Hamlet Study Guide PDF

Part One Character descriptions: Hamlet- Son of Gertrude and Hamlet Sr, his father has just died and his uncle has become king. Ophelia- Daughter of Polonius and sister of Laertes, she has been in a relationship with hamlet. Claudius- The new king of denmark, Gertrude's new husband, and Hamlet...

Part One Character descriptions: Hamlet- Son of Gertrude and Hamlet Sr, his father has just died and his uncle has become king. Ophelia- Daughter of Polonius and sister of Laertes, she has been in a relationship with hamlet. Claudius- The new king of denmark, Gertrude's new husband, and Hamlets uncle. Gertrude- Hamlets mother and the queen, she married claudius shortly after her husbands death. Hamlet sr- Old king of denmark, hamlets father, recently died but visits hamlet as a ghost. Polonius- A counsellor to the new king and queen, father of Ophelia and Laertes. Laertes- Son of Polonius, left denmark to study abroad in paris. Horatio- An old friend of hamlets, they met as students in wittenberg. Rosencrantz and Guildenstein- Childhood friends of hamlet, the king employs them to spy on hamlet. Fortinbraz- The prince of norway, who wishes to avenge his fathers death by invading denmark. Main Events: ACT 1: -A GHOST APPEARS -GERTRUDE’S REMARRIAGE -NEWS OF THE GHOST -OPHELIA IS WARNED -HAMLET SEES THE GHOST ACT 2: -HAMLET BEHAVES STRANGELY -ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARRIVE -IS HAMLET MAD? -THE PLAYERS ARIVE ACT 3: ?-HAMLET REFLECTS ON LIFE AND DEATH -HAMLET AND OPHELIA ARGUE -HE PLAYERS' PLAY -CLAUDIUS' CONFESSION -HAMLET MURDERS POLONIUS ACT 4: -HAMLET LEAVES FOR ENGLAND -OPHELIA GOES MAD -LAERTES RETURNS -HAMLET RETURNS ACT 5: -THE GRAVEDIGGERS -OPHELIA’S FUNERAL -LAERTES CHALLENGES HAMLET -HAMLET AND LAERTES FIGHT -HAMLET’S DEATH Metric Verse: Iambic- U/ Pentameter- 5 feets  - A stress pattern is emphasizing certain syllables by increasing their volume or the length of their vowels - U is unstressed - / is stressed Soliloquies - A soliloquy is a monologue (one character speaking at length) in which the character is alone on stage confessing internal feelings to the audience, usually while wrestling with inner conflict