MAJOR WORKS DATA SHEET Title The Tragedy Of Hamlet, Prince Of Denmark!!!!!! Author !!!!!!William Sha"espeare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Date o# Pu$li%ation !!!&'((!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! )enre !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Traged*!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! +iographi%al ,n#ormation a$out the Author William Shakespeare (1564-1616), was an English play writer and poet known for his maor s!""ess# $e was %orn and raised in Stratford-!pon-A&on and married Anne $athaway with whom he had ' "hildren# Histori%al ,n#ormation a$out the period o# pu$li%ation (he Eli)a%ethan era takes pla"e d!ring the height of the *enaissan"e, also known as +ritain,s -.olden Age/# 0hara"teri)ed %y the re&i&al of .reek and *oman "!lt!re, the emphasis of h!manism, indi&id!alism and se"!larism prod!"ed great "!lt!ral and intelle"t!al works in the form of literat!re, m!si", s"ien"e, and art# 1!ring the time o!t%reaks of 0hlamydia were "ommon# (he height of e2ploration was taking pla"e as well as the protestant reformation# All of this happening !nder the r!le of a highly "entrali)ed monar"hy# Chara%teristi%s o# the )enre 3ften parado2i"al and sad, prod!"ing the emotions of sadness and fear within the a!dien"e# 4nlike a "omedy, a tragedy !s!ally leads to an ine&ita%le and !nfort!nate ending# Plot Summar* (he play starts as a mystery# (wo g!ards and a s"holar, $oratio, 5!estion the mo&ements of what seems to %e a ghost in armor# (he former king of 1enmark,s ghost, finally re&eals himself to his son, $amlet# (he ghost orders his son to a&enge his m!rder, re&ealing the "!lprit as the one who has taken his throne and wife6 the g!ilty 0la!di!s# 7rin"e $amlet then makes it his goal to a&enge his father,s death, %!t hesitant and o&er analyti"al, %e"omes hysteri"al in the pro"ess# $amlet,s mother, .ertr!de, and in"est!o!s, father-!n"le, worry a%o!t $amlet,s state of mind and order his friends *osen"rant) and .!ildenstern to keep an eye on him# 7oloni!s s!ggests $amlet,s madness is lo&e-si"kness for his da!ghter 3phelia# 0onse5!ently, 0la!di!s and 7oloni!s order the girl to talk with the prin"e to find the "a!se of his distress# 3phelia agrees, !nwary of their plan to spy on the "on&ersation# $amlet responds %y denying e&er ha&ing lo&e for her and o%s"enely sends her to the n!nnery, whi"h 0la!di!s and 7oloni!s de"ipher as tr!e insanity# $amlet goes on and "rosses path with a gro!p of a"tors# 8nspired %y their passion, he "omes !p with an ironi" plan to p!t on a play# $amlet !ses the play as a tool to indi"ate if 0la!di!s, g!ilt, whi"h pro&es "orre"t# $amlet is stopped on his way to kill 0la!di!s, "at"hing him in worship, "onsidering his re&enge might %a"k fire# $e de"ides to wait for a %etter opport!nity, %!t 0la!di!s orders a hasty shipment of $amlet to England, fearing for his life# Enraged, $amlet goes to "onfront his mother and mistakenly kills 7oloni!s for 0la!di!s, "a!sing his immediate e2p!lsion to England along with *osen"rant) and .!ildenstern# (here, 0la!di!s plots $amlet,s death demanding that $amlet,s life %e taken# 3phelia goes "ra)y and drowns after her father is killed# $er %rother, 9aertes, is easily "on&in"ed %y the king of $amlet,s