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    Hamlet
    Hamlet
    Hamlet
    Ebook152 pages54 minutes

    Hamlet

    By Paul Leonard Murray

    ()

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    About this ebook

    The Silly Shakespeare for Students edition of the bard's most famous play, The Tragedy of Hamlet, simplifies the language of the play without sacrificing the power of the play! This adaptation is perfect for introducing students to Shakespeare or helping students practice speaking and oracy skills while grap

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAlphabet Publishing
    Release dateNov 5, 2024
    ISBN9781956159714
    Hamlet
    Author

    Paul Leonard Murray

    Paul Leonard Murray has worked as an actor and educator for over 30 years. He graduated in Theatre, gained an MA in Educational Theatre and a PhD in Applied Theatre. Originally from England but now living and working in Belgrade, Serbia, Paul is a passionate believer in the power of theatre to engage, educate and amuse children of all ages.He is currently the director of Belgrade English Language Theatre which is a youth theatre for young people for whom English is not their native tongue. The plays in the Silly Shakespeare for Students series were developed with the help of his youth theatre members and can be read in class or performed. Inspired by the humour of the Goons, Monty Python and Commedia dell Arte (and of course the Bard himself) Paul hopes that these adaptations can help to inspire further appreciation of theatre, the English language, Shakespeare and silliness.

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      Book preview

      Hamlet - Paul Leonard Murray

      Silly Shakespeare for Students

      Hamlet

      Paul Leonard Murray

      with help from William Shakespeare

      ISBN 978-1-956159-70-7 (paperback)

      978-1-956159-71-4 (ebook)

      Copyright 2024 by Paul Murray

      All rights reserved. Our authors, editors, and designers work hard to develop original, high-quality content. Please respect their efforts and their rights under copyright law.

      Do not copy, photocopy, or reproduce this book or any part of this book for use inside or outside the classroom, in commercial or non-commercial settings. It is also forbidden to copy, adapt, or reuse this book or any part of this book for use on websites, blogs, or third-party lesson-sharing websites.

      For permission requests or discounts on class sets and bulk orders contact us at:

      Alphabet Publishing

      29 Milo Drive

      Branford, CT 06405 USA

      [email protected]

      www.alphabetpublishingbooks.com

      For performance rights, please contact Paul Murray at [email protected]

      Dedication

      I dedicate this book to the following members of Belgrade English Language Youth Theatre, who, among other things, brought Silly Shakespeare Macbeth to life so wonderfully on the stage and inspired my further creations in this series. Thanks to you all!

      Maša Alivojvodić

      Maksimilijan Drenča

      Tamara Grujić

      Matija Mihić

      Lena Milinković

      Đorđe Radojević

      Stanko Radojević

      Nebojša Sofronijević

      Lenka Stanišić

      Katarina Stefanović

      Nađa Vainomaa

      Contents

      Dedication

      The Story Behind Shakespeare’s Hamlet

      Origins of the Play

      The Plot

      Themes and Characters

      The Play’s Impact and Legacy

      Modern Adaptations

      Why Hamlet Still Matters

      Playing Style

      The Characters

      Hamlet

      Act One

      Scene i

      Scene ii

      Scene iii

      Scene iv

      Scene v

      Act Two

      Scene i

      Scene ii

      Act Three

      Scene i

      Scene ii

      Scene iii

      Scene iv

      Act Four

      Scene i

      Scene ii

      Scene iii

      Scene iv

      Scene v

      Scene vi

      Scene vii

      Act Five

      Scene i

      Scene ii

      More Drama Resources

      The Story Behind Shakespeare’s Hamlet

      Imagine a play so powerful and timeless that it has captivated audiences for over 400 years. That’s exactly what Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, represents. First performed around 1600, this tragic play remains one of the most studied and celebrated works in literature. Let’s dive into the history of Hamlet, explore its origins, and see why it continues to be so relevant today.

      Origins of the Play

      Hamlet is based on a legendary Danish prince whose story dates back to ancient Scandinavia. The earliest versions of the Hamlet legend come from Norse sagas and medieval stories. One of the primary sources for Shakespeare’s Hamlet was a 16th-century play by a writer named Thomas Kyd, calledThe Spanish Tragedy. Kyd’s play was a popular revenge tragedy, a genre where the hero seeks vengeance for a wrong. Shakespeare borrowed elements from this and other sources to create his own version.

      Shakespeare’s Hamlet was likely influenced by the works of earlier playwrights and storytellers, including the 12th-century Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus, whose Gesta Danorum (Deeds of the Danes) included a tale of a prince who sought revenge for his father’s murder. Additionally, another important source was the Histories Tragiques by François de Belleforest, which also featured a story about Prince Hamlet.

      The Plot

      Hamlet is set in Denmark, a kingdom dealing with political unrest and personal tragedy. The play kicks off with the ghost of King Hamlet (the old king) appearing on the battlements of the castle. He reveals to his son, Prince Hamlet, that he was murdered by his own brother, Claudius, who has since taken the throne and married Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude. The ghost demands that Hamlet avenge his death.

      Prince Hamlet is deeply troubled by this revelation. He’s grieving his father’s death and is disgusted by his mother’s hasty remarriage. Overwhelmed by the ghost’s command, Hamlet struggles with feelings of doubt and uncertainty. He wonders if he can trust the ghost’s story and is concerned about the morality of seeking revenge.

      To test Claudius’s guilt, Hamlet arranges for the staging of a play that mirrors the murder described by the ghost. During the performance, Claudius reacts with guilt and panic, suggesting that he is indeed the murderer. However, Hamlet’s mission for revenge is complicated by his own inner turmoil and hesitation.

      To gather more information and possibly discredit Hamlet, Claudius and Polonius, a court advisor, spy on Hamlet. Polonius’s daughter, Ophelia, who is also Hamlet’s love interest, becomes a pawn in their schemes. Hamlet’s erratic behavior is interpreted as madness by those around him, though it’s unclear if he’s truly insane or just putting on an act.

      The play takes a dark turn when Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius thinking he is Claudius spying behind a tapestry. This mistake leads to Ophelia’s mental breakdown and eventual suicide. Her brother, Laertes, returns from France and seeks revenge for his father’s death, leading to a deadly duel with Hamlet.

      The climax of the play comes during the fencing match between Hamlet and Laertes. Unbeknownst to Hamlet, Laertes has poisoned the tip of his sword, and Claudius has also prepared a poisoned drink for him. During the duel, both Hamlet and Laertes are wounded by the poisoned blade. Queen Gertrude accidentally drinks the poisoned wine and dies.

      In the final moments, Hamlet confronts Claudius, forcing him to drink the poisoned wine and stabbing him with the poisoned sword. With everyone around him dying, Hamlet succumbs to his own wounds. In his last breath, Hamlet declares Fortinbras, a Norwegian prince, as the next king of Denmark, bringing the play to a tragic close.

      Themes and Characters

      Hamlet: The protagonist of the play, Hamlet is known for his philosophical reflections and his famous soliloquy To be, or not to be. He is a complex character, torn between his duty to avenge his father’s death and his own uncertainties

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