hamlet-analysis and clarifications summary
- 1. Hamlet
- 2. Hamlet
- 3. REVENGE What are the side effects of revenge? What happens to someone as a result of revenge? What about the people around them? Is it self destructive? Why? Who gets hurt?
- 4. The Opening Scene – Act 1 Scene 1 What is the mood and atmosphere? What language techniques have been used to create this atmosphere? What is the purpose of this scene and what has it been used to establish? Look at the purpose of the ghost here. Does the ghost foreshadow anything? What is the ghost’s attire? Also, explore what Horatio brings to the scene?
- 5. – Claudius Addresses the Court OBJECTIVE: UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE IN THE ATMOSPHERE BETWEEN THE FIRST TWO SCENES OF THE PLAY DISCUSS WITH THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU FOR 2 MINUTES THE FOLLOWING THINGS AND BE READY TO DISCUSS AS A CLASS: - HAVE COMPARED THE FIRST TWO SCENES - COMPLETED A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS STATEMENT
- 6. Act 1 Scene 2 Scene 2 is set in the Great Castle of Elsinore. It is bright, colorful and loud. - What are the key points of this scene?
- 7. ‘By our late dear brother’s death/Our state to be disjoint’ The first scene hints at the widespread concerns that exist in Denmark, but this scene reveals exactly how ‘rotten’ the state is. Claudius’ corruption is a sign that Elsinore is vulnerable.
- 8. Claudius – First impressions Discuss with the person next to you for 2 minutes the following things and be ready to discuss as a class: . Include key quotes -Gertrude -Hamlet - Denmark
- 9. ‘O that this too too sullied flesh would melt’ Shakespeare reveals Hamlet’s thoughtful personality through his analysis of grief and his struggle with the morality of suicide. Hamlet's loss of faith and the question of whether suicide can be justified are major themes throughout the rest of the play.
- 10. Hamlet – the solitary thinker How has Shakespeare presented Hamlet? - Appearance - Attitude - What others say to him
- 11. Compare the two families: Claudius Gertrude Hamlet Polonius Laertes Ophelia Look at how the members of the family react and respond to the respective heads of the family, Claudius and Polonius. Can you sense any genuine love or concern in either family?
- 12. Polonius, Laertes and Ophelia Discuss with the person next to you for 2 minutes the following things and be ready to discuss as a class: - Polonius's language and wordplay - Laertes language when speaking to Ophelia - Ophelia’s submissiveness
- 13. Discuss, with the person next to you for 2 minutes, the following things and be ready to discuss as a class: : - SCENE 4 - THE DANISH CUSTOM OF DRINKING - WHY HAMLET IS NOT AFRAID TO GO WITH THE GHOST - SCENE 5 How the Ghost compares himself to Gertrude and Claudius
- 14. THE GHOST IN HAMLET NO DOUBT PERFORMS AN IMPORTANT DRAMATIC FUNCTION. WHATEVER MAY HAVE BEEN SHAKESPEARE'S BELIEF ABOUT GHOSTS HE UTILIZES THE POPULAR CONCEPTION TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT IS IN THE MINDS OF HIS CHARACTERS. THE GHOSTS OR WITCHES THAT APPEARED TO MACBETH SPOKE OUT ONLY WHAT WAS IN HIS MIND, AND REVEALED HIS INNER THOUGHTS TO THE AUDIENCE BETTER THAN ANY WORDS OF HIS COULD DO. IN THE SAME WAY, THE GHOST IN HAMLET DISCLOSES TO US THE SUSPICIONS ALREADY IN THE MINDS OF HAMLET AND HIS FRIENDS. WHEN HAMLET SEES THE GHOST AND HEARS ITS REVELATIONS, HE VOICES THIS THOUGHT BY SAYING, "OH MY PROPHETIC SOUL!" (I. V. 40.) AND THE FACT THAT IT FIRST APPEARS TO THE FRIENDS OF HAMLET SUGGESTS THAT THEY SHARED HIS SUSPICIONS AND PERHAPS EVEN ANTICIPATED THEM, THOUGH NO WORD HAD BEEN SPOKEN. THE INQUIRY OF MARCELLUS ABOUT THE CAUSE OF THE WARLIKE ACTIVITY AND HIS LATER REMARK ABOUT THE ROTTEN CONDITION OF DENMARK SEEM TO IMPLY A SUSPICION THAT HE IS ENDEAVORING TO VERIFY OR TO DISPROVE.
