2. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet  Intro to Shakespeare’s Hamlet

3. Intro to Hamlet  William Shakespeare’s Life Most popular and well-known British writer Most popular and well-known British writer Lived from April 23, 1564-1616 Lived from April 23, 1564-1616 Born in Stratford-on-Avon Born in Stratford-on-Avon Married Anne Hathaway. She was 26 and he was 18. Married Anne Hathaway. She was 26 and he was 18. His older daughter was christened 6 months later. His older daughter was christened 6 months later.  King Chamberlain’s Men The first performer’s who acted out Shakespeare’s plays The first performer’s who acted out Shakespeare’s plays  Queen Elizabeth The ruler of the time. She had to approve of all plays performed. The ruler of the time. She had to approve of all plays performed.

4. Intro to Hamlet  Bubonic Plague Spread by fleas on rats Spread by fleas on rats Also known as the black death Also known as the black death Close down theaters to stop spread of disease Close down theaters to stop spread of disease  Globe Theater Built in 1599 Built in 1599 Shakespeare’s plays performed here Shakespeare’s plays performed here Peasants who sat on the ground were called groundlings Peasants who sat on the ground were called groundlings  Folio: a four folded paper that was the format in which his plays were writtena four folded paper that was the format in which his plays were written

5. Intro to Hamlet  Shakespearean Tragedy  Tragic Hero: a person of great position who brings his own downfall by his tragic flaw.  Tragic Flaw: the character trait that causes the tragic hero’s downfall.  Soliloquy: a speech by one person who is alone which reveals his or her inner thoughts so the audience knows the feelings.

6. Intro to Hamlet  Dramatic Irony: when the audience knows something that the characters do not.  Setting of Hamlet: Denmark

7. Characters 2 nd period  Hamlet: meVoltemand: Brandon Juhl  King: Matt G1 st Sailor: John Paul  Queen: ChatelServant: Chris  Ophelia: Lauren  Guildenstern: Adam  Polonius: Matt Nocito  Horatio: Peter  Laertes: Morgan  Horatio: Greg  Rosencrantz: Dan  Ghost: Greg  Narrator: Brandon B.

8. Characters 4-5 th period  Hamlet: MeVoltemand:  King: MeMessenger: Keana  Queen: AmandaSailor: Edison  Ophelia: Alexis  Laertes: Bobby  Polonius:  Barnardo: Xavier  Rosencrantz: Justin T  Horatio: Steve B  Guildenstern: Edison  Ghost:  Narrator: Narrator

9. Hamlet Acts 3 & 4

10. Act 3, Scenes 3-4  1. Hamlet doesn’t seem to react to the fact that he has just killed someone. This shows that his mental state is deteriorating.

11. Act 3, Scenes 3-4  2. Claudius starts to feel guilty after watching the play and he prays for what he did. Gertrude is unaware of what Claudius did, but she feels guilty for marrying so quickly.

12. Act 3, Scenes 3-4  3. Hamlet explains to Gertrude how wrong it was for her to marry her brother in law.

13. Act 3, Scenes 3-4  4. In following the theme, Gertrude is portrayed as irrational and moody. Her changing mood emphasizes that women are unable to deal with hardships and need men to support them.

