"Hamlet": Important points

ELEMENTS OF TRAGEDY IN HAMLET He is a nobleman, revered by his countrymen, who strives to alter the world around him. Ultimately, he must forfeit his own life to see justice done. The plot that unfolds in Shakespeare's drama includes politics, murder, and domestic strife. HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF HAMLET Students will be interested to know that the story of Prince Hamlet was not original with Shakespeare's version. The basic plot was found in ancient stories …

…his father's ghost for the first time. * after killing Polonius. * when he learns of Rosencrantz's and Guildenstern's intentions. * after Ophelia's funeral. The study and comparison of a modern work to that of Shakespeare can take students beyond the scope of Hamlet. Students can write comparison/contrast essays or prepare class presentations. An appropriate selection for such activities would Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard, in which Hamlet is presented from an opposing viewpoint.