Youtube Exercise » English Grammar Homework

B2-C1

Hamlet: Summary

Dr Aidan

23K views 2 years ago

Warm-up Questions

What do you already know about the story of Hamlet?
When you hear the word “summary,” what information do you expect to get (plot, characters, ending, themes)?
Why might a Hamlet summary be useful for studying or revising for an exam?

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Start With: Word Definition

Order: Alphabetical Random

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Hamlet: Summary

Identity, the ghost, and a plan to seem mad (00:00 – 03:18)

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1. What does “unfold yourself” mean in the opening lines of the play?

To admit you are afraid
To physically open a letter
To reveal your identity
To change your clothes

2. What does the ghost tell Hamlet about the former king’s death?

He was poisoned by Claudius
He died from illness
He died in battle
He was killed by an unknown enemy

3. What plan does Hamlet make after hearing the ghost’s story?

He will challenge Claudius to a duel that night
He will put an antic disposition on (pretend madness)
He will confess everything to the queen
He will leave Denmark immediately

Hamlet: Summary

Spying, the play, and a killing (03:18 – 09:43)

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1. Why does Hamlet decide to stage a play like “the murder of gonzago”?

To entertain the court during a festival
To teach the actors how to speak naturally
To make Claudius reveal guilt by watching a murder on stage
To raise money for the army

2. What does Claudius do when the player king is poisoned in the play?

He arrests the actors immediately
He falls asleep
He laughs and applauds
He gets up and storms out

3. Why does Hamlet delay killing Claudius when he sees him praying?

He wants Claudius’s soul to go to hell, not heaven
He thinks Claudius is innocent
He is afraid of being caught
He forgets his weapon

Hamlet: Summary

Revenge plots, tragedy, and the final duel (09:43 – 15:24)

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1. What is Claudius’s “sinister plan” involving the letters sent to England?

To crown Hamlet king in exile
To execute Hamlet as soon as he arrives
To invite Hamlet to study at a university
To imprison Hamlet for life

2. How is the fencing match made deadly?

The arena is set on fire
They fight with real axes instead of swords
A guard shoots an arrow into the crowd
One sword is illegally sharpened and laced with poison

3. How does Claudius die in the final scene?

He is sent to England and executed
He is poisoned by a drink only
Hamlet stabs him and makes him drink the poisoned cup
He falls and hits his head during the duel

Hamlet: Summary

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1. Which theme is emphasized at the start of the summary?

The value of money and trade
People hiding their true intentions and others trying to expose them
The importance of comedy in tragedy
The benefits of war for a country

2. What is Hamlet’s main goal after meeting the ghost?

To take revenge for his father’s murder
To stop the war with Norway
To marry and leave Denmark
To become a soldier

3. What causes the final catastrophe in the story?

A natural disaster at the castle
A sudden invasion that ends the court
A secret poisoning plan connected to the fencing match
A mistaken message from the ambassadors

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

Hamlet: Summary

Is pretending to be mad a clever strategy for Hamlet, or does it make the situation worse? Why?
In the summary, many characters spy on others. What problems can spying create in relationships and politics?
Do you think Hamlet is justified in delaying his revenge at different moments (for example, when Claudius is praying)?
Which event in the summary feels like the main turning point toward tragedy, and why?