Hamlet By Shakespeare

Elizabeth I Queen of England during the time period Had no children The country feared her Cousin James I of Scotland would be her successor King James became the king Had different views Had different beliefs The lives of those in the country changed

Characters Hamlet – Prince of Denmark About thirty years old Son of Queen Gertrude and the late King Hamlet Nephew of the present king, Claudius Melancholy, bitter Uncle’s scheming Mother’s sexuality and quick remarriage Father’s death. Thoughtful, studied, reflective but also rash and impulsive Horatio - Hamlet’s close friend Studied with the prince at the university in Wittenberg loyal to Hamlet and helps him Claudius - The King of Denmark Hamlet’s Uncle and the play’s villain Calculating, ambitious politician, driven by his sexual desires and power lust Sometimes shows human feeling and guilt May truly love Gertrude

Characters Continued Gertrude - The Queen of Denmark Hamlet’s mother Married to Claudius per King Hamlet’s death Loves Hamlet Shallow, weak and depends on men Seeks attention, affection, and status more than morality and truth Polonius - The Lord Chamberlain of Claudius’ court Arrogant, scheming old man Father of Laertes and Ophelia Laertes - Polonius’s son and Ophelia’s brother Spends much of the play in France Passionate and quick to react Ophelia - Polonius’ daughter and Laertes’ sister Beautiful woman whom Hamlet has loved Sweet and innocent, obeys her father and her brother Like Gertrude, dependent on men to tell her how to behave and live

Characters Continued Fortinbras – Prince of Norway Father was killed by King Hamlet, Hamlet’s father Wants vengeance on Denmark The Ghost – Believed to be Hamlet’s recently deceased father Claims to have been murdered by Claudius Calls for vengeance Rosencrantz and Guildenstern – aristocrats Friends of Hamlet from Wittenberg Brought to Denmark by the king & queen because of Hamlet’s behavior Marcellus and Bernardo - officers First to see the ghost walking the walls of Elsinore Calls Horatio to witness the ghost Francisco - A soldier and guardsman at Elsinore Reynaldo - Polonius’ servant Sent to France by Polonius to spy on his son, Laertes

Basic Plot of “Hamlet” The Ghost of Hamlet’s father returns and tells his son Hamlet, a studying student, he wants vengeance for his murder committed by his brother Claudius, the current king and husband of the widowed Queen Gertrude. Hamlet contemplates the logic and reality of the situation, is it true? Is the ghost real? Although dealing with his mourning and anger towards his mother, Gertrude, and love interest, Ophelia, Hamlet sets his plan in motion to find out the truth and satisfy the ghost’s wishes.

ACT I Guards think they see ghost of King Hamlet (Senior) Conflicts between Norway and Denmark are exemplified Hamlet mourns the death of his father, while Claudius tells him he must move on from mourning Hamlet fantasizes about death Hamlet is angered by his mother’s remarriage so soon after his father’s death

Assignment Read Act I Summary of the each scene i-v (1-5) Email 1 discussion question the night before class or bring it by the morning of class before first class. Be prepared for a quiz

ACT II Polonius is focused on his children and obsessed with Hamlet’s behavior The king and queen bring in reinforcements to discover the cause of Hamlet’s behavior Plans are made to understand the cause of Hamlet’s behavior Plans are made to discover the guilt of Claudius for the former king’s murder

Assignment Read Act II Summary of the each scene I & ii (1 & 2) Email 1 discussion question the night before class or bring it by the morning of class before first class. Be prepared for a quiz

ACT III Polonius’ plan to decipher the motivation behind Hamlet’s strange behavior Hamlet’s plan to decipher King Claudius’ guilt Hamlet’s moment of revenge Hamlet’s confrontation with his mother

Assignment Read Act III Summary of the each scene i-iv (1-4) Email 1 discussion question the night before class or bring it by the morning of class before first class. Be prepared for a quiz

ACT IV Queen Gertrude’s “betrayal” What do to with the body? Hamlet is sent away Fortinbras travels through Denmark King Claudius and Laertes’ plan

Assignment Read Act IV Summary of the each scene i-vii (1-7) Email 1 discussion question the night before class or bring it by the morning of class before first class. Be prepared for a quiz

ACT V Graveyard scene Hamlet’s obsession with death Funeral A foiled plot The new plot of revenge

Assignment Read Act V Summary of the each scene I & ii (1 & 2) Email 1 discussion question the night before class or bring it by the morning of class before first class. Be prepared for a quiz