t lend to friends, you’ll
lose not only your money…but your friends.
o Be a honest, upstanding man, and always be honest with yourself.
 Polonius to Ophelia
o He asks what is going on…he demands to know what is going on.
 Ophelia, is not sure and her father is not sure about Hamlet. And he wants
her to remain pure.
o Avoid the temptations of Hamlet, he urged Ophelia.
o These brief burst of sexual flame can look like true love…but
they’re not.
 Elizabethan value – Ophelia refuses to see Hamlet at her father’s request. And she ends the
relationship.
Act 1 Scene 4
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Hamlet’s Bracketed Speech (pg 29)
o All Denmark’s achievements are overshadowed by the Danish drunks. And how the
scene is set where Hamlet and his friends are outside and the cannons announce that
the King is inside the castle and he is partying and drinking.
Errol Nelson
Period 7
IB English IV
There is a definite shift in Hamlet’s speech from talking about Danes to humans in
general.
o Hamlet says that if you are a truly good person…and you commit a wrong deed…that
if you’re pure as grace that you shouldn’t be held that accountable about it.
o As Denmark, in Hamlet’s view a great country, is defined by it’s greatest flaw of
drinking in excess…such is the same with man. In the case of a truly great man, that
man can be defined by his faults.
Hamlet goes to speak to the ghost despite the warning and pleading of Horatio and
Marcellus not to go to it.
Allusion to the Nemean lion – the lion that was slain by Hercules in one of his twelve tasks
in mythology.
o
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Act 1 Scene 5
 The ghost reveals that he is indeed Hamlet’s father, murdered by his brother.
 Sleeping in an orchard
 Claudius creeps up and pours poison in his ear that moves through his body
quickly.
 The Ghost’s Conversation with Hamlet
o Hamlet has sympathy for the ghost, and because he is suffering in purgatory.
o Alliteration in the words “fast in fire, Till foul crimes” 1.5.11-12
o The ghost explains that he is not allowed to divulge the secrets of purgatory to
anyone living, and that his time is short because each day he has to suffer through
purgatory, and then in the night he must walk the earth.
o The ghost appears because King Hamlet was murdered, and as a result he did not
receive the benefits of Last Rites and died with unconfessed sins.
o You could make an allusionary connection to the Garden of Eden where the King was
sleeping.
o There is a lot of repetition between the ghost and the words like “foul” for emphasis.
o The Ghost makes the connection to the snake and Hamlet’s uncle.
Character Similarities between Hamlet and the Ghost
Hamlet
Incestuous
Noble
Wicked
Beast
Ear
Rank
Ghost
Incestuous
Noble
Wicked
Seemingly
Ref
Errol Nelson
Period 7
IB English IV
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Ghosts’ Bracketed Speech 1.5.42-76
o The alliteration of “w” words like “wicked, witchcraft”
o There is an assonance
o The Ghost becomes enraged with the wife who he thought was virtuous
o “O Hamlet, what a falling-off was there, From me, whose love was of that dignity
That it went hand in hand even with the vow I made to her in marriage, and to
decline Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor To those of mine!” 2 He
acknowledges that he was so much higher than Claudius.
 This could help the belief that Hamlet is truly mad, because he is making the
same comparison that Hamlet earlier made between his uncle and his father.
o Even though Gertrude may be a good person, although he may not see it so
(appearance v. reality) however she is defined by her slut-like behavior.
o Claudius pours poison in the ear
o Died with unconfessed sins.
o And then to Hamlet, that idea would have been “O, horrible! O, horrible! most
horrible!”
o The Ghost bids that Hamlet does not harm Gertrude, but instead, leave her to suffer
with her conscious.
Hamlet swears to forget all his other teachings, and not to allow them to hold him back from
getting his revenge on his uncle and adulterous mother. And that Hamlet dedicates himself
to revenge.
o This is the turning point in the play, as the last scene of Act I we see Hamlet’s
determination really develop here.
Horatio really wants to know what went on. Notice the repetition of the “w” words.
 The Ghost helps to urge Marcellus and Horatio to swear that they will not be
all like, “Well…we know why Prince Hamlet is acting this way” to arouse
suspicion, and he gives unbreakable terms that don’t allow for loop holes.
 And while Horatio and Marcellus are thinking that they’ve already sworn
sufficiently.
St. Patrick – Makes a reference because St. Patrick because St. Patrick expelled all the
snakes from Ireland. This is made because Hamlet is forming the idea to expel his uncle, who
was compared to a snake by the ghost. The reference also stands because St. Patrick is the
patron saint of blunders and mistakes, and confusion. As well as the keeper to the gates of
purgatory the place of periodical torment that the ghost inhabits.
Hamlet tells his true friends what’s going on. And that he’s only going to be pretending. And
that he will assume an “antic disposition”.
