William Shakespeare The Greatest Dramatist of All Times

William Shakespeare The Greatest Dramatist of All Times

Ghanim Al Najrani

Outline: 1.0 Biography

1.1 General Information1.2 Place of Birth1.3 Education and Work1.3 Family Life

2.0 The Tragedy of Hamlet2.1 Key Facts2.2 Themes2.3 Main Symbol2.4 Characters Summary2.5 Characters Summary (continuation)2.6 Main Plot Points2.7 Audiences Views

3.0 References

1.0 Biography:

William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 in Stratford and baptized on April 26, 1564.

He was the third of eight children born to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden, daughter of a wealthy landowner.

William’s father was a glove maker, a grain dealer, and served in various civic offices as a member of town council, magistrate and as bailiff or mayor of Stratford.

1.1 General Information

1.2 Place of Birth• Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Map of Stratford Upon Avon

1.3 Education and Work:• Owing to William’s father’s position, William received free

tuition at King’s New School where he studied rhetoric, Latin and Greek

• William took charge of his father’s business around 1577 when his father’s fortunes began to decline

• Even though William did not attend college, he had a great deal of general knowledge.

1.4 Family life• Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway 1582. • Their first child, Susanna, was baptized on 1583 • They bought Twins, Hamnet and Judith, were born in

1585 • Hamnet, the only son, died at age 11.

2.0 The Tragedy of Hamlet

• Full Title: The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark• Type of Work: Play• Original Language: English• Genre: Revenge, and Tragedy• Year Written: 1600 – 1602• Year Published: 1603 – 1604 • Protagonist: Hamlet• Setting (Time): The late medieval period, though the

play’s chronological setting is notoriously imprecise• Setting (Place): Denmark

2.1 Key Facts

2.2 Themes: Revenge

Moral Corruption

Appearance and Reality

Mortality

2.3 Main Symbol:

Yorick's Skull: Found in the graveyard, Yorick's (the former Jester of the Court) skull serves as the main symbol of the play and is an image that people often immediately associate with the production of Hamlet. The skull is a reminder of death, a symbol of the physical breakdown after death and a sign that death is inevitable to all. Hamlet comes across the skull, fuelling his fascination with the consequences of death – final and physical.

2.4 Characters Summary: Claudius (antagonist): Claudius is the king of

Denmark. He murdered the previous king, his brother, and married the queen.

Gertrude: Gertrude is the queen of Denmark, King Hamlet's widow, Prince Hamlet's mother, and Claudius' wife.

Hamlet (Protagonist): Hamlet is the prince of Denmark. He is determined to avenge his father's death. His tragic flaw is usually thought to be indecision, but it could also be rashness.

2.5 Characters Summary (continued): Polonius: He is the King's advisor and the father of

Laertes and Ophelia. He is a silly, petty man.

Laertes: He returns to Denmark to revenge his father's death.

Ophelia: Ophelia is the daughter of Polonius and beloved of Hamlet. After her father's death, she goes insane and drowns in a stream.

Horatio: He is Hamlet's close friend.

2.6 Main Plot Points• Major Conflict: Hamlet feels a responsibility to avenge his

father’s murder by his uncle Claudius, but Claudius is now the king and thus well protected. Moreover, Hamlet struggles with his doubts about whether he can trust the ghost and whether killing Claudius is the appropriate thing to do.

• Rising Action: The ghost appears to Hamlet and tells Hamlet to revenge his murder; Hamlet feigns madness to his intentions; Hamlet stages the mousetrap play; Hamlet passes up the opportunity to kill Claudius while he is praying.

• Falling Action: Hamlet is sent to England to be killed; Hamlet returns to Denmark and confronts Laertes at Ophelia’s funeral; the fencing match; the deaths of the royal family.

• Climax: When Hamlet stabs Polonius in Act III, scene iv, he brings himself into unavoidable conflict with the king.

2.7 Audience’s Views:

Hamlet is regarded as one of Shakespeare’s finest tragedies. Unquestionably, the idea of Hamlet being inspired to prove his very own worth is what attracted the audiences from both eras. Hamlet was a great play, with a lot of dramatic action that give the audience the thrills. Filled with quotes of vengeance, such as: “From this time forth, my thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth” added force and energy to the play. Perhaps the audience were inspired by Hamlet’s brave heart, in such a manner that lead to their support and attraction towards the play.

3.0 References John. "Hamlet." Shmoop. N.p. 02

Aug. 2005. Web. 16 July. 2013 Kelly, Joseph. The Seagull Reader.

New York: W.W. Norton &, 2008. Print.

"William Shakespeare's Hamlet." William Shakespeare's Hamlet. N.p. Web. 20 July. 2013.

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