g!ilt# $amlet sends $oratio and 0la!di!s letters e2plaining his ret!rn to 1enmark# 0la!di!s and irrational 9aertes plan to kill $amlet in a fen"ing mat"h, with a poisoned sword# (hey "reate a %a"k!p plan to drop poison in a glass of wine, whi"h is to %e offered to $amlet in "ase he wins the mat"h# $amlet pops !p in 3phelia,s shortened f!neral, finally admitting his tr!e and !nmat"hed lo&e for her after 9aertes passionately !mps into the gra&e for a last em%ra"e# 3n"e %a"k at the "astle, $amlet tells $oratio he is willing to ask 9aertes for forgi&eness and ad&ises him that one sho!ld %e prepared for death: a "o!rtier then arri&es to tell $amlet of the planned mat"h# 3n"e the game %egins, $amlet s"ores against 9aertes, %!t de"lines the "ongrat!latory wine and "ontin!es to play# 8nstead $amlet,s mother, .ertr!de takes a sip, "l!eless of the poison# 0la!di!s re"ogni)es her a"tions, %!t "annot do anything to stop what is already done# 1!ring the se"ond part of the fight $amlet is str!"k# (he swords get mi2ed !p and $amlet manages to strike 9aertes on"e again, %!t this time with the poisoned sword# 9aertes "onfesses to planning $amlet,s mother right %efore he dies# A moment later, .ertr!de dies# $amlet for"es the king to drink the last of the poison knowing his death will "ome soon# $is tells $oratio that his last re5!est is to name ;ortin%ras the new king of 1enmark and that his story is shared# ;ortin%ras then Andrews < honors $amlet,s death and $oratio f!lfills $amlet,s last wish# Des%ri$e the author-s st*le An e.ample that demonstrates that st*le Sha"espeare-s st*le is not /er* straight#or0ard1 Sha"espeare %reates am$iguit* $* lea/ing man* ma2or themes o# the pla* unans0ered3Ophelia-s death4 Hamlet-s madness4 lo/e4 and death in general1 Hamlet is %learl* the #o%us o# the pla*1 The audien%e learns his thoughts and moti/es through se/en solilo5uies1 The pla* %onsists mainl* o# dialogue $et0een the %hara%ters 0ith some s*m$olism4 su%h as the #lo0ers1 The ma2orit* o# the pla* is 0ritten st*listi%all* li"e poetr* 0ith some iam$i% pentameter and rh*me1 6nli"e modern English4 the pla* does not #ollo0 the su$2e%t3/er$ order1 Also Sha"espeare had $oth Ophelia and the gra/edigger sing1 OPHELIA 7Sings8 Ho0 should , *our true lo/e "no0 #rom another one9 First Clown ,s she to $e $uried in Christian $urial that 0il#ull* see"s her o0n sal/ation9 HAMLET :o4 not ,; , ne/er ga/e *ou aught Ho0 strange or odd soe<er , $ear m*sel#4 As , per%han%e herea#ter shall thin" meet To put an anti% disposition on4
Memora$le =uotes =uotation Signi#i%an%e
Something is rotten in the state o# Denmar" &1>1 There is nothing either good or $ad $ut thin"ing ma"es it so?1?1?>@ The pla* <s the thing 0herein ,<ll %at%h the %ons%ien%e o# the "ing?1? To $e4 or not to $e1 A1& Rightl* to $e great is not to stir 0ithout great argument4 $ut greatl* to #ind 5uarrel in a stra0 0hen honour<s at the sta"e >1>1 O4 #rom this time #orth4 m* thoughts $e $lood*4 or $e nothing 0orthB>1> Wh* ma* not imagination tra%e the no$le These 0ords spo"en $* Mar%ellus seem to predi%t the #uture out%ome o# $oth the "ingdom o# Denmar" and the King o# Denmar"1 The group sees the ghost o# old King Hamlet and sense that something is not right1 The t0o4 the "ing and state4 are %losel* tied; King