Understanding Hamlet Whos there?. Kronborg-Helsingør.

Understanding HamletUnderstanding Hamlet

““Who’s there?”Who’s there?”

Kronborg-HelsingKronborg-Helsingørør

Act I, Scene 1Act I, Scene 1

• Note Horatio’s characterNote Horatio’s character

• Why all of the military preparations?Why all of the military preparations?

• Renaissance beliefs about ghosts and Renaissance beliefs about ghosts and how man’s actions affect naturehow man’s actions affect nature

• Shakespeare’s poetryShakespeare’s poetry

Act I, Scene 2Act I, Scene 2

• What is your first impression of What is your first impression of Claudius as a ruler?Claudius as a ruler?

• How does he explain his hasty How does he explain his hasty marriage to Gertrude?marriage to Gertrude?

• How does he deal with the impending How does he deal with the impending attack by Fortinbras?attack by Fortinbras?

• What are his first words to Hamlet?What are his first words to Hamlet?

Hamlet’s first appearanceHamlet’s first appearance• Hamlet alternates between two moods: Hamlet alternates between two moods:

destructive satire and inward melancholydestructive satire and inward melancholy

• Outwardly destructive: uses puns and insultsOutwardly destructive: uses puns and insults

• How do the king and queen try to cheer him?How do the king and queen try to cheer him?

• First soliloquy: inward melancholy. How does First soliloquy: inward melancholy. How does he differentiate between his father’s love for he differentiate between his father’s love for his mother and his mother’s love for his his mother and his mother’s love for his father? Does Hamlet have an Oedipus father? Does Hamlet have an Oedipus Complex?Complex?

• More mood swings when Hamlet greets his More mood swings when Hamlet greets his friends!friends!

Meet Laertes and his sister, Meet Laertes and his sister, OpheliaOphelia

• What type of relationship do they What type of relationship do they have?have?

• What advice does Laertes give What advice does Laertes give Ophelia before he returns to school?Ophelia before he returns to school?

• Her reaction?Her reaction?

• Vocabulary:Vocabulary:– ProdigalProdigal– libertinelibertine

Polonius’s AdvicePolonius’s Advice

• What advice does he give to Laertes?What advice does he give to Laertes?– Famous Lines?Famous Lines?

• What advice does he give to Ophelia? Her What advice does he give to Ophelia? Her reaction?reaction?

• Optional Assignment from Optional Assignment from The People, YesThe People, Yes by Carl Sandburgby Carl Sandburg– Contrast Polonius’s advice (lines 59-81 on page Contrast Polonius’s advice (lines 59-81 on page

43) with advice the father in Sandburg’s poem 43) with advice the father in Sandburg’s poem gives. Are they similar? Different? Which is gives. Are they similar? Different? Which is better?better?

Hamlet Meets the GhostHamlet Meets the Ghost• Shakespeare defines “the tragic flaw” (lines Shakespeare defines “the tragic flaw” (lines

25-40)25-40)• Corse=corpseCorse=corpse• Why do Hamlet’s friends fear Hamlet Why do Hamlet’s friends fear Hamlet

speaking with the ghost alone?speaking with the ghost alone?• Was Gertrude unfaithful while still married Was Gertrude unfaithful while still married

to Hamlet’s father?to Hamlet’s father?• How did the late king die?How did the late king die?• What does the ghost want Hamlet to do What does the ghost want Hamlet to do

about his mother?about his mother?• What vow does Hamlet make his friends What vow does Hamlet make his friends

swear?swear?• What is an “antic disposition”?What is an “antic disposition”?

Act II, Scene 2Act II, Scene 2

• Meet Rosencrantz and GuildensternMeet Rosencrantz and Guildenstern• Voltemond brings news from NorwayVoltemond brings news from Norway• Polonius has found “the very cause of Polonius has found “the very cause of

Hamlet’s lunacy” and begins to Hamlet’s lunacy” and begins to “expostulate.”“expostulate.”

• ““Brevity is the soul of wit”Brevity is the soul of wit”• Note Polonius’s strategy for discovering the Note Polonius’s strategy for discovering the

truth behind Hamlet’s behavior. Pay truth behind Hamlet’s behavior. Pay attention to the connotations of his diction!attention to the connotations of his diction!

““Words, words, words”Words, words, words”

• Hamlet suspects Polonius’s devious Hamlet suspects Polonius’s devious plans and decides to have some fun.plans and decides to have some fun.

• Note Hamlet’s word play as he puts on Note Hamlet’s word play as he puts on an “antic disposition” and pretends an “antic disposition” and pretends not to recognize Hamlet.not to recognize Hamlet.

• Once more Hamlet uses puns and Once more Hamlet uses puns and verbal irony as he swings to his verbal irony as he swings to his outwardly destructive mood.outwardly destructive mood.

• But Polonius will admit, “Though this But Polonius will admit, “Though this be madness, yet there is method in be madness, yet there is method in ‘t.”‘t.”

Fortune is a strumpet!Fortune is a strumpet!

