This document provides background information on William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. It was written in the early 17th century, likely between 1600-1602, and is set in Denmark. The play follows Prince Hamlet and his quest for revenge against his uncle Claudius, who has murdered Hamlet's father to seize the throne and marry Hamlet's mother. The document outlines key characters, plot elements, and genres incorporated in the tragic play.

1. HAMLET
Skull. Digital image. Pexels. Mathew MacQuarrie, CC0 Public Domain, 13 Oct. 2016. Web. 30 Mar.
2017.

2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
• Written by William Shakespeare in London,
England.
• Written in the early 17th century; probably
1600-1602.
• Tone: Dark, violent, melancholy, passionate,
contemplative, desperate.
• Setting: The late Medieval period in
Denmark.

3. SETTING: “ELSINORE”
• The play is set in
Denmark, specifically the
castle of ELSINORE.
• It takes place in the
Danish Royal Court.
• This photo is of the
modern-day Kronborg
Castle in Helsingor,
Denmark.

4. GENRES: TRAGEDY AND MORE
• With the writing of Hamlet, Shakespeare was aiming for high artistic
purpose and form.
• Tragedies are often about the forces of good and evil.
• Hamlet has a main REVENGE PLOT, which also has elements of HORROR.
• There are elements of ROMANCE (Hamlet and Ophelia).
• There are elements of WAR (looming conflict with Norway).

5. WAR IN HAMLET: DENMARK VS. NORWAY
• In the play, there is a sub-plot about Denmark and Norway being in
conflict.
• Norway’s crown Prince, Fortinbras, is talked about many times
since Claudius is worried about Norway invading Denmark.
• Hamlet’s father (King Hamlet) killed Fortinbras’ father (Old
Fortinbras) in battle, so there is personal history there.
• Hamlet and Fortinbras (the characters) are both very motivated in
their actions by the deaths of their fathers.

6. WHO IS HAMLET?
• The title of the play is also the name of its main character,
Prince Hamlet.
• Hamlet is the protagonist (main character) of the play. He is
a very complicated character who shows a lot of emotions,
intelligence, and humour.
• Hamlet is also a “tragic hero”.

7. ACTORS PLAYING HAMLET

8. ACTRESSES PLAYING HAMLET

9. CHARACTERS: HAMLET’S FAMILY
• HAMLET – the Prince of Denmark, and son of the late King Hamlet.
• CLAUDIUS – the new King of Denmark; he is also Hamlet’s uncle.
• GERTRUDE – the Queen of Denmark; Hamlet’s mother; also married
to Claudius. Hamlet is fixated on their “incestuous” relationship.
• KING HAMLET, also known as GHOST – Hamlet’s dead father, who
appears three times in the play as a ghost. The ghost is seen by
several characters.

10. • Hamlet and the Ghost.
Digital
image. Theatrehistory.com.
Henry Fuseli, CC0 Public
Domain, 1789. Web. 30 Mar.
HAMLET AND
THE GHOST

11. OTHER KEY CHARACTERS
• POLONIUS – a close advisor to King Claudius.
• OPHELIA – Polonius’ daughter; she is interested in Hamlet.
• LAERTES – Polonius’ son; a young nobleman who doesn’t trust
Hamlet.
• HORATIO – Hamlet’s faithful friend.
• ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN – school friends of Hamlet.

12. LAERTES & OPHELIA:
TRAGIC SIBLINGS
• Laertes and Ophelia. Digital
image. Wikigallery. William
Gorman Wills. CC0 Public
Domain, 1 Jan. 1880. Web. 30
Mar. 2017.

13. PLOT STRUCTURE
• Shakespearean tragedies usually have 5 Acts,
with a basic structure:
• Beginning / Exposition;
• Middle (bulk of play);
• Ending / Catastrophe.

14. READY TO BEGIN?
• As the play starts, the King of Denmark, King Hamlet, has
recently died.
• His son, Prince Hamlet, has returned from Germany where he
was attending school in Wittenburg.
• Hamlet returns to Danish court to find that his uncle
Claudius has assumed the throne and his mother has re-
married.
• Hamlet is hardly pleased about all this news.

15. NOW, VIEW PART ONE OF KENNETH
BRANAGH’S “HAMLET” FILM (1996).