1.1.2

The Literary Tradition of the Hamlet Story

Test yourself

The History of the Hamlet Story

Shakespeare did not invent or create his plots and characters. Instead, he used existing stories from other texts to create his dramas. Hamlet is no exception.

Illustrative background for Grammaticus' version of *Hamlet*Illustrative background for Grammaticus' version of *Hamlet* ?? "content

Grammaticus' version of Hamlet

  • The story of Hamlet (or Amleth) was first written in the 12th Century by the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus.
  • Saxo Grammaticus came up with key plot features in Shakespeare’s play (the murder of the King by Hamlet’s uncle; the marriage of Hamlet’s mother and uncle; Hamlet’s madness) over 400 years before Shakespeare began to write his version.
Illustrative background for Thomas Kyd's version of *Hamlet*Illustrative background for Thomas Kyd's version of *Hamlet* ?? "content

Thomas Kyd's version of Hamlet

  • The Hamlet story was then adapted into a play for the English stage in the 1580s or 1590s, probably by the playwright Thomas Kyd.
    • However, this version of the story has not survived. As a result, we cannot know if any elements of the old Hamlet story were used or not.
  • Some Shakespeare scholars believe that this ‘lost’ play version introduced other key aspects of the Hamlet story, such as the Ghost and the play-within-a-play.
Illustrative background for Immediate success of *Hamlet*Illustrative background for Immediate success of *Hamlet* ?? "content

Immediate success of Hamlet

  • Because of this ‘lost’ Hamlet, it is impossible to know which features of Shakespeare’s play were ‘created’ by him.
  • But Shakespeare’s version of the Hamlet story, first performed in either 1600 or 1601, appears to have been an immediate success with audiences at the newly built Globe Theatre. The power and poetry of Shakespeare’s language (especially in Hamlet’s soliloquies) helped to breathe new life into an old story.
  • The play continues to move and fascinate audiences today.

Jump to other topics

1Introduction

2Plot Summary

3Character Profiles

4Key Themes

5Writing Techniques

6Context

7Critical Debates

Go student ad image

Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring

  • Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home

  • Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs

  • 30+ school subjects covered

Book a free trial lesson