Hamlet

1
Hamlet

• Revenge tragedy

2
Tragedy

• According to Aristotle's classic Poetics, tragedy
  is a genre that depicts a noble characteryou
  know, someone all high and mightywho more or
  less falls from grace. The genre is meant to
  create the emotions of pity and fear in its
  audience, hence purging those emotions in an act
  of catharsis.
• Usually, that fall from grace is brought about by
  some sort of tragic flaw (a.k.a. hamartia) on the
  part of the hero, like ambition, greed, or pride.
  But it can also just come from bad circumstances,
  unfortunate coincidences, and rotten luck.

3
Find examples of how Hamlet is a tragic hero. Use
quotations to back up your points

• Character is a nobleman or is born to a high
  social class.
• Character tries to do the right thing.
• Character's actions affect lots of other people.
• Character has a trait which is normally good, but
  in this case brings about his downfall.
• Character is frequently blinded to reality.
• Character suffers greatly.
• Character ends the story by dying.

4
Bring Hamlet in to the 21st Century

• You are going to make up a social network profile
  for Hamlet.
• Illustrate Hamlets psychology, thoughts and
  internal struggle through status updates.
• You will use http//thewallmachine.com/

5
Some Guidelines

• Be creative. Use Hamlet as a background, but use
  21st-century language to describe what is
  happening and express Hamlet's thoughts.
• Focus on the tragic elements. Only put comments
  on your page that demonstrate Hamlet's tragic
  qualities. 
• Use specific details from the text. The more
  information on your page, the better your grade. 
• Make inferences to fill in the blanks. As readers
  we have lots of questions about Hamlet. Why does
  he delay his revenge? What does he really think
  about this ghost that shows up? Now is your
  chance to speculate. What would Hamlet post on
  his wall about these things?
• Stay on task. Checking your own Facebook page
  will triple the time it takes to complete this
  assignment. No joke.

6
Homework - Thursday 30th Sep

• Make up your page and update Hamlets statuses
  for the play so far

7
Historical context

• Play written around 1600 during Queen Elizabeths
  last few years in reign
• Queen Elizabeth had no children and so anxiety of
  a transfer of power existed in England
• King James (son of Mary Queen of Scots hated by
  Queen) was only person with royal claim to thrown
• Hamlet explores the anxiety of a nation where
  there is a transfer of power from one monarch to
  another

8
Act I, scene IKing Hamlets ghost appears

• Find evidence of Horatios intelligence and
  rationality.
• What does Horatios belief in the sighting of the
  ghost affirm?
• Find quotations that show the unbalanced state of
  Denmark
• What happened when Caesar was killed (p.8)? What
  does this foreshadow?

9
Act I, scene iiWe see Hamlets distrust of the
new royal court

1. Find quotations that show Claudius feeble
   attempt to suggest equal pain and joy at this
   time. (p. 9)
2. Why does Claudius send a letter to Norway?(p.10)
   Comment on this.
3. Find evidence of Claudius attempt to fatherly to
   Hamlet.(p.11-12) Comment.
4. Find evidence for Hamlets desire for death?(p.
   12) Comment on this.
5. How does Hamlet feel about his mother, and all
   women as a result? Highlight a quotation to show
   this.(p.13) Comment on this.

10
Act I, scene iiiLaertes leaves family to go to
France

1. Highlight examples of explicit sexual imagery
   Laertes uses to his sister. (p.17)
2. How is Polonius relationship with Laertes?
   Highlight quotations to show this. What is
   Shakespeares intention in doing this?
3. Laertes is affectionate, active and headstrong.
   How does this contrast with Hamlet? Why do you
   think Shakespeare uses his character in the play?

11
Act I, scene ivHamlet sees the ghost of his
father

1. Highlight a quotation that shows Hamlets
   weariness of what the ghost is. How does this
   relate to one of the central themes of the play?
   (p.21)
2. Find a quotation that again shows the unsound
   state of Denmark. Why is the relevant to the
   current political state of the monarch of the
   time it was written? (p. 22)

12
Act 1, scene vThe ghost speaks to Hamlet

1. Find a reference that shows King Hamlet is left
   in purgatory Catholic belief - unable to go to
   Heaven (p.23) Elizabethan England was mainly
   protestant. What effect might this have on the
   audiences attitude towards the ghost?
2. If the ghost of Hamlet is in purgatory, what is
   unusual about him asking for the Hamlet to seek
   revenge?
3. Describe Hamlets behaviour when Horatio and
   Marcellus return. Highlight quotations to show
   this.
4. Hamlet decides to act mad from now on in the
   company of the royal court. Find a quotation that
   shows this and explain his reasons for doing so.
   (p.27)

13
Act II, scene IOphelia reveals Hamlet is mad

1. What does Polonius want Reynaldo to do while he
   is in France? (p.28)
2. This utilises the theme of the use of words to
   manipulate the truth. Find quotations where
   Polonius advices Reynaldo to ask leading
   questions. (p.29)
3. How has Hamlet been behaving since he has seen
   the ghost? Find quotations. (p.30)
4. What does Polonius believe is the reason for
   madness? Highlight quotations.
5. Ophelia had followed her father and brothers
   orders and broken off the relationship with
   Hamlet. What does this reveal about her
   character?
6. Hamlets first feigning of madness is only told
   to us through Ophelia. What do you think was
   Shakespeares reason for this?
7. Hamlets madness could be due to his promise to
   act this way but could also be due to Ophelias
   rejection of him. Comment on your thoughts on
   this.

