Hamlet By William Shakespeare

The very essence of Hamlet is twofold: One, it is a ghost story/murder mystery One, it is a ghost story/murder mystery It is all about Hamlet revealing to the world who killed his father It is all about Hamlet revealing to the world who killed his father Superstition plays a big role in Hamlet Superstition plays a big role in Hamlet Two, it is a commentary on societal expectations Two, it is a commentary on societal expectations Leaders Women Religion Mental illness Revenge Appearance vs. Reality

Themes for Hamlet Revenge Revenge Tragedy (death) Tragedy (death) Love Love Betrayal Betrayal

Some things to think about… What superstitions do you believe in? What superstitions do you believe in? How/why are women’s roles different today than in Elizabethan times? How/why are women’s roles different today than in Elizabethan times? What do we expect from our leaders? What do we expect from our leaders? How does religion influence a society? How does religion influence a society?

Some things to think about… How do we determine mental illness? How do we determine mental illness? Who was mentally ill in Hamlet? When did we first see this? Who was mentally ill in Hamlet? When did we first see this? What do you consider revenge? What do you consider revenge? Is it appropriate? When? Is it appropriate? When? How does appearance How does appearance vs. reality still affect us vs. reality still affect us today? today?

RIPPLES IN A POND… A Summary of Hamlet RIPPLES IN A POND… A Summary of Hamlet Just like a stone makes numerous and never-ending ripples in a pond, Claudius' actions toward Hamlet senior cause numerous and never-ending ripples in Denmark. Whether Claudius coveted Hamlet senior's throne, his wife, or was driven by pure ambition, his one action of killing Hamlet Senior caused numerous and unforeseen ripples in many people's lives: Claudius kills Hamlet senior Claudius is crowned king Claudius marries Gertrude Hamlet grieves for his father and is upset over his mother's "o'erhasty marriage" The ghost of Hamlet senior comes back because he was killed without absolution for his sins in life Hamlet learns that his father was murdered by Claudius

Hamlet seeks to prove Claudius' guilt (he feigns madness, acts irrationally, and tries to prove Claudius' guilt by having him watch a play) Hamlet fails to kill Claudius because he believes Claudius might not suffer in death like Hamlet Senior did Hamlet kills Polonius thinking Polonius is Claudius Laertes tries to take revenge on Claudius for his father's death Claudius directs Laertes' anger towards Hamlet (Claudius has to protect his secret: Hamlet Senior's murder) Hamlet Senior's murder) Ophelia goes mad and commits "suicide" (Her father's death and Hamlet's behavior are the main reasons for her madness)

Laertes and Claudius plan to kill Hamlet (Laertes will fence with Hamlet with a poisoned, sharpened sword, while Hamlet has a blunted foil, and Claudius will poison the wine) Laertes challenges Hamlet to a fencing match Claudius poisons the wine Claudius poisons the wine Gertrude drinks the wine and dies Gertrude drinks the wine and dies Laertes stabs Hamlet with the poisoned-tipped sword after losing the first two "hits" to Hamlet Laertes stabs Hamlet with the poisoned-tipped sword after losing the first two "hits" to Hamlet Leartes loses his sword and gets stabbed by Hamlet Laertes dies after he informs Hamlet of Claudius' involvement in the plot Hamlet kills Claudius by stabbing him with the poisoned sword and forcing him to drink the poisoned wine Hamlet dies

Shakespeare Intro Born in England on (approx) April 23 rd 1564, died April 23 rd, 1616 Born in England on (approx) April 23 rd 1564, died April 23 rd, 1616 In 23 years, between approx 1590 and 1613, he is attributed with writing 38 plays and multiple sonnets and poems In 23 years, between approx 1590 and 1613, he is attributed with writing 38 plays and multiple sonnets and poems Queen Elizabeth I, then James I ruled over England Queen Elizabeth I, then James I ruled over England Shakespeare’s plays were performed at the Globe Theater Shakespeare’s plays were performed at the Globe Theater

Globe Theater

Important Globe Features Circular Circular Open roof Open roof Multiple levels Multiple levels Poor (groundlings) stood in the pit for a penny Poor (groundlings) stood in the pit for a penny Wealthy could pay more to sit Wealthy could pay more to sit Paid for a cushion Paid for a cushion

The Theater in Shakespeare’s Time Disliked because so many people were stuffed into dirty theaters and contributed to the spread of the Plague (The Black Death) Disliked because so many people were stuffed into dirty theaters and contributed to the spread of the Plague (The Black Death) He was a member of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men and the King’s Men He was a member of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men and the King’s Men

Reading Shakespeare Couplets Couplets Two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme Two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme Reading the lines…do NOT pause at the end of each line. Read through until the punctuation mark (.,!?). Reading the lines…do NOT pause at the end of each line. Read through until the punctuation mark (.,!?).

The Makings of a Tragedy Tragedy: a narrative that ends unhappily for the main characters, usually resulting in the main character’s death Tragedy: a narrative that ends unhappily for the main characters, usually resulting in the main character’s death Some characters are responsible for their downfall, other are totally innocent Some characters are responsible for their downfall, other are totally innocent Superstition and religion were HUGE factors in most of his plays Superstition and religion were HUGE factors in most of his plays Victims of Fate? Victims of Fate?