William Shakespeare’s
Hamlet: an overview
Sources
• Ur-Hamlet, a lost play,
1588, possibly by
Thomas Kyd.
• Derived from Francois
Belleforest’s Histoires
Traqiques, 1580.
• Originally a 9th century
Icelandic saga.
Act 1, Scene 1
• Guards notice the
Ghost of the late King of
Denmark.
• The discuss how
ominous this is due to
impending war with
Norway.
• Ghost departs.
• The guards plant to
inform Prince Hamlet.
Act 1, Scene 2
• Claudius, current King of Denmark,
talks of his brother’s death and his
marriage to Queen Gertrude.
• Remarks on invasion from Prince
Fortinbras of Norway (without
knowledge of King of Norway).
• He sends letter to Norway asking for
restraint.
Continued.
• Laertes, Polonius’s son, returns to study in
France.
• King and Queen urge Hamlet to stop
mourning.
• Hamlet wishes to study in Wittenberg but is
denied.
• Hamlet talks about his mother’s hasty
marriage.
• Guards tell Hamlet about Ghost.
Act 1, Scene 3
• Laertes, leaving for
France, warns his
sister, Ophelia,
about Hamlet’s
affections.
• Polonius rants and
forbids Ophelia from
seeing Hamlet.
Act 1, Scene 4
• The Ghost appears
to Hamlet and
others.
• Hamlet follows.
Act 1, Scene 5
• The Ghost tells Hamlet
about his murder by
Claudius; demands
revenge.
• Hamlet vows to do this.
• Horatio and Marcellus
appear; Hamlet swears
them to secrecy, tells
them that he will
pretend madness.
Act 2, Scene 1
• King and Queen welcome Rosencrantz
and Guildenstern, Hamlet’s peers; asks
them to spy on Hamlet.
• News from King of Norway arrives;
Fortinbras redirected to Poland.
• Polonius shows confiscated letter,
declares Hamlet lovesick.
Continued.
• Hamlet appears,
speaks wildly; drives
away Polonius, gets
peers to admit their
spying.
• Players arrive.
• Hamlet instructs them
to perform The Murder
of Gonzago with his
added lines -- to verify
Claudius’s guilt.
Act 3, Scene 1
• Ophelia meets Hamlet while Claudius
and Polonius eavesdrop.
• Hamlet rails against her and all women.
• Claudius tells Polonius of his intent to
send Hamlet to England.
• Polonius suggests further spying on
Hamlet, after play’s performance.
Act 3, Scene 2
•
•
•
•
Hamlet lectures players.
Players perform.
Claudius angrily leaves.
Queen summons
Hamlet.
• He reminds himself not
to harm her despite his
anger.
Act 3, Scene 3
• Polonius agrees to
spy on Hamlet.
• Claudius attempts to
pray but cannot.
• Hamlet wants to kill
him but doesn’t
because he is
praying -- he wants
to ensure Claudius’s
soul goes to hell.
Act 3, Scene 4
• Polonius hides.
• Hamlet encounters his
mother, Queen.
• Hamlet kills Polonius.
• Hamlet condemns
Queen.
• Ghost appears, reminds
Hamlet of his duty.
• Hamlet scolds his
mother, drags away
Polonius.
Act 4, Scenes 1 & 2
• Scene 1:
• Queen tells
Claudius that
Hamlet has killed
Polonius.
• King sends
Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern to find
the body.
• Scene 2:
• They confront
Hamlet.
• He makes fun of
them but
accompanies them
to the King.
Act 4, Scene 3
• King tells lords that
Hamlet is
dangerous.
• Hamlet tells them
where the body is.
• King sends Hamlet
to England “for his
safety” but has
letters that will
ensure his death.
Act 4, Scene 4
• Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
encounter captain from Fortinbras’s
army.
• They commiserate on wasted lives over
inconsequential things.
• Hamlet vows to think only bloody
thoughts.
Act 4, Scene 5
• Queen is informed that Ophelia has lost
her mind, singing about deaths and
funerals.
• Laertes has raised a rebellion,
demanding revenge on Hamlet.
• King assures Laertes and plots revenge
on Hamlet.
Act 4, Scene 6
• Sailor brings Horatio letter from Hamlet.
• Letters tells of Hamlet’s capture by
pirates.
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern continue
to England.
• Horatio goes after Hamlet.
Act 4, Scene 7
• King and Laertes
plot for duel with
differing swords and
a poisoned cup.
• Queen announces
that Ophelia has
drowned.
• Laertes collapses.
Act 5, Scene 1
• Grave-diggers, then
Hamlet, discuss death.
• Hamlet muses on
Yorick’s skull.
• Ophelia’s funeral
procession passes by.
• Hamlet rages against
Laertes but leaves.
• King assures Laertes of
his revenge.
Act 5, Scene 2
• Hamlet tells Horatio
of rewriting the
letter, ensuring
death to
Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern.
• Osric arrives with
request to fence
Laertes.
Continued.
• Hamlet tells Horatio
that he’s prepared to
die.
• The match begins;
King and Queen
toast Hamlet’s first
successful round.
Continued
• Hamlet does not
drink.
• Queen drinks
despite Claudius’s
warnings.
• Laertes wounds
Hamlet with
poisoned sword.
Continued
• Fencers accidentally
exchange swords.
• Hamlet wounds
Laertes.
• Queen falls and
dies.
• Laertes reveals
King’s plot
Continued
• Hamlet wounds King, forces him to drink
poison.
• Hamlet and Laertes forgive each other.
• Laertes dies.
• Claudius dies.
• Fortinbras arrives, Hamlet names him his
successor.
• Hamlet dies.
• Everyone…dies.
Things to ponder
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“Problem play”
Theatrical history
Verse vs. Prose
Deception
Nature and order
Heroism
Things to ponder
• Wit and humor
• Sex and
relationships
• Revenge
• Ghost or devil?
• Innocence
• Victimization
• Politics