14
Act II, scene iiWe see Hamlet mad for first
time

• Voltimand brings a message from Norway. Summarise
  in your own words what is said. (p.33)
• The uncle of Prince Fortinbras was made King when
  King Fortinbras was killed, thus mirroring a
  similar situation of Hamlets. In what way do
  Prince Fortinbras and Prince Hamlet contrast?
• Claudius seems unaware of the threat of Prince
  Fortinbras and more concerned with Hamlets
  madness. How does Claudius compare to the
  previous King Hamlet? Consider his success with
  Norway.
• The arrival of the actors mirrors another central
  theme that real life often mirrors play acting.
  What do you think Shakepeares intentions are for
  having a play within a play? List the examples of
  play acting that exist in Hamlet?
• Use evidence as much as possible to back up your
  points

15
Act III, scene IPolonius and Claudius spy on
HamletTo be, or not to be

1. Hamlet makes the very famous soliliquy (p49) in
   private. He deliberately avoids using personal
   pronouns (I or me). What do you think is the
   reason for this?
2. Hamlet uses a metaphor to describe death.
   Identify this and comment on it? (p. 49)
3. He manages to talk himself out of suicide.
   Identify the quotation and comment on it. (p.49)
4. What themes are brought to our attention in this
   Soliliquy? (p49)
5. Hamlet contradicts himself when he talks to
   Ophelia. Find quotations to back this up (p. 50).
   Why do you think using Ophelia to prove he is mad
   a flawed plan?
6. What do you think this encounters suggests about
   Hamlets madness?
7. Are his thoughts towards women the same in
   private as they are in public? Provide examples.
8. What do you think is the effect on the audience
   as a result of his confusing actions towards
   women?

16
Act III, scene iiPlay within a play

1. What does Hamlet ask Horatio to do in this scene?
   (p.55) Find evidence and comment on it.
2. In what way does this scene suggests that Hamlet
   is in fact only acting mad. Consider how easily
   he switches in behaviour. Find evidence and
   comment on this. (p. 53-55)
3. Hamlet makes many misogynistic comments towards
   Ophelia(p.55, 56, 59). Find evidence of these and
   comment on them.
4. How does Hamlet try to catch Gertrude out in the
   play? Highlight quotes and comment (p.58).
5. Hamlet believes it is pouring the poison in to
   the ear that makes Claudius leave the play in
   anger. However what information does Hamlet give
   about the play on page 58 that might provide
   another reason? Consider who is the murderer of
   the king in the play. Comment on this.

17
Act III, scene iiiClaudius asks for things

• Highlight the quotation that comments on
  Claudius fear about what will happen to him in
  the afterlife because of his crimes (p.64).
  Comment on it.
• What stops Hamlet from killing Claudius here?
  Find evidence and comment on it. (p.65)
• Again, he makes a reference to his mothers
  sleeping habits. Highlight and comment on why
  this is unusual and what you think it possibly
  suggests (p.65). Consider the Oedipus Complex.
• Discuss some of the themes highlighted in this
  scene and their significance to the ideas of the
  play as a whole.
• The afterlife and peoples fears of being
  punished for their crimes
• Betrayal and the inner conflict that arises from
  it
• Incest/Oedipus complex and the sub-conscious
  desires of Hamlet

18
Act III, scene ivPolonius spies on Hamlet in
Gertrudes chamber and dies

1. What do you think Hamlets reasons are for
   confronting his mother? Provide reasons for your
   answers.
2. Comment on the hasty action of Hamlet in killing
   Polonius (whom he though was Claudius) whilst he
   was hiding behind the curtain (p. 66).
3. Comment on Hamlets response to his own killing
   of Polonius? Use evidence in your answer (p. 67).
   Why is this ironic?
4. Find examples of Hamlet's inappropriate
   references to his mother's sex life on pages 68,
   70, 71. Comment on this.
5. Ecstasy means madness in Shakespearean language.
   Gertude believes that Hamlet's sighting of the
   ghost means he is mad (p.70). How does Hamlet
   respond to this? Comment on his response using
   evidence.
6. Gertrude promises not tell anyone what Hamlet has
   said to her and asks Hamlet for advice on what
   she should do (p.70, 71). Find examples of these
   and comment on what they reveal about her
   character? Consider also the fact that she runs
   to Claudius for advice in the next scene.

