1. William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark English 12 Romeo High School

2. History Written 1599-1601 Written 1599-1601 Inside a series of comedies in the last decade of the transition years between 1500 and 1600s. Inside a series of comedies in the last decade of the transition years between 1500 and 1600s. Midsummer Night’s Dream - 1595 Midsummer Night’s Dream - 1595 Merchant of Venice - 1596 Merchant of Venice - 1596 Much Ado About Nothing - 1598 Much Ado About Nothing - 1598 As You Like It - 1599 As You Like It - 1599 Twelfth Night - 1601 Twelfth Night - 1601 Also came on the tail of his first major forays into tragedy with historical/political themes. Also came on the tail of his first major forays into tragedy with historical/political themes. Julius Caesar - 1599 Julius Caesar - 1599 Henry IV Parts I and II - 1596/1597 Henry IV Parts I and II - 1596/1597 Henry V - 1599 Henry V - 1599 First performed in 1603 First performed in 1603

3. Possible Sources Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus wrote the story of Amleth, Prince of Denmark, in the late 1100s. Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus wrote the story of Amleth, Prince of Denmark, in the late 1100s. Shakespeare is “bringing Saxo back!” Shakespeare is “bringing Saxo back!” Ur-Hamlet in England, a decade before Shakespeare's Hamlet. Ur-Hamlet in England, a decade before Shakespeare's Hamlet. Ur is German for primordial Ur is German for primordial Vague references made to it in playbills and other documents from the time. Vague references made to it in playbills and other documents from the time. No known written copies or evidence. No known written copies or evidence.

4. Setting Denmark Denmark At war with Norway At war with Norway

5. Characters King Hamlet’s Ghost King Hamlet’s Ghost Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle (and step-father) Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle (and step-father) Polonius, Claudius’ advisor Polonius, Claudius’ advisor Ophelia, Polonius’ daughter, and Hamlet’s love interest Ophelia, Polonius’ daughter, and Hamlet’s love interest Laertes, Polonius’ son, and Hamlet’s contemporary Laertes, Polonius’ son, and Hamlet’s contemporary

6. Characters (cont’d) Horatio, Hamlet’s loyal friend Horatio, Hamlet’s loyal friend Rosencrantz & Guildenstern, Hamlet’s classmates and friends Rosencrantz & Guildenstern, Hamlet’s classmates and friends Fortinbras, Prince of Norway Fortinbras, Prince of Norway

7. Themes in Hamlet Revenge – the play is considered a “revenge tragedy” Revenge – the play is considered a “revenge tragedy” Mortality – the focus is on murder, death, and suicide Mortality – the focus is on murder, death, and suicide The famous “To be or not to be” soliloquy The famous “To be or not to be” soliloquy Many other themes explored as well Many other themes explored as well

8. Hamlet – The Plot As the play opens, King Hamlet’s ghost appears. We learn that he was murdered, and his brother, Claudius has quickly married the Queen and assumed the throne. Hamlet returns from school to learn of these events. King Hamlet’s ghost appears to his son and charges Hamlet with avenging the king’s death. As the play opens, King Hamlet’s ghost appears. We learn that he was murdered, and his brother, Claudius has quickly married the Queen and assumed the throne. Hamlet returns from school to learn of these events. King Hamlet’s ghost appears to his son and charges Hamlet with avenging the king’s death.

9. Hamlet – The Plot Thickens We meet Polonius, advisor to Claudius, and father to Laertes and Ophelia. As a result of his father’s death, Hamlet is grieving, but is also trying to decide how to go about avenging his father’s death. It is difficult for those close to Hamlet to determine if his behavior is the result of grief or madness. Hamlet uses this to his advantage to continue his investigations

10. The Plot continues Hamlet has conflicting feelings about Ophelia; he isn’t sure he can trust women Hamlet stages a play that depicts the king’s murder, hoping Claudius will reveal his guilt in his reaction to the drama Hamlet has an intense discussion with his mother which results in Polonius’ murder

11. Other Plot Points to Consider… Laertes’ feelings about Ophelia’s love for Hamlet Ophelia’s “madness” Claudius and Laertes conspiracy against Hamlet Fortinbras’ march on Denmark

12. Hamlet’s “Issues” The murder of his father, the king The murder of his father, the king Dealing with his grief over his great loss Dealing with his grief over his great loss His feelings about his mother’s quick marriage His feelings about his mother’s quick marriage His feelings about Claudius – who would have assumed the throne? His feelings about Claudius – who would have assumed the throne? His feelings for Ophelia His feelings for Ophelia His indecision about how to avenge his father’s murder His indecision about how to avenge his father’s murder

13. Female Characters Hamlet’s treatment of both Gertrude (his mother) and Ophelia reveals a miso- gynistic attitude that, upon closer analysis, appears in other characters: Hamlet’s treatment of both Gertrude (his mother) and Ophelia reveals a miso- gynistic attitude that, upon closer analysis, appears in other characters: Polonius Polonius Laertes Laertes Claudius Claudius Others? Others?

14. Character Elements Rosencrantz & Guildenstern – stock characters we see in other works as… Rosencrantz & Guildenstern – stock characters we see in other works as… Mercutio and Benvolio (R&J) Mercutio and Benvolio (R&J) Timon and Pumbaa (The Lion King) Timon and Pumbaa (The Lion King) R2D2 and C3PO (Star Wars) R2D2 and C3PO (Star Wars) Jay and Silent Bob (Clerks, Dogma) Jay and Silent Bob (Clerks, Dogma) The Weasley Twins (Harry Potter) The Weasley Twins (Harry Potter)

15. Hamlet in Performance The play is the most widely quoted work in literature (2 nd only to the Bible) The play is the most widely quoted work in literature (2 nd only to the Bible) Appears in several stage and film versions Appears in several stage and film versions Note the lines and scenes that you recognize in other films and works of literature Note the lines and scenes that you recognize in other films and works of literature