14. Act 3 Summary  Claudius and Gertrude discuss Hamlet’s behavior with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who say they have been unable to learn the cause of his melancholy. Claudius and Polonius intend to spy on Hamlet’s confrontation with Ophelia. Polonius hears Hamlet coming, and he and the king hide.  Hamlet enters and contemplates suicide to end his pain. Having received her orders from Polonius, Ophelia tells him that she wishes to return the tokens of love he has given her. Angrily, Hamlet denies having given her anything. He criticizes women for making men behave like monsters and for contributing to the world’s dishonesty by painting their faces to appear more beautiful than they are. Working himself into a rage, Hamlet denounces Ophelia (advises her to go to a convent), women, and humankind in general, saying that he wishes to end all marriages.  That evening, in the castle hall now doubling as a theater, Hamlet anxiously lectures the players on how to act the parts he has written for them. Hamlet now asks Horatio to watch Claudius carefully during the play so that they might compare their impressions of his behavior afterward. Horatio agrees, saying that if Claudius shows any signs of guilt, he will detect them.  Hamlet warns Horatio that he will begin to act strangely, and he torments Ophelia with a string of erotic puns. The players enter and act out a play. The players begin to enact the play, and we learn that the man who kills the king is the king’s nephew. Throughout, Hamlet keeps up a running commentary on the characters and their actions, and continues to tease Ophelia with sexual references. When the murderer pours the poison into the sleeping king’s ear, Claudius rises and cries out for light. Hamlet and Horatio agree that the king’s behavior was telling. Polonius enters to escort Hamlet to the queen. Hamlet says he will go to her in a moment and asks for a moment alone.  Claudius is badly shaken by the play and now considering Hamlet’s madness to be dangerous and asks R & G to escort Hamlet England immediately. Polonius enters and reminds the king of his plan to hide in Gertrude’s room and observe Hamlet’s confrontation with her. He promises to tell Claudius all that he learns. When Polonius leaves, the king is alone, and he immediately expresses his guilt and grief over his sin. A brother’s murder, he says, is the oldest sin and has the worst curse upon it. He falls to his knees and begins to pray.  Hamlet slips quietly into the room and prepares himself to kill the unseeing Claudius. But suddenly it occurs to him that if he kills Claudius while he is praying, he will end the king’s life at the moment when he was seeking forgiveness for his sins, sending Claudius’s soul to heaven. This is hardly an adequate revenge, since Claudius killed Hamlet’s father before he had time to make his last confession and did not go to heaven. Hamlet decides to wait, resolving to kill Claudius when the king is sinning—when he is either drunk, angry, or lustful, so he leaves.  In Gertrude’s chamber, the queen and Polonius wait for Hamlet’s arrival. Polonius plans to hide in order to eavesdrop on Gertrude’s confrontation with her son. Polonius hides behind the drapery. Hamlet storms into the room and asks his mother why she has sent for him. She says that he has offended his father, meaning his stepfather, Claudius. He interrupts her and says that she has offended his father, meaning the dead King Hamlet, by marrying Claudius and accosts her. Fearing for her life, Gertrude cries out. From behind the drapes, Polonius calls out for help. Hamlet, realizing that someone is behind the drapes and suspecting that it might be Claudius, draws his sword and stabs it through the drapes, killing the unseen Polonius. The queen says his action was a “rash and bloody” deed, and Hamlet replies that it was almost as rash and bloody as murdering a king and marrying his brother.  Hamlet lifts the drapes and discovers Polonius’s body. He shows her a picture of the dead king and a picture of the current king, bitterly comments on the superiority of his father to his uncle, and asks her furiously what has driven her to marry a rotten man such as Claudius. The ghost of his father again appears before him.  Hamlet speaks to the ghost, but Gertrude is unable to see it and believes him to be mad. The ghost says that it has come to remind Hamlet of his purpose, that Hamlet has not yet killed Claudius and must achieve his revenge. Hamlet describes the ghost, but Gertrude sees nothing, and in a moment the ghost disappears. Hamlet tries desperately to convince Gertrude that he is not mad but has merely pretended madness all along, and he urges her to forsake Claudius and regain her good conscience. He urges her as well not to reveal to Claudius that his madness has been an act. Gertrude agrees to keep his secret. He bids her goodnight. Hamlet reminds his mother that he must sail to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

15. Act 4  1. Gertrude thinks Hamlet is crazy. However, if forced, she should support her son.

16. Act 4  2. When the King (Claudius) learns that Polonius is dead, he fears Hamlet even more and starts to plan his murder. He is self-serving and not at all compassionate.

17. Act 4  3. Once Hamlet kills Polonius, people start to regard him with fear because it seems his insanity has reached a new level of violence.

18. Act 4  4. Claudius fears that Hamlet will kill him, so he arranges to have Hamlet killed in England. Claudius chose England so he won’t be suspected.

19. Act 4  5. Hamlet feels it is admirable because the new King of Normandy is standing up for his own father’s death and wants to avenge his murder. Hamlet admires this.

20. Act 4  6.Ophelia appears to be completely insane now. Because she reacted so badly when she lost Hamlet, this behavior is consistent with her earlier behavior.

21. Act 4  7. Denmark has lost some of its power and its soldiers are no longer as strong as they used to be. Claudius is not a good ruler.

22. Act 4  8. Claudius tells him that Hamlet killed his father, and he is unable to punish him because the people of Denmark like Hamlet. This is the truth.

23. Act 4  9. Ophelia drowns in a stream. Evidence seems to point to her committing suicide because she is so upset over Hamlet ignoring her and her father’s death.

24. Act 4  10. Claudius wants Laertes to fence Hamlet with his rapier uncovered and dipped in poison. If this doesn’t work Claudius will also put poison in Hamlet’s drink. Laertes agrees to avenge his father’s death.

25. Act 5  1. What famous images from the play are found in these scenes? What are the significances? Ophelia drowning shows the weakness of women. Ophelia drowning shows the weakness of women. Hamlet holding the skull while discussing death shows how short life is. Hamlet holding the skull while discussing death shows how short life is.

