Contents
Short summary of Hamlet...................................................................................... 1
Main important characters..................................................................................... 1
Major themes......................................................................................................... 2
Important Imagery in Hamlet................................................................................ 2
Important Quotes (with meaning)..........................................................................3
Important Events................................................................................................... 3
What exam questions usually focus on..................................................................4
Hamlet as a Tragic Hero......................................................................................... 4
Short summary of Hamlet
Hamlet is a tragedy by William Shakespeare about prince Hamlet of Denmark ,
whose father (the king) is murdered by his own brother Claudius. Claudius then
marries Hamlets mother queen Gertrude, and becomes king
The ghost of Hamlet’s father appears and tells Hamlet that Claudius poisoned
him. Hamlet swears to take revenge but delays because he is unsure if the ghost
is telling the truth. He pretends to be mad while he investigates.
This leads to spying, betrayal, accidental deaths, and madness. Hamlet kills
Polonius by mistake, Ophelia goes mad and drowns, and Laertes seeks revenge.
In the final duel, Gertrude, Laertes, Claudius, and Hamlet all die.
The kingdom is left to Fortinbras of Norway.
Main important characters
Character Role Description
Prince of Intelligent, emotional, overthinking, seeks
Hamlet
Denmark revenge for his father
Hamlet’s uncle, murdered the old king,
King Claudius Villain, King
manipulative
Hamlet’s
Queen Gertrude Marries Claudius quickly, loving but weak
mother
Ghost of King Hamlet’s
Tells Hamlet the truth about his murder
Hamlet father
Ophelia Hamlet’s love Innocent, controlled by her father, goes
Character Role Description
mad and drowns
Ophelia’s Talkative, spies on Hamlet, killed by
Polonius
father Hamlet
Ophelia’s
Laertes Hot-tempered, wants revenge on Hamlet
brother
Hamlet’s best
Horatio Loyal, calm, survives to tell the story
friend
Rosencrantz & Hamlet’s
Spy on Hamlet for the king
Guildenstern friends
Prince of
Fortinbras Brave, decisive, becomes king at the end
Norway
Major themes
Theme Explanation
Hamlet and Laertes both seek revenge for their
Revenge
fathers
Madness (real & Hamlet pretends to be mad; Ophelia becomes
fake) truly mad
Denmark is described as morally rotten under
Corruption
Claudius
Appearance vs
People pretend, spy, and hide the truth
Reality
Indecision Hamlet delays taking action
Constant focus on death, suicide, and the
Death
afterlife
Betrayal Friends and family betray Hamlet
Loyalty Horatio remains loyal to Hamlet
Women & How women (Gertrude, Ophelia) are treated and
weakness viewed
Fate vs Free will Is Hamlet controlled by destiny or his choices?
Important Imagery in Hamlet
Imagery Meaning in the play
Disease / Rot /
Denmark is “sick” because of Claudius’ crime
Poison
King Hamlet was poisoned through the ear → lies
Ears
and spying
Acting / Theatre Hamlet uses a play to reveal the truth
Madness Shows emotional and moral breakdown
Skulls /
Reminder that everyone dies (Yorick’s skull)
Graveyard
Flowers (Ophelia) Symbolise innocence and sadness
Darkness / Night Secrets, evil, and the unknown
Blood Guilt, revenge, and violence
Important Quotes (with meaning)
Quote Meaning
Hamlet thinking about life and
“To be, or not to be”
suicide
“Something is rotten in the state of
Corruption in the kingdom
Denmark”
“Frailty, thy name is woman” Hamlet’s anger at his mother
Hamlet’s plan to expose
“The play’s the thing…”
Claudius
“Alas, poor Yorick!” Realisation that everyone dies
“Get thee to a nunnery” Hamlet pushing Ophelia away
Hamlet’s last words before
“The rest is silence”
dying
Important Events
[Link] tells Hamlet about the murder
[Link] pretends to be mad
[Link] play to test Claudius
[Link] kills Polonius by mistake
[Link] goes mad and drowns
[Link] returns for revenge
[Link] sword duel
[Link] drinks poison
[Link] is killed
[Link] dies
[Link] becomes king
What exam questions usually focus on
-Hamlet’s delay to take revenge
-Madness (Hamlet vs Ophelia)
-Corruption in Denmark
-Appearance vs reality
-Role of women
-Imagery of disease and decay
-Hamlet as a tragic hero
Hamlet as a Tragic Hero
Hamlet fits Aristotle’s tragic hero because he:
Is of noble birth
Has a tragic flaw (indecision/overthinking)
Causes his own downfall
Realises the truth too late
Dies at the end