:
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Objectives
Upon completion of this review, you will be able to:
Identify 1 key characteristic of each of the 5 main
characters with 100% accuracy
Recall 2 major themes and motifs with 100% accuracy
Identify the meaning behind the major quotes discussed
with 100% accuracy
And identify the symbol discussed with 100% accuracy
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State Standard
9.3- “Students read and respond to grade-levelappropriate historically or culturally significant
works of literature, such as the selections in the
www.doe.in.gov/standards/readinglist.html, which
will illustrate the quality and complexity of the
materials to be read by students. At Grade 9,
students read a wide variety of literature, such as
classic and contemporary literature, historical
fiction, fantasy, science fiction, folklore,
mythology, poetry, short stories, dramas, and other
genres.” – IN.GOV (IDOE)
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“Hi! I’m Will, and I am here to help
guide you through this review of Hamlet!
Shakespeare can be a bit intimidating,
but don’t worry! I will be here to help
you along the way with directions,
information, and even some fun facts! So
let’s get started!”
Let’s Get
Started!
But first, let’s review the story of
Hamlet!
Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, is devastated by the
death of his father, the King. He returns home from
University to find his mother, Gertrude, has married
his uncle, Claudius. After seeing the ghost of his
father, Hamlet discovers that his uncle murdered his
father to gain the crown. In the end, a bloody duel of
swords and poison kill Gertrude and Hamlet, but not
before Hamlet finally fulfills his goal and kills Claudius.
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More Information
For a more complete summary of the story just click
below!
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Characters
Themes and
Motifs
Important
Quotes
Review the story
of Hamlet!
Application and
Quiz!
Character Home
“Welcome to the characters page! Just click a character
below to find out more about them!”
Hamlet
Claudius
Ophelia
Gertrude
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Hamlet, the protagonist of the play, is the prince of
Denmark and a university student. His studies
are put on hold, however, when his father dies.
Hamlet is a very enigmatic character. Possibly
Hamlet’s most defining characteristic is his that
he is a thinker- always contemplative and
thoughtful. Hamlet is constantly thinking
philosophically about the world around him.
He is also very passionate. These two qualities
cause Hamlet to experience internal conflict in
his quest to avenge his father’s death.
Meet a new
character
What is a protagonist?
A protagonist is the main character of a
literary, theatrical, musical or cinematic
narrative. (The person the plot revolves
around)
Did you know the word protagonist comes
from the Greek word protagonistes, meaning
“One who plays the first part- the chief
actor”.
Back
What does enigmatic mean?
• If someone or something is
enigmatic it means that they are
mysterious, puzzling, or ambiguous.
Back
Hamlet’s major antagonist.
Portrayed as lustful, conniving, and
shrewd, Claudius became the king of
Denmark by marrying his brother’s wife,
Gertrude, after his brother’s death
(Claudius killed his brother, the king, by
pouring poison in his ear). Claudius
only truly cares about maintaining and
increasing his own power.
Meet a new
character
What does antagonist mean?
An antagonist is a character, or group of
characters, that represents the opposition
against which the protagonist must contend
(Usually, but not always, the “bad guy”).
Did you know that the word antagonist
comes from the Greek word antagonistes,
meaning “opponent, competitor, or rival.”
Back
The queen of Denmark, Hamlet’s mother.
Once married to the late king (Hamlet’s
father), Gertrude recently married
Claudius, the late King’s brother. Gertrude
loves her son, but she is needy and is
constantly craving affection. This causes her
to value status more than truth or morality.
Glen Close played Gertrude in Franco
Zeffirelli’s 1990 rendition of Hamlet!
Meet a new
character
Hamlet’s love interest in the play. Ophelia is a
sweet and innocent young girl. She is not the
strongest female character, however, as she
seems to depend on the men in her life to tell
her what to do. Even after her fall into
madness (Ophelia drowns), Ophelia remains
maidenly, singing songs about flowers. The
quintessential maiden.
