University of the Assumption

College of Nursing

PROJECT IN
HUMANITIE
S
Submitted by:

John Eric Noriega

Pauz Clemenz Diaz

1. Choose a famous literary piece

We have chosen one the famous work of William Shakespeare which Hamlet in the
time of the Renaissance period.

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by

William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601. The
play, set in Denmark, recounts how Prince Hamlet exacts revenge on his uncle
Claudius for murdering the old King Hamlet, Claudius's own brother and Prince
Hamlet's father, and then succeeding to the throne and marrying Gertrude, the King
Hamlet's widow and mother of Prince Hamlet. The play vividly charts the course of
real and feigned madness—from overwhelming grief to seething rage—and explores
themes of treachery, revenge, incest, and moral corruption.

2. Make a story map or analysis

Title: Hamlet
Writer: William Shakespeare

Main Characters:
• Hamlet - Son of the former king, and nephew of the present King.
• Claudius - The current King of Denmark, Hamlet's uncle.
• King Hamlet (Ghost) - Hamlet's father.
• Gertrude - Queen of Denmark, and mother to Hamlet.
• Polonius - Claudius's chief councilor, who is distrustful of Hamlet's
relationship with Ophelia.
• Laertes - Polonius's son.
• Ophelia - Polonius' daughter.
• Horatio - Friend of Hamlet's from university.
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern - Courtiers, friends to Hamlet.
• Fortinbras – Prince of Norway

Plot Summary:

Horatio and other guards witness the ghost of their recently deceased king. Horatio
quickly reports the viewing to the king's only son, Hamlet. Hamlet decides to
attempt to communicate with the ghost, and, against friendly advice, follows the
ghost when beckoned. The ghost of the king reveals to Hamlet the secrets of a well
planned murder, one already committed, the murder of the king. Hamlet is
infuriated, and is convinced to attempt revenge.
Polonius, father of Laertes and Ophelia, Hamlet's only love, is an advisor to the new
king. Hamlet begins to act strangely, and when Ophelia tells Polonius of Hamlet's
new personality, Polonius decides to investigate with consent of the king. The king
also summons two of Hamlet's friends from college, Rosencratz and Guildenstern.
The pair is convinced by the current king to spy on Hamlet and attempt to discover
the reason behind his awkward actions. Hamlet, with help from traveling players,
writes a play identical to the murder plot, to be played for the murderer and those
surrounding him.

The king and his trio of curious followers continue to intently spy on Hamlet,
particularly when he is with Ophelia. The play, "The Mousetrap," is acted out in front
of the king. When he notices the similarity of the plot of the play to his murder, he
storms out of the room. The queen, Gertrude, former wife of the murdered, current
wife of the murderer, agrees to send for Hamlet with the goal of making him open
up about his feelings while Polonius hides in the room. Hamlet, before going to his
mother's room, goes to the king's quarters with plans to murder him, but decides to
wait because the king is praying. He reports to the queen's room, discovers the
eavesdropper, and, thinking it is the king, stabs and murders Polonius. Hamlet,
unsuccessfully, tries to convince his mother that the current king is mad.

The king orders Rosencratz and Guildenstern to take Hamlet to England with a letter
requesting that the English monarchy put him to death. Hamlet discovers the letter,
writes one that would put his escorts to death, and escapes. He returns to his
homeland and stumbles upon the funeral of Ophelia, who apparently committed
suicide when she learned of her father's death. When the king and Laertes, intent
on avenging the death of his father and sister, learn of Hamlet's return, they plot to
kill him in a duel with various means of poison.

Laertes and Hamlet have a short fight in the uncovered grave of Ophelia, before the
burial, and agree on a duel, to simply test the skill of the two. One of the attempts
to kill Hamlet, a poisoned drink, kills Gertrude when she makes a toast using that
cup, killing herself. In the duel, Laertes uses a sword with a poisoned tip. He
manages to stab Hamlet. Before Hamlet dies, he is able to gain control of Laertes
sword and stab him with it. Hamlet then wounds the king with the sword and forces
him to finish the poisoned drink. Hamlet tells Fortinbras, a traveling prince, that he
will be the next king of Denmark. Hamlet dies.

Conflict:

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet has an internal conflict of man vs. his conscience.
When Hamlet is confronted by his deceased father and is told that Hamlet’s uncle
murdered him, revenge starts to eat away at Hamlet’s mind, soul, and actions. This
vengeance starts at Hamlet’s feet, but soon climbs up to his mind, which causes
Hamlet to have an alter ego. His alter ego’s character is demented and wicked.
Because of all of the despair building upon Hamlet’s shoulders it weakness Hamlet,
allowing his alter ego to control his actions and thoughts. Leading him to be violent
towards his love, Ophelia, and treat his Danish Courtiers with great disrespect.
Hamlet becomes crazed because he knows he must avenge his father’s death by
killing this uncle, but he knows his mother loves his uncle therefore making his
decision harder. In order to decide whether or not he should murder his uncle
Hamlet fights with his conscience causing the internal conflict man vs. his
conscience.

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet has an external conflict of man vs. man. Hamlet is
told by his father’s ghost that Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle, murdered him. Hamlet
seeks to avenge his father’s death by murdering his uncle. Claudius becomes aware
of Hamlet’s change in behavior and orders Polonius to spy on the Queen’s
conversation with her son, Hamlet. After giving this order, Claudius decides to pray
for forgiveness for murdering his brother. Hamlet walks in on Claudius praying and
draws his sword, but realizes that if he killed Claudius in prayer he would go to
heaven because he was asking God to forgive his sins. Hamlet wanted to murder his
uncle when Claudius was sinning, so Hamlet left to go speak with his mother as
ordered by her. While Hamlet argues with his mother he realizes someone is spying
on them. Thinking it was the king; Hamlet quickly stabs and kills the spy. However,
it was not the King but Polonius, the King’s councilor. This increased the tension
between Claudius and Hamlet causing an external conflict of man vs. man or in
Hamlet’s case Hamlet vs. Claudius.

Conclusion:

As many of Shakespeare's plays end "Hamlet," is a tragedy with a great deal of

death in the conclusion. The queen is dead from poison that was meant for Hamlet.
The king is dead of poison that was forced down his throat by Hamlet in revenge for
the death of his father and now his mother. Laertes tells Hamlet that they both will
die because the rapier that each was cut with had been dipped in poison.
Fortinbras finally arrives home and finds out that he will finally be king, but he is
really sad about it because he was good friends with Hamlet. Hamlet tells Horatio
to make sure everyone knows what happened to his family and what really went on
so there will be no misinformation passed on to future generations.

3. Include your reaction/comments