26. Act 5  What is the significance of the gravediggers? What do they tell Hamlet? They are important for the theme of death and the idea that life is fleeting. They tell Hamlet that Ophelia died. They also bring up the subject of whether or not she deserves a Christian burial. They are important for the theme of death and the idea that life is fleeting. They tell Hamlet that Ophelia died. They also bring up the subject of whether or not she deserves a Christian burial.

27. Act 5  Discuss the professions of love and grief expressed at Ophelia’s funeral by Laertes and Hamlet, as compared to similar scenes featuring Claudius, in terms of their implications for the play’s outcome: who is honest, deserving, and just, among the play’s key players? Claudius disregards the deceased earlier. Laertes and Hamlet are truly loving and grieving when they lose their fathers and Ophelia. Claudius disregards the deceased earlier. Laertes and Hamlet are truly loving and grieving when they lose their fathers and Ophelia.

28. Act 5  4. What happened to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and what was Hamlet’s role in this? Claudius sent them orders to kill Hamlet. Hamlet forged the orders to say they should be killed and they were. Claudius sent them orders to kill Hamlet. Hamlet forged the orders to say they should be killed and they were.

29. Act 5  5. Explain Osric’s role in the play in scene 2 when he is speaking with Hamlet? Osric’s role is to set up the duel between Hamlet and Laertes by appealing to Hamlet’s ego by saying people are placing bets against him. Osric’s role is to set up the duel between Hamlet and Laertes by appealing to Hamlet’s ego by saying people are placing bets against him.

30. Act 5  6. How is King Claudius and Laertes’ plan ruined before the duel even begins? Hamlet picks up the poisoned rapier. Hamlet picks up the poisoned rapier.

31. Act 5  7. How does Claudius hide the fact that he puts poison in Hamlet’s cup? Claudius says that he will put a pearl in the cup of wine to salute Hamlet’s victory, but it is really poison. Claudius says that he will put a pearl in the cup of wine to salute Hamlet’s victory, but it is really poison.

32. Act 5  8. What happens to Gertrude? (use details) Gertrude says she is thirsty and reaches for the poisoned wine and drinks before Claudius can stop her. Gertrude says she is thirsty and reaches for the poisoned wine and drinks before Claudius can stop her.

33. Act 5  9. What happens to Claudius? (use details) Laertes confesses that not only has the wine been poisoned but also the tip of the rapier. Hamlet stabs Claudius with the poisoned rapier. Laertes confesses that not only has the wine been poisoned but also the tip of the rapier. Hamlet stabs Claudius with the poisoned rapier.

34. Act 5  10. What happens to Laertes and Hamlet? (use details) They both die from wounds caused by the poisoned rapier. They both die from wounds caused by the poisoned rapier.

35. Act 5  11. In order to have plays performed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, order had to be restored by the end of the play. How is this accomplished by the end of Hamlet? Fortinbras enters after everyone is dead. Horatio says Hamlet bestowed the kingdom to him so the transition of royalty is continued and order is restored. Fortinbras enters after everyone is dead. Horatio says Hamlet bestowed the kingdom to him so the transition of royalty is continued and order is restored.

36. End of Hamlet questions  1. Hamlet’s true motives are to avenge his father’s murder. He wants to murder Claudius. However, he wants to be sure the ghost is truly that of his father and that the info is accurate. Also, he doesn’t want to murder Claudius while he is in a state of grace (while praying, so he will go to heaven).

37. End of Hamlet questions  2. Hamlet doesn’t want to kill Claudius until he has real evidence that Claudius is guilty. Also, his father died without last rites, so he doesn’t want Claudius to have that benefit.

38. End of Hamlet questions  3. Hamlet is a misogynist (has a low opinion of women). He thinks women are weak. He argues that even though Gertrude loved his father, she quickly changed her affections and married Claudius. Then he told Ophelia to go to a nunnery or convent to protect herself from men, implying that she cannot protect herself.

39. End of Hamlet questions  4. Feigned madness allows Hamlet to gain information about the murder of his father. Hamlet’s feigned madness allows the plot to continue as he pursues Claudius. Real madness is the cause of Ophelia’s suicide. This is partly caused by Hamlet’s feigned madness so they are closely related.

40. End of Hamlet questions  5. Hamlet is honorable by trying to determine if Claudius is truly his father’s killer before exacting revenge. Laertes is honorable by wanting to avenge his father’s death and challenging Hamlet to a duel. Fortinbras is at war to avenge his father’s death, an honorable act.