Hamlet
Act 1, Scene 1: The Ghost Appears
• Genre: Tragedy
• Themes: Mourning, madness, revenge, corruption, • Location: Outside Elsinore Castle.
family conflict, and the struggle between action • Characters: Barnardo, Francisco (guards), Horatio
and inaction. (Hamlet’s friend), Marcellus.
• Setting: Denmark, mainly Elsinore Castle. • Key Points:
• The guards see a ghost resembling the dead King of
Author: William Shakespeare
Denmark.
• Born: 1564, Stratford-upon-Avon, England. • Horatio is skeptical but witnesses the ghost himself.
• Known for: Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Othello, • The ghost doesn’t speak and vanishes at dawn.
and Hamlet. • Horatio suggests they tell Hamlet about the ghost,
• Died: 1616. believing it has a message for him.
• Contribution: Revolutionized drama, blending
poetic language with deep psychological insight.
Important Theme: Mystery and the supernatural.
Characters to Know
• Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, mourning his
father’s death and seeking revenge. Act 1, Scene 2: Claudius’ Court
• Location: Inside Elsinore Castle.
• King Claudius: Hamlet’s uncle and the new
• Characters: Claudius, Gertrude, Hamlet, Polonius,
king; killed Hamlet’s father.
Laertes, courtiers.
• Queen Gertrude: Hamlet’s mother, now • Key Points:
married to Claudius. • Claudius announces his marriage to Gertrude soon
after the old king’s death.
• The Ghost: Spirit of Hamlet’s dead father, • Hamlet is disgusted by his mother’s hasty marriage
demanding revenge. and Claudius’ rule.
• Hamlet delivers his first soliloquy: “O, that this too,
too sullied flesh would melt,” expressing despair over
• Polonius: The king’s advisor, father to
his father’s death and his mother’s betrayal.
Ophelia and Laertes.
• Horatio tells Hamlet about the ghost, and they plan
to meet it that night.
• Ophelia: Polonius’ daughter, Hamlet’s love
interest.
Important Themes: Betrayal, mourning, family conflict.
• Laertes: Polonius’ son, hot-headed and
protective of Ophelia.
• Horatio: Hamlet’s loyal friend.
Hamlet
Act 2, Scene 1: Polonius’ Manipulation
Act 1, Scene 3: Polonius’ Advice to Laertes and
Ophelia • Location: Polonius’ home.
• Location: Polonius’ home. • Characters: Polonius, Reynaldo, Ophelia.
• Characters: Polonius, Laertes, Ophelia. • Key Points:
• Key Points: • Polonius sends Reynaldo to spy on Laertes in France.
• Laertes warns Ophelia about Hamlet, saying his • Ophelia reports that Hamlet acted strangely,
love might not be genuine. appearing disheveled and behaving erratically.
• Polonius advises Laertes with famous lines like • Polonius concludes that Hamlet’s madness is caused
“To thine own self be true.” by Ophelia rejecting him.
• Polonius orders Ophelia to avoid Hamlet,
doubting his intentions. Important Theme: Misinterpretation and manipulation.
Important Themes: Family duty, distrust in
relationships.
Key Ideas for Exams
• Plot Drivers: The ghost’s revelation and Hamlet’s
Act 1, Scene 4: Hamlet Meets the Ghost
inner turmoil.
• Location: The castle ramparts at night. • Themes: Supernatural elements, betrayal, and family
• Characters: Hamlet, Horatio, Marcellus, The dynamics.
Ghost. • Language: Look for soliloquies (especially in Act 1,
• Key Points: Scene 2) to understand Hamlet’s mindset.
• The ghost appears and signals for Hamlet to • Character Relationships: Claudius vs. Hamlet,
follow. Polonius vs. Ophelia.
• Despite Horatio’s warnings, Hamlet decides to
go, saying “I do not set my life at a pin’s fee.”
• Suspense builds as Hamlet leaves with the
ghost.
Important Theme: Courage vs. caution.
