Hamlet Scene Summaries

Two guards at Elsinore see the ghost of the recently dead King Hamlet. Horatio decides to tell Hamlet.

Act I, Scene i

Gertrude and Claudius ask Hamlet to stay in Denmark longer. Horatio tells Hamlet about the ghost.

Act I, Scene ii

Laertes tells Ophelia not to fall in love with Hamlet and Polonius agrees. Polonius advises Laertes on how to behave in France.

Act I, Scene iii

Hamlet waits with Horatio and Marcellus for the ghost to appear. When it appears Hamlet runs after it, the others follow.

Act I, Scene iv

The ghost tells Hamlet Claudius poisoned him and that he wants Hamlet to kill Claudius but spare Gertrude. Hamlet swears he will tell his companions and act insane to get the truth.

Act I, Scene v

Polonius sends money to Laertes, Ophelia tells him Hamlet is behaving strangely and attacked her.

Act II, Scene i

Claudius and Gertrude try to determine the cause of Hamlet’s strange behaviour with the help of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Players arrive and Hamlet plants to use them to test Claudius’ conscience.

Act II, Scene ii

Claudius and Polonius hide and watch Hamlet as he debates suicide. After Hamlet berates Ophelia, Claudius decides Hamlet is dangerous and plans to send him to England.

Act III, Scene i

The actors perform a play recrwating Claudius’ murder of King Hamlet causing Claudius to flee. Hamlet goes to speak with Gertrude following the evidence of Claudius’ guilt.

Act III, Scene ii

Polonius plans to eavesdrop on Hamlet and Gertrude. Hamlet sees Claudius praying and considers killing him but stops himself fearing Claudius will go to heaven.

Act III, Scene iii

Hamlet confronts Gertrude aggressively, he notices someone hiding behind the curtains and stabs them thinking it is Claudius but it is Polonius. The ghost reminds Hamlet he has not killed Claudius.

Act III, Scene iv

Gertrude tells Claudius about Polonius’ murder and Claudius immediately sends Hamlet to England. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are sent to find Hamlet.

Act IV, Scene i

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern find Hamlet, but he refuses to tell them anything, accusing them of being spies for Claudius.

Act IV, Scene ii

Claudius questions Hamlet until he reveals where Polonius’ body is hidden and sends him to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern with secret orders to have him executed when he arrives.

Act IV, Scene iii

Hamlet encounters Fortinbras leading an army to Poland to fight over some land. Hamlet marvels that men will kill over men and he has still failed to kill Claudius over something significant.

Act IV, Scene iv

Ophelia goes mad after her father’s death, Laertes returns from France seeking revenge. Claudius convinces Laertes to seek revenge on Hamlet.

Act IV, Scene v

Horatio receives a message that Hamlet’s has secretly returned to Denmark.

Act IV, Scene vi

Claudius and Laertes plot to kill Hamlet in a fencing contest with either a poisoned rapier or a poisoned chalice if he wins

Act IV, Scene vii

Hamlet and Horatio wait in a graveyard and Ophelia’s funeral arrives. Hamlet and Laertes fight in Ophelia’s grave until they are broken up.

Act V, Scene i

Hamlet and Laertes duel. Laertes dies bu his poisoned sword. Gertrude drinks the poisoned cup and dies. Claudius is killed by Hamlets sword and is forced the remaining wine. Hamlet dies by the poison of Laertes’ sword. Fortinbras reaches Denmark and orders Hamlet is buried with honour.

Act V, Scene ii