Hamlet

1
Hamlet

• By William Shakespeare

2
Background

• Written between 1599-1601
• One of the great tragedies
• Regarded as the most famous of Shakespeares
  plays
• Play begins with changing of the guard and a
  question
• What does this mean?

3
Main Characters

• King Hamlet DEAD!
• King Claudius King of Denmark
• Hamlet son of the dead king, nephew of Claudius
• Horatio Hamlets friend
• Queen Gertrude Hamlets mother
• Polonius Danish councilor to king

4
More Characters

• Laertes son of Polonius
• Ophelia daughter of Polonius
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
• Fortinbras Prince of Norway

5
Guiding Questions

• What is Shakespeares take on the aristocracy?
• Where does Catholicism show up?
• What is shown from father-son relationships?
• Play is grounded in realism, but begins with
  supernaturalism. What do you make of this?