Scene-Analysis Matrix
Scene analysis
Selected scene: Branagh’s Act 3 – Sc 4
*note – this scene comes immediately after the chapel scene, where Hamlet
observes Claudius praying.
Selected scene: Laurence Olivier’s Act 3 – Sc 4
*note – this scene comes immediately after the chapel scene, where
Hamlet observes Claudius praying.
Context
Adapted for the screen and directed by Kenneth Branagh in 1996, who also stars in the role
Hamlet is a 1948 British film adaptation of William Shakespeare's play
Hamlet, adapted and directed by and starring Sir Laurence Olivier.
Hamlet was Olivier's second film as director, Hamlet was the first British
film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
It is also the first sound film of the play in English.
Set in Renaissance period architecture and costume  reflect original
context (time and place) of the original play.
as Prince Hamlet. The film features Derek Jacobi as King Claudius, Julie Christie as Queen
Gertrude, Kate Winslet as Ophelia, Michael Maloney as Laertes, Richard Briers as Polonius,
and Nicholas Farrell as Horatio. Other notable appearances include Robin Williams, Gérard
Depardieu, Jack Lemmon, Billy Crystal, Rufus Sewell, Charlton Heston, Richard
Attenborough, Judi Dench, John Gielgud and Ken Dodd. (All star cast  why? To appeal
to a modern audience?)
The first unabridged theatrical film version of the play, running just over four hours. The
play's setting is updated to the 19th century, but its Elizabethan English remains the same.
Blenheim Palace is the setting used for the exterior grounds of Elsinore Castle and interiors
were all photographed at Shepperton Studios, blended with the footage shot at Blenheim.
Hamlet was also the last major dramatic motion picture to be filmed entirely on 70 mm film
until 2012 (Why 70 mm film?? To make the film (and the events / ideas and characters
appear to be “larger than life”? To add an extra”grandiose” dimension to the production
– which would fully-immerse to a contemporary audience into the glory of a period
drama?)
Purpose of scene
-
Developing the
plot?
Foreshadowing?
Reveal character?
Reveal
relationships?
Create suspense?
Shift responder
attitude/sympathy?
Create confusion /
intrigue?
Develop recurring
motif?
Comic relief?
Scene-Analysis Matrix
Consequences of
scene
(i.e.: for plot &
characters)
Leads to… ?
Suggests that…?
Proves the…?
Exposes the… ?
Challenges the
perspective that…?
Supports the
perspective that…?
Stylistic features
(i.e.: theatrical
devices and film
techniques)
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Mis-en-scene
Set
Costume
Lighting
Shot types
Editing
Body language
Gestures and
action
 every line of dialogue
 chaos of:
o angry raised voices
o violent gestures
o Gertrude’s messy hair
o Quick camera movements and quick cuts in the murder
 Romantic view of the expression of the disorder and
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chaos that exists in nature – the will of the individual –
the disintegration of reason and logic
Is the floor checked (like a Chess board” in this scene? Is there any
significance in the floor design in the set of this scene?
Hamlet – black minimalist and close-fitting suit – no jewellery or
adornment  effect? Implication?
Gertrude  yellow Victorian dress… hair is styled – but is becoming
undone –
Facial expressions? Emotional but not melodramatic
Are there any significant motifs/symbols in the set and film techniques in
this scene which you have noticed in other scenes in the film?
 Post-war 1940’s – which also coincided with the rise of the
psychological theories of Austrian psychologist Sigmund
Freud. Freud’s model of psychoanalysis deals with
exploring the human psyche in terms of “psychosexual
stages” the complex and ‘ambiguous’ relationship which
develops between mother and son
 Black and white was a choice! He could’ve used colour.
why did he choose Black and White? - so - he could play
with the shades of grey, darkness, shadows and
illumination.
 As the play becomes “darker” – so does the use of darker
shades of black and grey and specific use of illumination.
 Olivier was fascinated with a Freudian reading of the play
 Edited text from the play-script
 Positioning? Division between Gertrude and Hamlet?
Height levels?  Hamlet dominates Gertrude… Gertrude
is submissive and melodramatic.
 Costuming and hair?
o Gertrude in elaborate, rich nightgown outfit –
reminiscent of Hollywood stars. Hair down 
considered erotic in Elizabethan times
o Hamlet – highly decorated doublet and jewellery –
tights – rapier (sword) already drawn and ready
(symbolism of the rapier as a phallic symbol?)
Scene-Analysis Matrix
Key observations:
Quotes and Language
techniques
Sound effects
-
Diagetic
Non-diagetic
“thou rash intruding fool I took thee for thy better”
 Use of symbolic comparison of “thy better”. Who is “better”? Claudius
 “rash intruding fool” – derogatory emotive language and imagery 
irony in that Polonius’ foolish intrusion into the Hamlet’s life has brought
about his final demise. If Polonius had not been so “rash” or a “fool” –
perhaps he would have not been so “rash” and impatient in his
investigation into Hamlet’s AND Claudius’ behaviour after “The Mouse
Trap”. Why didn’t Polonius question Claudius’ rage and extreme reaction
to The Mouse Trap? Polonius did not stop and consider that Claudius’
decision to banish Hamlet to England as being somewhat of an overreaction.
 Does Hamlet show that perhaps he suspects that Polonius was there on
Claudius’ command? To kill Hamlet? To kill Gertrude? Any textual
evidence in the dialogue?
Scene-Analysis Matrix
Characters
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Characterisation
character
relationships
revelations
similarities and
differences?
Flaws Vs
qualities
Emotion Vs
reason?
Values
Beliefs
Scene-Analysis Matrix
Values, concepts,
attitudes and
perspectives
evident in scene
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What are they?
How are they
developed here?
*Romantic reading?
*Feminist reading?
*Freudian reading?
*Renaissance &
Humanism
Consider the
complex nature of:
revenge?/ life’s
journey?/family
life?/identity?/selfdetermination?/inde
pendence?/
happiness?/inspiratio
n?/personal
experience?/national
ism?/national
identity? /
performance?/
loyalty?/betrayal? /
emotion over values
and reason?
Scene-Analysis Matrix
Key points of comparison between these two scenes (Links to broader context and values):
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Scene-Analysis Matrix
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