Hamlet Plot Summary by Scene, Condensed Explanation of Play
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Course
Drama and poetry pre-1900
Institution
OCR
A scene-by-scene explanation of the events of the play Hamlet, composed as I read the play during my first year of A-Level study. Designed to be brief and memorable, cutting out superfluous text to allow major plot points to be easily remembered. Excellent to use alongside first-time readings of th...
Act I Scene I
A sentinel relieves his colleague from the watch before Marcellus and Horatio arrive. Together, they
espy an apparition of the dead king, which had been seen twice before. Horatio, initially sceptical, is
now terrified, and declares it a harbinger of misfortune. He recounts the story of the king’s
conquests of Norwegian lands which is now causing disturbance. The ghost appears and disappears
once more, and Horatio suggests they tell Hamlet, the king’s son.
Act I Scene II
King Claudius declares to his courtiers the reasons for his marriage to Gertrude, his brother’s widow,
and dispatches two diplomats with a message for the King of Norway about his wayward nephew.
He encourages Hamlet to abandon mourning, as all fathers die, and asks Hamlet to think of him as a
father figure, then restricts him from returning to school. Alone, Hamlet laments his mother’s new
marriage, even considering suicide. He is interrupted by his friend Horatio, who informs him of the
sightings of the ghost- Hamlet is stunned and agrees to attempt to speak to his deceased father.
Act I Scene III
Laertes, son of the royal advisor, prepares to leave for France, cautioning his sister Ophelia against
accepting the affections of Hamlet due to his superior rank and responsibilities. Polonius sends his
son off with life advice, then sternly echoes Laertes’ advice to Ophelia, forbidding her from
associating with Hamlet further, a command which she pledges to obey.
Act I Scene IV
Hamlet keeps watch with Horatio and Marcellus- trumpets are sounded at the royal drinking festival,
disgusting Hamlet, who believes that events like these besmirch his country’s reputation. The ghost
appears, beckoning Hamlets to follow it. The others try to restrain him, but he forcefully breaks free
and follows the ghost, though he does not trust it. The other two follow after quickly deliberating.
Act I Scene V
The ghost declares that he was murdered by Claudius, who decanted poison into his ear as he slept
in the orchard. Hamlet is exhorted to seek revenge, but not against his mother, though she too has
been corrupted. As dawn rises, the ghost vanishes: Hamlet swears to obey his wishes. The others
arrive and find Hamlet agitated, and he insists they swear the evening to secrecy, thrice over.
Act 2
Act II Scene I
Polonius employs a servant to travel to France and subtly spy on his son, Laertes. After the servant
leaves, Ophelia arrives, upset that Hamlet had accosted her roughly and seemed disturbed by
something. Polonius concludes that this is lovesickness, and decides to report it to the king.
Act II Scene II
Claudius invites Hamlet’s childhood friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to Elsinore to investigate
his erratic behaviour. Polonius enters with news from Norway, that the king rebuked his nephew and
made him swear not to attack Denmark- instead they are assaulting Poland, thus they require safe
passage through Denmark. Polonius then shows the king love letters from Hamlet to Ophelia,
proclaiming them the cause of his madness. They plan to spy on him to see if this is valid. Hamlet
arrives, and converses insanely with Polonius, who does not fail to perceive his hidden method.
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