HamletHamletBy William ShakespeareBy William Shakespeare

The very essence of The very essence of HamletHamlet is twofold:is twofold:

One, it is a One, it is a ghost ghost story/murdestory/murder mysteryr mystery It is all It is all

about about Hamlet Hamlet revealing to revealing to the world the world who killed who killed his fatherhis father

Superstition Superstition plays a big plays a big role in role in HamletHamlet

Two, it is a Two, it is a commentary commentary on societal on societal expectationsexpectations

LeadersLeaders WomenWomen ReligionReligion Mental illnessMental illness RevengeRevenge Appearance Appearance

vs. Realityvs. Reality

Themes for Themes for HamletHamlet

RevengeRevengeTragedy (death)Tragedy (death)LoveLoveBetrayalBetrayal

Some things to think about…Some things to think about…What superstitions do you believe in?What superstitions do you believe in?How/why are women’s roles different How/why are women’s roles different

today than in Elizabethan times?today than in Elizabethan times?

What do we expect from our leaders?What do we expect from our leaders?How does religion influence a society?How does religion influence a society?

Some things to think about…Some things to think about…How do we determine mental illness?How do we determine mental illness?

Who was mentally ill in Who was mentally ill in HamletHamlet? When ? When did we first see this?did we first see this?

What do you consider revenge? What do you consider revenge? Is it appropriate? When?Is it appropriate? When?

How does appearance How does appearance

vs. reality still affect us vs. reality still affect us

today?today?

RIPPLES IN A POND…RIPPLES IN A POND…

A Summary of A Summary of HamletHamlet Just like a stone makes numerous and never-ending ripples in a pond, Claudius' Just like a stone makes numerous and never-ending ripples in a pond, Claudius' actions toward Hamlet senior cause numerous and never-ending ripples in actions toward Hamlet senior cause numerous and never-ending ripples in Denmark. Whether Claudius coveted Hamlet senior's throne, his wife, or was driven Denmark. Whether Claudius coveted Hamlet senior's throne, his wife, or was driven by pure ambition, his one action of killing Hamlet Senior caused numerous and by pure ambition, his one action of killing Hamlet Senior caused numerous and unforeseen ripples in many people's lives: unforeseen ripples in many people's lives:

Claudius kills Hamlet seniorClaudius kills Hamlet senior

Claudius is crowned kingClaudius is crowned king

Claudius marries GertrudeClaudius marries Gertrude

Hamlet grieves for his father and is upset over his mother's "o'erhasty marriage"Hamlet grieves for his father and is upset over his mother's "o'erhasty marriage"

The ghost of Hamlet senior comes back because he was killed without absolution The ghost of Hamlet senior comes back because he was killed without absolution for his sins in lifefor his sins in life

Hamlet learns that his father was murdered by ClaudiusHamlet learns that his father was murdered by Claudius

Hamlet seeks to prove Claudius' guiltHamlet seeks to prove Claudius' guilt(he feigns madness, acts irrationally, and tries to prove Claudius' (he feigns madness, acts irrationally, and tries to prove Claudius'

guilt by having him watch a play)guilt by having him watch a play)

Hamlet fails to kill Claudius because he believes Hamlet fails to kill Claudius because he believes Claudius might not suffer in death like Hamlet Senior didClaudius might not suffer in death like Hamlet Senior did

Hamlet kills Polonius thinking Polonius is ClaudiusHamlet kills Polonius thinking Polonius is Claudius

Laertes tries to take revenge on Claudius for his father's death Laertes tries to take revenge on Claudius for his father's death

Claudius directs Laertes' anger towards HamletClaudius directs Laertes' anger towards Hamlet(Claudius has to protect his secret: (Claudius has to protect his secret:

Hamlet Senior's murder)Hamlet Senior's murder)

Ophelia goes mad and commits "suicide"Ophelia goes mad and commits "suicide"(Her father's death and Hamlet's behavior are (Her father's death and Hamlet's behavior are the main reasons for her madness)the main reasons for her madness)

Laertes and Claudius plan to kill HamletLaertes and Claudius plan to kill Hamlet(Laertes will fence with Hamlet with a poisoned, sharpened sword, while Hamlet (Laertes will fence with Hamlet with a poisoned, sharpened sword, while Hamlet

has a blunted foil, and Claudius will poison the wine)has a blunted foil, and Claudius will poison the wine)

Laertes challenges Hamlet to a fencing Laertes challenges Hamlet to a fencing matchmatch

Claudius poisons the wineClaudius poisons the wine

Gertrude drinks the wine and diesGertrude drinks the wine and dies

Laertes stabs Hamlet with the poisoned-Laertes stabs Hamlet with the poisoned-tipped tipped sword after losing the first two sword after losing the first two

"hits" to Hamlet"hits" to Hamlet

Leartes loses his sword and gets stabbed by HamletLeartes loses his sword and gets stabbed by Hamlet

Laertes dies after he informs Hamlet of Claudius' involvement in the plotLaertes dies after he informs Hamlet of Claudius' involvement in the plot

Hamlet kills Claudius by stabbing him with the poisoned sword and forcing him to Hamlet kills Claudius by stabbing him with the poisoned sword and forcing him to drink the poisoned winedrink the poisoned wine

Hamlet diesHamlet dies

Shakespeare IntroShakespeare Intro Born in England on (approx) April 23Born in England on (approx) April 23rdrd 1564, 1564,

died April 23 died April 23rdrd, 1616, 1616

In 23 years, between approx 1590 and In 23 years, between approx 1590 and 1613, he is attributed with writing 38 1613, he is attributed with writing 38 plays and multiple sonnets plays and multiple sonnets and poems and poems

Queen Elizabeth I, then James I ruled Queen Elizabeth I, then James I ruled over England over England

Shakespeare’s plays were Shakespeare’s plays were performed at the Globe Theater performed at the Globe Theater

Globe TheaterGlobe Theater

Important Globe FeaturesImportant Globe Features

CircularCircular Open roofOpen roof Multiple levelsMultiple levels Poor (groundlings) Poor (groundlings)

stood in the pit for stood in the pit for a pennya penny

Wealthy could pay Wealthy could pay more to sitmore to sit Paid for a cushionPaid for a cushion

The Theater in Shakespeare’s The Theater in Shakespeare’s TimeTime

Disliked because Disliked because so many people so many people were stuffed into were stuffed into dirty theaters and dirty theaters and contributed to the contributed to the spread of the spread of the Plague (The Black Plague (The Black Death)Death)

He was a member He was a member of the Lord of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men Chamberlain’s Men and the King’s Menand the King’s Men

Reading ShakespeareReading Shakespeare

CoupletsCoupletsTwo consecutive lines of poetry that Two consecutive lines of poetry that

rhymerhymeReading the lines…do NOT pause at Reading the lines…do NOT pause at

the end of each line. Read through the end of each line. Read through until the punctuation mark (.,!?).until the punctuation mark (.,!?).

The Makings of a TragedyThe Makings of a Tragedy Tragedy: a narrative that ends unhappily for Tragedy: a narrative that ends unhappily for

the main characters, usually resulting in the the main characters, usually resulting in the main character’s deathmain character’s death Some characters are responsible for their downfall, Some characters are responsible for their downfall,

other are totally innocentother are totally innocent Superstition and religion were HUGE factors in Superstition and religion were HUGE factors in

most of his playsmost of his plays Victims of Fate?Victims of Fate?