Characters, structure, and themes Hamlet Characters, structure, and themes

Hamlet Plot/subplot structure Main Plot – court Hamlet’s grief Revenge of Old Hamlet’s death Dealing with Fortinbras Plots and conspiracies Subplots – Polonius family Ophelia and Hamlet’s love Laertes in France Revenge of Polonius’ death Ophelia’s madness

Hamlet Plot/subplot structure Main Plot – revenge Revenge of Old Hamlet’s death Revenge for Polonius’ death Fortinbras’ revenge Subplots Hamlet’s grief, thoughts of death Hamlet’s antic disposition Hamlet’s relationship with Ophelia Ophelia’s madness

Hamlet Foiling Character foiling Parallel scenes Fortinbras, Hamlet, Laertes: lost father, revenge Hamlet, Ophelia: madness Old Hamlet, Polonius, Claudius: give advice to child(ren) Parallel scenes Act 1, scenes 2, 3, 5: Parents give advice to children Act 2 and Act 4: Hamlet and Ophelia’s madness

Hamlet themes revenge madness grief ideal king, politics eavesdropping, spying power of art, plays

Hamlet issues to resolve Ghost Is it real or not? If it is real, is it a good ghost or an evil ghost? Is Hamlet really mad or feigning madness? Does Hamlet procrastinate? If so, why? Is Hamlet a scourge and/or minister? How much should characters obey parents? Whose view of revenge is right: Hamlet’s or Laertes’?

Horatio tells Hamlet about Ghost Hamlet -- Act I Scene 1 Horatio to speak with Ghost Scene 2 Claudius at Court Hamlet’s grief Horatio tells Hamlet about Ghost Scene 3 Polonius and Ophelia say goodbye to Laertes Scene 4 Hamlet waiting for Ghost “Stamp of one defect” Scene 5 Hamlet and Ghost antic disposition

Claudius with Ros and Gild Hamlet -- Act II Scene 1 Polonius/Reynaldo Ophelia’s report re/Hamlet Scene 2 Claudius with Ros and Gild Polonius’s report Hamlet and fishmonger Players/Pyrrhus “The play’s the thing”

Hamlet -- Act III Scene 1 Scene 2 NUNNERY SCENE MOUSETRAP SCENE Hamlet and Ophelia Scene 2 MOUSETRAP SCENE Hamlet and players Play within a play Scene 4 CLOSET SCENE Gertrude/Hamlet Death of Polonius Scene 3 PRAYER SCENE Claudius/Hamlet

Hamlet -- Act IV Scene 1 Gertrude/Claudius Scene 2 Ros and Gild seek Hamlet Scene 3 Claudius sends Hamlet to England Scene 4 Hamlet sees Fortinbras Scene 6 Gertrude Ophelia’s madness Laertes’ threat Scene 7 Letter to Horatio from Hamlet Scene 8 Claudius and Laertes’ plans against Hamlet Gertrude’s report of Ophelia’s death

Hamlet -- Act V Scene 2 Scene 1 FOIL SCENE GRAVEYARD SCENE Hamlet/Horatio Laertes’ challenge Duel Death of Gertrude/Claudius Death of Laertes/Hamlet Fortinbras Scene 1 GRAVEYARD SCENE Gravediggers/Hamlet Burial of Ophelia