Boys and men played all the roles in
Shakespeare’s plays, as it was customary in
Elizabethan times. So much for a fair maiden.
Meet a new
character
Themes, Motifs, and Symbols
“One of the most exciting parts of reading Shakespeare is
discovering the themes, motifs, and symbols used. So let’s get
started!”
“What would you like to learn about? Just
click an option below!”
Themes
Motifs
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Symbols
Themes
“Great! Let’s take a look at the Themes in Hamlet. What
would you like to learn?”
What is a theme?
Revenge &
Complexity of
Action
The Nation as a
Diseased Body
Back
The Mystery of
Death and
Morality
What are themes?
Themes are the fundamental, and often
universal, ideas explored in a literary work.
Back
Theme: The Nation as a Diseased
Body
Eventually, the issues of the royal family transfer onto the
people of Denmark. The play’s early scenes express the
uneasiness and dread that surrounds the transition from one
king to the next. Because of this confusion and unease,
Denmark is frequently described as a physical body made ill.
Did you know that Denmark is the
oldest monarchy of the west? Until the
19th century Denmark controlled all of
northern Europe! Those Vikings sure
were handy!
Back to Themes
No, not those Vikings!
Theme: Revenge and the
Complexity of Action
The play begins with all the makings of your typical revenge
story. But it soon becomes clear that this story will not be so
simple. The majority of Hamlet revolves around Hamlet’s
indecision. Hamlet’s question of how to act is affected not
only by rational consideration (like his need for certainty)
but also by emotional, ethical, and psychological factors.
Likely due to his emotional turmoil and indecision, when
Hamlet does act, he seems to do it hastily.
Back to Themes
Theme: The Mystery of Death and
Mortality
After his father’s death, Hamlet is obsessed with the idea of
death and mortality. Death weaves its way through Hamlet
from the very beginning. From the opening scene with
Hamlet’s father’s ghost, to Ophelia’s death, to Hamlet’s
own suicidal thoughts, to the tale’s bloody finale. The ideas
of death and suicide even lead to Hamlet’s famous “To be,
or not to be” speech!
Back to Themes
Motifs
“Fantastic! Let’s get started on Motifs! Click a motif below
to begin.”
What is a motif?
Incest
Misogyny
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What Is a Motif?
Motifs are recurring structures,
contrasts, and literary devices that can
help to develop and inform the texts
major themes.
Back
Motif: Incest
The idea of incest runs through the play,
being alluded to by Hamlet and the ghost,
most obviously in the relationship of
Gertrude and Claudius as they were
brother-in-law and sister-in-law.
Back to Motifs
Motif: Misogyny
Shattered by his mother’s choice to marry
Claudius so soon after the death of his father,
Hamlet becomes cynical about women in general.
He comes to have an obsession with the belief that
there is a connection between female sexuality and
moral corruption.
Back to Motifs
The Symbol
“Welcome to the symbol section! Click a choice
below to continue.”
What is a
symbol?
Yorick’s Skull
Back
What Is a Symbol?
Symbols are objects, characters,
figures, and colors used to represent
abstract ideas or concepts.
Back
Symbol: Yorick’s Skull
In Hamlet, physical objects are rarely used to represent
thematic ideas. One important exception is Yorick’s
skull. Hamlet finds the skull of Yorick (the court jester)
in the graveyard in Scene 1 Act V. As Hamlet speaks to
the skull, he thinks about the inevitability of death and
the disintegration of the human body.
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Quotes
“Shakespeare can be rather tricky to understand.
But don’t fret! I am here to help. Just click on a
quote below to read an explanation!”
“O that this too too
solid flesh would melt”
“To be, or not to be:
that is the question”
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Quote: “O that this too too solid
flesh would melt…”
Hamlet speaks these lines after seeing
Claudius and Gertrude in court, then being
asked by them not to return to school even
though he longs to. Hamlet thinks for the
first time about suicide, desiring his flesh to
melt and wishing that God had not made
“self-slaughter” a sin.
