Hamlet

William Shakespeare

Publication

• Probably written in 1600 or 1601

• First performed in July 1602

Setting

• Denmark

• Medieval Period

Hamlet Cont.

• Critics claim the most powerful and influential tragedies in the English Language.

The Story

• Hamlet’s uncle murders father and then marries his mother

• Hamlet’s uncle becomes king

• Hamlet feigns insanity to exact revenge

Hamlet

• Prince of Denmark

• About 30 years old

• Son of Queen Gertrude

and the late King Hamlet

• Nephew of the present

king, Claudius.

Hamlet continued

• Hamlet is melancholy, bitter, and cynical.

• Full of hatred for his uncle's scheming and disgust for his mother's sexuality.

• Studied at the University of Wittenberg

• Sometimes indecisive and hesitant, but at other times prone to rash and impulsive acts.

Claudius• The King of Denmark

• Hamlet's uncle

• Kills Hamlet’s father to become King

• The play's antagonist and villain

• Calculating, ambitious politician

• Driven by his sexual appetites and his lust for power

Gertrude

• The Queen of Denmark

• Hamlet's mother

• Married to King Claudius

• Prefers her social status

over moral obligations

The Ghost (King Hamlet)

• The specter of

Hamlet's recently

deceased father

• Killed by King

Claudius

• Asks Hamlet to

avenge his death

Polonius

• The Lord Chamberlain

of Claudius's court

• Pompous, conniving

old man

• Father of Laertes and

Ophelia.

Ophelia

• Polonius' daughter

• Hamlet is in love with her

• Obeys her father and her brother, Laertes.

Laertes

• Polonius's son• Ophelia's brother• Spends a lot of time

in France• Passionate and quick

to action, Laertes is clearly a foil for the reflective Hamlet.

Famous Actors who have played Hamlet:

• Laurence Oliver

• Mel Gibson

• Kenneth Branagh

Famous Hamlets

• Ethan Hawke

• Jude Law

• David Tennent

Entertainment inspired by Hamlet:

• The Lion King

• Gladiator

• Strange Brew

• Renaissance Man

• Episodes of Star Trek, The Simpsons, South Park

Hamlet

• Themes: – Indecision– Inability to Act– Uncertainty– Impuslivity– Death/Suicide

• Motif: Decay

Hamlet VocabularyWeek #1 (Act I) quiz THURSDAY 3/5

1. entreated- to beg; to ask 2. assail- to attack 3. fortified - shielded; secured; protected 4. illume- to brighten; to lighten 5. usurp- to seize; to confiscate 6. avouch- to certify; to confirm; to guarantee 7. esteemed- to honor; to respect; to prize; to treasure 8. ratified- approved; confirmed; legalized 9. mettle.- endurance; bravery 10. resolutes- brave; fearless; relentless people

Hamlet Vocabulary Week #2 (Act II)

11. portentous- foreboding; threatening; sinister 12. privy - made participant in a secret 13. discretion - permission to make decisions with own

judgement 14. auspicious- delightful; joyous; happy; lucky; favorable 15. dirge- funeral song; death march 16. dole - sadness 17. visage- the face or facial expression of a person 18. denote- to indicate; to mark; to signal; to mean 19. countenance - appearance; facial expression  /  v.- to

condone 20. requite - to avenge

Hamlet Vocabulary Week #3 (Act III-IV)

1. Beseech-to beg eagerly

2. Pious- showing an earnest wish to fulfill religious obligation

3. Insolence-contemptuously rude behavior or speech

4. Robust- strong and healthy

5. Distemper- deranged condition of mind or body

6. Mortised- to join securely

7. Bulwark- a wall built for defense

8. Apoplexy- a stroke

9. Cozened- to cheat or deceive

10. superflous- excessive