AP English: Major Works Data

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Describe the author’s style Examples that demonstrate style

Shakespeare's use of variety in Hamlet allows for Wordplay: There are several puns, analogies, and
the examination of a wide range of themes, references throughout the play, all of which are
characters, and feelings. Hamlet's use of wordplay, intended to deepen the narrative and give the play
soliloquies, monologues, and theatrical irony all more depth. Hamlet's puns and quick wit are on
contribute to his complexity. Together, these display in the play's opening scenes when he
elements create a tragic drama whose core plot and interacts with Claudius. In one scene, he refers to
any supporting plots draw in large numbers of Claudius as "a little more than kin, and less than
viewers. kind" (1.2.65), implying that despite being both his
uncle and stepfather, Claudius is not related to him
in the traditional sense of the word. This is the
beginning of Hamlet's quest for vengeance against
Claudius and establishes the tone for his interactions
with him for the play.

Soliloquies- In Act 3 Scene 1, Shakespeare delivers

one of the most famous soliloquies in literature, “To
be, or not to be- that is the question”. The inner
monologue acts as a way for the reader to get
insight into the characters' minds, but also to
connect what they are thinking to the greater
message the play works to portray. In this case,
Shakespeare here used his literary approach to
convey his deep understanding of the human mind
and the struggles people have when faced with life's
uncertainties.

Monologues are lengthy speeches given by a single

character in literature. Act 3 Scene 2 of Hamlet
contains numerous examples of monologues, such
as "Speak the speech...Go, make you ready."
Shakespeare uses these to his advantage to draw in
readers by drawing them in and putting the message
he wants to get through the monologues of one
character and thematic deepening.

Dramatic Irony: When information is revealed that

only the audience and the protagonist know,
dramatic irony is used to create tension and
exhaustion between the reader and what is about to
happen. Shakespeare most frequently used dramatic
irony in Act 1, when Hamlet and the audience are

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 informed of Hamlet's brother's cause of death by
Claudius. This allows the reader to experience the
same emotions as the protagonist. This enables the
writer to convey the feelings meant to be associated
with those events.
Memorable quotations Significance of quotations
1. “This above all: to thine own self be true” 1. Before Laertes departs for France, Polonius
(1.3) gives him advice, and this passage best
captures the idea of self-awareness and
2. “Something is rotten in the state of honesty. The contrast that many of the play's
Denmark” (1.4) characters exhibit and the dishonest pretense
that most people act out during the play are
3. “There are more things in heaven and earth, ironic.
Horatio, than are dreamt of in your
philosophy (1.5) 2. Speaking about the ghost of Old Hamlet,
Marcellus describes it as a sign of
4. “To be, or not to be: that is the question (3.1) immorality and corruption that has crept into
Elsinore, particularly due to the rising of
5. “The lady doth protest too much, methinks” King Claudius and Hamlet's family. An
(3.2) atmosphere of unease is important because it
foreshadows the terrible events that will
occur during the play.

3. After seeing the ghost of Hamlet's father,

Hamlet is speaking with Horatio, setting the
stage for one of the play's major themes—
uncertainty and the distinction between the
supernatural and the real world. It
demonstrates Hamlet's comprehension of the
limits of human perception and the unknown
nature of the universe.

4. One of the play's most famous lines, the

soliloquy, encapsulates Hamlet's reflections
on the meaning of life, its hardships, and the
anxiety that comes with the unknown. It
introduces the concept of existentialism and
the moral dilemmas presumably present
throughout the play.

5. In her monologue during the play's

production of "The Murder of Gonzago,"
Gerturde expresses her unease with the
play's intended message—that of betraying
one's husband—while simultaneously
supporting Hamlet's scheme to convey it. In
a dramatic turn of events, Gertrude
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 confesses her guilt to her brother-in-law,
despite feeling uneasy about her hasty
remarriage following Old Hamlet's passing.
It serves as a trigger for the play since
Hamlet's goals are finally being realized and
his purpose is being accomplished.