Back
Quote: “To be, or not to be…”
Hamlet speaks these immortal words in Act
III. His logical and powerful examination of
the moral legitimacy of suicide touches on
several important themes of the play.
Hamlet poses the question of whether or
not to commit suicide as, “To be, or not to
be: that is the question.”
This soliloquy is one of the most
famous in the history of the
English language.
Back
Application Section
“Congratulations! You have made it all the way to the
application section of the review! You are doing a great job!
Here we will take a look at how Hamlet translates into modern
day culture to help you gain a better understanding of how the
play is used today.”
If you have completed this
section, click below to skip to the
quiz
Skip to Quiz
If you have yet to complete this
section, please click Continue
Continue
“Now, you may be wondering what the story of Hamlet
has to do with modern culture. Yes, Hamlet was
written a long time ago. But Shakespeare’s works have
inspired modern works of literature, art, and film for
years. Hamlet is no exception, acting as the inspiration
for one of Disney’s most famous and beloved classics.”
So what Disney classic was inspired by Hamlet?
Continue
“That’s right! Disney based the story of The Lion King on
Shakespeare’s very own Hamlet.
In this application of Hamlet, we will take a look at the
similarities between The Lion King and Hamlet, both in the
stories and the characters.”
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Let’s Begin!
Hamlet and The Lion King: Shared
Themes
The stories of Hamlet and The Lion King share many of the
same themes, including:
• Responsibility
•Death and Loss
•Revenge
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The most striking similarities can be seen through the comparison
of the characters.
In the following slides, you will be given a picture of a character
from The Lion King. Choose the character from Hamlet that The
Lion King character was most likely based on. Keep in mind the
character descriptions we reviewed earlier!
Quit to
Character Page
Quit to Main
Menu
Continue
Who was the character of Simba based on?
Hamlet
Claudius
Gertrude
Ophelia
Great Job!
Hamlet is correct! The role of the young Prince whose
father is murdered was inspired by Hamlet, whose naïve
ways give him more than his fair share of troubles.
Continue
Oops!
Actually, the role of the young Prince whose
father is murdered was inspired by Hamlet,
whose naïve ways give him more than his fair
share of troubles.
Continue
Who was the character of Mufasa based on?
Claudius
Gertrude
Ophelia
King Hamlet Sr
Amazing! That is correct!
King Hamlet ruled his kingdom with peace
and fairness and was well-loved by his kingdom
and son, just like Mufasa!
Continue
Oops!
Actually, the answer was King Hamlet, Sr.
King Hamlet ruled his kingdom with peace and fairness
and was well-loved by his kingdom and son, just like
Mufasa!
Continue
Who was the character of Scar based on?
Gertrude
Claudius
Laertes
Ophelia
Wonderful!
The answer was Claudius!
Both Claudius and Scar murdered
their brothers in a selfish effort to
inherit the thrown.
Continue
Oops!
Actually, the answer was Claudius.
Both Claudius and Scar murdered their brothers in
a selfish effort to inherit the thrown.
Continue
Who was the character of Sarabi based on?
Gertrude
Ophelia
Laertes
Yorick
Wow! That’s Right!
Both Gertrude and Sarabi lost
their husbands to their brotherin-law’s evil acts.
Continue
Oops!
Actually, the answer was Gertrude
Both Gertrude and Sarabi lost their husbands
to their brother-in-law’s evil acts.
Continue
Who was the character of Nala based on?
Ophelia
Leartes
Yorick
Amazing!
Nala and Ophelia both act as the love-interest
of the main character.
Continue
Oops!
Actually, the answer was Ophelia.
Both Ophelia and Nala act as the love-interest of the
main character.
Continue
“As you can see, the stories told by Shakespeare are timeless.
Maybe now you can find similarities between Hamlet and other
modern works!”