The scene and act ends with Shakespeare’s signature of rhyming couplet. And he says, “O
cursed spite That ever I was born to set it right!” 3
Act II Scene 1
 Polonius sends Reynaldo to spy on Laertes in France.
o He tells Reynaldo to seek out other Danes, and casually bring up Laertes as a subject
of gossip.
2
3
1.5.47-52
1.5.189-190
Errol Nelson
Period 7
IB English IV
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o See if he goes to brothels, gambles, fences or parties too much.
Ophelia speaks to her father about the recent event with Prince Hamlet
o Ophelia hasn’t communicated with Hamlet, and then all of a sudden when she’s
sewing in her private quarters Hamlet just shows up looking quite disheveled, and
she is confused by his actions.
o Polonius explains it away as an act of true love, and the benefits of having the Prince
of Denmark having an intense love for his daughter and the possibility of increase in
status.
Character Analysis of Polonius – Pedantic- concerned w/ what he perceives to be correct.
Verbose, bombastic style, cynical (always believe that everyone has an ulterior motive)
o A primary characteristic of a courtier in the 16th century
o Everyone had a motive in 16th century courts.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern – Hamlet’s childhood friends, whom the King and Queen hire
to kind of hang around the Prince, and because they know him very well. And that if there is
something unknown to them about what makes him so mysterious to them.
o Another idea of spying parents.
Polonius enters court
o He gives the news that Cornelius and Voltemand have come back from Norway.
 The ruler of Norway orders Fortinbras to disband his aggressive behaviors
towards Denmark. And then when Fortinbras, obeys the King of Norway is
pleased and the King of Norway rewards him.
 Furthermore, he suggests that Fortinbras go and fight the Polish.
 Then the two ambassadors are asking for permission for Fortinbras’
forces to come through Denmark to attack the Poles.
o Polonius gives Gertrude and Claudius
 Polonius is super wordy and he is just going on and on, and he basically says
nothing.
 And he states that Hamlet is mad.
 And Queen Gertrude wants Polonius to get to the point.
 And Polonius swears up and down that he isn’t using any “art” but he still
continues even further.
 Makes up a plot to set up a meeting on the interactions between Ophelia and
Hamlet.
 Right after this, Hamlet enters reading a book.
o Now, one couldn’t be very sure if Hamlet overheard.
Polonius and Hamlet’s Conversation.
o If Hamlet heard the conversation and he greeted Polonius as a “fishmonger” one
could interpret that Hamlet knows that he is planning to have an “accidental”
meeting.
o 1/10,000 good people who are honest…adds to his cynical.
o “For if the sun breeds maggots in a dead dog,”….like that if “the sky is blue”
o Dramatic Irony – because Hamlet is putting on an “antic disposition”
Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildstern’s Conversation.
Errol Nelson
Period 7
IB English IV
Act III Scene 1
 Hamlet’s soliloquy
o The most famous soliloquy. “To be or not be; that is the question:”
 If it is an analysis of the human condition. Hamlet has a very low opinion of
the human race. And that he continues
 If you look at it from a plot perspective the question “to be or not to be” could
be whether he should kill Claudius.
o Themes of the Soliloquy:
 Death
 Suicide
 The unknown (what happens after death)
 Human’s suck
 Character
o Point- Hamlet has a low opinion of man-kind
o Evidence: “The oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s
contumely,”
o Technique: Shakespeare uses metaphor of the arrows and
slings. Tone is what the author does to make the audience feel
in their heart. He uses his tone to pull at the heart strings of
the audience and the fact that Hamlet is so depressed
o Elaboration: Sympathizes with the protagonist.
o Response:
 He shows his uncertainty, and expresses that it would be easier to die
if you could tell what would happen to you after death.
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Ophelia and Hamlet’s relation:
o The changes within their relationship can seem strange.
 Hamlet may have overheard the conversation about using Ophelia to trick
him.
 And then he could be actually crazy.
 Hamlet could have been truly hurt by her sudden rejection. She didn’t even
like break up with him…she just stopped talking.
 Many believe that Shakespeare uses prose when a character is feeling
disrespect.
 The entire theme of Hamlet’s anger towards his mother.
 Iambic pentameter denotes respect.
 She also gives one of the best descriptions of Hamlet before this whole
experience.
“Ay, truly; for the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is to bawd
than the force of honesty can translate beauty into his likeness. This was sometime a
paradox, but now the time give it proof. I did love you once.”
o Meaning that he is saying the power of honesty (something Hamlet values greatly)
can do wonders.
Errol Nelson
Period 7
IB English IV
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King’s Conversation with Polonius
o The King wants to send Hamlet away to England.
o Polonius interjects.
Act III Scene 2
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The beginning of scene two takes place in a hall of the castle. Hamlet is there, along
with three of the players.
Hamlet shows a good deal of respect for the theater.