The document provides an analysis of key scenes and characters in Shakespeare's play Hamlet. It examines Hamlet's state of mind and motivation for revenge against Claudius. Several important soliloquies are discussed, including "To be or not to be" which reveals Hamlet's contemplation of life and death. Deception is highlighted as a major theme, with characters like Polonius and Rosencrantz attempting to manipulate Hamlet. Claudius' reaction to the play-within-a-play confirms his guilt in murdering Hamlet's father.

1. Hamlet

2. 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?

3. 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?

4. Act 1 Scene 2 –
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

5. 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?

6. ‘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.

7. 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

8. ‘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.

9. Hamlet – the solitary thinker
How has Shakespeare presented Hamlet?
- Appearance
- Attitude
- What others say to him

10. 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?

11. 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

12. 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
What does he say about his murder
What does he say about how quickly he was

13. 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.

14. 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 fourth scene
when he sees the ghost for himself. At last, the evidence
overcomes his moral reluctance to believe such foul
suspicions, and Hamlet is convinced of the guilt of the king

15. 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:

16. 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

17. 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.

18. - 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?

19. 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.

20. Act2 Scene1
1. Polonius sends someone to spy on his
son, Laertes
2. Ophelia reports Hamlet’s strange
appearance

21. 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.”

22. Hamlet begins to
appear mad
What do we learn
from Ophelia about
Hamlet’s
appearance?

23. 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.

24. Act 2 Scene 2 –
Rosencrantz
and
Guildenstern

25. Deception is
widespread
Humor in
Hamlet’s
Madness
Players have an
important role
Hamlet curses
his lack of action
Real Madness
vs Fake
Madness

26. Using Act 2 Scene
2 as a starting
point, analyze the
importance of
deception in
Hamlet.
Discuss, with the person next to you for 2 minutes, the following things and
be ready to discuss as a class:

27. ‘to be or not to be’
Hamlet’s most unique soliloquy
The dramatic
purpose of
this episode is
to establish
Hamlet as a
characteristic
ally detached,
reflective,
analytic,
thinking and
moral.
Abstract
reflection.

28. Act 3 Scene 1 – “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?

29. The calmness of the
soliloquy is in direct
contrast to the passionate
exchange which follows…
‘Get thee to a
nunnery’

30. 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

31. Play within a Play
What are the key moments of the scene?

32. Claudius’ reaction to the
play…
What does Hamlet
think?
Horatio…….the voice
of reason? Still?

33. Hamlet’s relationships are
developed…
Horatio
Gertrude
Ophelia
Rosencrantz
And
Guildenstern

34. for against
“Ophelia should be viewed
as a completely innocent
victim”
Argue for AND against this
statement

35. Act 3 Scene 3
What does this
scene reveal about
Claudius’ character?

36. Claudius is not genuinely
repentant
How do we know this?

37. Potential
Explanations for
Hamlet’s delay….
Plot
Device
Tragic
Flaw
Conscience
Fairness

38. The Closet
Scene
What is the purpose
behind Hamlet’s
confrontation?
Confirms
Claudius’
Guilt
Make
Gertrude
repent
Repair their
relationship

39. Explore Gertrude’s
language whilst
she is talking to
Hamlet-what do
you notice?

40. Explore Hamlet’s
control over the
conversation.
How does he
maintain this?

41. What do we make of
Hamlet’s spontaneous
reaction?

42. “Act 3 Scene 4 proves that
Gertrude is just an
innocent victim”.
To what extent do you
agree with the statement?