Complete 'Hamlet' made-easy revision notes perfect in achieving an A* in your English Literature exam by OCR, 2015 onwards. Covers summaries by Act, brief character descriptions, themes and essay areas to be covered in the exam, and notes on the dramatic structure within the play as well as the typ...
OCR A Level English Literature Hamlet Part B essays
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Page 1 of 12 ‘Hamlet’ by William Shakespeare (1599-1602)
Act Summary
I Prince Hamlet, son of recently deceased King Hamlet, nephew of King Claudius (his father’s brother and successor). Claudius hastily married King Hamlet’s widow, Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, and
took the throne. Denmark has a long-standing feud with neighbour Norway, King Hamlet slew King Fortinbras of Norway in a battle before. Denmark defeated Norway and Norwegian throne fell to
Denmark, fears an invasion led by the dead Norwegian king’s son Prince Fortinbras will eventually occur. Cold night on defensive walls of Elsinore (Danish royal castle), guards Barnardo and Mar-
cellus discuss a ghost resembling the late King Hamlet recently seen. Bring Prince Hamlet’s friend Horatio to witness the ghost reappearing and they vow to tell Prince Hamlet. Court gathers the
next day, King Claudius and Queen Gertrude discuss affairs of state with elderly adviser Polonius, Hamlet is sad. During court, Claudius grants permission for Polonius’ son Laertes to return to
school in France and sends ambassadors to inform the king of Norway about Fortinbras. Claudius scolds Hamlet for grieving over his father, forbids him to return to school in Wittenberg (Ger-
many). After court, Hamlet is sad over his father’s death and his mother’s hasty remarriage. Learning of the ghost from Horatio, he wants to see it himself. As Polonius’ son Laertes prepares to
depart to visit France, Polonius gives him contradictory advice telling him to be true to himself. Polonius’ daughter Ophelia admits interest in Hamlet but Laertes warns her against seeking the
prince’s attention and Polonius orders her to reject his advances. The night on the castle walls, the ghost appears to Hamlet and tells him that he was murdered by Claudius and demands Hamlet
to avenge him. Hamlet agrees and the ghost vanishes. The prince confides Horatio and the guards that he now plans to avenge his father, and act as if he has gone mad, he forces the guards to
keep his plans for revenge secret. Privately, he remains doubtful of the ghost’s reliability.
II Ophelia rushes to Polonius telling him that Hamlet arrived at her door the night before half-undressed and behaving erratically. Polonius blames love for Hamlet’s madness and results to inform
Claudius and Gertrude. As he enters, the king and queen finish welcoming Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, 2 classmates of Hamlet, to Elsinore. Royal couple requests that they investigate the
cause of Hamlet’s mood and behaviour. More news means that Polonius has to wait to be heard. Messengers from Norway informed Claudius that the King of Norway has rebuked Prince Fortin -
bras for attempting to re-fight his father’s battles. Forces Fortinbras conscripted march against Denmark, and sent against Poland, passing through Danish territory. Polonius tells Claudius and
Gertrude his theory of Hamlet’s behaviour and speaks to Hamlet in a hall of the castle to try and uncover more information. Hamlet feigns madness while subtly insulting Polonius. Rosencrantz
and Guildenstern arrive and Hamlet greets them warmly but quickly discerns they are spies. He becomes bitter and admits he is upset at the situation but refuses to give the true reason why and
so comments on how humanity is doomed. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern tell Hamlet they brought players they met in Elsinore. Hamlet, welcomes actors and dismisses friends/spies, asks them
to deliver a soliloquy about the death of King Priam and Queen Hecuba at the climax of the Trojan War. Impressed by the delivery of the speech, plots ‘The Murder of Gonzago’ to stage, a play
featuring a death in the style of his father’s murder and to determine the truth of the ghost’s story and Claudius’ guilt/innocence, by studying Claudius’ reaction.