Claudius- rotten $eha/ior 0ill %orrupt the state1 ,t-s all a$out perspe%ti/e1 Hamlet #eels trapped in Denmar"1 He %annot lea/e and his #ormer #riends sp* on him1 He /ie0s Denmar" as a prison $e%ause the King %ommanded him to sta* and he must %ontinue to 0itness his mother-s in%estuous marriage1 ,t is his o0n negati/e thoughts that ma"e Denmar" C$adD1 Hamlet #inall* $egins to a%t1 He is no longer simpl* ranting4 $ut $egins plotting o# a 0a* to get re/enge1 He still does not 0ant to a%t rashl* and 0aits to $e %ertain o# the King-s deeds4 *et he has de%ided to do something1 Hamlet %onsiders 0hether li#e is 0orth li/ing1 He %on%ludes that li#e is 2ust #ull o# su##ering *et people do not %ommit sui%ide $e%ause the* #ear death1 The* rather not a%t $e%ause o# #ear o# the un"no0n4 the* pre#er li/e through the pain the* "no0 than to ta"e a %han%e 0ith death 0hi%h the* %annot return #rom1 Hamlet de%ides that honor is 0orth ris"ing e/er*thing #or4 no matter ho0 pett* the %ause1 ,n Hamlet-s #inal solilo5u*4 he $e%omes determined to a/enge his #ather-s murder1 He has lost all un%ertaint* that he had $e#ore a$out his un%le and 0ill do an*thing ne%essar*1 He #eels he must regain his honor #or $oth o# his parents and is #inall* 0illing to a%t 0ithout hesitation1 Hamlet %ontemplates mortalit*1 He realiEes li#e-s #leeting and death-s eternal natures1 Death %reates e5uals o# e/er*one; despite %lass or greatness4 e/er*one $e%omes dust4 e/en Ale.ander stops a Andrews ' dust o# Ale.ander4 till he #ind it stopping a $ung3hole9F1& $eer3$arrel1 Chara%ters :ame Role in the Stor* Signi#i%an%e Ad2e%ti/es &1 Hamlet ?1 Polonius A1 Claudius >1 )ertrude F1 Horatio '1 Ophelia @1 Laertes G1 Hortin$ras I1 The ghost &(1 Rosen%rantE J )uildenstern &&1 Koltimand J Cornelius &?1 Mar%ellus J +ernardo &A1 Osri% &>1 Re*naldo &F1 )ra/edigger Prin%e o# Denmar"4 Protagonist4 lo/er to Ophelia4 #oil o# Laertes1 Hather o# Ophelia4 and Laertes4 assistant to King and =ueen1 King o# Denmar"4 6n%le to Hamlet4 ? nd Hus$and o# )ertrude4 Antagonist4 Wi#e o# Claudius4 Mother o# Hamlet Hriend o# Hamlet Hamlet-s lo/er4 Sister and Daughter Ophelia-s $rother4 Polonius-s son Prin%e o# :or0a* )host o# Hamlet-s #ather E.3#riend o# Hamlet4 asst1 to Claudius1 Courtiers The #irst /ie0ers o# the )host1 Courtier Polonius-s ser/ant To dig gra/es To re/enge his #athers death To ma"e Hamlet and Laertes #oils Kills Hamlets #ather4 and rule Denmar"4 attempts to "ill Hamlet Marries Claudius ma"ing Hamlet uneas*1 Aid Hamlet in his re/enge To push Hamlet to his limits Hoil o# HamletLre/enge #ather death %aused $* HamletM Hoil o# HamletLre/enge the death o# his #ather $* Hamlets #atherM To sho0 Hamlet the truth and get him to re/enge him To sol/e the true reason o# Hamlets $eha/ior Sent to ma"e Hortin$ras not atta%"1 Tell Hamlet a$out the )host1 Summons Hamlet to the #ight 0ith #oil Laertes1 To sp* on Laertes To sho0 that e/er*one dies and gets $uried the same 0a* Lgi/e Hesitant4 %on#used :ose*4 pompous Killain4 am$itious4 e/il4 Shallow, weak, 9oyal, tr!sting 0ra)y, +ea!tif!l, sweet, inno"ent A"tion taker, aggressi&e# 9eader, aggressi&e =ag!e, >agging# 1!m%, easily infl!en"ed 9oyal, easily persaded# 7rote"ti&e, strong ;oolish, o%edient 9oyal 0areless, wise g!y Andrews 4 Hamlet his $ust to his