Hamlet's literary history, summary, play, themes, motives, 6 passages, terminology, examples, characters, etc. In addition, general information about shakespeare or the theater
(Atheneum College Hageveld, Class 5 test Period 1)
Engels Periode 1 Klas 5 – Literary history – Shakespeare
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLAY/SHAKESPEARE;
SHAKESPEARE;
Was probably the best playwright of all time. People do not know whether
he was a real person and if he was then who he was. There are also
theories which question him being one person, wasn’t it a group of people?
The language he wrote was only used on stage and not in real life.
Shakespeare probably arrived in London around the year 1580 to work at
theaters to gain entry to the world of theatre.
In the beginning his plays weren’t that popular. He was being made fun of
in local newspapers by other playwrights. However in the end he was so
popular that he bought the 2nd largest house in Stratford.
Shakespeare’s plays almost always contain a play (so it’s a play in a play)
He wrote 3 kinds of plays; histories, comedies and tragedies
He started with dramatizations of historical events and people like Julius
Caesar
Comedies feature absurd situations or people. There is a lot of mistaken
identity and cross-dressing; wearing clothes that are typically made for the
other gender.
Tragedies feature noble (ADEL) characters in tragic situations. In the end
everybody dies. Lots of characters have flaws, which are negative
character traits. Hamlet is a tragedy.
The Globe Theatre was a special round theatre built on the south side of
the Thames river by Shakespeare and his business partners. There are
things on the podium like live music and nice lighting, it’s never empty.
The fourth wall (= when you feel like you’re in the play sitting around the
podium) was broken in this theatre.
Shakespeare had a great influence on the English language. He invented
lots of words that people are still using today. He also spoke seven
languages and used words from all of these languages in the play.
THEATRE;
British performance art was kept alive by traveling entertainers. Religious
plays became tools for teaching. Started inside churches but eventually
Literary History “Hamlet” – 1st period, year 5
, moved to outdoor stages. Over the years people needed to avoid certain
topics to escape punishment from royals. Indoor theatres were for the
wealthier audiences, outdoors were for everyone.
SUMMARY;
1; The play starts with a Ghost (= deceased king Hamlet) disappearing. He
doesn’t speak to Horatio. Horatio tells his friends what he saw. He thinks
that the ghost must bring warning to Denmark. Claudius gives a speech
about marrying Gertrude after the death of the King. He also urges Hamlet
to think of him as a father. Hamlet doesn’t want to obey his mom or
Claudius but stiffly agrees to his mom. Following this is the soliloquy.
Horatio tells Hamlet about the ghost, to which Hamlet agrees to keep
watch with Horatio. Before leaving for France Laertes tells Ophelia not to
fall in love with Hamlet because Hamlet is too far above her to be able to
love her honorably. Ophelia agrees to think about it. Polonius tells Laertes
how to behave with integrity and practicality and most importantly to be
true to himself. Ophelia tells her dad that Hamlet claims to love her to
which her father forbids her to associate with Hamlet. Ophelia pledges to
obey. The ghost askes Hamlet to follow him without his friends. He tells the
story about his death being done by Claudius. It asks Hamlet to seek
revenge, but not doing anything to his mother. He tells him to pretend to
be a madman and not tell anyone that he knows something. Hamlet
struggles with the responsibility he now carries.
2; Polonius orders his servant to spy on his sons personal life. Ophelia is
trying to find out why Hamlet is acting mad, Polonius thinks that
lovesickness (because Ophelia isn’t talking to him) is the cause of his
moodiness, he tells Claudius his thought. Claudius and Gertrude order
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to investigate Hamlet. Hamlet talks to
Polonius but acts weird, he answers his questions irrationally and seems
like a lunatic. Hamlet tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that he knows the
king and queen sent them to talk to him, because he lost all his joy.
Hamlet is unable to take action. However he wants to make a trap for
Claudius; forcing him to watch a play about the murder of his father.
Hamlet believes that if the king were guilty he would show some visible
sights of guilt when he sees the re-enactment.
3; Gertrude and Claudius agree to see the play that evening. Hamlet
speaks thoughtfully to himself “To be, or not to be; that is the question”,
should he commit suicide or not? Mid-thought he sees Ophelia
Literary History “Hamlet” – 1st period, year 5
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