IntroductionTimelinePicturesAuthor(s)-Shakespeare, William--1564 - 1582: William Shakespeare's Stratford Beginnings--1582 - 1592: William Shakespeare's Marriage, Parenthood and Early Occupation--1592 - 1594: William Shakespeare's Life In London, part 1--1594 - 1611: William Shakespeare's Life In London, part 2--1594 - 1611: William Shakespeare's Life In London, part 3--1611 - 1616: William Shakespeare - Back to StratfordThe context of Hamlet-Social / political context--The Catholic heritage--The Tudor monarchy--The grounds for divorce--Separating from the Catholic Church--Protestant versus Catholic--The situation in Shakespeare's day-Religious / philosophical context--Divine right of kings--The Renaissance--The Reformation-The Theatre--Mystery and morality plays--Permanent theatres--Design of theatres--The role of women--Child actorsHamlet Synopses-Act I--Act I, Scene i--Act I, Scene ii--Act I, Scene iii--Act I, Scene iv--Act I, Scene v-Act II--Act II, Scene i--Act II, Scene ii-Act III--Act III, Scene i--Act III, Scene ii--Act III, Scene iii--Act III, Scene iv-Act IV--Act IV, Scene i--Act IV, Scene ii--Act IV, Scene iii--Act IV, Scene iv--Act IV, Scene v--Act IV, Scene vi--Act IV, Scene vii-Act V--Act V, Scene i--Act V, Scene iiShakespeare's Language-The evolution of the language-Thee, thou and you-The royal plural-Blank verse, prose & rhyme-Variations from the norm-Hamlet's awareness of languageCharacterisation-Hamlet-Ophelia-Gertrude-Claudius-Polonius-Laertes-Horatio-Rosencrantz and Guildenstern-Fortinbras-Voltimand and Cornelius-Marcellus, Barnado and Francisco-OsricThemes and significant ideas-Setting 'Hamlet' within a Christian world view-Heaven, hell and judgement-Mercy and forgiveness-Grace-Vengeance-Prayer-Mass and Holy Communion-The Ten Commandments-Incest-Identity-Nature and the unnatural-Death-False appearancesImagery and symbolism-The Garden of Eden-The Fall and original sin-Cain and Abel-The chain of being-Painting-Traps-Prisons and punishment-Corruption and diseaseStructureCritical analysis-How to approach the question-How to approach the questionApproaching exams and essays-What makes a good English exam answer-How to plan an essay-Possible essay questions-Engaging with the textResources and further reading-Books-Websites-Theatre and media-Worksheet downloads Hamlet