Hamlet Information and Requirements

Welcome to the wonderful world of Shakespeare and his tragedies. Before

we begin our study on Hamlet, let’s review a couple of literary terms that
will be essential for you to know and analyze during the course of our
readings and discussions.

Literary/Figurative Language Terms

Conflict (external/internal) Circular Justice

Themes Ambiguity
Puns Tragic hero
Metaphors Tragedy
Similes Aristotle’s definition of tragedy
Soliloquy Aside
Alliteration Anaphora
Assonance Blank verse
Personification Dramatic irony
Allusion Dramatic monologue
Foreshadowing Foil
Stichomythia Paradox
Hyperbole Parallelism
Metonymy Apostrophe

You will be responsible for knowing all of these terms as well as giving
examples from the text.

Specific Themes

Sanity versus insanity

Appearance versus reality
The complexity of the human mind
The degree of the mind
Importance of environment on individual human progression
Relationships with the opposite sex
Theme of revenge
Circular justice
Shakespeare uses complex characters with multiple personalities to show
universal qualities of mankind. The play touches on sex, love, politics,
adventure, history, and the supernatural.

Requirements

Double-sided quote journal on all acts/scenes with explanations

Completion of study questions on all acts
Major essay/timed writing on Hamlet
Class discussions
Hamlet court trials
Character list (you will need to keep track of all the important characters in
the play. You should record their role in the play and their importance to the
plot. By the end of the play, you should have completed a least a paragraph
response on each character.)

Important Characters (character list)

King Hamlet (ghost)

Horatio
Claudius
Laertes
Claudius
Gertrude
Polonius
Ophelia
Rosencrantz
Guildenstern

Aristotle’s definition of tragedy

Mimesis: the imitation of an action (act; suffer; learn)

-noble protagonist
-tragic flaw
-fall from greatness
-audience feels pity and terror
-catharsis
Movements in tragedy:
1)fall (terrible deed)
2) suffering
3) reconciliation and self-knowledge

“Tragedy teaches us to die with honor; comedy teaches us to live with joy.”