Hamlet has been quoted and referenced in plenty of movies and shows, such as:
Billy Madison
Renaissance Man
The Simpsons
South Park
Princess Diaries
Star Trek
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And more!
“I am really impressed! You have done so well. Now
that you have learned how Hamlet is still used in
shaping today’s culture, it’s time for the quiz!”
“Are you ready to begin?”
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Start Quiz
What is a protagonist?
a) The main character
b) The opposition to the main character
c) The author
d) The person who dies
Correct! Great Job!
The protagonist of a story is
a) the main character!
Continue
Oops…
Sorry, but that is incorrect.
The protagonist is the stories
a) main character
Continue
What is an antagonist?
a) The author
b) The opposition to the main
character
c) The main character
d) The person who dies
Correct! Great Job!
The antagonist is
b) the character or thing opposing the main character.
Continue
Oops…
Sorry, but that is incorrect.
The antagonist is
b) the character or thing opposing the main character.
Continue
What is Hamlet’s most defining characteristic?
a) He is tall
b) He is handsome
c) He is brave
d) He is a thinker
Correct! Great Job!
Hamlet’s most defining characteristic is
d) He is a thinker!
Continue
Oops…
Sorry, but that is incorrect.
Hamlet’s most defining characteristic is
b) he is a thinker.
Continue
What is the best way to describe Ophelia?
a) An ugly witch
b) A boring person
c) A fair maiden
d) A cool cat
Correct! Great Job!
Ophelia is best described as the quintessential
c) fair maiden.
Continue
Oops…
Sorry, but that is incorrect.
Ophelia is best described as the quintessential
c) fair maiden.
Continue
How would you describe Gertrude?
a) Independent
b) Needy
c) Happy
d) Confident
Correct! Great Job!
The best way to describe Gertrude
b) is needy!
Continue
Oops…
Sorry, but that is incorrect.
Gertrude is best described
b) as needy.
Continue
What is one way to describe Claudius?
a) Shy
b) Power-hungry
c) Honest
d) Confused
Correct! Great Job!
Claudius can best be described as
b) power-hungry.
Continue
Oops…
Sorry, but that is incorrect.
Claudius can best be described as
b) power-hungry.
Continue
What were two of the themes of Hamlet
discussed in this review?
a) Political warfare, religion
b) Revenge, morality
c) Revenge, romantic love
d) Morality, eternal happiness
Correct! Great Job!
The two themes discussed in this review were
b) Revenge and Morality
Continue
Oops…
Sorry, that is incorrect.
The two themes discussed in this review were
b) Revenge and Morality
Continue
What were the two Motifs discussed in this
review?
a) Misogyny, emotional conflict
b) Incest, family troubles
c) Confusion, insecurities
d) Incest, misogyny
Correct! Great Job!
The two motifs discussed in this review were
d) Incest and Misogyny
Continue
Oops…
Sorry, but that is incorrect.
The two motifs discussed in this review were
b) Incest and Misogyny
Continue
What is Hamlet debating in his “to be, or not to
be,” soliloquy?
a) World peace
b) Whether to live or die
c) If he should marry Ophelia
d) If he should kill his uncle
Correct! Great Job!
Hamlet was debating
b) whether he should continue living or die by
his own hand.
Continue
Oops…
Sorry, but that is incorrect.
Hamlet was debating
b) whether he should continue living or die by his
own hand.
Continue
What is Hamlet thinking about for the first
time when he says, “O that this too too solid
flesh would melt?”
a) Boiling points
b) Ophelia’s love
c) Suicide
d) The sun
Correct! Great Job!
When Hamlet says, “O that this too too solid flesh would
melt?” he is just starting to think about
c) the idea of suicide.
Continue
Oops…
Sorry, but that is incorrect
When Hamlet says, “O that this too too solid flesh
would melt?” he is just starting to think about
c) the idea of suicide.
Continue
“
You have completed the
review of Hamlet! Bravo!”
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