- 15. THE SKEPTICISM THAT ALL AT FIRST SHOW CONCERNING THE GHOST SEEMS TO INDICATE THEIR UNWILLINGNESS TO PUT FAITH IN THEIR SUSPICIONS. THEY DO NOT WILLINGLY THINK EVIL OF THE KING, AND THEY ALL WANT SOME UNDOUBTED PROOF, NOT ONLY OF THE FACT OF THE GHOST'S APPEARANCE, BUT OF THE TRUTH OF HIS WORDS. HORATIO HESITATES TO TAKE THS WORD OF BERNARDO AND FRANCISCO, AND IS CONVINCED ONLY BY THE ACTUAL SIGHT OF THE GHOST. HAMLET, APPARENTLY THE LEAST SUSPICIOUS OF ALL, FOR HE IS THE LAST TO SEE THE GHOST, SEEMS RELUCTANT TO BELIEVE THAT HORATIO AND THE OTHERS HAVE SEEN IT. TO CONVINCE HIM, HORATIO ASSURES HIM WITH AN OATH OF THE TRUTH OF HIS REPORT, SAYING, "AS I DO LIVE, MY HONOR'D LORD, 'TIS TRUE." (I. II. 221.) HIS DOUBTS ARE NOT FINALLY REMOVED UNTIL THE
- 16. Madness Revenge Memory Complete the three sections looking closely at Act 1 Scene 5. Discuss with the person next to you for 2 minutes the following things and be ready to discuss as a class:
- 17. Ophelia and the status of women Unlike some of Shakespeare’s other female characters (Juliet), Ophelia is not a developed character. She gives into the demands from the men in her life. “I was the more deceiv'd.” ~Ophelia, Act III, scene 1
- 18. The Ghost appears to Hamlet This mirrors the first scene. There is a contrast between the carefree nature inside the castle and the looming threat outside.
- 19. - Suspense before the ghost arrives - The sound of the trumpets - The feeling of both the old king and new king - What is further revealed about the state of Denmark How does Shakespeare show a contrast in this scene between the carefree nature of the court inside and the danger that is looming outside of the castle?
- 20. Hamlet – ‘I do not set my life at a pin’s fee’ Discuss, with the person next to you for 2 minutes, the following things and be ready to discuss as a class: Focus on how Hamlet is in a desperate state – he does not care about his life. Also look at his references to fate and destiny.
- 21. Act2 Scene1 1. Polonius sends someone to spy on his son, Laertes 2. Ophelia reports Hamlet’s strange appearance
- 22. Shakespeare lightens the tone by making Polonius appear ludicrous. Full of his own importance and intoxicated words , he has the tendency to lose the thread of “what was I about to say?/by the mass I was about to say something.”
- 23. Hamlet begins to appear mad What do we learn from Ophelia about Hamlet’s appearance?
- 24. Key Info Hamlet knows Ophelia will tell her father what she has seen . Feminist critics comment that Ophelia seems to have no scope for following her own wishes. Others, contrasting her with Juliet, accuse her of a complete lack of spirit.
- 25. Act 2 Scene 2 – Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
- 26. Deception is widespread Humor in Hamlet’s Madness Players have an important role Hamlet curses his lack of action Real Madness vs Fake Madness
- 27. Using Act 2 Scene 2 as a starting point, analyze the importance of deception in Hamlet. Deception Discuss, with the person next to you for 2 minutes, the following things and be ready to discuss as a class:
- 28. ‘to be or not to be’ Hamlet’s most unique soliloquy The dramatic purpose of this episode is to establish Hamlet as a characteristica lly detached, reflective, analytic, thinking and moral. Abstract reflection.
- 29. – “to be or not to be” READ THROUGH THE SCENE AND WORK THROUGH THE FOLLOWING STEPS: 1. WHAT ARE THE KEY MESSAGES OF THIS SOLILOQUY? 2. WHY IS THERE NO MENTION OF THE GHOST/CLAUDIUS/GERTRUDE? 3. WHAT DO YOU NOTICE ABOUT THE TONE AND TEMPO? 4. WHAT DOES THIS SHOW YOU ABOUT HAMLET’S STATE OF MIND?
- 30. The calmness of the soliloquy is in direct contrast to the passionate exchange which follows… ‘Get thee to a nunnery’
- 31. Reversal of Roles - Gertrude’s allegiance -Ophelia’s betrayal EXPLORE Hamlet’s reaction to Ophelia before she speaks. - How he refers to her - Language used Hamlet’s rage once Ophelia starts talking. - How does he refer to her now? - Language he uses
- 32. Play within a Play What are the key moments of the scene?
- 33. play… What does Hamlet think? Horatio…….the voice of reason? Still?
- 35. “Ophelia should be viewed as a completely innocent victim” Argue for AND against this statement for against
- 36. Act 3 Scene 3 What does this scene reveal about Claudius’ character?
- 37. Claudius is not genuinely repentant How do we know this?
- 39. The Closet Scene What is the purpose behind Hamlet’s confrontation? Confirms Claudius’ Guilt Make Gertrude repent Repair their relationship
- 40. Explore Gertrude’s language whilst she is talking to Hamlet- what do you notice?
- 41. Explore Hamlet’s control over the conversation. How does he maintain this? Hamlet’s control
- 42. What do we make of Hamlet’s spontaneous reaction?
- 43. “Act 3 Scene 4 proves that Gertrude is just an innocent victim”. To what extent do you agree with the statement?
Editor's Notes
- #2: The ghost of the King of Denmark tells his son Hamlet to avenge his murder by killing the new king, Hamlet's uncle. Hamlet feigns madness, contemplates life and death, and seeks revenge. His uncle, fearing for his life, also devises plots to kill Hamlet.