Characters General information Literary terms (comic relief, poetic

justice, and tragic hero) Quotes (5 total) Themes

Late King Hamlet (ghost) Gertrude Prince Hamlet Claudius Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Laertes Young Fortinbras Osric Yorick

Five Act Structure: Purpose of Act V The unraveling of complicated events

Tragedy (sad ending)-senseless death(s) occur where audience/reader learns from the actions of the characters in the play.

Comedy (happy ending)-a ceremony/celebration (ie. wedding) takes place to bring together primary characters.

Primary Setting: Castle of Elsinore; Denmark

Time Period: 16th Century

How much time has gone by since the start of the play? Six months

Literary Terms:Aside

Definition: when a character reveals thoughts while other character’s are on stage; information is meant for the audience to hear, not the other characters present.

Soliloquy Definition: when a character is alone on stage

revealing his/her inner thoughts to the audience through a lengthy speech.

Foil Character: Definition: A secondary character who

parallels and contrasts a main character.

Literary Terms: Comic Relief:

When a character lightens the mood or eases the tension created in previous Acts.

Gravedigger- A. discussion about Ophelia’s death

(self- defense)/riddles about gravedigger B. talking to Hamlet about Hamlet

unaware of whom he was talking to Osric-

A. He is eager to please Hamlet; very agreeable

Tragic Hero: A character who brings upon his/her downfall

(death) due to a character flaw.

Literary Terms: Irony:

Definition: when something happens that is the opposite of what is meant or expected to happen.

Dramatic Irony: Definition: When the audience or

reader knows or perceives something other characters do not.

Poetic Justice: When a character gets what he/she has coming to

them due to harmful/deceitful acts against others.

Act IV Quotes ( 5 total) Hamlet: “I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers/

Could not with all their quantity of love /Make up my sum.”

Claudius: “An hour of quiet shortly shall we see; / Till then in patience our proceeding be.” (foreshadowing/ theme of revenge/ theme of deception)

Hamlet: “I shall win at the odds. But thou /wouldst not think how ill all’s here about my heart./ But it is no matter. (foreshadowing)

Act IV Quotes (cont.):

Laertes: “Why as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric. / I am justly killed with mine own treachery.” (irony/poetic justice)

Horatio: “I am more an antique Roman than a Dane. / Here’s yet some liquor left.”

1. Explain how Hamlet discovered he was to be put to death upon arriving in England.

2. Explain how he planned to have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern meet their fate.

3. How did Hamlet make this plan official?

Themes:

Deception

Corruption

Revenge

Appearance vs. Reality

Loyalty