Characters

Name Role in story Significance Adjectives

1. Hamlet 1. The main character of 1. The ghost of 1. Melancholic, Intellectual,
2. Ophelia the narrative is Hamlet's late Indecisive, Complex
3. Claudius Hamlet, the prince of father appears to 2. Innocent, Feminine,
4. Polonius Denmark. He was him in a Compliant, Tragic
5. Horatio thirty years old when condition of 3. Cunning, Immoral,
6. Laertes the play opened, and melancholy Ambitious
7. Fortinbras we are aware that he resentment, 4. Conniving, Meddling,
8. Gertrude attended a university urging him to Manipulative
9. Rosencranz in Wittenberg. He is kill Claudius in 5. Loyal, Resolute, Logical
and grieving at the death retaliation. In 6. Brash, Headstrong,
Guildenstern of his father, the late addition to being Passionate
10. Ghost of King Hamlet, and his angry at his 7. Inspiring, Ambitious,
Hamlet’s mother, Queen mother, Hamlet Courageous
Father Gertrude. was finds Claudius 8. Affectionate, Vain,
11. Yorick Claudius's nephew, particularly Dependent

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12. Voltimand who is now his repulsive. While 9. R: Optimistic, Simple-
13. Osric stepson. attending the minded,
14. First 2. Laertes' sister Ophelia, University of Unserious/Unsophisticated
Gravedigger sister of Laertes, and Wittenberg, G: Passionate, Serious,
and Second daughter of Polonius Hamlet is a Inquisitive
Gravedigger as she serves as contemplative 10. Noble, Respected,
15. First player Hamlet's foil since she and thoughtful Haunting
16. Francisco is the youthful, young man. 11. Melancholic, Sarcastic,
17. Cornelius attractive woman who However, during Grim
18. Marcellus is prone to being his trip, we 12. Dutiful, Obedient,
19. Bernardo blinded by love. witness him Submissive
20. Reynaldo Although Ophelia is contrasting his 13. Flamboyant, Ostentatious,
educated, her naivety lack of resolve Pretentious
st
compels her to submit and hesitation 14. 1 : Philosophical, Witty,
to her father and with his reckless Pragmatic 2nd: Bawdy,
brother, two and impetuous Humorous, Insightful
significant men in her deeds. 15. Inspiring, Ambivalent,
life. 2. Ophelia Complex
3. The antagonist and succumbs to 16. Dutiful, Watchful, Diligent
foil to Hamlet is Polonius's plots 17. Reliable, Astute, Intelligent
Claudius, the king of to surveil 18. Brave, Alert, Reliable
Denmark, who was Hamlet. Even 19. Stoic, Trustworthy,
once Hamlet's uncle after going Steadfast
and is now his insane and 20. Polite, Cunning,
stepfather. tragically Resourceful
4. Dad to Laertes and drowning amidst
Ophelia, Polonius is flower garlands,
the Lord Chamberlain she maintains
of Claudius's court. her innocence
5. Hamlet's close by singing songs
companion from about flowers.
Wittenberg University Greater powers,
with whom he studies. like her father
He is among the first and brother,
characters who influenced and
witness Hamlet's late controlled her.
father's ghost. At first, 3. Claudius, who is
he doesn't think it's motivated by his
true, but he eventually passion for
accepts the fact of the power and
matter and stays sexual vanity, is
faithful. the adversary of
6. Laertes is the older Hamlet and the
brother of Ophelia and play's villain. To
the son of Polonius. become king
He was Hamlet's and be with his
childhood companion brother's wife,

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 until the play's his sister-in-law,
conclusion, when he he murders his
turns against him. own brother.
7. After Hamlet's father Because he
murdered Fortinbras's wants Hamlet to
father, the young consider him as
Prince of Norway, a father figure,
Fortinbras, sought he blames
revenge for his father Hamlet for
by conquering spending too
Denmark. much time
8. Denmark's queen is thinking about
Gertrude. She is the his father's
biological mother of passing.
Hamlet and recently 4. While he doesn't
got married to her support Ophelia
brother-in-law, and Hamlet's
Claudius. relationship,
9. Claudius and Gertrude Polonius
summon Ros and expresses his
Guil, Hamlet's old desire to send
friends, to find out Laertes overseas
about Hamlet's recent to further his
attitude and try to education.
determine what is Polonius
causing his unusual frequently
behavior. miscalculated
10. When the ghost of the
Hamlet's father circumstances
appears in Act 1, he around him,
declares that Hamlet's which frequently
brother Claudius resulted in his
killed him. He comes own demise—
with a message for such as when
Hamlet and a plan to Hamlet killed
take revenge. him.
11. One of the King's 5. By the end of
jesters who has been Act 5, Horatio is
around since Hamlet's the sole
early years is Yorick. character still
12. Claudius sends alive and is the
courtiers, including one who tells
Cornelius, to convince Fortinbras of
the king of Norway Hamlet's valor
not to attack. in exacting
13. Osric is called to revenge for the
summon Hamlet to the