To Hamlet “Denmark’s a To Hamlet “Denmark’s a prison”prison”• ““There is nothing good or bad but There is nothing good or bad but

thinking makes it so!”thinking makes it so!”• Why do Rosencrantz and Why do Rosencrantz and

Guildenstern raise the subject of Guildenstern raise the subject of ambition while talking to Hamlet?ambition while talking to Hamlet?

• ““What a piece of work is a man…”What a piece of work is a man…”• Man’s duel nature: “the paragon of Man’s duel nature: “the paragon of

animals” and “quintessence of dust.”animals” and “quintessence of dust.”

The Players are Here!The Players are Here!

• Why does Hamlet tell Rosencrantz Why does Hamlet tell Rosencrantz and Guildenstern he is “but mad and Guildenstern he is “but mad north-north-west”?north-north-west”?

• ““An old man is twice a child.” Who? An old man is twice a child.” Who? Meaning?Meaning?

• ““Buzz, buzz”Buzz, buzz”

• Jephthah: a Biblical figure who Jephthah: a Biblical figure who sacrifices his daughter.sacrifices his daughter.

Why does Hamlet want to hear Why does Hamlet want to hear a speech from Virgil’s a speech from Virgil’s Aeneid Aeneid ??

• What do you know about The Trojan War?What do you know about The Trojan War?• Which two countries fought in this war?Which two countries fought in this war?• What started the war?What started the war?• Who were the greatest heroes of this war?Who were the greatest heroes of this war?• How did the war end?How did the war end?• Key names to remember: Priam, Paris, Key names to remember: Priam, Paris,

Achilles, Hector, Pyrrhus, Agamemnon, Achilles, Hector, Pyrrhus, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Helen, Hecuba, OdysseusMenelaus, Helen, Hecuba, Odysseus

““A Pyrrhic Victory”A Pyrrhic Victory”

• Why does Hamlet want to hear the Why does Hamlet want to hear the speech about Pyrrus seeking revenge speech about Pyrrus seeking revenge against the father of the man who against the father of the man who slew Achilles?slew Achilles?

““Fools and Madmen Speak the Fools and Madmen Speak the Truth.” Act IV, Scene 5Truth.” Act IV, Scene 5

• Despite her madness, what truths does Despite her madness, what truths does Ophelia reveal?Ophelia reveal?

• Shroud=Burial garmentShroud=Burial garment

• When sorrows come, they come not When sorrows come, they come not single spies,/But in battalions.”single spies,/But in battalions.”

• ““That drop of blood that’s calm proclaims That drop of blood that’s calm proclaims me bastard.”me bastard.”

• Cuckold=a man whose wife is unfaithfulCuckold=a man whose wife is unfaithful

• Apostrophe: “O heat, dry up my brains!”Apostrophe: “O heat, dry up my brains!”

Next in Next in HamletHamlet: Act IV, : Act IV, Scene 7Scene 7• Claudius acquaints Laertes with the real Claudius acquaints Laertes with the real

story…story…

• Claudius gives two reasons why he has not Claudius gives two reasons why he has not started criminal proceedings against Hamlet.started criminal proceedings against Hamlet.

• Claudius receives a letter from Hamlet in Claudius receives a letter from Hamlet in which Hamlet says he is “set naked upon which Hamlet says he is “set naked upon [Claudius’s] kingdom.”[Claudius’s] kingdom.”

• Why does Hamlet send this letter to Why does Hamlet send this letter to Claudius?Claudius?

Elements of Revenge Elements of Revenge TragedyTragedy• Avenger must prove perpetrator’s Avenger must prove perpetrator’s

guiltguilt

• Avenger faces perpetrator of the Avenger faces perpetrator of the crime and tells him why he seeks crime and tells him why he seeks revenge.revenge.

• Revenge is “eye for an eye.Revenge is “eye for an eye.

• Avenger must acquaint everyone with Avenger must acquaint everyone with the real storythe real story

““The Plan” to kill HamletThe Plan” to kill Hamlet

• Lamond—the FrenchmanLamond—the Frenchman

• Rapier—also called a foilRapier—also called a foil

• Unbated=unbluntedUnbated=unblunted

• Mounteback=quack doctorMounteback=quack doctor

• Unction=ointmentUnction=ointment

• Peruse=examine carefullyPeruse=examine carefully

• What’s wrong with this plan?What’s wrong with this plan?

““Too much of water hast thou, Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia…”poor Ophelia…”

• What has happened to Ophelia?What has happened to Ophelia?

• What is confusing about the way What is confusing about the way Gertrude describes what happened?Gertrude describes what happened?

• Why might Gertrude embellish the Why might Gertrude embellish the story of Ophelia’s death?story of Ophelia’s death?

Act V, Scene 2Act V, Scene 2• What happened to Rosencrantz and What happened to Rosencrantz and

Guildenstern? Horatio’s reaction?Guildenstern? Horatio’s reaction?

• How does Hamlet regain his heroic How does Hamlet regain his heroic stature in the final scene of the play?stature in the final scene of the play?

• Purpose of Osric?Purpose of Osric?

• Letting go of control: “Let be.”Letting go of control: “Let be.”

• Tragedy: At the very moment Tragedy: At the very moment Hamlet achieves a readiness for a Hamlet achieves a readiness for a noble life, his life is over.noble life, his life is over.