Hamlet

1. Hamlet By William Shakespeare

2. Hamlet – Act One • Scene One: • The ghost of King Hamlet appears to the guards on watch. • Horatio decided to tell the King’s son, Prince Hamlet about his father’s apparition.

3. Hamlet – Act One • Scene Two: • The new king of Denmark, Claudius, who is Prince Hamlet’s uncle, has married the widow, Queen Gertrude. • Claudius sends messengers to Norway to squelch an attack. • It is in this scene that we see Hamlet’s true feelings about his father’s death and his mother’s marriage to his uncle.

4. Hamlet – Act One • Scene Two continued: • The audience learns that Hamlet is angry at his mother for waiting less than a month to marry again. • The guards arrive and tell Hamlet about the ghost.

5. Hamlet – Act One • Scene Three: • Laertes, son of Polonius, warns his sister Ophelia of Hamlet’s recent advances. • After sending Laertes off, Polonius tells Ophelia that she is no longer allowed to see Hamlet.

6. Hamlet – Act One • Scene Four: • The ghost visits Hamlet and the other men. • Hamlet tries to speak to it, but the ghost does not answer. • Instead, the ghost signals for Hamlet to follow him.

7. Hamlet – Act One • Scene Five: • Alone, the ghost tells Hamlet that he was murdered by his brother (Claudius). • He tells Hamlet exactly how he was murdered. • He tells his son that Hamlet must now avenge his death.