III Polonius forces Ophelia to return Hamlet’s love letters and tokens of affection while he and Claudius watch from afar to evaluate Hamlet’s reaction. Hamlet walks alone in the hall as the Kind and
Polonius awaits Ophelia’s entrance, “to be or not to be”. Ophelia enters and tries to return Hamlet’s belongings, Hamlet accuses her of immodesty, unclear whether this is genuine distress/mad-
ness. Reaction convinces Claudius that Hamlet isn’t mad for love. Then, court assembles to watch play Hamlet arranged. After seeing the Player King murdered by his rival pouring poison in his
ear, Claudius abruptly rises and runs from the room - proof positive of guilt. Gertrude summons Hamlet to room demanding explanation. Claudius talks to himself about the impossibility of repent-
ing, still in possession of the inappropriate obtaining of his brother’s crown and wife. Sinks to knees. Hamlet goes to visit mother, sneaks up on Claudius but doesn’t kill him, reasoning that killing
Claudius while praying will send him straight to heaven while his father’s ghost is is stuck in purgatory. In queen’s bedroom, Hamlet and Gertrude argue. Polonius spies on the conversation behind
a curtain, calls for help as Gertrude, believing Hamlet wants to kill her calls for help. Hamlet thinks Polonius was Claudius and stabs him, pulls curtain aside and sees his mistake. Angry, Hamlet
brutally insults his mother for her apparent ignorance of Claudius’ villainy, ghost enters and reprimands Hamlet for his inaction and harsh words. Unable to see/hear ghost, Gertrude takes Ham-
let’s conversation with the ghost she can’t see as further evidence of his madness. Hamlet begs the queen to stop sleeping with Claudius, leaves while dragging Polonius’ corpse away.
IV Hamlet jokes with Claudius about where Polonius’ body is hidden. The king fears for his life and sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to accompany Hamlet to England with a sealed letter to the
English king requesting Hamlet to be executed immediately. Demented by her father’s death, Ophelia wanders Elsinore. Laertes arrives back from France angry of father’s death and sister’s mad-
ness. Claudius convinces Laertes Hamlet is responsible, but letter arrives indicating Hamlet returned to Denmark foiling Claudius’ plan. Claudius switches tactics. Claudius switches plan and pro-
poses a fencing match between Laertes and Hamlet to settle their differences. Laertes will be given poison-tipped sword, Claudius will also offer Hamlet poisoned wine as a congratulatory offering
if that plan also fails. Gertrude interrupts reporting Ophelia has drowned - unclear suicide or accident exacerbated by madness.
V Horatio receives letter from Hamlet explaining the prince escaped by negotiating with pirates who attempted to attack his England-bound ship. Friends reunite offstage. 2 gravediggers discuss
Ophelia’s apparent suicide while digging her grave. Hamlet arrives with Horatio and banters with a gravedigger unearthing the skill of a jester from Hamlet’s childhood - Yorick. Picks up the skull
and contemplates mortality. Ophelia’s funeral procession nears led by Laertes. Hamlet and Horatio hide but Hamlet realises it’s her brutal and reveals himself proclaiming his love for her. Laertes
and Hamlet fight by her grave but the brawl is split. At Elsinore, Hamlet explains to Horatio he discovered Claudius’ letter with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s belongings, replaced with with
forged copy indicating his former friends killed instead. Foppish courtier Osric interrupts the conversation delivering fencing challenge to Hamlet. Hamlet accepts despite Horatio’s pleas. Hamlet
excels initially, 2-0, Gertrude raises toast to him using poisoned glass of wine Claudius set aside for Hamlet. Claudius tries to stop her but too late, she drinks and Laertes realises the plot will be
revealed. Laertes slashes Hamlet with poisoned blade. Switch weapons. Hamlet wounds Laertes with his own poisoned sword. Gertrude collapses claiming she has been poisoned and dies.
Laertes reconciles with Hamlet when dying and reveals Claudius’ plan. Hamlet rushes at Claudius and kills him. Poison takes effect, Hamlet hears Fortinbras marching through and crowns Norwe-
gian prince as his successor. Horetio distraught being the last survivor and living while Hamlet doesn’t saying he will commit suicide by drinking the remains of Gertrude’s poisoned wine but Ham-
let begs him to live on and tell his story. Hamlet dies in Horatio’s arms. Fortinbras marches towards Poland with army, arrives at the palace with and English ambassador bringing news of Rosen-
crantz and Guildenstern’s deaths. Hamlet promises to recount full story of what had happened. Fortinbras seeing the entire Danish royal family dead, takes the crown for himself and orders a mili-
tary funeral to honour Hamlet.
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