HAMLET

by William Shakespeare
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE FACTS!
- William Shakespeare was born on 26th April 1564 and died 23 April 1616.
- He wrote 37 plays and also two long poems in his lifetime.
- He lived in Stratford-upon-Avon, in Warwickshire, England.
- His plays are of different kinds, or genres. There are histories, tragedies and
comedies.
- Shakespeare added new words and phrases to the English language. He created over
1,700 English words.

HAMLET SUMMARY
Hamlet is a story about murder and revenge. It takes place in Denmark. The king of Denmark has been murdered.
The king’s son, prince Hamlet, suspects that his uncle Claudius is responsible for the murder and he wants revenge!

Vocabulary

Match the words with their meaning:

Sword assassinar

Poison un duel

To murder molest

Ghost espasa

A duel fantasma

Upset verí

To perform representar/actuar

VIDEO ACTIVITY

To understand what the story is about, watch the following video. Then, answer the questions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXt6dtkRtLs

1. Answer the following questions.

1. Who is Hamlet’s father?

a) Claudius
b) Laertes
c) The king of Denmark
2. Hamlet’s mother, queen Gertrude, marries…
a) Laertes
b) The husband’s brother
c) The husband’s cousin
3. Who murders Hamlet’s father, the king of Denmark?

……………………………………………….
 4. Hamlet’s friend, Horatio, tells Hamlet that he has seen….
a) his father’s ghost.
b) his father alive.
c) his father in prison.

5. The ghost tells Hamlet that…

a) he was murdered by Claudius and wants Hamlet to take revenge.
b) he was murdered by Claudius and wants Hamlet to forgive Claudius.
c) he was murdered by Claudius and wants Hamlet to become the king.
6. Why is Hamlet rude to Ophelia?
a) because he doesn’t like her anymore.
b) because she is very rude.
c) because he is confused and upset.
7. Hamlet asks a group of actors to perform a play about…
a) the history of Denmark.
b) the assassination of a king and queen.
c) the assassination of king.
8. King Claudius watches the play and becomes very worried because…
a) Hamlet knows the truth.
b) Gertrude is upset.
c) he feels sick.
9. Claudius wants Laertes to….
a) fight Hamlet in a duel and cut him with a poisoned sword.
b) fight Hamlet in a duel and offer him a poisoned cup of wine.
c) fight Hamlet in a duel but not kill him.
10. Gertrude dies because…
a) she is very old.
b) she drinks a cup of poisoned wine.
c) she is frightened that Hamlet will die.
11. Hamlet kills Claudius and then…
a) he becomes the king of Denmark.
b) he feels happy.
c) he dies.

2. Order the events from 1 – 13.

- Hamlet’s father, who is the king, dies. Hamlet is very sad. 1

- Queen Gertrude drinks the cup of wine that has poison and dies.
- Claudius puts poison on Laertes’ sword and in a cup of wine.
- Gertrude, the queen, marries her husband’s brother, Claudius.
- Claudius tells Ophelia’s brother, Laertes, to fight Hamlet in a duel.
- Laertes tells Hamlet that King Claudius poisoned everyone.
- Claudius is now the king of Denmark.
- Hamlet acts strange and he is very rude to his girlfriend, Ophelia.
- Hamlets asks a group of actors to perform a play. In the play, a king is poisoned like Hamlet’s father.
- The ghost of the king tells Hamlet that his brother, Claudius, assassinated him with poison.
- Laertes cuts Hamlet’s arm with the sword. Then, Hamlet takes Laertes’ sword and cuts his arm too. They are
both poisoned.
- When King Claudius watches the play, he feels guilty and runs away. He is very worried about Hamlet.
- Hamlet kills Claudius 13
ANSWERS

- Hamlet’s father, who is the king, dies. Hamlet is very sad. 1

- Gertrude, the queen, marries her husband’s brother, Claudius. 2
- Claudius is now the king of Denmark. 3
- The ghost of the king tells Hamlet that his brother, Claudius, assassinated him with poison. 4
- Hamlet acts strange and he is very rude to his girlfriend, Ophelia. 5
- Hamlets asks a group of actors to perform a play. In the play, a king is poisoned like Hamlet’s father. 6
- When King Claudius watches the play, he feels guilty and runs away. He is very worried about Hamlet. 7
- Claudius tells Ophelia’s brother, Laertes, to fight Hamlet in a duel. 8
- Claudius puts poison on Laertes’ sword and in a cup of wine. 9
- Laertes cuts Hamlet’s arm with the sword. Then, Hamlet takes Laertes’ sword and cuts his arm too. They are
both poisoned. 10
- Queen Gertrude drinks the cup of wine that has poison and dies. 11
- Laertes tells Hamlet that King Claudius poisoned everyone. 12
- Hamlet kills Claudius 13