Hamlet

Hamlet

William Shakespeare

A Recreation of The Globe Theater (the original burned down).

Historical Context

William Shakespeare

• This play was actually based on a Viking folktale called "Amleth"
• When theaters started popping up in Elizabethan England, many held them in the same esteem (or lack thereof) as chicken fighting rings and "bearbaiting arenas"
• There were some bears who were considered bigger celebrities than the most popular actors of the time.
• Costumes were extravagant, but most scenery was described rather than actually present on stage.
• Women weren't allowed to act, so they were played by young boys.
• Shakespeare's audience included people from all classes.
• In 1642 all theaters were shut down in England for being "immoral."

Created over 1,200 characters

(not including ones like "messenger")

He's often celebrated for his ability

to continuously create such realistic

characters who have psychological

depth.

He not only wrote plays. He also wrote

many sonnets (love poems).

He was married to Anne Hathaway.

But THIS one.

Not this Anne Hathaway...

We know what we are, but know not what we may be.

Two Complex Stories at Once

A Mentally Unstable Hero?

In Act 3, Scene 2, Hamlet puts on a play in order to determine if Claudius really killed his father.

Aside from this trap Hamlet sets, there are many connections between what's happening in the book to plays and acting.

Hamlet, for example, can be seen as playing a role when he's pretending to be mad.

He also talks often about what people are able to do to mask their true identity and struggles with the fine line of what "is" and what"seems."

• It's important to know that Hamlet acts as though he's insane for most of the play.
• He does this to avoid suspicion as he plans revenge for his father's death.
• Many critics argue this "madness" stems from a real mental illness like depression that has been made worse after losing his father.
• Some even go so far as to say Hamlet has been truly mad from the very start and none of it is faked.
• They use the ghost Hamlet sees as proof of this theory
• Pay close attention to what Hamlet says and does during the play to draw your own conclusion.

"The Play Within the Play"

"The Revenge Play"

Read the "The Revenge Play" on Schoology. There will be quiz questions on the material.

While reading, consider how Hamlet is a different kind of revenge play and also possibly a different kind of hero.

"RoboHamlet"

Your task while reading is to identify

and track the archetypes found in

The Odyssey.

Since this was an early work, it laid

the foundation for the archetypes we

will track. During the year, we will

continue to look at how the archetype

evolves.

Books 9 and 12- Due Monday 9/3

(we're off that day, but it is still due)

Books 21 and 22- Due Friday 9/7