hamlet

Hamlet

The Prince of Denmark and main character. He wants revenge against Claudius for murdering his father.

Claudius

Hamlet's uncle who murders King Hamlet, takes the throne, and marries Gertrude.

Gertrude

Hamlet's mother who marries Claudius shortly after her husband's death.

King Hamlet

Hamlet's father who is murdered by Claudius with poison.

Horatio

Hamlet's loyal best friend who survives and tells Hamlet's story.

Ophelia

Hamlet's love interest who becomes emotionally distressed after her father's death and eventually drowns.

Polonius

Ophelia and Laertes' father who spies on Hamlet and is accidentally killed by him.

Laertes

Ophelia's brother who wants revenge against Hamlet for killing Polonius.

Fortinbras

Prince of Norway who takes control of Denmark at the end.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

Hamlet's former friends who spy on him for Claudius.

Act 1 Summary

Hamlet meets his father's ghost, who reveals that Claudius murdered him and asks Hamlet to seek revenge.

Why is Hamlet upset at the beginning?

His father died, his uncle became king, and his mother quickly married Claudius.

What does the ghost reveal?

Claudius murdered King Hamlet by pouring poison into his ear while he slept.

What does the ghost ask Hamlet to do?

Revenge his father's murder.

What does Hamlet decide to do?

Pretend to be mentally unstable to hide his plans and investigate Claudius.

Revenge Example

Hamlet wants revenge against Claudius for murdering his father. This shows how revenge drives the entire story.

Betrayal Example

Claudius murders his own brother to become king. This shows how greed destroys family trust.

Act 2 Summary

Hamlet acts strangely, Polonius suspects he is in love with Ophelia, and Hamlet plans to use a play to test Claudius.

Why does Hamlet pretend to be crazy?

To hide his intentions while investigating Claudius.

Why does Polonius think Hamlet is acting strangely?

He believes Hamlet is behaving this way because he loves Ophelia.

Who does Claudius send to spy on Hamlet?

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

What is Hamlet's plan with the actors?

He wants them to perform a play that recreates his father's murder.

Appearance vs. Reality Example

Hamlet pretends to be crazy even though he is secretly investigating Claudius.

Deception Example

Claudius acts like a respectable king while hiding the fact that he murdered his brother.

Act 3 Summary

Hamlet performs the Mousetrap play, Claudius reacts suspiciously, and Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius.

What is The Mousetrap?

A play Hamlet organizes to recreate his father's murder and expose Claudius.

Why does Claudius leave during the play?

The performance reminds him of his murder, making him uncomfortable and revealing his guilt.

What does Hamlet learn from The Mousetrap?

He becomes convinced that Claudius murdered his father.

What does To be or not to be mean?

Hamlet questions existence, suffering, death, and whether life is worth enduring.

Who does Hamlet accidentally kill?

Polonius, whom he stabs while Polonius is hiding behind a curtain.

Why does Hamlet confront Gertrude?

He is angry that she married Claudius so quickly after his father's death.

The Mousetrap Example

Hamlet recreates his father's murder in a play to expose Claudius's guilt.

Hesitation Example

Hamlet delays killing Claudius because he constantly questions his decisions.

Act 4 Summary

Claudius sends Hamlet away, Ophelia becomes distressed and dies, and Laertes joins Claudius in planning revenge.

Why is Laertes angry with Hamlet?

Hamlet killed his father, Polonius.

What happens to Ophelia?

She becomes emotionally distressed after her father's death and eventually drowns.

What is Claudius planning for Hamlet?

He wants Hamlet killed in England.

How are Hamlet and Laertes similar?

Both want revenge for their fathers' deaths.

How are Hamlet and Laertes different?

Hamlet hesitates and overthinks, while Laertes acts quickly.

What happens when Hamlet returns?

He learns more about death and agrees to a fencing match with Laertes.

Madness Example

Ophelia becomes emotionally distressed after Polonius dies, showing the effects of grief.

Quick Revenge Example

Laertes immediately seeks revenge after learning Hamlet killed Polonius.

Act 5 Summary

Hamlet visits a graveyard, fights Laertes in a fencing match, kills Claudius, and dies along with several other characters.

Who is Yorick?

A deceased court jester Hamlet remembers from childhood.

What does Yorick's skull symbolize?

Death and mortality, showing that everyone eventually dies.

What happens during the fencing match?

Laertes uses a poisoned sword, and both he and Hamlet are wounded.

How does Gertrude die?

She drinks from the poisoned cup intended for Hamlet.

How does Claudius die?

Hamlet kills him after discovering the poisoning plot.

How does Hamlet die?

He is wounded by Laertes' poisoned sword.

Who survives the ending?

Horatio survives and promises to tell Hamlet's story.

Who becomes ruler of Denmark?

Fortinbras.

Death Example

Hamlet holds Yorick's skull in Act 5 and realizes that everyone eventually dies.

Poison Example

Claudius uses poison to murder King Hamlet and later plans another poisoned attack against Hamlet.

Tragic Ending Example

Hamlet kills Claudius but dies too, showing that revenge destroys everyone involved.

What are the main themes of Hamlet?

Revenge, betrayal, madness, appearance versus reality, corruption, and mortality.

Revenge

The desire to punish someone for a wrong. Hamlet and Laertes both seek revenge for their fathers.

Betrayal

Breaking someone's trust. Claudius betrays his brother by murdering him.

Appearance vs. Reality

The difference between how things seem and how they actually are. Hamlet pretends to be crazy while Claudius pretends to be a good king.

Madness

Hamlet pretends to be mentally unstable, while Ophelia experiences genuine emotional distress.

Mortality

The fact that everyone eventually dies, regardless of wealth or social status.

Corruption

When dishonesty and immoral behavior damage individuals or society. Claudius corrupts Denmark through murder and greed.

Corruption Example

Claudius becomes king through murder, showing how Denmark's leadership is corrupted.

Loyalty Example

Horatio stays loyal to Hamlet and promises to tell his story after Hamlet dies.

Yorick's Skull Symbol

Represents death and reminds Hamlet that everyone eventually dies.

The Ghost Symbol

Represents the past, unresolved injustice, and revenge.

Poison Symbol

Represents corruption, betrayal, and destruction.

The Mousetrap Symbol

Represents deception being used to expose the truth.

Ophelia's Flowers Symbol

Represent innocence, grief, and different emotional meanings.

To be or not to be

Hamlet's famous speech questioning existence, suffering, and death.

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark

Shows that Denmark is morally corrupt because of Claudius.

The play's the thing

Shows Hamlet's plan to expose Claudius through the performance.

The rest is silence

Hamlet's final words, spoken as he dies.

Hamlet vs. Laertes

Both seek revenge for their fathers, but Hamlet hesitates while Laertes acts quickly.

Hamlet vs. Fortinbras

Hamlet overthinks his decisions, while Fortinbras takes action.

Hamlet vs. Horatio

Hamlet is emotional and conflicted, while Horatio is calm, loyal, and trustworthy.

Hamlet and Laertes Comparison

Both want revenge for their fathers, but Hamlet hesitates while Laertes acts quickly.

Hamlet and Fortinbras Comparison

Hamlet overthinks his decisions, while Fortinbras takes action to achieve his goals.

Why is Hamlet a tragedy?

The main character's decisions, revenge, betrayal, and the actions of others lead to multiple deaths.

What is the main lesson of Hamlet?

Revenge, betrayal, and corruption can destroy everyone involved.