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 duel with Laertes after death of his
the death of his father father.
and sister. 6. Like his father,
14. The grave diggers, Laertes is
with their foolish yet reactive, if not
insightful debate on more so than his
death, the afterlife, father. Laertes
and funerals. and Hamlet
15. The captain of the engage in a
play group that, upon fierce fencing
Hamlet's request, duel about the
delivers "The Murder passing of
of Gonzago." Laertes' father,
16. Francisco is a minor which ends
character, but he is a tragically when
soldier and a Laertes is slain
guardsman at Elsinore by Hamlet with
castle. the poisoned
17. Cornelius is one of the blade intended
courtiers who for Hamlet.
Claudius sends to 7. Fortinbras
persuade the king of serves as a
Norway to refrain counterbalance
from attacking. to Hamlet as
18. Was there the first well,
time Hamlet saw the symbolizing
ghost. He was of the what he aspires
first guardsmen on the to be and
platform to see the representing
Old Hamlet ghost. what unyielding
19. One of the first guard devotion looks
platform officers to like with an
see Old Hamlet's army at his
ghost in Elsinore. disposal and a
They summon Horatio willingness to
to come see what is go to any
happening. lengths to get
20. Polonius's servant revenge for the
Reynaldo death of his
father.
8. Despite her love
for her kid,
Gertrude is a
conceited lady
who self-
servingly
prioritizes her

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 emotions over
her principles or
the facts. Two
months after her
husband's death,
she marries
Claudius, a
decision that
Hamlet finds
extremely
offensive. She
starts to worry
about Hamlet's
actions, and she
is a victim of
Denmark's lying
at the time since
she poisoned her
drink and
perishes.
9. They reveal
their actual
nature to
Hamlet, who
uses them as
symbols of
dishonesty in his
life until he
arranges for
their execution.
10. The mission that
Old Hamlet
gives Hamlet
sets off the chain
of events and the
character
development
process that
Hamlet goes
through.
11. When Hamlet
discovers
Yorick's skull in
the cemetery, he
delivers a
monologue
about his

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 memories of
Yorick and the
happiness and
fun he gave to
both Hamlet and
the King's court.
12. The inclusion of
the small
character adds to
the larger
themes that
Hamlet battles,
such as betrayal,
loyalty, and
moral
complexity.
13. Hamlet
considers Osric's
inconsistent
behavior and
lack of moral
integrity to be
particularly off-
putting since he
represents
hypocrisy and
the ability to
modify one's
ideas and
realities to
appease others.
14. Their exchanges
shed light on the
play's
underlying
themes of
morality,
corruption, and
the stark
contrasts
between
appearances and
reality.
15. They serve as
metaphors for
the broader
message Hamlet

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 wanted to get
across to
Claudius
regarding his
revenge scheme.
16. Francisco's
presence
enhances the
scene and mood
of Act 1's start.
Francisco
introduces us to
the uncanny,
distrust, and
ambiguity.
17. The inclusion of
the small
character adds to
the larger
themes that
Hamlet battles,
such as betrayal,
loyalty, and
moral
complexity.
18. Marcellus is
significant
because he and
Bernardo serve
as counterpoints
to Horatio, who
also sees the
ghost early on.
However,
Marcellus is
scared and
superstitious, in
contrast to
Horatio, who is
calm in this
situation.
19. Marcellus is
significant
because he and
Bernardo serve
as counterpoints
to Horatio, who

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 also sees the
ghost early on.
Horatio is calm
in this situation,
whereas
Bernardo is
scared and
superstitious.
20. He is dispatched
by Polonius to
spy on Laertes
and his exploits
in France.

