1.1.1

Introduction to Hamlet

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Introduction to Hamlet

Hamlet was written between 1599 and 1600 and was first performed in either 1600 or 1601. Hamlet is perhaps Shakespeare’s most widely known play.

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Why is Hamlet so well known?

  • Hamlet contains the single most famous line in all of Shakespearean drama (“To be, or not to be”).
  • Hamlet also features many of the most iconic moments in all of English literature. For example:
    • The Ghost on the battlements;
    • The troubled hero in the graveyard;
    • The drowned maiden.
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Critical responses to Hamlet

  • More has been written about Hamlet than on any other Shakespeare play.
  • For over 400 years, audiences and critics have debated the play’s meaning, with each generation discovering its own Hamlet.
  • Many of these different interpretations will be examined in the Critical Debates section of this course.
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Drama & Poetry Pre-1900 paper

  • You are studying Hamlet in preparation for the Component 01 Drama & Poetry Pre-1900 examination paper.
  • You are required to:
    • Analyse the text in close detail, exploring Shakespeare’s use of language and dramatic effects;
    • Consider issues raised in a specific extract in relation to your understanding of the play as a whole;
    • Explore ways in which the chosen play is/has been interpreted by different audiences, including over time.

Jump to other topics

1Introduction

2Plot Summary

3Character Profiles

4Key Themes

5Writing Techniques

6Context

7Critical Debates

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