1. Adam Nye
Period 6
Advanced Placement English Literature – The Long Form
Title: The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
Genre: Tragedy
Author: William Shakespeare
# Pages: 175
Copyright Date: N/A
The Author and His Times
Very little is known about William Shakespeare and it is still questionable as to
whether or not he was indeed an actual person instead of someone operating under
a pen name. It is believed that William Shakespeare was born in 1564. His family
was middle class and lived in England at the time. Shakespeare didn’t have any
formal education. He married a woman named Anne Hathaway, and they had three
kids. Shortly thereafter, he abandoned his family to become a playwright and
became very successful.
Form, Structure, and Plot
The play is divided into 5 acts that contain rising action, climax, and falling action.
Basically, Hamlets father is murdered and his spirit seeks out Hamlet and asks for
Hamlet to avenge him. The play builds throughout the first 3 acts and progresses to
a point where all of the main characters are dead.
Point of View
This work of literature is a play and therefore doesn’t have a specific point of view.
For the most part we receive Hamlet’s thoughts and dialogue, so many say that it is
told from Hamlet’s point of view due to Hamlet being the protagonist.
Character
Hamlet is the protagonist of the play. He is very philosophical and acts very slowly
in terms of what he dedicates himself to. He prolongs the killing of his uncle for a
long time and ultimately pays the price.
Old Hamlet is Hamlet’s dead father who asks Hamlet to avenge his death.
Claudius is Hamlet’s uncle who murdered Old Hamlet to take the crown.
Gertrude is Hamlet’s mother. She makes questionable love choices, such as marrying
her ex-husband’s brother after her ex-husband’s death.
Ophelia is Hamlet’s lover who goes crazy and drowns herself.
Setting
The play takes place somewhere in Denmark in the 14th century. Events take place
both at night and during the day. The darker and gloomier events typically occurred
at night. Everything that the audience is shown in the play occurs inside of the castle
of Denmark.

2. Diction
Shakespeare writes in a way that is difficult for people reading in present day. This
literature was considered to be easy to understand for those in Shakespeare’s time
period. Shakespeare invented several of his own words in his days as a playwright
and poet. Shakespeare often writes in iambic pentameter.
Syntax
The play uses two main types of syntax. One of such is a simplistic and casual form
of dialogue that most characters use. More educated characters that are found
higher in the social ladder use iambic pentameter, which sounds poetic and
educated.
Concrete detail/Imagery
There is a lot of dark and melancholy imagery found throughout the entire play. This
is found with the witches along with the night time. It represents the gloom and
distraught state that Denmark is in during the time.
Symbolism
The death of Ophelia is a very symbolic event in the play. It symbolizes that even the
most innocent of people are prone to corruption and ultimately death. Another
symbol is Yorick’s skull. It symbolizes that death is inevitable and everyone will
eventually find their end.
Figurative Language
Metaphors and similes are the most prevalent forms of figurative language found in
the play. There is also a lot of irony used throughout the play. Imagery and
symbolism are also used by Shakespeare.
Ironic Devices
The most prevalent type of irony in the play is dramatic irony. The audience knows
much more than the characters throughout the entire play. For example, the
audience knows Hamlet is plotting to kill Claudius, but everyone in the play just
thinks Hamlet is struggling from the loss of his father and is going insane. There is
occasional situational irony and verbal irony, which is used to relieve some of the
tension from the tragedy.
Tone
The tone of the play is extremely dark and mysterious. At times the play seems quite
hectic, while at others the play drags on in a series of gloomy and dreadful events. At
times the play is also very ironic, as the audience knows much more about what is
going on than the characters.

3. Theme
Uncertainty and lack of action is a common theme throughout the play. This can be
found in Hamlet, and a correction of this theme can be found in Laertes, who is quick
to act and strikes with a purpose. Another common theme is the mystery of death
and what it brings. Hamlet ponders suicide several times in the play, and due to the
play being a tragedy, death is a very prevalent event. Hamlet is curious as to what
death brings as he seeks to revenge his father.
Significance of the Title
The title of the play basically tells the audience who the protagonist is and that they
will die along with many other characters by the end of the play.
Memorable Quotes
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark”
“By what it fed on: and yet, within a month,—
Let me not think on’t,—Frailty, thy name is woman!— ”
“To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer”
Research/Literacy Criticism
Hamlet’s psychological state is a topic of much discussion and has been for a long
time. He is regarded as one of the most curious characters of all time and people
studying the play still turn up clues as to his personality and state of mind in the
play.
Works Cited
SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on Hamlet.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2007.
Web. 29 May 2014.