1. Hamlet

2. Essential Question
What are the critical elements of a tragedy?

3. Hamlet Written between 1599-1603 Set in the kingdom of Denmark
Centers around the title character, Hamlet
Shakespeare’s longest play and one of the most popular during his lifetime and today
Three different versions of the play were published in 1603, 1604, and 1623, each with lines and scenes missing from the other versions

4. Comedy & Tragedy Comedy – a dramatic work that is light and often
humorous in tone, usually ending happily with a peaceful resolution of the main conflict
Tragedy – a dramatic work that presents the downfall of a dignified character who is involved in historically or socially significant events
According to Aristotle, the purpose of tragedy is catharsis,
or a purging of emotions such as pity and fear

5. Characteristics of a Tragedy
Unhappy ending for the main character
Hero is usually someone important in society
The main character, or tragic hero, has a tragic flaw – a quality that leads to his or her destruction
Events are set in motion by a decision that is often an error in judgment caused by the tragic flaw

6. Characteristics of a Tragedy
Succeeding events are linked in a cause-and-effect relationship and lead inevitably to a disastrous conclusion, usually death
Outside forces/Antagonist may also contribute to the hero’s downfall
Tragic hero usually recognizes his/her tragic flaw by the end and gains the audience’s sympathy/pity
Tragic hero ultimately meets his/her doom

7. Structure Act 1 – Exposition Act 2 – Rising Action Act 3 – Climax
Act 4 – Falling Action
Act 5 – Resolution

8. Literary Devices
Symbolism – a symbol is a person, place, object, or activity that stands for something beyond itself.
Some symbols are commonly repeated throughout literature, while others acquire meaning within the context of the works in which they occur
Simile – a comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as”

9. Personification – human qualities are attributed to an object, animal, or idea
Metaphor – a comparison between two unlike things without using “like” or “as”

10. Irony – a contrast between expectation and reality; often subtle and can surprise the reader or viewer
Dramatic Irony – the reader or viewer knows something that a character does not know
Verbal Irony – a writer or character says one thing, but means another
Situational Irony – when a reader or character expects one thing to happen, but something else happens instead

11. Foreshadowing - clues about events that will happen later in the story
often these clues are fairly subtle so that they can only be noticed or fully understood upon a second reading
Allusion – a reference to a historical or fictional person, place, or event with which the reader is assumed to be familiar
understanding allusions can give a reader a better understanding of the work