Hamlet notes and information

Hamlet Background
Written between 1599-1601.
The historical background dates to the 12th century.
A tragedy with Hamlet as the tragic hero, with revenge as the tragic flaw.
Setting: Denmark; 12th century; Royal castle called Elsinore

Hamlet Characters (cont. on slide 4)
Hamlet: prince of Denmark
Claudius: King of Denmark; uncle to Prince Hamlet
Gertrude: queen; Prince’s mother
Polonius: govt; official to Claudius
Horatio: Prince’s friend
Laertes: son to Polonius
Ophelia: former love to Prince H; daughter to Polonius
Young Fortinbras: Prince of Norway
Genre Information
Genre: tragedy
Characteristics:1. a tragic hero who is genuinely a good person but who has a flaw that sets into motion the action of the play.
Use of soliloquy and asides to pass on necessary information (I.e. Hamlet’s “to be or not to be…”)

Hamlet Characters
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern: schoolmates of Prince
Osric: messenger
Voltimand and Cornelius: ambassadors from Norway
Marcellus, Bernardo and Francisco: castle guards
Reynaldo: servant to Polonius; sent to spy on Laertes
Grave diggers: comic relief in the play
Ghost: King Hamlet; father to Prince H.
Symbols and Themes (to be completed by you…)
Symbols:
1. Yorick’s skull
2. Ophelia’s flowers
3. Clothing
4. Mourning colors/black
5. poison
Themes: 1. Deceit
2. Appearance vs. reality
3. Family relationships
4. Death and its impact on the living
5. Revenge
6. friendship
Act 1 (Hamlet means prince; ghost refers to King Hamlet)
Francisco is on guard duty. Bernardo relieves him and is joined by Horatio and Marcellus, who see the ghost, but it won’t speak to them.
King and Queen hold court, and Laertes is given permission to return to school in Paris.
K/Q tell H To get over his dad’s death.
Act 1
In his soliloquy, Hamlet reveals his sadness over his father’s death and mother’s quick marriage.
Hamlet is told of the ghost.
Laertes tells Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet.
Polonius gives Laertes all sorts of advice.
Act 1
There is a party in the castle.
Horatio, Marcellus and Hamlet are outside the castle when the ghost appears.
Hamlet follows the ghost; it is dead King Hamlet. The ghost tells Hamlet to avenge his death (Claudius killed him), but not to harm Gertrude.
Horatio and Marcellus have heard the conversation.
Act 2
Reynaldo is sent to spy on Laertes in Paris. Polonius doesn’t really trust his son.
Prince Hamlet has begun to act “mad.” The debate is whether he really is mad or just acting. Polonius thinks the behavior is lovesickness over Ophelia.
R and G are asked by the king to spy on Hamlet and to find out reason behind his madness.
Act 2
Polonius enters and says that Hamlet’s strange behavior is because of Ophelia’s rejection of him, but Claudius disagrees and wants proof.
Claudius and Polonius plan for Ophelia to meet Hamlet and speak to him while they hide and listen in.
R and G admit to Hamlet that they have been told to spy.
Act 2
Actors come to the castle to perform. Hamlet seizes this opportunity and asks them to perform a specific play, “The Murder of Gonzago.” He asks one player to insert 12-16 lines that he will add to the original play.
Hamlet feels that the play will reveal the guilt of Claudius. “The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king.”
Act 3
R and G tell the king that they aren’t sure of Hamlet’s behavior.
Hamlet’s soliloquy reveals his confusion, whether he should kill himself or Claudius. Religious reasons hold him back.
Hamlet denies ever loving Ophelia, perhaps to save her from the doom he knows is coming.
Act 3
Polonius is no longer convinced of Hamlet’s lovesickness.
During the play, Claudius leaves when the murderer puts poison in the actor king’s ear. Hamlet sees it as an admission of guilt. Hamlet will focus on his revenge against Claudius.
Claudius reveals that he intends to send Hamlet to England.
Act 3
Gertrude wants to speak to her son before he leaves . Hamlet goes to her chambers, while Polonius hides behind the arras to listen in. When she cries out, Hamlet stabs the arras, thinking it’s Claudius.
When he realizes it’s Polonius, he takes the body away and hides it. Everyone thinks Hamlet is mad for real.
Act 4
The queen reveals the death of Polonuis.Claudius orders the body of Polonius found.
Claudius says Hamlet must be sent away.
King tells Hamlet that he’s being sent to England; R and G are ordered to go with him to see that he gets there.
In a soliloquy, Claudius reveals that Hamlet will be put to death in England.
Act 4
Fortinbras and an army cross Denmark. King Fortinbras was defeated by old King Hamlet, and Norway lost some land to Denmark. So, Prince Fortinbras had a vendetta to get Denmark. However, a truce was settled and now Denmark agrees to let Norway cross Danish territory on their way to Poland to fight over a fairly worthless piece of land.
Act 5
Ophelia has drowned…suicide.
Grave diggers discuss whether she deserves a Christian burial; one thinks she doesn’t since she committed suicide.
They speak with Hamlet and Horatio, not knowing who Hamlet is.
They pull up skulls, which cause Hamlet to reflect upon life/death, etc.
Act5
One skull belonged to Yorick, the king’s jester when Hamlet was a child.
The funeral procession comes. Laertes and Hamlet get into a scuffle on the grave. Hamlet says that he truly loved Ophelia. Queen declares Hamlet mad.
Hamlet leaves, and Claudius reminds Laertes that he can soon get revenge.
Act 5
Hamlet lets it be known that he has returned; he had earlier sent a message to Horatio. Now he reveals that his ship was attacked, and he was the only one to escape. He rewrote the letter to England, which now says that R and G (the bearers of the letter) are to be put to death.
Act 5
Osric brings the duel challenge from Laertes. Laertes and Claudius have a plan to “fix” the duel with poisoned swords and drinks.
Hamlet begins by apologizing to Laertes, but L. doesn’t accept. The duel. Gertrude drinks the poisoned wine by accident. Laertes scrapes Hamlet with the poisoned sword.
Act 5
Hamlet and Laertes mistakenly exchange swords, and Hamlet strikes at Laertes (with the poisoned sword).
Gertrude realizes that she has been poisoned. Laertes also admits his role in the chaos.
Hamlet lunges at Claudius and kills him.
Act 5
Fortinbras is named as king of Denmark ( no one else left in succession).
Horatio summarizes the tragedy.
Hamlet is to be given a hero’s burial.
DEAD PEOPLE: King Hamlet, Polonius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Ophelia, Gertrude, Claudius, Prince Hamlet, and Laertes…