1. By William Shakespeare
Hamlet
By William Shakespeare

2. What do you Already know?

3. Main Characters
Prince Hamlet – about 18 years old, Heir to the throne of Denmark
King Claudius – King of Denmark, Hamlet’s Uncle
Queen Gertrude – Hamlet’s mother
Polonius – Lord Chamberlain, Ophelia and Laertes’ Father
Ophelia – Hamlet’s girlfriend
Laertes – Ophelia’s older brother and Hamlet’s friend
Horatio – Hamlet’s friend

4. Act I
Where we meet the characters and learn about the murder!

5. Act 1 – Scene 1
The Ghost!
A bunch of guards and Horatio (Hamlet’s best friend)

6. Act 1 – Scene 2 The King’s Speech (Claudius – Hamlet’s Uncle)
A discussion of Hamlet’s mourning
Whether or not he should return to school
Hamlet’s veiled response
Hamlet’s soliloquy – a main theme!
Horatio tells Hamlet about the ghost…

7. Act 1 – Scene 3 Polonius’ House (Ophelia and Laertes’ Father)
Laertes speaks to Ophelia about Hamlet
Fatherly advice to Laertes about going off to school
Polonius forbids Ophelia to associate with Hamlet

8. Act 1 – Scene 4 Up on the Castle (waiting for the Ghost)
Hamlet sees the ghost and goes running after it!

9. Act 1 – Scene 5 Hamlet and the Ghost
The ghost tells Hamlet that he was murdered!
He also asks to be avenged
At dawn, he disappears, and Hamlet makes his men swear on his sword not to reveal what they have seen this night.

10. Act II
The Madness of Prince Hamlet

11. Act II – Scene 1 Polonius and Ophelia
Ophelia tells Polonius how Hamlet is freaking out.
Polonius decides it is because she refused his love.
He runs off to tell Claudius.

12. Act II – Scene 2 The “Fishmonger” Scene
We meet Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
Polonius tells Claudius about Hamlet’s madness
They devise a plan to confront Hamlet with Ophelia and to see how he reacts.
Polonius catches up with Hamlet in the Library and they talk – Hamlet acts crazy, but with lots of wit.
Hamlet meets Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
The actors arrive!

13. Act III
Things start to get really EMO…

14. Act III – Scene 1 “To be, or not to be…”
Claudius, Gertrude, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern all discuss Hamlet’s madness.
The decide to invite the actors in to see if that helps.
Hamlet walks in contemplating his own death.
He sees Ophelia and she tries to give him back his things.
Claudius and Polonius emerge from behind a tapestry and agree that he is losing it.

15. Act III – Scene 2 The Play within a Play
Hamlet councils the actors on how to act
Hamlet sits near the king and explains what is happening during the play
Hamlet teases Ophelia with sexual references
Claudius freaks out when he sees the play!
Hamlet rejoices. Gertrude is disgusted.

16. Act III – Scene 3 The Praying King
Claudius tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to take Hamlet to England immediately
He then goes to pray
Hamlet comes across him and comes very close to killing him…
But it occurs to him if he stabs him while he is praying – he may go to heaven.

17. Act III – Scene 4 Gertrude’s Chambers – The Incest Scene
Polonius hides in the Queen’s chambers to overhear their conversation.
Gertrude confronts Hamlet about his behaviour toward her now husband.
Hamlet explodes – and Gertrude yells out in fear.
Polonius cries out, Hamlet is so angry – he stabs whoever is behind the tapestry (hoping it is the King!)
The Ghost appears (only to Hamlet) and reminds him of his mission.

18. Act IV
Ophelia goes a little nuts…

19. Act IV – Scene 1 Somewhere in the Castle
Claudius is conferring with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
Gertrude enters and tells Claudius what happened.
Claudius realizes that Hamlet means to kill him.

20. Act IV – Scene 2 Elsewhere in the Castle
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern find Hamlet.
Hamlet realizes quickly that his two friends are loyal to the King.

21. Act IV – Scene 3 The Worm Eating Scene
Claudius asks Hamlet where Polonius’ body is…
Hamlet continues to act slightly crazy and hostile towards his Uncle.
In an aside – Claudius admits his plan to have Hamlet killed in England.

22. Act IV – Scene 4 A Field in Denmark
Hamlet, with his armed escort, runs into Fortinbras (a Captain from the Norwegian army)
Hamlet is surprised so many people would die for something so insignificant.
In conclusion, Hamlet realizes he has been avoiding his goal – and he decides to be more “bloody.”

23. Act IV – Scene 5 The Madness of Ophelia
Gertrude and Claudius discuss Ophelia – who has kind of gone crazy since Hamlet killed Polonius.
She enters and sings…
Laertes enters (sailed home) with a mob and sees Ophelia.
Claudius informs Laertes that Hamlet is to blame.

24. Act IV - Scene 6 The Escape
Horatio gets a letter from Hamlet who describes his escape from the ship – and what he did to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern!

25. Act IV – Scene 7
The Plan
Claudius explains to Laertes what happened and why he sent Hamlet to England.
A messenger comes in a tells them Hamlet will return the following day…Laertes is happy he will have his revenge.
Claudius manipulates Laertes into killing Hamlet for him – with a poisoned blade during a duel.
If that does not work – Claudius will poison him.
Gertrude enters and tells them about Ophelia’s suicide.

26. Act V
The Great Duel!

27. Act V – Scene 1 The “Grave” Scene
Horatio and Hamlet approach the castle, they see the gravediggers and a ridiculous conversation ensues.
“Oh Yoric, I knew him well…”
The funeral procession for Ophelia arrives
Hamlet realizes it is Ophelia – Laertes jumps into the grave and Hamlet joins him.
They fight – and the duel is set.

28. Act V – Scene 2
The Duel
In preparation, Hamlet tells Horatio about how he killed off Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Hamlet and Laertes begin their duel – Hamlet scores first and Claudius rises, offering toast for the fighters and a pearl for the winner (it’s poison!)
They continue to fight – but Gertrude gets up and drinks from the cup!
During the fight, they manage to exchange swords – both are cut.

29. Act V – Scene 2
The Queen dies – Laertes dies and explains what the king has done.
Hamlet kills the King and then dies himself.
Fortinbras enters and Hamlet is given a soldiers funeral.

30. The End