Intro To Hamlet

Grade 12 Literature
HAMLET
An introduction
INTRODUCTION
Shakespeare's "Hamlet" is a timeless tragedy that explores
themes of revenge, moral ambiguity, and the complexity of
the human condition. The play is set in the fictional Elsinore,
in the Kingdom of Denmark and follows the young Prince
Hamlet, who seeks to avenge his father's death.
BACKGROUND OF THE PLAY
"Hamlet" is set in Shakespeare drew The play reflects the

Denmark and was inspiration from social and moral
written during the various medieval values of the
early 17th century, a legends and earlier Elizabethan period,
time of political and works, adding his shaping the
social upheaval in own dramatic flair. characters' actions
England. and choices.
TIME PERIOD
Although Shakespeare does
not provide a specific date,
there are enough context
clues that point to the play
being set during the 14th -
15th century
SETTING
The castle serves as the
primary setting, echoing
the themes of power and
decay.
CHARACTER LIST
Hamlet Ghost Gertrude Claudius Polonius

Protagonist The ghost of Former wife of Antagonist Advisor to
Prince of old King the old King. King of the King
Denmark Hamlet Hamlet’s Denamrk Father of
Hamlet’s mother Brother of Laertes and
father and Married to King the old King Ophelia
Gertrude’s Claudius Uncle of
late Queen of Hamlet
husband. Denmark Husband of
Previous King Gertrude
of Denmark
CHARACTER LIST
Ophelia Laertes Horatio Rosencrantz Guildenstern

Daughter of Son of Close friend A friend of A friend of
Polonius Polonius of Hamlet Hamlet Hamlet
Sister of Brother of An academic Ordered to Ordered to
Laertes Ophelia spy on spy on
In love with Hamlet by Hamlet by
Hamlet Claudius and Claudius and
Gertrude. Gertrude.
PLOT SUMMARY
Tells the story of a son’s struggle to avenge
the murder of his father. Returning from
university to his home, the castle of Elsinore,
Prince Hamlet finds his father has been
murdered and his mother has remarried his
uncle, Claudius, the new king. He hears that a
ghost resembling his father is haunting the
castle and seeks it out. The Ghost tells
Hamlet that he is his dead father and that he
was poisoned by Claudius. He appeals to
Hamlet to seek revenge for his murder.
PLOT SUMMARY
CONTND
Hamlets feigns madness in order to get
those around him to lower their guard.
Polonius, the King’s advisor, belives that this
is due to Hamlet’s overwhelming love for
Ophelia. Claudius grows suspicious of
Hamlet and orders for him to be spied upon.
After the death of Polonius, at Hamlet’s
hand, Claudius orders that Hamlet is
banished to England where he will be
executed (unbeknownst to Hamlet).
PLOT SUMMARY
CONTND
During this time Ophelia, overcome with
grief, loses her life. Her brother, Laertes,
returns home to avenge her death by taking
the crown. Once learning of Hamlet’s role in
the deaths of his sister and father, Laertes
and Claudius conspire to murder Hamlet.
Hamlet escapes his banishment and death in
England and returns to Denmark. He faces
Laertes in a rigged duel. During this duel,
Gertrude, Laertes, Cladius, and Hamlet all
lose their lives.
THEMES
Central message in a piece
of literature
Universal ideas about life

that human beings (no
matter where they are) can
relate
Not overtly stated but have

to be deduced by the
reader
THEMES IN HAMLET
01 APPEARANCE VS REALITY
02 ACTION VS INACTION
03 RELIGION VS HONOUR
THEMES IN HAMLET
04 REVENGE
05 TREATMENT OF WOMEN
06 CORRUPTION & DECAY

TYPE OF PLAY
Shakespeare wrote three types of plays:
1. History plays
2. Comedies
3. Tragedies
Hamlet is a revenge tragedy

encompassing murder most foul, bitter
ghosts and scenes of mass death and
destruction.
THE CHAIN OF BEING
The Chain of Being governed how
the Elizabethans saw their world
and the decisions that they made.
This is the ‘key’ to understanding

Shakespeare!
God
Angels
Humankind
Soul
Understanding
Reason
Sensory
Passion
Lust
Animals
Plants
Stones
KNOWING YOUR PLACE
Everything was arranged in a fixed, hierarchical
order by God.
1. Giant pecking order from God to the metals

and minerals
2. Natural orderliness and harmony in the
universe.
3. Subjects should obey their king, women their
husbands and children their parents or the
chain would be broken.
4. Disturbance would upset the universe, leading
to chaos and misery.
GENRE: REVENGE TRAGEDY
Catastrophic ending
Killing off the main character
Flawed hero
Five act format

1. Setting is introduced
2. Problem is introduced
3. Problem gets worse
4. Characters unable to combat problem
5. Problems develops into catastrophe
culminating in tragic ending
TYPES OF CHARACTERS
Born into nobility with the potential for greatness
Possesses a tragic flaw in character and makes an error in

judgement
Realizes he has made an irreversible mistake and thus is

responsible for his own fate
The big fall brings out feelings of pity in the audience.
Faces and accepts death with honour
Meets a tragic death

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
1. Have you ever seen a supernatural being?
2. Do you have any experience or knowledge of
step-relationships?
3. To what extent do parents have the right to ‘spy’
or ‘check up on’ their children?
4. Would you say that suicide is a very real issue
today?
5. Would you characterise yourself as a ‘thinker’ or
a ‘doer’?
THANK YOU
FOR
LISTENING!

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Grade 12 Literature

"Hamlet" is set in Shakespeare drew The play reflects the

Hamlet Ghost Gertrude Claudius Polonius

Ophelia Laertes Horatio Rosencrantz Guildenstern

Universal ideas about life

Not overtly stated but have

06 CORRUPTION & DECAY

Hamlet is a revenge tragedy

This is the ‘key’ to understanding

1. Giant pecking order from God to the metals

Five act format

Possesses a tragic flaw in character and makes an error in

Realizes he has made an irreversible mistake and thus is

The big fall brings out feelings of pity in the audience.

Faces and accepts death with honour

Meets a tragic death

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