epiphan*M Setting Signi#i%an%e o# opening s%ene The setting o# the pla* Hamlet is the state o# Denmar"1 The time period o# the pla* 0as the late Medie/al era 2udging upon its diale%t 4 area4 and appearan%e1 The $eginning s%ene helps set the plot o# the stor*1 The sighting o# the ghost 0ill result in Hamlet-s desire #or re/enge and gi/e him a moti/e that %arries him through the pla*1 ,ts main purpose is to allo0 Hamlet to re/enge his #ather-s death $* "illing his un%le1 Signi#i%an%e o# endingN%losing s%ene The end sho0s that e/er*thing must %ome to a end1 To "ill4 to lo/e4 to a/enge4 to tri%"4 and to de%ei/e all lead to death #or death is ine/ita$le out%ome1 The %on%ept o# death appeared as might* as the s0ord *et the #ear o# the un"no0n and the ina$ilit* to return #rightened Hamlet1 E/entuall* all %auses %ame to death 2ust as he had %laimed it to $e1 S*m$ols Ophelia<s #lo0ers3 the #lo0ers she used represented death and #ragilit*1 Her mind 0as #ragile and she li"e the #lo0ers 0ithered a0a* and died1 The pla*4 The mousetrap- Hamlet staged the pla* to dis%o/er 0hether King Claudius 0as guilt* so Hamlet %ould "no04 0ithout a dou$t4 to get re/enge1 The Oori%"-s s"ull3 sho0ed a %on%ept o# li#e and death1 Hamlet sees that li#e is onl* temporar*; e/er*one 0ill die and $e%ome nothing more than the s"ull and dust1 King Hamlet-s ghost 0as more o# a spiritual %on%ept o# death 0hile Oori%"-s s"ull #un%tioned as a ph*si%al %on%ept o# death and $etter demonstrating the results o# death on a person Old AP =uestions &II@ :o/els and pla*s o#ten in%lude s%enes o# 0eddings4 #unerals4 parties4 and otherso%ial o%%asions1 Su%h s%enes ma* re/eal the /alues o# the %hara%ters and theso%iet* in 0hi%h the* li/e1 Sele%t a no/el or pla* that in%ludes su%h a s%ene and4 in a #o%used essa*4 dis%uss the %ontri$ution the s%ene ma"es to the meaning o# the 0or" as a 0hole1 Oou ma* %hoose a 0or" #rom the list $elo0 or another no/el or pla* o# literar* merit1 The Age o# ,nno%en%e4 The A0a"ening4 The +irthda* Part*4 +less Me4 6ltima4 Ceremon*4 The Color Purple4 Dais* Miller4The Dead4 Delta Wedding4 Dinner at the Homesi%" Restaurant4 The )lass Menagerie4 Hamlet4 ,n/isi$le Man4 Jane E*re4 Julius Caesar4 The Jo* Lu%" Clu$4 The Mem$er o# the Wedding4111Romeo and Juliet4 The Shipping :e04111Wuthering Heights1 Possi$le Themes :othing %an e/er $e o# %ertaint* L Murph*<s la0 0hate/er %an go 0rong 0ill go 0rongM A%tions %an onl* $e made a promise 0ith the idea o# hesitation out o# the 5uestion1 Death is an un"no0n 0orld that is not to $e #eared o# $ut at the same time is $e%ause o# its non3return1 +etra*al is a plague that spread upon e/er*one and that %annot $e held $ut lead to death and destru%tion o# a #amil*1
Ward A. Thompson v. City of Lawrence, Kansas Ron Olin, Chief of Police Jerry Wells, District Attorney Frank Diehl, David Davis, Kevin Harmon, Mike Hall, Ray Urbanek, Jim Miller, Bob Williams, Craig Shanks, John Lewis, Jack Cross, Catherine Kelley, Dan Ward, James Haller, Dave Hubbell and Matilda Woody, Frances S. Wisdom v. City of Lawrence, Kansas Ron Olin, Chief of Police David Davis, Mike Hall, Jim Miller, Bob Williams, Craig Shanks, John L. Lewis, Jack Cross, Kevin Harmon, Catherine Kelley, Dan Ward and James Haller, Jr., 58 F.3d 1511, 10th Cir. (1995)