Setting
William Shakespeare's Hamlet is situated in
Elsinore, the royal castle of Denmark. Shakespeare
did not state when the play took place, although it
was assumed in the late medieval ages. The
environment is more concerned with examining
universal concepts and human nature. The castle is a
metaphor for the pursuit of power, cunning, and
moral decline. It represents the corruption that King
Claudius, who usurps the throne by killing his
brother, has allowed to spread across the royal
court. The play's pervasive atmosphere of anxiety,
mistrust, and uncertainty is enhanced by Elsinore's
and the castle's surroundings. William
Shakespeare's Hamlet is situated in Elsinore, the
royal castle of Denmark. Shakespeare did not state
when the play took place, although it can be
assumed that it takes place in the late medieval ages.
The environment is more concerned with examining
universal concepts and human nature. The castle is a
metaphor for the pursuit of power, cunning, and
moral decline. It represents the corruption that King
Claudius, who usurps the throne by killing his
brother, has allowed to spread across the royal
court. The play's pervasive atmosphere of anxiety,
mistrust, and uncertainty is enhanced by Elsinore's
and the castle's surroundings.

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PowerPoint work:
Slide 3: Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet
tells the story of Hamlet, Prince of
Denmark, and his quest for vengeance
for the death of his father, Old Hamlet.
After Claudius wanted to be with his
brother's wife, whom he had taken and
wedded after killing his brother, he
killed Hamlet’s father, making
Claudius now King Claudius. When
Old Hamlet's spirit visits Hamlet, she
reveals the truth and begs him to get
revenge on the callous Claudius.
Following his meeting with the ghost,
Hamlet's moral dilemmas become
apparent as existential concerns and the
intricacies of human nature cause him
to encounter the terrible result of
treachery, death, and deceit on his
quest to accomplish what he was
assigned to do.

Slides 8-11
“This above all: to thine own self be
true” (1.3)
Before Laertes departs for France,
Polonius gives him advice, and this
passage best captures the idea of self-
awareness and honesty. The contrast
that many of the play's characters
exhibit and the dishonest pretense that
most people act out during the play are
ironic.

“Something is rotten in the state of

Denmark” (1.4)

Speaking about the ghost of Old

Hamlet, Marcellus describes it
as a sign of immorality and
corruption that has crept into
Elsinore, particularly due to the
rising of King Claudius and
Hamlet's family. An atmosphere
of unease is important because
it foreshadows the terrible

24
 events that will occur during the
play.

“There are more things in heaven and

earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in
your philosophy (1.5)

After seeing the ghost of Hamlet's

father, Hamlet is speaking with
Horatio, setting the stage for one of the
play's major themes—uncertainty and
the distinction between the supernatural
and the real world. It demonstrates
Hamlet's comprehension of the limits
of human perception and the unknown
nature of the universe.

“To be, or not to be: that is the question

(3.1)

One of the play's most famous lines, the

soliloquy, encapsulates Hamlet's
reflections on the meaning of life, its
hardships, and the anxiety that comes
with the unknown. It introduces the
concept of existentialism and the moral
dilemmas presumably present
throughout the play.

“The lady doth protest too much,

methinks” (3.2)

In her monologue during the play's

production of "The Murder of
Gonzago," Gertrude expresses her
unease with the play's intended
message—that of betraying one's
husband—while simultaneously
supporting Hamlet's scheme to convey
it. In a dramatic turn of events,
Gertrude confesses her guilt to her
brother-in-law, despite feeling uneasy
about her hasty remarriage following

25
 Old Hamlet's passing. It serves as a
trigger for the play since Hamlet's goals
are finally being realized and his
purpose is being accomplished.
Slide 14: 3. In Act 1 Scene 4, what
most accurately represents what
Marcellus intended of “rotten” when
saying “Something is rotten in the state
of Denmark” (1.4)?

a. Corrupt
b. Decomposed
c. Rank
d. Frightful

4. Hamlet’s “To be, or not to be: that is

the question” (3.1) is an example of

e. Monologue
f. Apostrophe
g. Soliloquy
h. Euphemism
6. Slide 16 questions 3-4: A-
Corrupt, because Marcellus is
referring to the rise of new King
Claudius after the sudden death
(murder) of Old Hamlet. He is
not referring to physical decay
(decomposed and rank), and he
does not mention the state of
Claudius’s rise as something
frightful, rater having moral
decay as seen in one of the
plays overall themes.
7. C- Soliloquy is an an act of
speaking one's thoughts out
alone, and in the infamous
soliloquy delivered by Hamlet,
he speaks his thoughts aloud,
not in conversation (so not a
Monologue), not a conversation
with the dead (not an
Apostrophe), and not trying to
find ways to word an
uncomfortable situation more
elegantly (Euphemism)

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