19
Act IV, scene i - Gertrude tells on Hamlet

• What does Gertrude's running to tell Claudius
  about Hamlet's madness and killing of
  Polonius reveal about her? What do you think were
  her reasons for this?
• What happens as a result of Gertrude telling this
  to Claudius? (p. 72)

20
Act IV, scene ii -     R G try to find out
where the body of Polonius is.

1. Consider Hamlet's attitude despite having killed
   Polonius (p. 73-74). Also, consider his attitude
   towards Rosencratz and Guildenstern. How might
   this affect the audience's interpretation of the
   protagonist, Hamlet?

21
Act IV, scene iii

• 1. What are Claudius's reasons for sending him to
  England to be executed? (p. 74)

22
Act IV, scene iv - Hamlet meets Norwegian Captain
on way to England in Denmark

• Highlight and comment on what the Captain reveals
  about the Norwegian's attack of Poland (p. 77)
• Hamlet is disturbed by the futile nature of the
  attack but more notably impressed by Prince
  Fortinbras' ability to act forcefully. Find a
  quotation and comment on this also discussing
  what Hamlet vows as a result of this encounter
  (p.78)

23
Act IV, scene v - Laertes returns wanting revenge

• Ophelia's madness is not feigned but real. What
  could be the possible reasons for this? 
• Laertes returns from France and shows himself to
  be the most prominent foil (character that
  highlights lacking qualities of protagonist) to
  Hamlet. Comment on this using evidence. (p.81)

24
Act IV, scene vi - Hamlet sends news of his return

• Shakespeare uses a deus ex machina -  a devise or
  characters in a work of fiction that are able to
  solve a problem - of having a pirate ship capture
  Hamlet and return his ship to Denmark. How does
  Hamlet choose to treat the pirates? (Horatio
  reads p. 85)
• Hamlet tells Horatio, "I have words to speak in
  thine ear will make thee dumb" (p.85). There is a
  running reference to ears and hearing. What do
  you think is Shakespeare's reason for this? Why
  might be the significance of these references?

25
Act IV scene vii - Claudius manipulates Laertes
into wanting to ill Hamlet

• Laertes again shows himself to be a devious
  politician, convincing Laertes to dual with
  Hamlet, appeasing both Laertes anger and killing
  Hamlet. However, Gertrude arrives with news of
  Ophelia's suicide and detracts Laertes from
  Claudius's plan. Find a quotation from Claudius
  that shows his response to this and comment on it
  (p. 91)
• Ophelia's body is found to be adorned with
  flowers (p. 90). Where else do we see the motif
  of flowers associated with Ophelia?
• Comment on the symbolism of the flowers with
  reference to Ophelia.

26
Act V, scene I - Ophelia's burial

• 1. The grave diggers are named clowns but in
  Shakespearean times a clown meant a commoner.  
• a) Describe the tone they set to the play using
  evidence to back this up. 
• b) Why would these characters have been popular?
• 2.  The grave diggers talk about Ophelia's
   suicide. Find evidence to show the ideas they
  discuss regarding this and comment on their
  discussion referring to the theme of suicide and
  the moral implications this has in terms of
  religion.
• 3. The gravedigger describes Yorick's skull - the
  jester for the king whom Hamlet knew as a child.
  What does the skull act as a physical reminder
  of? Explain your answer. 
• 4. Hamlet has a turning point when he encounters
  the skull. Find quotations that back this up and
  comment on them.
• 5. Laertes is distressed with the priest. Use
  evidence and comment on how this relates to one
  of the key themes of the play(p. 97).
• 6. Laertes jumps in to the grave of Ophelia. What
  theme does this subtly highlight again. (p.98)
• 7. Only now does Hamlet reveal his original true
  feelings about Ophelia. Find quotations and
  comment on this (p. 98).
• 8. How does Hamlet feel about Ophelia's death and
  why is this inadequate. 

27
Act V, scene ii - Claudius, Hamlet and most of
the characters die.

• 1. Hamlet discovered Claudius's plan to kill him
  when he opened the letter sent with him to
  England. Find a quotation that shows he is now
  decisive in his decision in killing King
  Claudius(p. 101). Consider his attitude on
  the afterlife now and what has possibly resulted
  in this change of attitude.
• 2. What else shows a change in Hamlet. Consider
  his thoughts on Laertes (p. 100) Consider how
  selfish he has appeared until now.
• 3. Consider Hamlet's previous response to killing
  Polonius "Heaven hath pleased it so,/To punish
  me with this and this with me." (III.iv) In what
  way does Laertes killing Hamlet relate back to
  this comment made by Hamlet. 
• 4. Hamlet finally kills Claudius, but before that
  many other characters have died GR, Laertes and
  most horrifically for Hamlet, Gertude.
  Consider the effect of having to watch his own
  mother die before he seeks his revenge.
• 5. Horatio is the left to tell the tale of
  Hamlet. Find a quotation from Horatio that shows
  this and comment on the use of language (p. 110).
• 6. Prince Fortinbras has Hamlet carried out like
  a soldier (p. 111). What do you think is the
  significance of this?
• 7. What is the importance of Fortinbras arriving?
  What might he represent that the dead royal court
  on the floor do not.
• Consider the political context of the play.
  Remember the play was written in 1602 and Queen
  Elizabeth died 1603. King James VI / I became
  King also in 1603.