1. Characters, structure, and themes
Hamlet
Characters,
structure, and themes

2. Hamlet Plot/subplot structure
Main Plot – court
Hamlet’s grief
Revenge of Old Hamlet’s death
Dealing with Fortinbras
Plots and machinations
Subplots – Polonius family
Ophelia and Hamlet’s love
Laertes in France
Revenge of Polonius’ death
Ophelia’s madness

3. Hamlet Plot/subplot structure
Main Plot – revenge
Revenge of Old Hamlet’s death
Revenge for Polonius’ death
Fortinbras’ revenge
Subplots
Hamlet’s grief, thoughts of death
Hamlet’s antic disposition
Hamlet’s relationship with Ophelia
Ophelia’s madness

4. Hamlet Foiling Character foiling Parallel scenes
Fortinbras, Hamlet, Laertes: lost father, revenge
Hamlet, Ophelia: madness
Old Hamlet, Polonius, Claudius: give advice to child(ren)
Parallel scenes
Act 1, scenes 2, 3, 5: Parents give advice to children
Act 2 and Act 4: Hamlet and Ophelia’s madness

5. Hamlet themes revenge madness grief ideal king, politics
eavesdropping, spying
power of art, plays

6. Hamlet issues to resolve
Ghost
Is it real or not?
If it is real, is it a good ghost or an evil ghost?
Is Hamlet really mad or feigning madness?
Does Hamlet procrastinate? If so, why?
Is Hamlet a scourge and/or minister?
How much should characters obey parents?
Whose view of revenge is right: Hamlet’s or Laertes’?

7. Horatio tells Hamlet about Ghost
Hamlet -- Act I
Scene 1
Horatio to speak
with Ghost
Scene 2
Claudius at Court
Hamlet’s grief
Horatio tells Hamlet about Ghost
Scene 3
Polonius and
Ophelia say
goodbye to
Laertes
Scene 4
Hamlet waiting
for Ghost
“Stamp of one defect”
Scene 5
Hamlet and Ghost
antic disposition

8. Claudius with Ros and Gild
Hamlet -- Act II
Scene 1
Polonius/Reynaldo
Ophelia’s report
re/Hamlet
Scene 2
Claudius with Ros and Gild
Polonius’s report
Hamlet and fishmonger
Players/Pyrrhus
“The play’s the thing”

9. Hamlet -- Act III Scene 1 Scene 2 NUNNERY SCENE MOUSETRAP SCENE
Hamlet and Ophelia
Scene 2
MOUSETRAP SCENE
Hamlet and players
Play within a play
Scene 4
CLOSET SCENE
Gertrude/Hamlet
Death of Polonius
Scene 3
PRAYER SCENE
Claudius/Hamlet

10. Hamlet -- Act IV Scene 1 Gertrude/Claudius Scene 2 Ros and Gild
seek Hamlet
Scene 3
Claudius sends
Hamlet to England
Scene 4
Hamlet sees
Fortinbras
Scene 6
Gertrude
Ophelia’s madness
Laertes’ threat
Scene 7
Letter to Horatio
from Hamlet
Scene 8
Claudius and Laertes’
plans against Hamlet
Gertrude’s report of
Ophelia’s death

11. Hamlet -- Act V Scene 2 Scene 1 FOIL SCENE GRAVEYARD SCENE
Hamlet/Horatio
Laertes’ challenge
Duel
Death of Gertrude/Claudius
Death of Laertes/Hamlet
Fortinbras
Scene 1
GRAVEYARD SCENE
Gravediggers/Hamlet
Burial of Ophelia