Hamlet

Intro to Lesson

    This lesson we will be discussing the play, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare. In this book, we are going to first look at the background of Shakespeare and how he was inspired to write this play. Then we will be able to begin to dig into the characters and setting of Hamlet.

     After you have read this e-book, at the end will be ten discussion questions for you to answer.

***Please bring your answers into class the next day.

     To conclude the first lesson in Hamlet, there will be an activity following this book in the next class.

Shakespeare’s Background

     William Shakespeare was a renowned English playwriter, poet and author. He was born in Stratford on April 23, 1564. This was the same day that Shakespeare supposedly died as well in 1616.

He began writing during the Elizabethan ages of British theatre. His career in fact began in London in 1592. writing at least 37 plays, 154 sonnets and 375 poems total. However, by the time Shakespeare was eighteen years old, he had became married to Anne Hathaway who was twenty six years old at that time. Together, they had a total of three children, two girls and one boy. Sadly, their one boy had died at the age eleven.

Why Was Hamlet Written?

   This play is known as a tragedy. Why?

    Hamlet is based on a Norse legend composed by Saxo Grammaticus in Latin around 1200 AD. Shakespeare was influenced by the history telling the rise and fall of the great rulers of Denmark.

    It  also said that a few years after Shakespeare’s only son, Hamnet, had died in 1596; Shakespeare wrote the play Hamlet. Both, the play and his son’s name are interchangeable. However, the connection between the two is still questioned.

Which inspiration sounds better?

Main Characters and Their Role

• Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, son of King Hamlet, lover of Ophelia.
• Claudius: Brother to King Hamlet, Uncle to Prince Hamlet, second husband to Gertrude.
• Gertrude: Hamlet’s mother, Queen of Denmark, first wife of King Hamlet.
• Ghost of the King of Denmark
• Polonius: Chief counsellor of Claudius, father of Ophelia and Laertes.
• Laertes: Son of Polonius, brother to Ophelia.
• Ophelia: Daughter of Polonius, sister to Laertes and lover of Hamlet.
• Horatio: Friend of Hamlet.
• Fortinbras: Norwegian King.
• Yorick: Court jester

Summary

     Beginning with the need to avenge. The ghost of the King of Denmark visits Hamlet and tells him how he was murdered. Throwing the contemplation of life or death into his own son’s mind. While Claudius fears his life in the kingdom, Denmark is falling to pieces. Everyone is fearing each other, bringing death upon them. For can love bring this madness to a halt? Or will revenge be the final killer of all?

Discussion Questions

1. Write 2-3 sentences(or more) about what you predict will happen in this play.

2. Identify 1-2 famous lines from this play.

3. After reading the summary, what questions would you ask before meeting the characters in this play?

4. In 1596, Shakespeare’s son, Hamnet, had died at age eleven. Do you think that this play has a relationship to his son’s death?

5. How many acts are in this play?

6. Identify who King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, Laertes and Polonius are.

7. What genre is this play?

8. What theme where you able to extract from the summary you read on the previous page?

9. Why do you think Hamlet is the title character of this play?

10. Can you name a movie that has a similar plot to the play Hamlet?

Activity For Tomorrow’s Class:)

First: We will go over our discussion questions.

Second: We will separate into groups and I will handout index cards to each group. On each card will be a quote from Hamlet. This way we can work on interpreting the language of Shakespeare.

***This will be for the rest of class this day. If anyone has any questions about the language, characters, or needs any help, I will be able to come and help:)